Awash

Awash makes our favorite sambusa we’ve had in NYC - theirs is a crispy triangle filled with ground beef and onions that’s been fried to golden perfection. You can get these sambusas at either of Awash’s two locations in Manhattan - one on the UWS and one in the East Village. Other than the appetizers, Awash has a more extensive range of lamb, fish, beef, chicken, and tofu options than most Ethiopian restaurants in the city. They also serve some crunchy steamed collards that have the ideal level of acid to go with all the spicy and savory flavors in the rest of the meal. If you don’t want to choose one dish, try the meat sampler combo with your choice of four Ethiopian stews for $20, or the vegetable sampler with your choice of five stews for the same price.