Heat Da Spot

DC is in no short supply of spongy injera, peppery kitfo, and garlicky misr wat. But until you’ve started your day with Heat Da Spot’s berbere spiced chechebsa, you can’t truly say you’ve experienced DC’s best Ethiopian food.  

On weekdays, the line at the corner cafe in Petworth forms as soon as the doors open at 7:30am, as drowsy-eyed commuters grab fuel for their Monday morning Zoom calls. It’s a ritual of freshly brewed coffee, caramel-colored iced cinnamon honey lattes, and freshly melted bacon-egg-and-cheese.

Heat Da Spot is a corner cafe in Petworth.photo credit: Nina Palazzolo

Posters of the all-day menu hang along the counter.photo credit: Nina Palazzolo

The grab-and-go crew spends most of their time staring through the glass ordering window, looking at tattered and bruised images of bagels, hash browns, lattes, and sambusas, even though the group of mostly regulars already knows exactly what combo they need to get them through the day. If it is your first time, the gargantuan array of mismatched photos and captions can be overwhelming. So start with a BEC, Heat Da Spot's classic breakfast sandwich with the perfect cheese-to-bacon-to-egg ratio. Add berbere peppers for some spice.

On weekends, those same sleepy eyes snap wide open as the cafe buzzes with excitement for the end of the work week. The Monday-Friday takeout crowd now relaxes on plush gold-adorned couches with friends, sipping tart blood orange iced teas and savoring hearty fava bean sandwiches. 

Heat Da Spot's dining room is a hodgepodge of tables and couches.photo credit: Nina Palazzolo

Howard students catching up on problem sets sit on well-worn black stools leaning against the restaurant’s canary yellow walls. And diners pass bottles of green sauce like gossip, each labeled “secret sauce,” a mystery blend that's tastes like peppers and garlic. Whatever’s in there, it’s magic. Sprinkle it on your sandwiches, wraps, and veggie platters for an instant flavor boost.

Heat Da Spot makes mornings something to look forward to, even on days filled with unexpected fire drills, 9am meetings, and small talk with your boss.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Nina Palazzolo

(Turkey) Bacon, Egg and Cheese

The stringy pull of American cheese oozes from every bite of Heat Da Spot’s take on the classic New York breakfast sandwich. But it's the green sauce, a mix of peppers and garlic, (we'd write songs about it) that adds a dynamic peppery kick to an already great dish.

photo credit: Nina Palazzolo

Ethiopian Breakfast

These scrambled eggs are tossed with berbere, onions, and peppers, and alongside cuts of fresh pillowy injera. If you're feeling extra hungry, go all out with a side of chechebsa, a fried flatbread soaked in spiced butter, and a succulent side of tibs.

photo credit: Nina Palazzolo

Ethiopian Veggie Platter

You’ll often find some variation of a veggie platter on most Ethiopian menus across the city. Heat Da Spot keeps it simple with bright yellow lentils, rich and hearty chickpeas, and tender greens tossed in chili, garlic and cardamom. It’s as tasty as any platter you’ll find in the city.

photo credit: Nina Palazzolo

Honey Cinnamon Iced Coffee

In the mornings, the smell of freshly brewed coffee at Heat Da Spot will make even the non-coffee drinkers in your life crave a cup. Their honey cinnamon iced coffee is a sweet way to kickstart your day.