Miami is a city obsessed with being seen. We have the neon, the sparkling waterfront, and the endless parade of $25 cocktails. But if you drive past the glitz of South Beach and the curated graffiti of Wynwood, heading north toward the edge of Miami Gardens, you’ll find something that isn't trying to be cool. It just is.
Ethiopian restaurants in Miami are a rare breed. Actually, let's be real: for a long time, it’s basically been a one-restaurant show.
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While other cities like Washington D.C. or Atlanta are teeming with pockets of Little Ethiopia, Miami has a funny way of making international cuisines fight for their lives. We’ve seen places like Sheba and Kafta come and go. It’s a tough market. People here want "fusion" or "vibes," but Ethiopian food demands something different. It demands you slow down, wash your hands, and share a plate with a stranger.
The Lone Survivor in Miami Gardens
If you ask anyone where to get authentic doro wat, they’re going to point you to Awash Ethiopian Restaurant. It’s tucked away in a strip mall at 19934 NW 2nd Ave. You’ve probably driven past it a dozen times without noticing. The exterior is modest, maybe even a bit weathered, but the moment you pull that door open, the air changes. It smells like berbere—that smoky, spicy, magical blend of chili peppers, garlic, ginger, and basil—and roasted coffee.
The owners, Eka and Fouad Wassel, have built something that feels less like a business and more like a living room. They call the design "gojo bait," which is modeled after a traditional Ethiopian country home.
You aren’t going there for a quick bite.
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Honestly, if you’re in a rush, just go to a drive-thru. Awash is an experience. You sit in these beautiful, high-backed woven chairs or cozy booths. The music isn't Top 40; it's the rolling, rhythmic sounds of East Africa. It’s the kind of place where the server actually remembers if you liked the extra-spicy awaze sauce last time.
Why You Need to Forget the Fork
Here is the biggest mistake people make: asking for a fork. Don't do it.
The entire cuisine is designed around injera. It’s this greyish, spongy, fermented flatbread made from teff flour. It looks a bit like a giant, bubbly crepe. Because it’s fermented, it has this sharp, sourdough-like tang that cuts right through the heavy, rich fats of the stews.
You use the bread as your utensil. You tear off a piece with your right hand—always the right—and scoop up the lentils or the beef.
- Doro Wat: This is the big one. It’s a slow-cooked chicken stew that’s basically the national dish of Ethiopia. It’s dark, spicy, and comes with a hard-boiled egg that has soaked up all that flavor.
- Kitfo: If you’re feeling bold, try this. It’s minced raw beef seasoned with mitmita (a bird's-eye chili spice blend) and niter kibbeh (spiced clarified butter). It’s melt-in-your-mouth good, but it's definitely for the adventurous.
- The Veggie Combo: Even if you’re a total carnivore, the vegetarian platter at Awash is mandatory. You get piles of red lentils (misir wat), yellow split peas (ater kik), and collard greens (gomen). It’s a literal rainbow on a plate.
The Coffee Ceremony is Non-Negotiable
You cannot leave without the coffee. Seriously. Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee, and they treat it with the respect it deserves.
This isn't a Starbucks run. At Awash, they perform a traditional ceremony. They roast the green beans right there in a skillet until they’re oily and black. They bring the smoking pan to your table so you can catch the scent. Then it’s ground and brewed in a jebena, a clay pot with a long neck.
It arrives at your table with burning incense. It’s thick, dark, and smooth. You don’t even need sugar, though they’ll give it to you. It’s a ritual that forces you to sit and talk. In a city like Miami, where everyone is looking at their phone, there’s something almost rebellious about sitting through a 20-minute coffee service.
Beyond the One-Spot Myth
While Awash is the undisputed heavyweight, the scene is shifting. You’ll occasionally find Ethiopian pop-ups in Little Haiti or food trucks that lean into "Afro-fusion." Places like Moji African Restaurant or Sheri Restaurant offer broader African menus where you can sometimes find overlaps in flavors, though they lean more toward West African traditions like Jollof rice or fufu.
The reality of ethiopian restaurants in miami is that it’s a small, tight-knit community. If you want the real deal, you have to be willing to leave the tourist bubbles.
How to Eat Like You Know What You’re Doing
- Wash Up: Most places will bring a basin and pitcher to your table. Use it. You’re eating with your hands, after all.
- The Right Hand Rule: In Ethiopian culture, the left hand is considered "unclean." Use your right hand to tear the bread and scoop the food. It’s a small gesture that shows a lot of respect.
- Gursha: This is the most beautiful part of the meal. A "gursha" is when you wrap a perfect morsel of food in injera and feed it directly into someone else’s mouth. It’s a sign of friendship and love. If someone offers you one, don’t be weirded out. Just accept it.
- Teff Check: If you’re gluten-free, ask if the injera is 100% teff. Many U.S. restaurants mix in wheat flour to save costs. At Awash, you can sometimes request the pure teff version if you call ahead.
Miami’s food scene is often criticized for being "all style, no substance." But the Ethiopian community here proves that wrong. It’s a cuisine that hasn't compromised for the "Instagram aesthetic." It’s messy, it’s communal, and it’s arguably the most soul-satisfying meal you can find in the 305.
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Next time you’re debating between another overpriced taco or a standard steakhouse, drive north. Look for the little strip mall. Find the smell of incense and berbere. Get the Taste of Awash platter. Your hands might get a little dirty, but you’ll finally understand why this one little restaurant has survived in a city that usually eats its newcomers alive.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the hours before you go; Awash is typically closed on Mondays and opens later in the afternoon (around 2:00 PM) on weekdays.
- If you're going with a group of 4 or more on a Friday or Saturday night, call ahead for a reservation as the space is intimate and fills up fast.
- Budget about $25–$35 per person for a full meal including starters and coffee service.