Awash Ethiopian Restaurant

Long wait time for food to be served and not so great service (not very accommodating, didn’t have many clients but asked us to sit at a very small corner table). Authentic, chewy injera. The kitfo was good, spiced well. The meat sampler was very underwhelming, chicken undercooked, and meat in general not flavorful nor fresh. You can tell the sauce was separately prepared and then mixed with the meat.

(Once again I'm asking that you don't allow my horrible photography skills to color your impression of the food I review, but anyway) This place is great! Ordered online and it was ready the minute it said it would be. The man who gave me my order was very nice, the space is beautiful, as is the food. Ordering extra injera was overkill on my part, but it's delicious, so I'm not complaining. Ethiopia has truly mastered vegetarian food, and Awash has a great selection. A true celebration of spice and seasoning and all the best things vegetables can be. Don't miss the Gomen, their collard greens were absolute perfection. I can rest easy knowing I've found my go-to spot for NYC Ethiopian food.

It may look like your average neighborhood restaurant, but the food is amazing!I wandered in with two friends on a Sunday afternoon, and was immediately greeted by the friendly staff. Restaurant was not that crowded. We ordered Meat Sampler with one Premium Sampler Item and three boiled eggs (For three members together) You can get it individual plate. But we thought of eating Ethiopian way. The service person really explained everything about the ,menu and the quantity go the food. So we were not at all confused with anything. Food was so tasty and we could not stop eating. You can get Ethiopian beer in this restaurant. Only one negative thing I noticed is the washroom. It was not that great and may be its NY. So we need to adjust.

Good vegan options, injera NOT gluten-free I enjoyed the vegetarian platter immensely, well spiced, but nothing was spicy this was a positive and a negative as I enjoy spicy things. The beet dish was hyped on the menu, and I thought it was solid. I don’t eat meat but my companion enjoyed the chicken dish. The portions are huge if you get a platter for 1, probably more normal if you get a platter to share. Expect to spend $25/person minimum One bathroom for the whole restaurant, so competitive and awkward. No mirror in the bathroom, not wheelchair accessible but if you can go down a couple stairs it’s doable.

I’ve been coming here for 15+ years since I found Awash when I first moved to the city. It is consistently the best Ethiopian food and friendly service I’ve had anywhere in the USA. I’ve tried it all over Harlem and other NYC spots, in Vegas, in SF, etc…. The flavors are always top tier, the meat tender and veggies beyond tasty, and I just love this place!! Always a friendly smile from the staff and I’m really just grateful for this restaurant and the food they serve 🙏🏼 it feels like the food is cooked with love and they want you to be happy! Today I got the meat sampler - special tibs (beef), chicken Awash, gomen (collard greens) and the yellow split peas. Soooooo delicious!!

It's taken me a few months to do this review but I wasn't going to let this slide. On June 25, 2024, we entered this restaurant in the East Village of Manhattan (located at 338 East 6th Street) it was empty at that moment. When we ordered we were the only ones at the restaurant. Later others arrived and were served before us, over and over again. We waited about 1 hour and 20 minutes to get our food and once we got it we were very disappointed - little food and a lot of cold Ethiopian bread (I think it's called Teff Injera). When we asked for our bill the waitress brought it to us with a 20% tip already included. I'm sure she knew we were not happy! We were so upset we were only going to tip 18% even if it wasn't earned. Mined you, we were only five! In Manhattan automatic tips should only be done for a party of six or more! I will never again dine there.

Good food but it’s a little pricier than what other Ethiopian restaurants provide. We ordered a vegetable platter for 2 which costed us $39 bucks and the quantities weren’t great. We were able to eat the full platter and still had some more room to eat. Other places I have been to provide way more food for the price. Overall it’s a good place with good music but nothing extremely exhilarating. Probably worth a visit if you are around LES and need an Ethiopian place to eat.

Second time trying Ethiopian food and the injera (the Ethiopian flatbread) blew my mind again! Absolutely love the soft, elastic (almost rubbery), porous texture and the mildly sour taste. The injera adds an additional flavor to the bites. For such a big portion of food and all the samplers the total was only $26 each person with tip! Very decent price for east village. We ordered: Meat Sampler For 2 with Beg Alicha, Doro Wat, Key Sir Alicha, Gomen 1. Beg Alicha(lamb in the middle) More like a curry-style dish. The lamb stew was so well seasoned and the meat was easy to chew. Although it was well-seasoned the flavors were more earthy and weren’t too strong (not spicy)👍🏼 Loved the turmeric and ginger seasoning 2. Doro Wat (red chicken) Favorite sampler out of all 4! The chicken thigh was so juicy and tender, and the flavors were nothing like I tried before. The stew was so rich and thick, yet not heavy. The rich flavors of the Ethiopian bebere spice blend (that contains ground fenugreek, chiles, paprika, ginger, onion powder, cardamom, coriander, nutmeg, garlic, cloves, and cinnamon) really stood out! No wonder it was praised in a food article 3. Key Sir Alicha Beets and carrots with red onion. Definitely a very light dish. The sampler didn’t go that well with the injera because the chunks were so big so it was harder to wrap. The dish was slightly sweet but overall wasn’t that interesting. 4. Gomen The collard greens were well seasoned with ginger and garlic. But overall wasn’t really interesting either, reminded me of home cooked Chinese stir-fried chopped veggies Restaurant itself has a very nice and quiet atmosphere. The set up is quite sophisticated and romantic.

Still exploring the Ethiopian food scene here in NYC, so don't have much to compare to besides past experiences in other cities, but overall I think it's great! The servers here are so nice, welcoming, and attentive. Throughout our time here, they refilled our water multiple times, and offered more injera when we ran out (at no extra charge). The meats we ordered were also seasoned very well, and packed with flavor. I also liked the variety of vegetable sides that the meats came with. Though, I do wish that the vegetables were a bit more seasoned. Would definitely come back!

Meh! I know I will never find DC level Ethiopian in NY but this was disappointing. Service was fine . Space is standard a bit dated . With snow and rain place was a bit musty. Alcohol was a big pricey except for beer normal price.All injera was cold -which I have never been served before -room temp or warms. It was one of the tastiest and lighests injera I have had. seemed like taken out of fridge. Portions were adequate. Appetizer was spicy injera with lentil roll . If it had been warmer and more lentils would have been really good. Had meat platter . Lamb, beef , beet veggie and potatoe cabbage veg. Everything under salted and spice level pretty low. Potatoe cabbage tasted off -maybe sitting too long. Fav was the beef but needed spice and heat level amped up. My dinner mate same platter but both chickens and collard greens and lentils . Fav were the veggies.

Been craving some Ethiopian for a while and Awash was at the top of my list to try. We ordered a lot of our favorite dishes and ended up getting a large platter for the two of us. It took about 45 minutes to get our food after placing the order but you can tell it was all fresh and hot. Both of us being starving, the wait was a bit longer than I expected and it wasn't that crowded. Food quality was great, however it could use more heat. The spiciness level is no where near authentic Ethiopian food I've had before. The injera was great, plenty of bread to scoop up all that deliciousness. We definitely polished off the platter. As for some improvements, perhaps a simpler menu that doesn't have weird charges listed for sharing. The price for one person for one plate (2 meat, 2 veggie) was $26. We ended up getting two and picked 4 of each category. Needless to say, I think it was a bit on the expensive side. Ambiance was casual, nothing extraordinary about the decor. I'm sure it can get romantic if you put in the request. Also, I tried making a reservation online for two, but the site only allows reservations for parties larger than 5. Overall, between the wait time, food needing more heat (spice), plain decor, and price; this place gets a solid 3 stars. Easiest fix would be to list out the spicy items on the menu and use real heat not catered to weak American palettes. For the decor, maybe some table cloths and cloth napkins to take it up a level. Maybe some music could help also. Those changes would at least justify the price.

I LOVE Ethiopian food and this spot proved that NYC has quality options! Our server was so excited to see that we devoured our food in under 20 minutes, I've never seen someone smile so wide! My sister and I would definitely come back soon

Incredibly delicious, attentive staff! I try Ethiopian restaurants whenever I find them and this one did not disappoint!

This was my first time trying Ethiopian food and I will be eating it again. The food was flavorful and everything was cooked amazingly. There was more than enough injera for the meal. My party ordered the siga tibs and gored gored which each came with veggies decided by the chef and a salad. The service was pretty nice, given we were the only table there.

Acknowledging that I've never tried Ethiopian food before and didn't know what to expect, I became a huge fan after dining at Awash. Wrapping up a day of shopping in Soho, I visited Awash for an early weeknight dinner. I called ahead to make sure there would be seating available, and my group of four was seated in the cozy dining room upon arrival. We started our meal with an appetizer of beef sambusa. The best way I can describe this dish is richly-seasoned ground beef enveloped in flaky phyllo pastry, paired with a tangy and flavorful dipping sauce. I could have eaten an entire plate by myself. For our main course, we ordered the vegetarian platter to share. We were awed by the platter's presentation: jewel-toned vegetables dotted a thin sheet of injera like a paint palette. From the spiced lentils to the tangy cabbage, everything paired so well together. When we were done eating, every last morsel was scraped from the platter. Overall, the service was excellent, the food was delicious, and we had a lovely and memorable dining experience.

I've ordered takeout from Awash a few times, and it's always been great. Out of all the Ethiopian food I've had in NYC, Awash has been my favorite so far. I always order the vegetable platter, which comes with a selection of 4 dishes and 2 injeras. I would like the portions to be slightly larger, but it's usually enough to fill me for a meal. I'll definitely order from here again!

I wasn't exactly disappointed with this meal but I much preferred the meal I had at Bati Ethiopian in Clinton hill. In comparison, the food was less seasoned. Portion sizes were still good and I still can't finish a whole plate by myself. I think this is a good option in the area if you're craving Ethiopian food but I'm not planning on making a special trip back just to come here. 3/5

I went here with one of my other groups not realizing that I've been to their location nearby to be on Court Street a couple of times. Service was friendly though a tad slow but they did refill the injera whenever it was running low. To drink, I had the Spris, a 50-50 mix of coffee and tea which is kind of like their version of a Yuanyan though there are some good spices in the coffee and it's served quite hot. Outside of tea/coffee, they have Tej/honey wine and a selection of other beers, wines, and soft drinks. We sat at one table but split our meal into two different large platters as it was just easier to figure out things sampling stuff one side didn't order. For appetizers, our table stuck with the Engudai Tibs consisting of mushrooms, onions, and jalapenos sautéed and seasoned with an Ethiopian herb and spice mixture as well as some injera of course. The mushrooms were very tasty with a lot of cooked down onion and tomato and a good blend. I would recommend them. The other table had the Sambusa or pastry shells stuffed with spiced beef or mixed vegetables served with dipping sauce which has three pieces per order. I believe they got the mixed vegetables and I didn't try. We got a mix of platters. For chicken, the Doro Wat or stewed chicken with a hard-boiled egg is both one of the national dishes and one of my favorites. The chicken is cooked down nicely and the spice blend is unique and tasty almost reminding me of mole with the blend. The Special Kitfo or steak tartare, onions, and jalapenos marinated in clarified butter and an exclusive blend of spices, is another unique dish. This is either available entirely raw which is traditional or barely cooked. The spice blend which includes mitmita adds a strong cardamom and clove flavor. The other beef dish was the Awash Tibs or charbroiled beef cubes marinated in wine, with onions & jalapeños. The beef was a bit less tender than I would like but it was also well flavored. Otherwise for meat there was Beg Alicha which is a mild lamb stew with clarified butter and a variety of herbs. As described, the spices are more mild and the lamb is very soft being surprisingly more tender than the beef. I wouldn't recommend the Asa Kitfo or ground salmon with onions, and jalapeos cooked in clarified butter and a house blend of spices. There's a good reason why there's only one fish dish on the entire menu as the salmon seemed canned but the spices were decent. For vegetarian, the Key Sir Alicha or beets and carrots cooked with onions and flavored with herbs and spices in a mild stew. was my favorite with some texture left on the beets. The Gomen or chopped collard greens sauteed with ginger, garlic, onions, and herbs was probably 2nd with tender greens in a well flavored sauce. The Misir Wat or split red lentil stew cooked in a spicy mixture was also tasty. There was also a salad on the platter which was fine. Both locations are around a mid/upper 3. There's better Ethiopian food but most of the good spots are much further up in Harlem such as Benyam and the food is better here than anything surrounding. Solid spot.

Wanted some Ethiopian food - there wasn't that many options in the area so chose to check out Awash. Located in the basement- this was busy and bustling on a Saturday night. Opted for the vegetable platter for 2 people. It was good, but not the best Ethiopian food I've had. The awash tibs had really great flavor - though the beef itself was a bit tough. The injera was sour and spongy - good stuff. Overall, Awash is a decent Ethiopian joint. The owner is lovely, and the food is decent. Service is very very slow though - it took them forever to serve the food. If you've never had Ethiopian food, check it out as there aren't that many options in the area. The acoustics in the place itself isn't the best though so it might be very loud due to the low ceilings and enclosed space.

I went here with a friend for dinner on a Friday night. I hadn't eaten Ethiopian food in a few years, so I didn't know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised with how wonderful our dinner was! We ordered the engudai tibs (sautéed mushrooms, onions, and jalapeños) as an appetizer. It was one of my favorite things I tried. For dinner, I ordered the meat sampler, which came with 2 meat and 2 vegetable dishes. I chose beg alicha (lamb stew), awash chicken, misir wat (stewed red lentils), and gomen (sautéed collard greens). Everything was so flavorful. My favorites were the beg alicha and the misir wat. The sampler was quite large and I took home about half of it. Overall, great food, great service, and affordable prices. I highly recommend.

Came here for a book club dinner and it did not disappoint! This place is great for coming with a group of friends to share a hearty meal together. We ordered the meat sampler , which comes with 2 meats and 2 veggies per person. Our waiter was helpful with recommending some options for us as we weren't sure what to order from the large selection! His recommendations were on point because we finished the whole plate no crumbs left behind. Highly recommend this cute little spot!

As a couple we visited here and upon entering we noticed the Beautiful Ethiopian light fixtures, art and great lighting. It was a long wait for our food to arrive and when it did we were disappointed. The red lentils were not seasoned and cooked in the traditional sense, the Tibs had very little meat but over sized tomato chucks to appear as if we are getting a nice portion. The collard greens seemed as if they were seasoned in a hurry. At other Ethiopian restaurants we have ordered the same dish and we're always full and satisfied, not here. The waitresses were professionally polite but none of them smiled, and seemed subdued more like nurses aids. When we left this spot still hungry and annoyed we headed two blocks down to a Korean wing restaurant and were happily greeted, offered free soup because of the freezing cold weather. The hot wings were delicious!! Koko wings is the name. I honestly think Awash is great for those Columbia University types that wanna have a multicultural cuisine and have nothing to compare it to. I will definitely scratch Awash off my list. We won't be going back.

First time trying Ethiopian and loved it. We got the meat and Venetian samplers to share - everything was seasoned well and portions were filling. I don't think you could really go wrong with anything here. Quick, friendly service.

Visited Awash location LES, on Friday In March, little after 7pm. Did not to dine in and ordered takeout (ordered Shiro Wat) as I had to reach work before 8pm. Anticipated wait for one dish was about 15 to 20 mins as communicated to me by the server, observing the light dinner crowd that evening. As the wait time approached and passed 20 mins, ordered a beer. Had to bide away the time, why not have a refreshing local beer. And 35 minutes later received an apology for the wait and got my takeout. Naturally the food is delicious, service needs a spark!

The same day my friend and I went to Panorama Room, we returned to Brooklyn in search of dinner. She hasn't tried Ethiopian food before and I loved it when I had it in Tucson. So we found this place -- thank Steve Jobs/Steve Wozniak for Apple Maps. This place was still open and mind you, it was late. There were still a good amount of people inside. So we decided to try it. We both ordered this drink that I don't remember the name of it, but it was some sort of honey wine and champagne maybe. It was really sweet and I totally tipped over the first one by complete accident. Luckily, it didn't land on myself or my friend, but the liquid slipped through the crack between the two tables and landed on the floor. I kept apologizing profusely. I was trying to scooch the drink over and the bottom must have been stuck to the table because it just tipped over. The staff were really nice and gave me a refill for free -- mainly because I had barely drunk the first one. I think we ordered a combo or sampler with both meats and vegetables. And if you like spice, you'll like Ethiopian food. The meats are usually spicy and I always say that they're amazing. You eat it with your hands (so make sure to wash your hands) and you use the Injera to pick up the food. You don't get plates here unless you ask. It's supposed to be family style. My friend really liked it and I'm so glad she had a good first experience eating Ethiopian food. My husband is not a big fan of it because he doesn't like spice. This place is a gem in Brooklyn and I think they have other locations as well. If you are looking for adventure and you don't mind getting your hands a little dirty and you are looking for some spice in your life, try this place.

First time ever trying Ethiopian Food... it was so so good. It reminded me of Indian food, where the options were saucy, seasoned well, and spicy. Me and my buddy got the Meat Sampler and it was the perfect amount for 2 people. The bread is so so good and everything you see on this plate was great! It was super busy inside too! My only complaint is the service was very very slow as we waited 45 minutes for our food. To be fair, there was only one waitress & she was holding it down. So be ready to wait a sec if you come here Favorite parts of the dishes were the Lamb dish, Beef Dish, and Lentil Dish.

First time trying Ethiopian food. The flavors are definitely different from what I'm used to, but it was pretty good overall.

The food at this location is good, and should not be confused with the restaurant with the same name located on Amsterdam. We LOVE Ethiopian food and try it in every city we visit. Our meals were good. We would order from here again if we were nearby.

This was my first time trying Ethiopian food and it was not bad. Came here on a late afternoon and there wasn't anyone else. We got the vegetable sampler for two people with injera. These were the vegetables we had: -SHIRO WAT: Ground spiced chickpea and split pea stew cooked in chopped tomatoes and onions. -MISIR WAT: Split red lentil stew cooked in a spicy mixture -ATER KIK ALICHA: Yellow split peas cooked in a mild stew and seasoned with onions and herbs. -ATKILT ALICHA: Potatoes, carrots, and cabbage seasoned with herbs and spices in a mild stew -KEY SIR ALICHA: Beets and carrots cooked with onions and flavored with herbs and spices in a mild stew. It was a new experience eating this with my hands. I wasn't a big fan of the injera because it was a bit sour which I don't like. However mixed with the veggies, it was not a bad combo. Service was good. Ambience was good. This whole meal was vegetarian.

Good food. We had the vegetarian platter. I liked the bean dish and the lentil one. Those were enjoyable

The photos do not do it justice. The food was very reasonably priced and so delicious! Took my vegan friend and got the vegetarian sample plate. It was so tasty we ate it it so fast. We had enough for left overs too. Fantastic little hole in the wall joint. The food came out relatively quick and the staff was attentive.

Complete scam. 75$ for 3 people to share a veggie platter. I get times are tough but this is just theft at an incredible margin. Never coming back

good eats! one thing i thought was interesting was that there is a fee if you share the sample platters so just keep that in mind! other than that good comfort foods

A hidden gem!!! Food , service, and ambience all top notch! Highly recommend if you're in NYC

This place was highly recommended by a couple friends and glad I checked it out! Service was speedy and kind and the flavors were fresh and ample without it being too salty, which I really like.

I've been here multiple times and it never disappoints. Perfectly done injera breads. Definitely order the sambusa to start. Crisp, butters, and well seasoned. The sauce makes it. We usually order the meat and vegetarian samplers for variety. But the Awash chicken is so good. Doro wat is usually my favorite at Ethiopian places but not here. The awash is just the best. Service is helpful and friendly. Always solid. Ambiance is clean and simple. Try to sit away from the door during inclement weather.

Food/Drinks: 5/5 I came here for a birthday dinner and we all ordered different dishes! Various meat samplers and vegetarian samplers that were all delicious. Lots of options for the vegetarian/vegan peeps out there! I got the Kitfo and it was SO GOOD! Granted I've never had raw beef and usually get my steak and burgers well done but sheesh this raw beef slapped! It came out a bit warm but very well flavored. There are lots of options to choose for and on the menu they indicate top dishes that have been featured as best meals! Kitfo was one of them and I see no lies. The portions are also very generous which is a plus, leftovers the next day hit different! We had mad injera!! My only gripe was that the drink options are not very extensive. Service: 4/5 We were a large group of about 7 people. Service was a bit slow but totally understandable because it was a Saturday night. The staff was kind and considerate. Vibe: 4/5 This is a no frills, intimate hole in the wall restaurant! There are 2 sections in the restaurant. We were seated in the partially secluded area off to the side. You can see aspects of traditional Ethiopian culture throughout. The paintings are beautiful! For a city that sometimes focuses too much on the vibe and not the actual food - it's refreshing to have an authentic Ethiopian meal that was DELICIOUS! Would definitely come back here again! I recommend coming with an open mind, open stomach, and ready to dig in with your hands! :)

Awash Ethiopian Restaurant (East Village Location) Location: 338 E 6th St New York, NY 10003 A Fan Since: June 2018 Stars: 5/5 Meat and veggie-lovers alike... prepare yourself for an unparalleled experience at Awash in the East Village! :) I absolutely, hands-down, regard this restaurant as my favorite restaurant in NYC, and one of my favorites overall! I recommend that you eat this incredible Ethiopian food in-house. In doing so, you will get the maximum experience that this fantastic restaurant provides. Not only will you be able to enjoy the aesthetics of the beautiful, recently-renovated restaurant and soak in the stunning Ethiopian artwork and background music, but you will also enjoy the wonderful cuisine as intended (eaten with your hands at the temperatures they're carefully prepared at for you). There are so many delicious dish options available within the exquisite cuisine at Awash. Upon discovering it for the first time, I was delighted at the variety of flavorful vegetarian options. As someone who loves spicy foods, I really enjoyed the rich, spicy flavor profiles that some of the dishes provide. My top recommended vegetarian (and quite possibly also vegan!) option at Awash is to order the vegetable sampler comprised of the the following chosen dishes: - Shiro Wat (ground spiced chickpea and split pea stew cooked in chopped tomatoes and onions) - Misir Wat (split red lentil stew cooked in a spicy mixture) - Ater Kik Alicha (yellow split peas cooked in a mild stew and seasoned with onions and herbs) - Key Sir Alicha (*an (understandably! :D) award-winning dish for this restaurant; beets and carrots cooked with onions and flavored with herbs and spices in a mild stew) - Gomen (chopped collard greens sautéed with ginger, garlic, onions, and herbs) One of the most satisfying parts of enjoying the vegetable sampler is that you rip and dip the most delectable Ethiopian bread, called "injera" (also known in some places as "teff"), which comes served warm in delightful rolls, into the sampler. It's essentially edible cutlery! The fun melding of the injera bread with the dishes I recommended from the vegetable sampler creates an unparalleled flavor and texture profile! :) I admittedly have yet to try more of the vegetarian dishes and appetizers. However, this is merely because I ordered the 5 recommended dishes in the vegetarian sampler as outlined, and I was so eager to order it again (and again, and again, in subsequent visits!). In other words, I inadvertently created one of my favorite meals ever, anywhere, on my first visit there! There is also an array of flavorful Ethiopian beverages available. The dessert menu appears appealing as well. Upon trying the other vegetarian dishes available at Awash, as well as the beverages (aside from my usual water ;D) and desserts, I will have to leave a follow-up review (or three!) :). Additionally, I look forward to one day dining at, and then reviewing, the two other Awash locations. They are located at: 947 Amsterdam Ave New York, NY 10025 and 242 Court St Brooklyn, NY 11201 Thank you very much to the very caring and professional owners and staff of Awash in the East Village for sharing your passion for Ethiopian cuisine and culture with us -- both here, in New York, and in the world at large! :) With appreciation, Avery Branchfield, of "Avery's Savory Faves" :)

Super slow service (but somewhat expected from my past experience with Ethiopian restaurants). We came on a quiet, rainy Sunday at around 1:30pm and were only one of two tables so it wasn't very busy at all. I ordered the meat sampler for 1 ($21) where you can pick two meats and two veggie dishes to make up your plate. I thought the food was good, but nothing outstanding. Overall a solid spot for Ethiopian if you are in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here. If you do come though, I really recommend going veg! Both meats I had were dry, but the vegetable dishes were excellent!

Awash Ethiopian Restaurant (East Village Location) Location: 338 E 6th St New York, NY 10003 A Fan Since: June 2018 Meat and veggie-lovers alike... prepare yourself for an unparalleled experience at Awash in the East Village! :) I absolutely, hands-down, regard this restaurant as my favorite restaurant in NYC, and one of my favorites overall! I recommend that you eat this incredible Ethiopian food in-house. In doing so, you will get the maximum experience that this fantastic restaurant provides. Not only will you be able to enjoy the aesthetics of the beautiful, recently-renovated restaurant and soak in the stunning Ethiopian artwork and background music, but you will also enjoy the wonderful cuisine as intended (eaten with your hands at the temperatures they're carefully prepared at for you). There are so many delicious dish options available within the exquisite cuisine at Awash. Upon discovering it for the first time, I was delighted at the variety of flavorful vegetarian options. As someone who loves spicy foods, I really enjoyed the rich, spicy flavor profiles that some of the dishes provide. My top recommended vegetarian (and quite possibly also vegan!) option at Awash is to order the vegetable sampler comprised of the the following chosen dishes: - Shiro Wat (ground spiced chickpea and split pea stew cooked in chopped tomatoes and onions) - Misir Wat (split red lentil stew cooked in a spicy mixture) - Ater Kik Alicha (yellow split peas cooked in a mild stew and seasoned with onions and herbs) - Key Sir Alicha (*an (understandably! :D) award-winning dish for this restaurant; beets and carrots cooked with onions and flavored with herbs and spices in a mild stew) - Gomen (chopped collard greens sautéed with ginger, garlic, onions, and herbs) One of the most satisfying parts of enjoying the vegetable sampler is that you rip and dip the most delectable Ethiopian bread, called "injera" (also known in some places as "teff"), which comes served warm in delightful rolls, into the sampler. It's essentially edible cutlery! The fun melding of the injera bread with the dishes I recommended from the vegetable sampler creates an unparalleled flavor and texture profile! :) I admittedly have yet to try more of the vegetarian dishes and appetizers. However, this is merely because I ordered the 5 recommended dishes in the vegetarian sampler as outlined, and I was so eager to order it again (and again, and again, in subsequent visits!). In other words, I inadvertently created one of my favorite meals ever, anywhere, on my first visit there! There is also an array of flavorful Ethiopian beverages available. The dessert menu appears appealing as well. Upon trying the other vegetarian dishes available at Awash, as well as the beverages (aside from my usual water ;D) and desserts, I will have to leave a follow-up review (or three!) :). Additionally, I look forward to one day dining at, and then reviewing, the two other Awash locations. They are located at: 947 Amsterdam Ave New York, NY 10025 and 242 Court St Brooklyn, NY 11201 Thank you very much to the very caring and professional owners and staff of Awash in the East Village for sharing your passion for Ethiopian cuisine and culture with us - both here, in New York, and in the world at large! :) With appreciation, Avery B. :)

Awash restaurant is the BEST Ethiopian kitchen in NY for now two generations! I've been going to Awash uptown for over 20 years now and have never been disappointed! Having been to Ethiopia and tasted the cuisine I can honestly say this is the most authentic Ethiopian food I've had in NY. An absolute MUST if you're a foodie that loves East African Cuisine.. Highly recommended!!!

Oh my goodness the food here is so delicious. Went for my birthday with both of my kids. We stayed with drinks and my son loved his mango drink. We had two appetizers the engudai tibs (mushrooms) and Tim Tim fit fit. The engulfs was so good my son who doesn't eat mushrooms loved this dish. The Tim Tim fit fit was also premium. We had the meat sampler with awash chicken, siga tibs, beg alicha, and special tibs. All the meat was delicious. The lamb was slightly tough though. The awash chicken had a great flavor to it. We also had the lentils and the gomen all were delicious vegetables. We ate every... last... bite. We were so full we were unable to have dessert which was sad because it was my birthday and we were ready to try ice cream stuffed donuts down the street. Oh well. Another time. But definitely will return to Awash.

There are two cuisines that make it so damn easy to be vegan: Ethiopian and Indian. I'm constantly amazed too hear people bemoan the lack of vegan options. Do you even injera, bro? Ethiopian food is an utter delight and no matter how much of it I eat, it is never boring or repetitive. This Awash location seems small from the outside and also since it's down a short staircase. But it is popping and around dinner time, gets positively packed (which is when you realize it isn't so small). The staff is attentive and alert and the kitchen cranks food out quickly. We loved the "salad" (timatim fitfit), which was actually chopped up injera mixed with diced tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, oil, and spices. Pro tip: get the salata to go and let it marinate overnight. It's even more delicious. We also recommend the gursha, gomen, missir, and shiro. They are all served on top of injera, which sucks up the sauces like a delicious sponge.

Delicious Ethiopian food. Quick service and chill vibes. Like any good Ethiopian resto, tons of delicious vegan options, but our favorite was the tofu tibs!

Tried Ethiopian food for the first time at Awash, which was one of the top recommendations I had spotted prior to my visit! Ordered the only 2 available Ethiopian beers options available that day to start with. I liked the St. George a lot more than Harar. For food, we got the Non-Vegetarian Set for 2 which comes as a choice of two veg and two non-veg entrees and a serving of Injera bread. For the vegetarian selections we got Shiro Wat, which was absolutely delicious, and Collard Greens, which was cooked really well and was refreshing on a hot, summer evening. For the non-vegetarian items since I don't eat beef, the only two options I could choose from was Doro Wat, a really flavorful bone-in chicken curry, and Beg Alicha, which was a Lamb based dish that was not very enjoyable and very tough to eat since it may have been overcooked. The injera bread had a strong fermented taste which was enjoyable on its own and with some curries but at times also overpowered the taste of the curry it was eaten with. Enjoyed my experience at Awash apart from the limited beer options available that day and the lamb being too tough/overcooked!

A place hidden along the street that could totally be surpassed if not paying attention. We got the meat sampler for 3. Sourdough pancake (injera) is amazing as ever. Flavors were spicy and delicious. Did not look like a lot initially but we were stuffed by the end.

Visited here with my family, it was my first time trying Ethiopian so I wasn't sure what to expect. I decided to go with the meat sampler, which allowed you to pick two meat and two veggie dishes. I got the doro wat (chicken, highly recommended on the menu) beg alicha (lamb), misir wat (spicy lentils), and the beet/carrot. My sister got the awash chicken, and regular lentils, and my husband the beef tibs and chickpeas. I love the rolled bread that they serve with the sampler, it actually came with an extra side of the rolled bread All in all great experience! Interesting flavour profile!

Incredible Ethiopian food! Came in tonight with no reservation and the restaurant is spacious and welcoming with many tables available. Service was prompt and the food is some of the best we've had in the city. We ordered a meat sampler and it was so good - we were stuffed. Will definitely be coming back!

Delicious vegetable sampler and special tibs! A must when looking for awesome Ethiopian food.

Called on the phone for takeout but can order online or eat indoors. Food was prepared very quickly. Portion sizes are very generous, takeout comes with plenty of injera. My first time having Ethiopian food, good experience but not for me. The culture and cuisine is rich and unique from the tribal influences and spices to the ubiquitous injera, I loved the flavors especially from the meat dishes, but the injera was very mild and filling. I was expecting more explosions of flavors from the colorful dishes. Also hot chocolate and related drinks are no longer on the menu. Each item ordered can likely feed two people. @ Meat sampler (~$21) - chose the shiro wat, atkilt alicha, bozeno shiro, and doro wat. The beef and chicken stews had good flavor from the spices, meats were a bit dry. Vege dishes were quite mild. @ Kitfo (~$20) - comes with split pea stew and veges, the raw minced beef had a nice texture, but wasn't as flavorful as expected. Very thankful for the new experience. Hope everyone gets the chance to try Ethiopian cuisine with an open mind.

Food is great (a bit oily) portions are large and the price makes sense. I'm removing a star because I don't understand why it's Chef's choice on the side vegetables when I'm the one paying for and choosing my meal and all vegetables were available. It's not like the chef chose which sides to offer on certain date. That would make sense. Instead the waitress asked me to tell her which sides I DIDNT want and she would relay that. Makes 0 sense. Either let the diner choose or update your menu to say which sides will be offered with each entree. I'm an adult. I know what I want to eat and what I don't and can afford to pay for it.

This was my first time trying Ethiopian food. We got the vegetable sampler for one and it was enough for both of us to share. Each sample was delicious, and felt good to eat, the injera had an interesting sour taste that went well with the veggies. Restaurant was clean, waiters really kind. This dinner made my week. A great East Village option :P

A for effort. Went in on a Friday night and the place needed way more than one server. Food was reasonably priced but lacked flavor. The bread here is phenomenal and there's great potential in this spot - just needs a bit more polish. 6/10 would try again

[delivery review] So happy there's a location downtown. I loved everything I got, but the doro wat and misir wat were my favorites. Portions are generous and I usually have leftovers for a lunch. The food is also very reheatable.

So I got the Vegetable Sampler here and I can't stop thinking about this food. All of the vegetable dishes were so flavorful and paired with the injera, I mean matched made in heaven honestly. For my sampler I chose the misir wat, shiro wat, ater kik alicha, atkilt alicha, and gomen. While all of them were amazing the real stand out to me and must try, is the gomen (collard greens). I did not know collard greens could taste so good. I could have eaten three more servings of it. Check this place out in person, or get take out! I've had both & and their food travels really well (it also makes great leftovers)!

This was my first time trying out the Ethiopian food, and I was not disappointed, I came with a friend because she makes suggested of the place. The restaurant is pretty big, split into 2 dining rooms the restaurant are cozy and pretty big with make it easy to come to a nice party, by yourself or with a nice date. The staff is very nice and attentive, really nice and willing to provide us with as much injera as our hearts desired. You have the option to eat the real Ethiopian way that is with your own hands or with the normal food utensils. For my food, I order the Beg Alichaa mild lamb stew cooked with clarified butter and a variety of herbs with coming to the option of two vegetal. The lamb was very tender, juicy very good delicious it feels a little like a homemade taste. I really recommend this plate, my friend had a plate with chicken with was good too.

came in on a sunday afternoon and at first were the only ones in there. we opted for the set meal which was a great deal at $53 for two glasses of wine, a veggie sampler and an app. everything was super tasty. would come back fore sure