Cafe Aurora

I came here for breakfast with a friend. I started with a cup of coffee. I was a bit disappointed when I realized that they don’t provide free refills.
For breakfast, we ordered the fu’ul and egg silsi. The gg silsi had a nice flavor and was very light. The French bread that accompanied it wasn’t very good to me and reminded me more of Cuban bread.
The fu’ul was bland. Our waitress, Eden, recommended that we mix everything together to bring the flavor out and that helped some. I wouldn’t order this again.
I would give this place another try, or come in when wanting to casually meet up with a friend.
The service was good. Prices were reasonable. Cleanliness could be improved, although it wasn’t bad either.

I have been to Aurora for years. It is small, but intimate with lots of character. The food is amazing. They serve authentic Eritrean dishes full of flavor. My favorites are «kitcha firfir», «fool» and the «siga firfir». They also have various vegetarian dishes to choose from. They have great customer service.

Came in for brunch on a Sunday a few weeks ago and was blown away! The place is small and always packed, but the staff quickly made room for us at the bar and made us feel welcome. We both got the breakfast combo, which ended up being a huge portion of delicious, stick-​to-​your-​ribs goodness featuring some of their most popular dishes. Seriously for like $ 14 I had enough leftover for a sizeable snack later. The fu’ul (like refried beans) were light and fluffy, and both the enjera and kitcha based dishes were wonderfully spiced and were more different from each other than I was expecting. The waitress also offered us a free sample of their flaxseed drink and told us about their different kinds of special tea. Much like their menu, the décor is a charming hodgepodge of Eritrean, Italian bistro, and coffee shop.
I will definitely be returning to try their dinner menu and probably many times after that!

My husband and I love this place. We randomly picked it one day on Unilocal,craving Eritrean food and spices. Sunnit served us with sunshine and smiles. Whenever we enter into this place, I feel pretty happy. We ordered the fu’ul and egg silsi the first time around. Delicious! I have to mention that the caramel macchiato and café mochas are better than Starbucks. We always order a second to go cup.
We return here a lot for brunch. But, one day we wanted to try the Italian food and we learned that the Italians invaded their homeland, so that is why Italian food is incorporated into their culture and food. I have to say the mix of both cultures of spices and food is amazing. The beef ravioli with marina sauce is to die for!!! We eat this for breakfast sometimes.
I also wanted to try the traditional Eritrean foods and it was really filling. Be prepared to have an appetite.
This is our go to place on Sundays or Saturday mornings, but you should arrive early as possible because this place gets crowded at times… But, if they know you, they will make room for you. Awesome service!

A delicious meal. We had the spicy lamb with spinach and salad. Service was okay and any food besides traditional is over priced. Drinks are also overpriced. The venue is small, so if you go make sure its intimate. The bar is limited so do not go with hopes of drinking. Their specialties are coffees and teas. Lamb and beef dishes are delicious. I would return.

Came here for brunch on a Sunday morning. The café is inside a shopping center and looks fairly nondescript. A great place for a low-​key brunch. The Egg Silsi is their most popular dish. Very flavorful, and the egg has a very mushy texture. I enjoyed the Kitcha Fitfit more. The bread almost has a pasta-​like consistency and is very chewy with a spicy, tomato-​based sauce.
If you’re in the mood for a savory and flavorful meal for brunch, would highly recommend.

I stopped in recently for breakfast. I was not disappointed. The food was awesome and held up to all the expectations my fellow Unilocalers promised.
My only drawback was that there are items on the menus that are only available on Sundays. This should be noted on the menu. It was frustrating making up your mind only to be disappointed and then have to re look.
The space is small but worth the wait.

The service was good, I had the egg silsi which was really good. I think the hot drinks are overpriced for what they are though. Would definitely go here again.

Big love for a little gem of a spot buried in a suburban Alexandria shopping center. Had a lovely Sunday breakfast here this morning surrounded by families who appeared to be of east African descent chowing down on an array of brightly colored dishes I’ve never seen or heard of prior to today. The place was packed and smelled divine when my friend and I walked in and snagged the last open table, seated by a smiley waitress who was kind and attentive throughout our meal.
I ended up here in the first place thanks to the kitcha fitfit breakfast ending up on WashPo’s annual «40 dishes» feature, and it didn’t disappoint. For the uninitiated it’s a «rustic Eritrean staple… crusty flatbread tossed in clarified butter, fenugreek, cardamom, garlic and the crimson chili berbere.» It’s served with yogurt to take the edge off the heat from the chili and it’s exactly the kind of savory, belly-​filling, kick-​you-​in-​the-​mouth-​a-​little breakfast I’d eat every day if I lived in a place where spicy bread stir fry was a staple food.
Other perks: the coffee is strong, they serve breakfast all day, they’re open 9am-​9pm seven days a week, and almost everything on the menu is $ 10 or less. The coupling of Eritrean and Italian food is a mystery to me and I personally would probably not bother coming out here for the Euro fare (omelets, lasagna, etc.), but the Eritrean menu is a fabulous find. Thanks for the tip, WashPo!

My omelette was edible and I had to wait a long time for it. The coffee wasn’t the worst I had, but it was on the bottom five. Luckily nobody offered me a refill.
All in all, I’m not coming back to Aurora.

I came here for a latte and I was disappointed with how flat and watery it was. I also tried the fava bean dish and honestly, I think I could make it better at home. But it was filling, different (the beans and french/​italian bread combination) and nutritious. I don’t think I will be a fan of Eritrean food but I would come back if I was in the area. Food only, no coffee.
The restaurant is very small so I might call ahead to make sure there’s room if dining with more than 2. Seems like parking is plentiful.

The food and coffee are really good and the atmosphere is warm and homey. We’ve come for the past couple of weeks for breakfast and had a good experience both times.
The menu is Eritrean (similar, not identical, to Ethiopia so you have an idea of what’s on the menu). They also have lovely pastries and other more American and French fare as well. Every dish I saw presented was beautiful and looked delicious.
We’ll be visiting for other meals here I’m sure. The menu is really nice and the people who work here are too. Yum!

We had brunch here Sunday morning and it is not your usual brunch. Egg Silsi has a special spicy flavor and fu’ul is on the mild side. The food is good but I am very disappointed about the coffee. The food is worth of trying.

Actually discovered this place by accident… a very happy accident.
I’m always looking for a Sunday breakfast place which offers something with some flavor and something a little different… at a good price. BINGO, I discovered Eritrean breakfast here fit the bill. I tried the Egg Silsi and it is fabulous. Spicy, full flavor, filling.
Will definitely return. next time for dinner.

Really good coffee and pastry they serve. A small café it is!!!

Excellent.
We had an amazing meal here. I’ve had many experiences with Ethiopian food but this was my first time trying Eritrean food.
Their coffee specialties are well made and delicious. We tried the Qlwa (Nay Begie’), Fu’ul, and Egg Silsi. Each dish was delicious in its own unique way. The Qlwa had tender pieces of lamb tossed with different spices. It comes with Enjera, which was well made. The Fu’ul is fava beans goodness. They purée it and top it off with yogurt, tomatoes, diced jalapeños, feta cheese, and diced red onions. The fava beans are so smooth and light. This dish comes with French bread or pita if you’d like. Dip your bread in the Fu’ul and you’ve got yourself a breakfast fit for a champion. The Egg Silsi is equally as delicious. It’s scrambled eggs in a tomato sauce with spices, onions, and jalepeno peppers. This dish also comes with French bread or pita.
When you enter, seat yourself. Depending on what time you come it can get very crowded in here. The place isn’t very big and seating is tight. I love the ambiance. It has a laid back café type feel. The employees are super sweet. Service is on the slower side, but it just adds to the laid back ambiance. This isn’t somewhere you want to visit if you are in a rush and need a quick bite.
There aren’t any restrooms inside the restaurant. The closest restrooms are in another building, look for the door between the cleaners and barber shop. Go down that hall and turn to your left. The restrooms are a bit hidden.
Another great meal, thanks to Unilocal and the Unilocal Family.

Yum, yum, yum! That’s all that needs to be said about this place. I’ve come here two days in a row for dinner and breakfast, and I love the food. So far, I’ve tried the chicken enjerito, fu’ul, fatta, espresso with kahlua, the signature tea, and toasted almond cake. Portion sizes are great, so you will definitely be stuffed. Everything has great flavor, I just can’t get over it! While some of the food takes some time to come out to your table, it’s obvious that they are not just taking food from the freezer and warming it up. The meals are very comforting. The toasted almond cake is super soft and a wonderful, sweet dessert.
When you walk in, you are able to pick your own table. You’ll soon be greeted by a waitress who will give you menus and be happy to explain anything on the menu. A couple of negatives though — you may have to ask for water if you order another beverage, and, sometimes it’s hard to flag down someone to get the bill. I’m glad that this place has elected to be a non-​smoking restaurant. It’s somewhat small, so even if one person was smoking, it would be bothersome (in my opinion). Parking can be tight in front, but there is parking in the back of the building. One last thing — some prices on the online menu don’t match those on the in-​restaurant menu.
Other positives (I just can’t stop) — if you have picky eaters with you, there are Italian food options like pasta and risotto. If you’re vegetarian, some items can be made without meat, even if they traditionally include it. Finally, I really like that this place is good for groups or individuals. There is no judgment here, and the calm and homey atmosphere will certainly make anyone feel comfortable.
Bottom line: whether you are looking for breakfast (served all day!), lunch, dinner or a snack with coffee, you’ll be in the right place at Café Aurora. Just be sure to come with a truly empty stomach!

Some of the best food in the DC metropolitan area is found hidden away in unassuming strip malls. This is definitely the case in regards to this small Eritrean café. I had long heard about this place from my husband who used to come here almost everyday for breakfast a few years ago. This place is best known for their ‘qurs’ or breakfast from what I have heard from family and friends. However, after the lengthy process of choosing and getting fitted for a Habesha bridesmaid dress a few doors down, we were all famished and it was dinner time.
Everyone ordered lattes and I ordered a tea with spices and lemon. For the main course, we had the beef with spinach, lamb, and salad. Everything was flavorful, and for 5 people the portions sizes were generous and reasonably priced. Although I am a stickler when it comes to injera made outside of the Horn of Africa, it was fresh and not too heavy (i.e. the additives to the teff like wheat and barley were not overwhelming). The service was friendly, and fast. Overall, it was a good dining experience, and I can’t wait to go back to try out their breakfast.

We wnt for breakfast on a Sunday. Service was fantastic! Because we’re not familiar with the dishes they took the time to discuss the dishes prior to taking our order. The food was delicious & my cappuccinos were warm and wonderful! We’re going to go back for dinner next time.

I always pass by this café when I’m driving down Pickett — today, I stopped by to check it out. The café itself was very cute and cozy, and there seemed to be regulars who come in to unwind with a cup of hot beverage or to order off their entrée menu. I ordered an Aurora’s Signature (espresso with Kahlua) to go; it was very hot, and it definitely woke me up! It wasn’t bitter or overly strong, but a nice balance with the slight sweetness from the Kahlua. The nice girl who was helping me explained the differences between Ethiopian and Eritrean dishes — she stated that they’re two separate tribes, but even after the split, they both share the same cuisine, language, and culture. I would love to come back and try out their dishes, though, like the Qlwa (Chef’s Special) or their breakfasts (such as the Fuul that I was recently tried out at another Ethiopian place). Parking can be a little tight, but there is a lot available for your car in this plaza.
+Aurora’s Signature