Elfegne – Ethiopian
Elfegne invites guests into a vibrant sanctuary where the air is thick with the intoxicating aroma of berbere and slow-simmered stews. Diners gather around communal platters to tear off pieces of tangy, spongy injera, using it to scoop up everything from buttery, hand-chopped kitfo to the smoky sizzle of spice-rubbed goden tibs. It is a soulful celebration of Ethiopian hospitality, where crisp, golden sambusas and fiery stuffed jalapeños lead the way into a rich tapestry of bold, traditional flavors.
2420, 18th Street Northwest, Washington, DC, 20009-2004 +12026674700 https://elfegnedc.com/0Cuisine: Ethiopian
Price range: $$
Dietary options: dairy-free, gluten-free, halal, high-protein, keto, low-carb, vegan, vegetarian, heart-healthy, low-fat, low-sodium, mediterranean, paleo, pescatarian, plant-based, whole30, anti-inflammatory, atkins, dash-sodium-reduced, gerd, high-fiber, low-cholesterol, south-beach, aip, alkaline, renal, tlc, volumetrics, zone, juice-cleanse, lectin-free, macrobiotic, slow-carb, soy-free
Diet fit at Elfegne
Dairy-Free at Elfegne
Elfegne in Washington has 8 dairy-free-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Yebeg Kikil, Azifa and Tegabino Shiro. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Gluten-Free at Elfegne
Elfegne in Washington has 2 gluten-free-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Yebeg Kikil and Stuffed Jalapeños. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Halal at Elfegne
Elfegne in Washington has 11 halal-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Aybe, Azifa and Tegabino Shiro. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
High-Protein at Elfegne
Elfegne in Washington has 1 high-protein-tagged dish on its current menu, including Doro Wot. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Keto at Elfegne
Elfegne in Washington has 3 keto-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Gored Gored, Doro Wot and Elfegne Special Goden Tibs. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Low-Carb at Elfegne
Elfegne in Washington has 6 low-carb-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Gored Gored, Doro Wot and Kitfo. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Vegan at Elfegne
Elfegne in Washington has 9 vegan-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Azifa, Tegabino Shiro and Stuffed Jalapeños. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Vegetarian at Elfegne
Elfegne in Washington has 15 vegetarian-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Aybe, Azifa and Tegabino Shiro. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
How tags work: Dish-level menu analysis by Chefi's rule-based diet engine with AI assistance; nutrition values are estimated from ingredients unless marked verified. Allergen and certification claims are never inferred.
What to order at Elfegne
| Dish | Net carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|
| Stuffed Jalapeños | 30.8 g | 55.5 g |
| Doro Wot | 1.3 g | 51.1 g |
| Kitfo | 17.4 g | 43.9 g |
| Timatim Fitfit (Appetizer) | 47.4 g | 33.8 g |
| Ethiopian Beer (Bottle) | 0.5 g | 30.2 g |
| Doro Tibs | 21.2 g | 25.4 g |
| Derek Tibs (Lamb) | 46.9 g | 17.5 g |
| Tegabino Shiro | 46.6 g | 15.9 g |
| Gored Gored | 2.6 g | 14.7 g |
| Awaze Tibs | 4.8 g | 14 g |
| Key Wot | 4.5 g | 10.4 g |
| Elfegne Arada Cocktail | 63.8 g | 10 g |
Nutrition values are estimated from ingredients.
Currently closed
Hours
- Monday - Thursday
- 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
- Friday - Sunday
- 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Menu
Appetizers
- Lentils Sambusa - $4: Ethiopian-styled turnovers seasoned with black peppers, diced onions, jalapeños, herbs and lentils Dietary tags: Low-Sodium Available at: dinner, lunch
- Kategna - $9.5: Toasted injera with a mixture of Awaze and Ethiopian clarified butter or Olive oil with cottage cheese Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Halal, Pescatarian, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory Available at: dinner, lunch
- Timatim Fitfit (Appetizer) - $7: Cold, tart, finely diced tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, mixed olive oil & pieces of fresh injera Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, Dairy-Free, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Anti-Inflammatory, Low-Cholesterol Available at: dinner, lunch
- Azifa - $8: Pureed Green lentil, onions and Jalapeño, coarsely mashed in an Ethiopian mustard vinaigrette with shredded Injera Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, Dairy-Free, Mediterranean, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium, Low-Fat, Anti-Inflammatory, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, GERD-Friendly, Zone, Volumetrics, TLC Available at: dinner, lunch
- Stuffed Jalapeños - $7: 3 jalapeños peppers stuffed with diced tomatoes and onions mixed in homemade vinaigrette Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Plant-Based, Alkaline, Soy Free Available at: dinner, lunch
Beef Entrees
- Awaze Tibs - $23.5: Tibs cooked in a mouthwatering chili-pepper sauce, garnished with fresh jalapeños, tomatoes Dietary tags: Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, Atkins, South-Beach, DASH Sodium-Reduced, TLC Available at: dinner, lunch
- Elfegne Special Goden Tibs - $25: Fried short ribs sautéed with caramelized onion, diced jalapeños Dietary tags: Keto, Low-Carb, Atkins, South-Beach Available at: dinner, lunch
- Kitfo - $23: Lean minced beef marinated in mitmita & spiced butter Dietary tags: Low-Carb, Low-Sodium, South-Beach Available at: dinner, lunch
- Gored Gored - $21: Lean cubes of beef marinated in mitmita & spiced butter with diced onion & jalapeños Dietary tags: Keto, Low-Carb, Atkins, South-Beach Available at: dinner, lunch
- Key Wot - $22: Spicy beef stew simmered in spiced butter, chili pepper sauce, ginger root & Ethiopian cardamom Dietary tags: Low-Sodium Available at: dinner, lunch
- Bozena Shiro - $20: Hearty chickpea stew with lean cubes of beef prepared with spiced butter, lightly garnished with jalapeños Available at: dinner, lunch
Lamb Entrees
- Derek Tibs (Lamb) - $23: Fried tibs cooked with fresh onion, jalapeños, tomatoes, herbs Dietary tags: Low-Sodium Available at: dinner, lunch
- Lega Tibs (Lamb) - $23: Tender tibs sautéed with fresh onions, jalapeños, tomatoes, herbs Available at: dinner, lunch
- Yebeg Kikil - $21.5: Chunks of lamb slowly cooked with garlic, ginger, onions and turmeric Dietary tags: Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Whole30, Paleo, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, AIP, Renal, Lectin-Free, Soy Free Available at: dinner, lunch
- Dulet - $21: Lamb tripe, lamb liver and minced beef cooked with mitmita & spiced butter Dietary tags: Low-Carb, Low-Sodium, South-Beach Available at: dinner, lunch
Poultry Entrees
- Doro Tibs - $20.5: Lean cubes of chicken sautéed with potatoes and jalapeños Dietary tags: Anti-Inflammatory, South-Beach, Zone, Volumetrics Available at: dinner, lunch
- Doro Wot - $22.5: Spicy, boneless chicken stew simmered in a hearty chili pepper sauce, spiced butter with hard-boiled egg Dietary tags: High-Protein, Keto, Low-Carb, Atkins, South-Beach Available at: dinner, lunch
- Alicha Doro Wot - $21.5: Mild, savory boneless chicken stew simmered in spiced butter, onion & turmeric with hard-boiled egg Available at: dinner, lunch
Vegetarian
- Tegabino Shiro - $18: Pieces of injera tossed in a savory chili-pepper sauce, served with 2 veggie sides Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, Dairy-Free, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Anti-Inflammatory, Low-Cholesterol Available at: dinner, lunch
- Mesir - $18: Spicy red lentils stew simmered in a chili pepper sauce (berbere) Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, Dairy-Free, Mediterranean, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, TLC, Alkaline Available at: dinner, lunch
- Ater - $18: Mild, yellow split peas simmered in a turmeric & ginger Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, Dairy-Free, Mediterranean, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, TLC, Alkaline, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
- Gomen - $16: Fresh, hand-chopped, cooked collard greens with onions and garlic Dietary tags: Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, South-Beach, DASH Sodium-Reduced, GERD-Friendly, Zone, Volumetrics, TLC Available at: dinner, lunch
- Tikel Gomen - $16: Hearty cabbage, carrots & potato stew with onion, garlic, ginger Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Halal, Pescatarian, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, High-Fiber Available at: dinner, lunch
Beverages
- Elfegne Arada Cocktail - $14: Vodka, Honey wine, Pineapple Juice, Berber and Fresh mint Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Low-Sodium, Low-Fat, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, TLC, Renal, Juice-Cleanse, Lectin-Free
- Bunna Cocktail - $14: Grand Marnier, Irish Cream, Ethiopian coffee, Cinnamon Powder Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Low-Sodium
- Birz - $8: Traditional Ethiopian Non-alcoholic fusion of fermented honey and fresh pineapple Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian
- Mango Nectar - $4: Fresh mango juice Dietary tags: Low-Carb, Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Heart-Healthy, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, South-Beach, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, TLC, Alkaline, AIP, Renal, Macrobiotic, Juice-Cleanse, Slow-Carb, Lectin-Free
- Ethiopian Beer (Bottle) - $7: Habesha, St. George, Walia, or Harar Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based
Add-Ons
- Teff Injera - $4.5: Authentic teff injera imported from Ethiopia (gluten free) Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, Dairy-Free, Mediterranean, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, TLC, Macrobiotic
- Aybe - $5: Fresh homemade cottage cheese Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Halal, Pescatarian, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory
Frequently Asked Questions about Elfegne
- Is Elfegne dairy-free-friendly?
- Yes. Elfegne has 8 dairy-free-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Yebeg Kikil, Azifa and Tegabino Shiro.
- What can I eat at Elfegne on a dairy-free diet?
- Yebeg Kikil, Azifa and Tegabino Shiro carry the dairy-free tag, out of 8 tagged dishes on the current menu. Every dish's diet tags are listed in the menu.
- Does Elfegne have vegan options?
- Yes. 9 dishes are tagged vegan on the current menu, including Azifa and Tegabino Shiro.
- Is Elfegne gluten-free?
- 2 dishes are tagged gluten-free on the current menu. Chefi never infers allergen tags from a dish name alone, but a tag is not a certification — confirm preparation with the restaurant if you have celiac disease or a severe sensitivity.
- What is the highest-protein dish at Elfegne?
- Stuffed Jalapeños, at roughly 55.5g of protein (estimated from ingredients).
Restaurants near Elfegne
- Habesha Market & Restaurant — Ethiopian
- Ethiopic Restaurant — Ethiopian
- Pizza Boli's — Italian
- Pupatella — Italian
- Meze — Mediterranean
- The Diner — American
- Anju — Korean
- Osteria al Volo — Italian
- The Grill From Ipanema — Steakhouse
- Jyoti Indian Cuisine — Indian
- Akira Ramen & Izakaya — Japanese
- Super Tacos and Bakery — Mexican
