This festive, art-filled eatery is the largest and most popular of numerous Ethiopian restaurants populating a two-block stretch of Fairfax. Earth tones, tribal art and African music foster a mellow mood where an ethnically mixed crowd scoops up colorful, complex stews (wots), chopped salads, and vegetables in a variety of savory sauces in excellent injera, the thick, sour, pizza-sized bread that also serves as plate and utensils. In addition to hearty stewed chicken and lamb, a wide range of vegetarian dishes (lentils, split peas, collard greens) come with their own distinctive marinades. For first-timers especially, the weekday lunch buffet is a great way to delve into this enticing cuisine (it’s also a bargain). A smooth honey wine or an African beer complete the exotic journey.