The Making of the Most Popular Ethiopian Restaurant: Dama Restaurant & Pastry
Faisale Shefawe
02/24/25
In a Washington, D.C., suburb—just 10 minutes from the White House and near the Air Force Museum—you’ll find one of the most popular Ethiopian restaurants: Dama Restaurant & Pastry. It has long been a gathering place for Ethiopians looking to enjoy their favorite cuisine, reconnect with friends, celebrate their culture, and reminisce about their homeland. For many Ethiopians visiting the area from other states or abroad, stopping by Dama is a must. However, its popularity extends beyond the Ethiopian and Eritrean communities—during lunch hours, more than half of the customers are white Americans.
The first Dama location was opened in Washington, D.C., in 1982 on North Capitol and K Street by Yeshi Dama, who had come to the U.S. years earlier for her education. A few years later, her siblings—Almaz, Hailu, and Keleme Dama—joined her to help run the business. Almaz and Keleme worked as waitresses, while Hailu took on a managerial role.
The name “Dama” comes from their father, Dama Nademo, a serial entrepreneur who supplied food and drinks to the Ethiopian Air Force and Airborne Division in a small city 45 minutes from Addis Ababa.
Back then, the restaurant was known for serving American breakfast and lunch, offering Ethiopian cuisine only for dinner. However, if a customer requested Tibs or Kitfo, the kitchen was always ready to accommodate.
Dama wasn’t just a place for food—it was also a lively nightlife spot where people danced until 4 a.m. Hailu jokes that the restaurant was responsible for many Ethiopians meeting their future spouses.
Unfortunately, after four years, the family was forced to close the restaurant due to rising crime in D.C. and an uncooperative landlord. However, they never gave up on the dream of reopening. Their opportunity came when Keleme spotted a retail space for lease in Arlington while reading The Washington Post. The location was just five minutes from her home, and the rest is history.
The current Dama Restaurant & Pastry opened in 1999. While the first few weeks were quiet, word quickly spread, and it became a beloved community hub. The restaurant instilled a sense of pride in the Ethiopian community, serving as both a cultural and culinary landmark.
Expanding into Pastries and Coffee
Coffee shops and pastries have been a staple of Ethiopian culture for over half a century. The joke is that Ethiopia has more coffee shops than people! Recognizing this cultural tradition, Hailu proposed adding a bakery and pastry section to the restaurant, envisioning a space where people could gather after church or meet with family and friends over coffee and sweets. Though initially hesitant, Almaz agreed—but only after attending culinary school in Bethesda, Maryland.
In 2001, Dama’s bakery and pastry section was inaugurated. It turned out to be one of the best business decisions the family ever made. Their pastries quickly became a hit, satisfying customers who grew up in Ethiopia, where coffee shops fiercely competed to offer the best baked goods. Today, the café remains packed at all hours, with customers enjoying macchiatos and indulging in their popular banana bread.
The Future of Dama
The future of Dama looks bright, with continued success and growth on the horizon. The family is preparing to pass the business to the next generation. One emerging leader is Keleme’s daughter, Rita, who is eager to take the restaurant to the next level by marketing it to new audiences. Hailu’s two children have pursued other careers—one is a lawyer in New York, and the other is a digital marketer for a large corporation in Europe. Almaz’s son is on his way to college, and she is unsure whether he will join the family business after graduation.
On The Helen Show, a popular Ethiopian talk show, the family was asked if they ever had disagreements while running the business. Hailu, the first to respond, said, “None of us hold grudges or get angry at each other easily.” This strong family bond continues to be the foundation of Dama Restaurant & Pastry’s success.
