I would like recommendations of ethnic restaurants in DC. I have only 3 days and will be mostly around the mall area and Dupont Circle. I would like to try something different not the usual chinese/ japanese/ mexican food.

Thanks!

I can't recall the name, but we had a great and fun meal at an Indian restaurant in DC. Sorry I can't be of more help

MY

A lot of the really great ethnic food is in the burbs of DC. Some ideas within the city:
Rasika - very good Indian food http://www.rasikarestaurant.com/.
Heritage India - Conn Ave in Dupont Circle area www.heritageindiadupont.com.
Jaleo's - www.jaleo.com/ good Spanish and Cafe Atlantico www.cafeatlantico.com for Nuevo Latino...both in the Penn Qrtr area.
In Adams Morgan at 2434 18th St NW, try Meskerem for Ethopian

Lebanese Taverna- Adam's Morgan
Love, love, love the Ethiopian restaurant above. Go there on every trip.

I think Emily means Lebanese Taverna on Conn Ave in Woodley Park -- not AM (though just across the bridge from AM). http://www.lebanesetaverna.com/restaurants/dc/

Hop on the metro to Penn Quarter/Chinatown area and enjoy a fabulous meal at Zaytinya (middle Eastern).

If ethnic can include French, head out to Georgetown and eat at Le Lavandou. In the same area is the excellent Mexican restaurant Guapa.

Do you have some free time for some serious reading?

Here is a definative guide to ethic food in the DC area.

Click on "DC", a neighborhood within DC, or even a particular cuisine you are interested in:

http://www.tylercowensethnicdiningguide.com/

La Lavandou is on Conn Ave in Cleveland Park
http://www.opentable.com/rest_profile.aspx?rid=6238

The DC Guapo's is on Wisconsin Ave in Tenleytown
http://www.guaposrestaurant.com/Locations.html

A good Greek place in Dupont Circle is Mourayo
http://www.mourayous.com/

Peruvian food in AM on 18th ST is Las Canteras

Definitely try Ethiopian since it is not available everywhere.

bardo, A friend just sent me the url to that blog. It's a goldmine!

Thanks guys I will definetely try to go to most of them. What should I order in an Ethiopian restaurant?

I just saw a Samantha Brown episode in an Ethopian restaurant, and people at adjoining tables ordered for her--apparently it's something of a custom to offer that kind of help.

We dined at Zatinya a couple of years ago and loved it. Turkish, middleastern fusion restaurant. Offers small plates so you can sample lots. We also had lunch at Zed's in Georgetown area. Very good ethiopian.

When I go for Ethiopian, I usually order a combo platter (either meat or vegetable). Ask the waitresses/waiters what they suggest. They are primarily stews (beef and lamb, sometimes goat) and root vegetables eaten with injera, a spongy bread which you use to scoop up the food.

Another good Ethiopian choice is Dukem in the U Street area. They have outdoor seating when it's nice out, too. The website looks a bit cheesy, but the live entertainment is very interesting and the food is great. Get a sampler of items, which will come in little piles on top of a platter sized piece of injera bread that you use to pick up bites to eat. We have tried all the meats, a fish dish, and most of the veggies at Dukem and enjoyed them all. There is an Ethiopian dish that involves shaving slices off hunks of raw meat- not my cup of tea but certainly a new experience!

I forgot to give you the Dukem website: http://www.dukemrestaurant.com/

There is a FABULOUS Japanese place on the corner of 17th street and P- Sushi Taro. Excellent sushi and grilled skewers of a variety of interesting items. If you like Japanese, this is a superior experience.

If you haven't tried Vietnamese Pho (noodle soup), the Virginia suburbs of DC is the place. If you can't get out to the burbs, I think there is a location of a local chain, Nam-Viet, north of Dupont Cir on Conn Ave.

Sushi Taro is closed for renovations right now -- reducing the number of tables and upping the elegance (and prices, of course). Too bad, because I really liked the moderate prices and ambience.
Check the website for up to date info on the reopening
http://www.sushitaro.com/


Though the OP expressly said they were not looking for Japanese, this info might be useful to others. (Good that OP isn't interested in Chinese or Mexican because good examples of those cuisines are rare in DC.)

We had a delicious dinner at the Afghan Grill when we were up there in January. I think it is in the Adams Morgan area.

Another vote for Zatinya. Very good. We also ate at Oyamel which is Mexican, but not your usual Mexican. This again is small plates, but offers food from different regions of Mexico including a dish featuring smoked grasshoppers (did not try that). The salsa is made from chipoltes so its got a smokey flavor - very good. They also make guacamole fresh at your table which was excellent. Here's their website:
www.oyamel.com