Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant — Restaurant in Alexandria

This place is very good. Not a 5 but not a 4.

Everyone is extremely friendly.

The service is great, and the prices are a breath of fresh air in old town Alexandria/DC area.

Wife and I just happened upon it while driving home from a movie.

The beyaynetu and tibs were delicious. I was hoping to get the little salad part on the beyaynetu, but I think it's because they have a bunch of different options on their menu I may have overlooked it.

If this isn't your first time trying Ethiopian food/you've spent some time in Ethiopia you'll find the mitmita they serve to the general public is rather mild (still fantastic flavor). I asked about it and he said they have some of the real deal in the back and to just ask on the next visit, which we will definitely be doing soon. Having said that, the flavors in general are a bit toned down, which really isn't uncommon for any restaurant of this type in the US. Like most Chinese, Indian, Thai etc places in the US. It won't be as hot, the menu items are presented a bit differently etc. That's a very minor thing in this case because.

While the meal won't transport you to the shores of Lake Langano it also will not disappoint. I'll likely be updating this on my next visit. I will ask about them preparing the dishes a bit less westernized.

All that aside, this place is 100% worth a visit. And, to be honest, if you've never been to Ethiopia/don't have Ethiopian friends/1st time Ethiopian cuisine you wouldn't notice anything. As I mentioned, it's the exact same as when people say they love foods like yumwoonsen or chicken vindaloo but they've not had the opportunity to experience them in their 100% authentic state.

They do not serve alcohol, but they do allow you to bring your own.

*Update - made it back a second time. We brought a bottle of Chianti and built our own beyaynetu.

The timatim and rice pudding are delicious!!!

Asked for the real mitmita and still got the normal stuff, which isn't a huge deal because I have a about a half kilo at home 😆 Ordered derrick tibs this time and again not exactly how I have had them before (no clay pot/fire, no freshly sliced jalapenos) but they were still good (go for the awaze tibs) doro wat was also good....but again some of the flavors didn't seem as punchy as normal (they just dial it back to appeal to more people, which is understandable and fine because it is still very good) I assume the abesha gomen was pretty good too because my wife ate it all before I could get any, which I didn't realize until the end of the meal when I mentioned we didn't get it and she looked at me and sorta mumbled "ohhh we got it" 😐😂

Still a 4.5 because everyone here is awesome, and I doubt you're going to find a more authentic...

I love Ethopian food esp. the Injera bread. This spot was dead on with the perfect spices and portions. I got the Bozena Shrio (prime beef in a chickpea sauce), it was amazing! The beef was tender, the spices were just right and the spicy sauce on the side was amazing! Came with collard greens as well.

The service is very nice, the lady running the place is very warm and very welcoming. Almost felt like going to grandma's home.

The only issue I had was that my dish was listed at 10.95 on the menu, but on my bill they charged me 12. To be quite honest tho - I didn't argue a bit, because to me the dish is well worth the money. It is just a note, that their prices may have changed but the menu does not reflect such.

The location is off of Queen st, parking is decent, had no issues finding a spot. The interior although nothing major, works perfectly with the food. It is a old school, classic food, home feel environment.

Kid friendly? Yes, the environment is good; however I don't know what young kids would really eat.

Would I return? -- going back next week :)

Food is worth 5...

Really more of a two star experience overall, but I'll give three because the food is genuinely good and I'm glad to see that the owner is being responsive to reviews. My girlfriend and I went on a weeknight and the waitress was very inattentive even though we were one of just two tables. We had to ask a second time to get water and when we finally did it was in this weird plastic water bottle only slightly larger than the usual individual size which we had to share and squeeze into our glasses. Does this restaurant not have taps? When that ran out and my mouth was still burning from the spices it took easily 10 minutes to call over the waitress and get more drinks. We chose to get juice instead to not create more totally unnecessary plastic waste, and that took another 10 minutes. The bill also took forever to get. I always leave a 20% tip as a former waiter myself, but man, this time 10% felt like too much. I'm willing to believe this was an off night but I also see similar comments in reviews here so I'm...