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: high-protein, keto, low-carb, vegetarian, gluten-free, nut-free, dairy-free, vegan, pescatarian, diabetic, sugar-free, heart-healthy, plant-based, low-fat, whole30, paleo, mediterranean, atkins, clean-eating, anti-inflammatory, high-fiber, low-cholesterol, south-beach, volumetrics, tlc, detox, carnivore, raw-food, alkaline, lectin-free, mayo-clinic, candida, slow-carb, macrobiotic, pegan
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: Vegan, Vegetarian, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Sugar-Free, High-Fiber, Low-Cholesterol
- Kategna - $9.5: Toasted injera with a mixture of Awaze and Ethiopian clarified butter or Olive oil with cottage cheese Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Nut-Free, Pescatarian, Sugar-Free, High-Fiber
- Timatim Fitfit (Appetizer) - $7: Cold, tart, finely diced tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, mixed olive oil & pieces of fresh injera Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Plant-Based, Low-Fat, Sugar-Free, Anti-Inflammatory, Clean-Eating, High-Fiber, Low-Cholesterol, Volumetrics, TLC, Detox, Alkaline, Mayo-Clinic
- Azifa - $8: Pureed Green lentil, onions and Jalapeño, coarsely mashed in an Ethiopian mustard vinaigrette with shredded Injera Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Plant-Based, Low-Fat, Sugar-Free, Anti-Inflammatory, Clean-Eating, High-Fiber, Low-Cholesterol, Volumetrics, TLC, Detox, Mayo-Clinic
- Stuffed Jalapeños - $7: 3 jalapeños peppers stuffed with diced tomatoes and onions mixed in homemade vinaigrette Dietary tags: Keto, Low-Carb, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Mediterranean, Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Diabetic, Heart-Healthy, Plant-Based, Low-Fat, Sugar-Free, Atkins, South-Beach, Clean-Eating, Low-Cholesterol, Raw-Food, Volumetrics, TLC, Detox, Alkaline, Mayo-Clinic, Slow-Carb, Pegan, Candida
Beef Entrees
- Awaze Tibs - $23.5: Tibs cooked in a mouthwatering chili-pepper sauce, garnished with fresh jalapeños, tomatoes Dietary tags: High-Protein, Low-Carb, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Diabetic, Sugar-Free, Atkins, Clean-Eating
- Elfegne Special Goden Tibs - $25: Fried short ribs sautéed with caramelized onion, diced jalapeños Dietary tags: High-Protein, Low-Carb, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Sugar-Free, Atkins
- Kitfo - $23: Lean minced beef marinated in mitmita & spiced butter Dietary tags: High-Protein, Keto, Low-Carb, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Diabetic, Sugar-Free, Atkins, Clean-Eating, Carnivore, Raw-Food, Candida, Lectin-Free
- Gored Gored - $21: Lean cubes of beef marinated in mitmita & spiced butter with diced onion & jalapeños Dietary tags: High-Protein, Keto, Low-Carb, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Diabetic, Sugar-Free, Atkins
- Key Wot - $22: Spicy beef stew simmered in spiced butter, chili pepper sauce, ginger root & Ethiopian cardamom Dietary tags: High-Protein, Low-Carb, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Diabetic, Sugar-Free, Atkins, Clean-Eating, Candida
- Bozena Shiro - $20: Hearty chickpea stew with lean cubes of beef prepared with spiced butter, lightly garnished with jalapeños Dietary tags: High-Protein, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Sugar-Free, High-Fiber, Slow-Carb
Lamb Entrees
- Derek Tibs (Lamb) - $23: Fried tibs cooked with fresh onion, jalapeños, tomatoes, herbs Dietary tags: High-Protein, Low-Carb, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Diabetic, Sugar-Free, Atkins
- Lega Tibs (Lamb) - $23: Tender tibs sautéed with fresh onions, jalapeños, tomatoes, herbs Dietary tags: High-Protein, Keto, Low-Carb, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Whole30, Paleo, Diabetic, Sugar-Free, Atkins, South-Beach, Clean-Eating, Slow-Carb, Candida
- Yebeg Kikil - $21.5: Chunks of lamb slowly cooked with garlic, ginger, onions and turmeric Dietary tags: High-Protein, Keto, Low-Carb, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Whole30, Paleo, Diabetic, Sugar-Free, Atkins, South-Beach, Clean-Eating, Detox, Candida, Lectin-Free
- Dulet - $21: Lamb tripe, lamb liver and minced beef cooked with mitmita & spiced butter Dietary tags: High-Protein, Keto, Low-Carb, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Diabetic, Sugar-Free, Atkins, Clean-Eating, Carnivore, Candida, Lectin-Free
Poultry Entrees
- Doro Tibs - $20.5: Lean cubes of chicken sautéed with potatoes and jalapeños Dietary tags: High-Protein, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Sugar-Free, Clean-Eating
- 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, Nut-Free
- Alicha Doro Wot - $21.5: Mild, savory boneless chicken stew simmered in spiced butter, onion & turmeric with hard-boiled egg Dietary tags: High-Protein, Low-Carb, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Diabetic, Sugar-Free, Atkins, Clean-Eating
Vegetarian
- Tegabino Shiro - $18: Pieces of injera tossed in a savory chili-pepper sauce, served with 2 veggie sides Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Plant-Based, Low-Fat, Sugar-Free, Clean-Eating, High-Fiber, Low-Cholesterol, TLC, Mayo-Clinic
- Mesir - $18: Spicy red lentils stew simmered in a chili pepper sauce (berbere) Dietary tags: High-Protein, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Pescatarian, Diabetic, Heart-Healthy, Plant-Based, Low-Fat, Sugar-Free, Anti-Inflammatory, South-Beach, Clean-Eating, High-Fiber, Low-Cholesterol, Volumetrics, TLC, Detox, Alkaline, Mayo-Clinic, Macrobiotic, Slow-Carb
- Ater - $18: Mild, yellow split peas simmered in a turmeric & ginger Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Pescatarian, Diabetic, Heart-Healthy, Plant-Based, Low-Fat, Sugar-Free, Anti-Inflammatory, South-Beach, Clean-Eating, High-Fiber, Low-Cholesterol, Volumetrics, TLC, Detox, Alkaline, Mayo-Clinic, Macrobiotic, Slow-Carb
- Gomen - $16: Fresh, hand-chopped, cooked collard greens with onions and garlic Dietary tags: Keto, Low-Carb, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Mediterranean, Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Diabetic, Heart-Healthy, Plant-Based, Low-Fat, Sugar-Free, Anti-Inflammatory, Atkins, South-Beach, Clean-Eating, High-Fiber, Low-Cholesterol, Volumetrics, TLC, Detox, Alkaline, Mayo-Clinic, Macrobiotic, Slow-Carb, Pegan, Candida, Lectin-Free
- Tikel Gomen - $16: Hearty cabbage, carrots & potato stew with onion, garlic, ginger Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Mediterranean, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Plant-Based, Low-Fat, Sugar-Free, Anti-Inflammatory, Clean-Eating, High-Fiber, Low-Cholesterol, Volumetrics, TLC, Detox, Alkaline, Mayo-Clinic
Beverages
- Elfegne Arada Cocktail - $14: Vodka, Honey wine, Pineapple Juice, Berber and Fresh mint
- Bunna Cocktail - $14: Grand Marnier, Irish Cream, Ethiopian coffee, Cinnamon Powder
- Birz - $8: Traditional Ethiopian Non-alcoholic fusion of fermented honey and fresh pineapple
- Mango Nectar - $4: Fresh mango juice
- Ethiopian Beer (Bottle) - $7: Habesha, St. George, Walia, or Harar
Add-Ons
- Teff Injera - $4.5: Authentic teff injera imported from Ethiopia (gluten free) Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Plant-Based, Low-Fat, Sugar-Free, Anti-Inflammatory, Clean-Eating, High-Fiber, Low-Cholesterol, TLC, Mayo-Clinic, Macrobiotic
- Aybe - $5: Fresh homemade cottage cheese Dietary tags: High-Protein, Keto, Low-Carb, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Pescatarian, Diabetic, Sugar-Free, Atkins, Clean-Eating, Lectin-Free