Serves meat, vegan options available. Ethiopian cuisine includes a variety of vegetable and lentil based dishes. Here you could get a vegan platters with stewed greens, lentils, spiced vegetables, all served with injera bread. Also has salads. Open Mon-Sun 9:00am-9:00pm.
Category: Take-out, Ethiopian, African, Non-veg
Reviews (7)
First Review by cookiem
Contributions +138
Flavor Town! - Edit
Tried the vegan sampler after seeing all the recommendations. Very flavorful. Not sure what was what, but it was all good.
Very nice owners.
Contributions +322
Good option - Edit
100% teff enjira as a plus. They have a vegan sampler with 9 different dishes.
Contributions +19
Un-Happy Cow - Edit
Went there for lunch. Ordered the "Vegan Sampler." Good was good if expensive for lunch.
However, after lunch I started to feel unwell. I have an allergic reaction to lamb, beef etc. Nothing else has ever triggered it, nor have I had it again since becoming vegan. I had a sever attack yesterday. I can only guess, but obviously cannot prove, that some of my dishes started as beef or lamb stew. My friend, who doesn't share the allergy, had no problem, so this wasn't a health-code issue.
Obviously, I will never go back.
Pros: Tasty and unusual food., Attentive and friendly server
Cons: Not sure how vegan the "vegan" stuff really is., Expensive for lunch.
Contributions +18
so stupid happy cow only allows 4 stars on non veg. this spot is vegan heaven. - Edit
happy happy haopy, this food is heaven. give it a chance and u will love. amazing vegan options.
Pros: lots of vegan options, heaven.
Contributions +18
Happy Belly! - Edit
Chosen on short notice to accommodate 3 hungry diners commuting from 3 different locations on a Wednesday night. One vegan, one sort of vegetarian, and one omnivore. Something for everyone. Relaxed atmosphere and easy parking (or a longish but walkable hike from Braddock Metro). The very friendly staff/owners patiently explained each of the dishes we inquired about. In the end, the vegan platter won the night as well as the tomato salad and lentil soup! The omnivore ordered something non-vegan but ended up eating all the vegan dishes we ordered instead! We'll definitely be back.
Pros: Knowledgeable & friendly staff, Good value, Nice variety of dishes
Contributions +74
Delicious... - Edit
In town on business and thought I'd give this place a try. I've only had Ethiopian a couple of times, but can say this about Hawwi:
1) Delightful owners
2) Delicious dinner
3) Satisfied stomach
I highly recommend the Vegan Sampler.
Pros: good portion, good price, friendly staff
Cons: not sure if they have vegan desserts
Contributions +3967
Vegan Sampler - Edit
The price is good here, but the portions are not as large during lunch as dinner. So, this can help you figure out what to do for leftovers: to have or to not have? Go for lunch, and you may be able to eat it all; go for dinner, maybe unlikely to eat it all? The vegan sampler (about $10) comes with a central serving of misir wot, which has a berbere and tomato based spiciness. Around it, there will be yellow split peas that taste like split peas, not over seasoned by any measure, in addition to cabbage with potatoes, green beans with carrots, a tomato/ parsley/ onion/ jalapeño salad and collard greens.
This cafe also has coffee and tea, but no soy milk or nondairy milk. The menu also has lentil sambusas that are passable and lentil soup - 2 more vegan choices. They have also expanded to add in some Egyptian/ Middle Eastern foods like falafel, fatoush (salad with tomatoes, cukes, onions, lettuce, pita chips and seasonings) and others. I wonder if that's why the salad in the sampler seemed less like the Ethiopian salads in most samplers in the DC metro area and more like a tabouleh flavor absent the bulgur…?
Overall, the food is fresh and filling. Some Ethiopian restaurants use frozen greens, but the collards here wet definitely fresh, and the cabbage, too. Because there is no option to order the vegan dishes separately and the spices/ flavorings for the collards, green beans and cabbage dishes were minimalist, 3 out of 4 cows. However, the service is stellar and the people very kind. The parking is easy. The ambiance is relaxed. So…. maybe 3.5 cows.
Pros: Vegan sampler, Fresh veg ingredients, Easy parking
Cons: Nondairy milk unavailable
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