Our Story

Located in the heart of Columbia Heights, Washington, DC, LETENA is the spot for authentic and inspired Ethiopian cuisine, great coffee, and home-crafted drinks.

Health and culture are at the root of Letena which means “for health” in Amharic, so to live up to the brand’s name, only natural and premium ingredients are used throughout its offerings. With special attention given to quality ingredients, vegetarians, vegans, meat lovers and adventurous diners alike are offered authentic Ethiopian and inspired original dishes that have won accolades from various publications and review platforms including Food Network, Washingtonian, Trip Advisor and Yelp.

With oversized windows, high ceilings, modern open kitchen design, walls adorned by an impressive collection of traditional Ethiopian artifacts and paintings, the interior combines the feel of an art gallery with an intimate and cozy dining space. Up to 60 people can be comfortably accommodated in the front and side section and we say, come check us out anytime.

Yamrot Ezineh

FOUNDER

Letena’s founder, Yamrot Ezineh hails from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and gained valuable experience working in a family-owned restaurant in the United Kingdom. This experience would later play a crucial role shaping her outlook of the restaurant business. After living in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Washington DC since 2008, she concluded that there was an unmet need of offering quality Ethiopian cuisine to further contribute to the diversity and vibrancy of the neighborhood. After four years of hard work in recipe development, securing financing, management of design and build-out, and planning start-up operations, Yamrot’s dream was made a reality when Letena opened its doors in October 2016.

To uphold authenticity and quality in enhancing Letena’s family based recipes, Yamrot went back home to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to consult with renowned Ethiopian chefs who have intimate knowledge of the cooking methods of chefs who used to manage the Royal Palace’s kitchens during Emperor Haile Selassie’s reign. As a trained Chemical/Process Engineer, Yamrot also focused on improving cooking methods, quality assurance and process flow.

L E T E N A

In The Press

LETENA WAS NAMED

100 VERY BEST RESTAURANT by the Washingtonian Magazine

“ Unique vegetarian dishes like sweet-savory carrot wat and deeply caramelized mushroom tibs are just a couple of reasons to tuck into this cozy Columbia Heights Ethiopian spot. We also keep coming back for the kay siga wat, a berbere-spiced beef stew, and garlicky yebeg wat with braised lamb. Order the meat sampler to try both, and stick around for fluffy tiramisu infused with walnut liqueur.”

PUBLISHED ON JANUARY 22, 2025

What People Say About Letena

  • I'm not sure what was more enjoyable, the distinct flavors found in the food, or the warm, attentive care that was given to us tourists as our group of 6 wandered in. We were greeted with kindness by a fabulous staff, and explanations were made as we introduced our children to some amazing fare. Thank you once again for such an amazing time at your fine establishment.

    Clark T. on Yelp

  • Hands down "Letena" is one of the best Ethiopian Cuisine in Washington DC. We come to Letena a lot, and love to take family and friends. We usually get the vegi sampler for two and the chef’s signature tibs (cubed tender beef cooked with chef's special zest). The Ethiopian honey wine (tej) with berele goes great with the food. It is a great place to dine with friends or family to share authentic meal in a casual setting with great service.

    TMahdere on TripAdviser

  • Here it is: The best Ethiopian food I've ever had. Everything is fresh and flavorful. Atmosphere is comfortable and low-key. Service is kind and attentive. Great place!

    Alex B on Google