Abiata

I’ve tried Ethiopian several times already. It’s not my favourite cuisine in the world because if I want spicy, I personally prefer either Indian, Thai or Szechuan.
So having said that, I did try Nil Bleu several times and many great Ethiopian restos in Washington DC which does have the highest concentration of East African immigrants in any one city outside of Africa, particularly in the Adams Morgan neighbourhood.
Abiata is actually owned by the same folks as Nil Bleu but Nil Bleu can get busy fast and reservations are required for Friday or Saturday nights. Ethiopian food, like traditional Indian food is eaten with your hand. Rolls of fluffy injera bread are brought to you which you use to tear up and dip into the various spicy chicken, beef or egg curry-​like dishes. It’s always more fun to eat this way with a group of friends I find.
they have a traditional Ethiopian coffee service here which while a bit steep, is not to be missed.

The outside of the restaurant just bills this as an African restaurant, but the cuisine is Ethiopian. Had I realized that before going in, I might have skipped this place remembering my first experience with the injera (spongy bread). The first time I had the bread I found it had a subtle sour taste that grew worse the more I ate it. The injera at this restaurant didn’t have the sour taste I remember.
When you sit down at your table, you might think that they forgot to set it since there are no utensils. You eat Ethiopian cuisine with your hands, so you brought your utensils with you.
The injera bread comes in little rolls. You rip off a small piece and use it to pick up the food. I had the fish cooked in a spiced ginger sauce with green peppers. I think there was a hint of red pepper.