Tigi's Ethiopian Restaurant and Market

8459 Baltimore National Pike #14, Ellicott City, MD 21043, United States
$$$ Ethiopian restaurant
(379 Reviews)
Price Range $10–20

Welcome to Tigi's Ethiopian Restaurant and Market, a hidden culinary gem in Ellicott City, MD, where the rich and vibrant flavors of Ethiopian cuisine come alive. Nestled at 8459 Baltimore National Pike, this family-run establishment offers an authentic dining experience that transports you straight to the heart of Ethiopia.

As you step inside, the warm and inviting atmosphere beckons you to relax and indulge. While the decor may lean towards simplicity, it serves as a perfect backdrop for the stars of the show—the food. Tigi’s menu boasts an array of options that cater to both meat-lovers and plant-based customers alike, ensuring a hearty meal for everyone.

Begin your journey with an appetizer like the Vegan Sambusa, delightful pastry pockets filled with a fragrant mixture of lentils, green peppers, and spices, all for just $3.50. Don't miss out on the signature Yebere Tibs, tender cubed beef sautéed in a divine blend of spices, onions, and garlic, available for $14.00. For those feeling adventurous, the Meat Combo platters, including the mouthwatering Meat Combo 3 featuring both Yebere tibs and Doro tibs, make for a fantastic sharing experience. Priced at $28.50, it’s perfect for two and includes your choice of wot and three vegan items, showcasing the diversity of flavors that Ethiopian cuisine has to offer.

Customers rave about their experiences at Tigi's. Cherise Clark describes her meal as “so amazingly delicious,” while Diana Cantrelle appreciates the nutritious injera (Ethiopian flatbread) accompanying her meal, a staple that enhances every dish. The generous portions and flavorful dishes have garnered a loyal following, with many, including Marion Williams, promising to return for seconds given the quiet, clean atmosphere that complements the dining experience.

Despite a few critiques regarding the decor, the consensus is clear: the food reigns supreme. As Lisa Singh mentions, this place can be deemed an “undiscovered culinary treasure,” with the vegan platter offering fresh, satisfying options that are far from processed or heavy. The shared sense of community here is palpable, making Tigi's a delightful spot for dinners, dates, or casual gatherings.

For a true Ethiopian experience without the pretense, Tigi’s Ethiopian Restaurant and Market offers an explosion of flavors, hospitality, and the chance to discover a rich culinary tradition. Don’t hesitate—your next flavor adventure awaits!

Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible car park
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Has wheelchair-accessible seating
Service options
Offers delivery
On-site services available
Offers takeaway
Serves dine-in
Popular for
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Good for solo dining
Offerings
Serves coffee
Serves comfort food
Serves healthy options
Serves small plates
Serves vegan dishes
Serves vegetarian dishes
Dining options
Serves lunch
Serves dinner
Serves dessert
Amenities
Has toilet
Atmosphere
Casual
Cosy
Quiet
Crowd
Good for groups
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Accepts credit cards
Accepts NFC mobile payments
Children
Good for kids
Parking
Free of charge street parking
Free parking lot
Plenty of parking
Openings Hours
Checking

Monday

11:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Tuesday

11:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Wednesday

11:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Thursday

11:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Friday

11:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Saturday

11:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Sunday

11:00 AM - 9:00 PM

379 Reviews
Cherise Clark

13 Aug 2025

This was so amazingly delicious!! Highly recommend and can’t wait to come back again. The fresh roasted coffee was incredible!!!

Diana Cantrelle

07 Aug 2025

My hubby and I were in the mood for Ethiopian Food, and I heard that their bread is the most nutritious of all breads. Tigi's hit the spot. The food is fantastic, waiter very nice. The restaurant area could be a little less spartan. But who cares, it's the fresh food that counts! We will be back.

Marion Williams

20 Jul 2025

Food was good not to spicy and large portions...quiet and clean atmosphere I'll definitely visit again

Lisa Singh

10 Jul 2025

This place in my view is an undiscovered culinary treasure. I ordered the vegan platter - and the dishes were flavorful, satisfying and fresh, not weighed down with heavy, processed ingredients. The atmosphere was relaxed and not rushed. The highlights were items I would never have imagined I'd like but did. Like the appetizer sardine salad (amazing!), which was not fishy at all but light, with a lemon and mild spice, and infused with onions, tomatoes, small-diced peppers. The highlights were the vegan dishes (some spiced with berbere spice) and then the coffee, a whole experience of its own. The chef came out and showed us the coffee roasting, then returned with a big plate of coffee and an incense burner, part of a traditional coffee ceremony. The meal ranks as one of my favorites in the area, I love this place.

BreeAnne C

01 Jul 2025

I didn't specifically rate the food, because it turns out I can't eat most of it and it doesn't seem fair to give them a low rating just because of my own sensitivities. My date had a lamb dish that he said was "fine". Given that this was our first time trying Ethiopian food, he wasn't sure if he wasn't a huge fan of the specific cuisine or that specific dish. The vegan samosas were much spicier than anticipated, and the gluten free injera was extremely tangy compared to the regular injera (to the point that I really didn't like it but again that could be just me, but my date wasn't a fan either). Service was good. Drinks were a bit slow to come out, but there was only one person working the customer side and she was serving restaurant customers as well as checking out grocery customers, so I think the slower service was due to her being stretched thin rather than inattention or lack of customer care. The two of us probably won't be back, but only because this food is not really our thing. If you like Ethiopian food, it's probably a great place.

Jung Pak

29 Jun 2025

I'm not an adventurous guy but I love exploring new things. I know it is the greatest dichotomy of my life. One of the people I admired the most was Anthony Bourdain. He was a gifted storyteller. But what kept me glued to the tv when he was on was how he shared the humanity in all of us. He went to areas of this world where we were terrified of venturing into. And then we learn that these people that we fear are just like us. They are us. And I loved that about him. Instead of keeping people out, he brought them in and vice versa. It was one of those episodes I watched on TV that had stayed with me. It was about Ethiopia with chef Marcus Samuelsson. After that episode, I immediately looked up Ethiopian restaurant in the area. Tigi's was the closest I found. I said to myself, I am going to try it out. That was more than 6 years ago. Life gets busy and you put things off. I couldn't believe that much time had passed. I saw something yesterday that reminded me-what I I said to myselfI back then. No excuses. I am not leaving this planet until I try this. And the timing was right because the wife asked me to pick up dinner. And of course I felt some trepidation about the unknown. I am willing but is she? So I did what every normal person does. I ordered Chinese as well as the Ethiopian. Always have a backup plan. I studied the menu and not knowing what to order, I order the meat combo 3 which covers a lot of their offering. The place was empty at 5pm with some carry outs. And I talked with the owner for a bit. Very friendly and personable. I looked around the market. Reminded me of the small tiny Korean grocery store you would find back in the old days. Forgive the ramblings of an old man but let's go on to the food. Remember what I said about not being adventurous, and my wife even far less than I am. Well, the first thing I noticed was the scent in the car when I stepped in. It was not pleasant and I said oh no. I made a mistake. I drove home and that smell dissipated somewhat but I was still skeptical. When I got it in the house, there was no smell. I opened it up inside and I have to warn you, it is not for some people. The injera, which is a very very spongy textured type of bread is like nothing I have ever seen or felt before. I mean seriously, it looked exactly like the stomach lining of an animal. If you seen one, you know what I mean. So that aesthetic threw me off immediately. But damn it, I am going to give it a go. Wife was even more taken a back by the appearance. She asked what that was. I explained, as I had studied some videos before ordering. We broke the injera and used our hands as is customary and you know what? It was an incredible journey of flavor and texture. I loved the spices and everything about the meal. I am ordering everything dark next time because the darker items have the extra spices that I loved. And to my pleasant surprise, my wife loved it as much as I did. Yes, this is going in our regular rotation from now on. Keep your mind open to new people and things because you never know what you have been missing or needed.

Norman Rivera

18 Jun 2025

Very friendly family run place authentic Ethiopian food, reasonable price

Nisha Gahlawat

08 Jun 2025

08/13: Sorry, I had to change the review after my daughter woke up with stomach pain and vomiting, and she has been sick since then. Last night, she only had a samosa and mango nectar from this restaurant for dinner, which I didn’t have( I ate something else), so maybe that’s why I’m fine while she’s sick. I’m not sure if the food she ate is the reason for her illness, and I’m also not sure if they cooked the samosa freshly.I may be wrong but just wanted to share my experience . 08/12 : Calm and cozy spot! Not crowded at all—likely because many do carry-out. Portions were generous. Loved the bread with sautéed tofu, bean curry and the rich Ethiopian coffee—didn’t realize it’s served black with no milk, but it was smooth and flavorful. My daughter raved about the perfectly spiced samosa and refreshing mango nectar. Service was a bit slow, maybe because there were fewer employees, but overall it was a lovely experience. A hidden gem!

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