Community guides / Grocery & Shopping
Best Halal Grocery Stores in Washington DC, Maryland & Virginia (DMV Guide)
Published 2025-04-22 · Updated 2026-08-31 · 7 min read · Washington, DC
The DMV area has a thriving East African community. Here's your guide to the best halal grocery stores where you can find injera, teff flour, berbere spice, and East African specialty foods.
The DMV area (Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia) is home to one of the largest Ethiopian communities outside of Addis Ababa, with tens of thousands of Ethiopian, Eritrean, Somali, and Kenyan Americans spread across the region.
Top Halal Grocery Stores in the DMV
Sheba Foods — Silver Spring, MD
One of the most comprehensive East African grocery stores in the DMV. Huge selection of Ethiopian and Eritrean staples: teff flour (multiple brands), berbere, mitmita, niter kibbeh, injera, and imported goods direct from Ethiopia.
*Confirm the current address, hours, and inventory directly before visiting.*
Ethiopian Community Center Market — Columbia Heights, DC
Small but comprehensive market on 14th Street. Fresh produce, halal meats, and a rotating selection of imported goods. Great for injera and tej.
Awash Market — Alexandria, VA
Serves the Northern Virginia East African community. Excellent selection of kitfo ingredients, traditional spices, and East African clothing and household items.
Horn of Africa Market — Rockville, MD
Carries products from Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Eritrea. One of the best spice selections in the DMV — excellent for berbere, xawaash (Somali spice blend), and korarima.
Habesha Market — Hyattsville, MD
Great prices on bulk teff, lentils, and injera. Known for fresh halal meats on weekends.
What to Buy: East African Grocery Essentials
Baking & Cooking:
- Teff flour (white and brown) — for injera
- Barley flour — for ambasha bread
- Fenugreek seeds (abish) — for injera starter
- Berbere — complex red pepper spice blend
- Niter kibbeh — spiced clarified butter
- Mitmita — bird's eye chili blend
- Korarima — Ethiopian cardamom (far more aromatic than regular)
Legumes & Grains:
- Misir (red lentils) — key for misir wot
- Shiro flour — chickpea-based, for shiro stew
- Ater (yellow split peas)
- Injera (fresh, refrigerated, or frozen)
Specialty:
- Tej — traditional Ethiopian honey wine
- Green coffee beans (for ceremony)
- Habesha kemis fabric
- Traditional cooking pots
Tips for Shopping
1. **Weekends** — Best day for fresh injera and specialty items
2. **Ask about stock** — Some items are seasonal or imported irregularly
3. **Buy spices in bulk** — Teff and berbere are cheaper in larger quantities
4. **Bring cash** — Some smaller stores prefer cash
Sources and further reading
Next step
Search the directory by city and call the store to confirm inventory before making a trip.