Dama Restaurant is a family-owned and operated Ethiopian restaurant located in Arlington, VA. Serving the community for over 20 years, Dama Restaurant has mastered all the traditional and delicious dishes that Ethiopian cuisine is known for. Dama is my favorite Ethiopian spot in Arlington. I've never had a bad meal here--in fact, every meal has been great. This restaurant has been my favorite Ethiopian restaurant for years.
Established in 1980, Dama has been in the area for more than 12 years and has been awarded multiple accolades from various sites and critics. It opened in 1980 and quickly became a staple for Arlington's Ethiopian community. Dama Pastry and Restaurant is a true gem in Arlington's Foxcroft Heights neighborhood. A short walk from the Air Force Memorial, this family-owned Ethiopian restaurant is a market and bakery too.
A Diverse Menu Catering to All Tastes
Dama caters a wide variety of foods ranging from Authentic Ethiopian cuisines to American foods and pastries. The food is very flavorful, lots of different flavors. The pricepoint is also awesome. The food is well made and always delicious.
We also have a variety of options for customers looking for vegan and vegetarian alternatives. This is a perfect place for vegans and vegetarians to get a hearty, flavorful meal that isn't just a menu afterthought. You won't miss meat or dairy if you get the vegetable platter. There are also good meat selections if that's what you're looking for. What surprised me was the huge variety of vegan/vegetarian fare, including the fact that they're constantly adding new items to the menu. Who would've thought vegan kitfo could've tasted as good as the meat version?
Featured Menu Items
- Vegetarian Combo: $27.95
- Awaze Tibs: $27.45 - Cubed beef or lamb cooked with sauteed onions, jalapeno, and Ethiopian spices amaze (hot chili paste).
- Lamb Alicha: $27.45 - Lamb stew simmered in spices and turmeric.
- Kitfo: $27.45 - Finely chopped beef tartar cooked in spiced butter served with ayib (homemade Ethiopian cheese) available rare, medium, or well done.
- Doro Wot: $27.45 - Chicken stew simmered with spices and hot chili sauce with hard-boiled eggs.
- Misir Wot: $25.95
- Vegan Dulet: $27.95
Specializing in Ethiopian cuisine, their dishes like Quanta Firfir, Kitfo, and Fish Goulash showcase bold flavors and authentic preparation methods. Customers rave about the delicious veggie combos, vegan tibs, and vegan doro wat, highlighting the restaurant's commitment to quality and authenticity.
Read also: Ethiopian Cuisine: Philadelphia Guide
How Traditional Ethiopian Doro Tibs is Made (Chicken Stir-Fry) | Passport Kitchen | Epicurious
Other Main Dishes
- Plain Firfir: $26.45 - Plain with spiced butter or no butter.
- Special Kitfo: $28.45 - Kitfo with the addition of gomen kitfo, kekel kitfo, and assorted ayib (homemade Ethiopian cheeses) available rare, medium, or well done.
- Dulet: $27.45 - Chopped tripe and beef cooked with sauteed onions spiced and jalapeno. Available rare, medium, and well done.
- Tibs: $27.45 - Medium juicy or well done.
More Than Just a Restaurant
Dama market has a multitude of Ethiopian food that you can take home to use for your own kitchen. This includes spices, injera, and a butcher on-site to carve meats to your request. They sell all the usual suspects as well as Ethiopian coffee. We also have arts, music, and books that reflect the best of Ethiopian culture.
Don't forget to check out their bakery, right next to the restaurant. They offer a lot of vegan choices and pasties. However, they also sell large cakes, gluten-free cookies and fresh bombolonis, a frosting less, less-sweet doughnut. Like I said, we come during lent a lot and tried out their cakes as well. Wow! Sooo good.
Customer Experiences
Dama is my family's favorite Ethiopian place in Arlington - possibly in the greater DC area. We've been going here for years and have consistently found the meals to be hearty, flavorful, and varied. Misir Wot is cheaper than other restaurants and always delicious. I wanted some extra injera and they sold me less than their usual package. Trust me - other Ethiopian store has turned me down for buying less than 10. I also got Tiramisu. Misir Wot is big enough to be 2 meals for me.
The warm and inviting ambiance, along with attentive service, enhance the overall dining experience. From the first bite to the last, Dama Pastry and Restaurant will surely leave a lasting impression. Whether dining in or taking out, Dama is a must-try for those seeking a culinary adventure that will leave them speechless.
Visit Dama Today!
When planning your next meeting or special function, contact us to enjoy traditional Ethiopian and American food prepared fresh in our kitchen. Enjoy our famous cakes and pastries.
Read also: Authentic Ethiopian Cuisine
Low contact pickup was very easy. They also have a nice, covered outdoor seating area if that's what you're looking for. The parking lot is small and tight so pickup might be the way to go, though.
Restaurant Information
- Address: 1505 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204
- Delivery Fee: $4.99
- Hours: Every Day 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Read also: A Taste of Ethiopia in South Carolina
