By Stefanie Gans and Rina Rapuano
Entaye
Herndon | Ethiopian | $$
When guests come into town and want something local, something that represents the dining scene, Ethiopian is the way to go. The DMV has the largest Ethiopian population outside of the country itself. It is our local cuisine. Walking a newbie through the meal for the first time is a treat: Use the bread, injera, to scoop up the sauce, not a spoon, knife or fork. It’s unlike food anywhere else, the earthy aura amped up with fiery, but always balanced, heat. “It’s an entirely new flavor,” says the newcomer, talking in circles about the spices, and the vegetables, and how “the combination of textures …” and she can’t even finish the sentence. “I feel so dumb for never having tried it.” We’re not all as lucky to live in Little Ethiopia. // 275 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon
This post originally appeared in our November 2019 issue’s 50 Best Restaurants cover story. For more food reviews, subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
