“Doro Soul Food from Chef Elias Taddesse opening in Shaw on November 17th”

photos courtesy Doro Soul

DoroSoulFood-Opening Menu (PDF)

From a press release:

“Michelin-starred Chef Elias Taddesse, executive chef and owner of DC’s acclaimed Mélange restaurant, will open his Ethiopian-style fried chicken restaurant on November 17th at 11 a.m. (1819 7th Street, NW)

The first 50 in-person guests on the 17th will get a free 2-piece Fried Doro Chicken Plate with Black Cumin Qibe Cornbread and Spiced Mac & Cheese.

Doro Soul Food infuses traditional American soul food with Ethiopian flavors. The restaurant is located in a virtual food hall at 1819 7th Street, NW, blocks from Howard University. Chef Taddesse says he plans to offer a catering menu in the near future.

Doro Soul Food will be open for pickup and delivery during the following hours:

Tuesday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Saturday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Doro Soul Food will feature bone-in fried and char-grilled chicken and chicken sandwiches. Spice levels for the fried chicken will range from mild (naked) to hot (berbere) to very hot (mit mita) with the hotter versions bathed in the chef’s own hot sauces. The restaurant will also feature fried chicken-style vegan tenders and sandwiches made from jackfruit and pea protein.

Sides will highlight his take on iconic “soul food” side dishes like black cumin qibe-drenched cornbread, collard greens braised with smoked turkey and Ethiopian spices, and doro wat spiced macaroni & cheese sprinkled with bread and injera crumbs.

Doro Soul Food is Chef Taddesse’s second restaurant concept in Washington, DC. Mélange, best known for its award-winning burgers, started as a pop-up at Wet Dog Tavern in early 2017 before opening as a brick-and-mortar restaurant in DC’s Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood two years ago.

Chef Taddesse is a rising star in the Washington restaurant scene. Since launching Mélange two years ago, he was named a finalist for the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington’s RAMMYs Rising Culinary Star of the Year 2022, and Eater DC’s Chef of the Year in 2021.”