Tana Market

How I heard of this place: My friend Bayan had a hankering for some fried meat and touted the horn of Tana, a place we simply had to sample on this late evening. Apparently, the market is known among Ethiopians for «beef sushi» and is best had on Thursday’s when the meat is freshly butchered.
Type of cuisine: The Market is really just that — a market selling specialty, ethic products, with a space set aside with mis-​matched tables and chairs, cramped into a small area, and available for dining. Ethiopian food, specializing in meat dishes, served with injara and spicy accoutrements grace the plates and the tables in this establishment.
Ambiance: The space has been more recently remodeled, with new light fixtures, but the feel is casual, unrefined and without pretense. Help yourself to drinks from the market refrigerators and let the friendly staff behind the counter know what you ate and drank on the way out. Pick up some groceries to take home and you are all set. Literally, a one-​stop shop.
What I ordered: I left the ordering to my friend, the pro, and we were presented with a large helping of tibes ($ 10.50), diced beef sauteed in its own fat with onions and jalapenos, served with a side of injara and spicy, horse-​radish sauces. One order for two was definitely enough to satisfy any spice and meat craving we may have had.
What I loved: The jalapenos and spicy, red powder and spicy sauce were my favorite things on the table! But they had to be eaten with something… hence the meat and the best injara I have had to date.
Why I loved it: I loved the homely feeling of the space, the friendliness and smiles given us by the staff and the taste of the injara.
Cost: Low ($ 9-​$ 10 for a meal serving and satisfying two «healthy» diners)

This is a really nice, family run place. It’s a good place to get your Ethiopian spices and supplies, as well as, buy freshly made injera bread. Being a newbie, I had a lot of questions and the girl who was helping me was very nice and knowledgeable, not to mention also patient!
It is a little out of the way for me, but in terms of buying injera bread if I’m hosting a dinner party, I think it is one of the better ones.

This place used to be good for buying injera whenever we ate at Meskel across the street. Though not necessarily cheap, their injera cost $ 6 for a 10 (or 12, don’t remember exactly) pack. It’s been a few months since I last got injera from there, but now they’re charging $ 6 for a 5 pack for a 100% price increase.
Did the cost of teff go up? Or did they finally raise prices to compete with restaurants that are selling injera to go for ~$ 1 a piece? This is steep considering the staple that injera is for Ethiopian dishes.
Next time I will try Amy’s Merkato up the street. They might have raised prices too, but it’s worth checking out. Otherwise, guess I’ll have to start making my own.

This place is a dump. I have personally seen the owners bringing in the meat they sell in the back of a pickup truck on a blue tarp. They also sell items used for drug use. They have drug scales, razors, and small baggies to put cocaine or crack in. I for one am sickened that in a neighborhood where drugs are so prevelant they would take advantage and sell merchandise that promotes their use. Avoid this place like the plague. Plus the place is over-​priced.

Tana Market has all the usual bodega staples (beer, milk, canned food, high fructose corn syrup items). Being in the CD Little Ethiopia area, they have a whole aisle of Ethiopian spices, cookware, and even 25 lb bags of regular and teff flour. They also have fresh injera! All this and decent low-​cost espresso drinks.
This place is a good find and family-​run so you feel good supporting them vs the AM-​PM up the road.