Black Lion Grocery

Visited a friend just cross Maple Market, curious about to walk into the store, find unroasted Ethiopian coffee beans $ 3.99per pound. Asked some question how to roast the coffee beans from store Lady owner and bought little to try. It turns great: easy to roast, good aromatic and smooth taste. High recommend and will buy more again. If they sell fresh brewed this coffee then I will give 5 stars.

Great selection of injera. Small, but it has "exactly what you need."

I love getting the veggie platter from the kitchen when I don't feel like cooking. The people are so friendly. I live next door and one day I was looked out of my apartment without shoes (I had socks) or my phone. A woman very nicely let me use the store phone to call my husband and let me wait for him inside. One thing is that we have tried a few times to call the number to place a food order but no one picked up. But other than that, I love this place!

Had take out with a friend tonight at her suggestion since I was visiting her house. It was fantastic! I've had tons of Ethiopian food the past 12 years in DC/MD and everything was delicious. I have a new go-to spot when I want this delicious food but really don't want to go out to eat. Brilliant suggestion and find!

This a great store. Good selection of ethic and non ethnic groceries and other essentials. The staff is friendly and provides excellent customer service. For what it is, a neighborhood store serving the Maple Ave community, I can ask for nothing more and find it is the perfect fit.

This is not the name on the outside. Very limited kinda like an Ethiopian 711. Couple racks of over priced spices. Guy at the register is of no assistance. I guess if you live in the neighborhood and want a run in spot it fits the bill.

The Maple Market and the Black Lion Grocery have now merged. The grocery is what it is and has some nice features, especially the availability of fresh lamb. Some nice imported goods, Roiboos, sambal, unroasted ethiopian coffee, and lots of basics for making Ethiopian dishes. If I could get them to sell more fruits and veggies, that would be ideal. Really, I'm reviewing the attached Ethiopian take out place. We have ordered from there twice, and definitely worth it. They make some of the best Ethiopian food I have ever had, with extremely generous portions (two dishes provides about 2.5 - 3 meals for my girlfriend and I). The food is five stars, the service three. Despite being a takeout place, both times I have called ahead, they do not start making the food until I show up. Just consider that as part of the sacrifice. You can also dine in the back of the store. There is a counter with a couple of seats and also a couple of tables. ZilZil Tibs (Spicy beef tibs), Maple Special Lamb Tibs (great use of Rosemary), and the veggie combo are the dishes that we've gotten so far and have been fantastic. Special Kitfo is also good. Real nice heat too, not toned down. Edit: Only one of the women who works here makes the food. If she is not there, nothing will get made. I recommend a back up plan if you want to order later in the evening.

The folks that work here and next door at the Maple Market are sincerely nice people. I go here when I need my 5 lbs bags of injera (they helped me pick a good one), I'm out of lentils, need tasty ethiopian spices, or just want some Oreos and soy milk. Not an everyday trip but I always feel welcome, do not be afraid to ask them about the products. Next door at the Maple Market they also have a good selection of premium, organic Takoma Park items. Good to support local business.