Say adios to one Mexican dive, and hello to another Ethiopian restaurant.
Photo: Coming soon. Credit: J. Deseo/SSP.
Tijuana’s Mexican Cafe, a dark hole with cheesy atmosphere and cheap food to match its namesake, closed shop on Georgia Avenue at Mayor’s Promenade. It’s not known when it served its last nacho, but a real-estate listing this spring put some part of the building for sale at $250,000.
In Tijuana’s place will be Abyssinia, an Ethiopian restaurant. A “coming soon” banner hung above the doorway in the shade of Tijuana’s weathered green awning, where speakers mounted on the building’s exterior still blared weather and traffic reports from a local radio station.
No opening date has been announced, but a loud orange poster in the restaurant’s front window announced an Oct 15 hearing with the county’s liquor control board.
Photo: Dinner baskets. Credit: J. Deseo/SSP.
Renovations in the ostensibly turnkey operation were also moving. On Sunday, a peek through the glass-paned door showed scuffed wood floors, bordello-red paint on the walls, and no furniture. But by Monday afternoon, the walls were white, and baskets that serve as traditional Ethiopian dinner tables dotted the floor.
Once opened, Abyssinia will be the fifth Ethiopian restaurant in Silver Spring’s central business district.
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Nooooooooooooooo….I LOVED Tijuana’s! The food was good and cheap, the margarita’s were strong and cheap, and it was a place you could actually drink a beer outside and eat outside on a nice day. So sad to see this go!
Hopes that a new business succeeds but is Ethiopian cusine really so popular that SS needs another place to enjoy it? Guess so.
Something tells me that Silver Spring could be our region’s “Little Ethiopia” or “Addis Ababa Town”.
I wouldn’t mind that – I like Ethiopian food.
Hope Tijuana’s former staffers found good jobs right away! Wasn’t there a place called “The Greenhouse” in that building back in the 80s? With a small stage in or near the window?
Hope the new people make good use of the space, offer healthy food, good work environment, all that other good stuff.
PS-I still miss Siddartha, an Indian vegetarian place in that gray building at Ga. & Thayer — late 80s, early 90s? Healthy, affordable, yummy, it was heaven. Maybe it was TOO affordable. Oh, well.
Bad news. WAY too much Ethi in the area. Anything else would have been better!
Better to have another Ethiopian restaurant than an empty storefront.
I love Ethiopian food, but this is getting ridiculous. I just hope that they can all stay in business given the increasing competition.
Does anyone know how many Ethiopians/Eritreans live in Silver Spring?
As much as I wanted to like Tijuana’s, I have no trouble saying adios. They never failed to put meat in my and my wife’s orders even when we said, “Vegetarian” and “Comida sin carne!” Won’t have that problem with the Ethiopians.
What would be the best place to try for Ethiopian food? Tried Addis Ababa(?) on Fenton 2 years back and did not enjoy anything on their Silver Spring Platter. It was recommended to us after we said we had never had Ethiopian food…
Lucy,
Abol, across from the AFI Silver Theater, is very good.
If you’re in the District, Meskerem on 18th Street in Adams Morgan is excellent.
S.R.
I agree with Springvale: Abol is good, and Langano isn’t too bad, either.
In The District, I recommend Etete on Ninth St NW off U St.
Thanks Springvale Roader & Jennifer. I’ll post a review when we check them out :-)
In regard to the number of Ethiopians living in the area – quite a few. Obviously, I don’t have exact numbers. But, I used to rent out my downstairs to Ethiopians. They tell me DC and Seattle are the big places for Ethiopians that come to the US. Most of them are wealthier Ethiopians (not so much by our standards) and many were scaping political persecution. They have a big get togther here every year – maybe, you noticed.
The renters tell me come here for our colleges. To be more specific, Montgomery College was a great deal for them.
I can attest to the large # of Ethiopian students going to MC TP/SS campus and also that Abol is far suprior to the other downtown Ethiopian places for food quality and atmosphere.
BTW Just across the MD border near Eastern & 13th is a big Ethiopian church as well, use to be a synagogue by the looks ofthe architecture. Assume they draw on a local population for their congregation.
On a side note, while we are talking food news — Congrats to McGinty’s head chef for making the cover of the On Tap October 09 issue. Nice interview inside the magazine too.
An invitation to see a wonderful Ethiopian Cultural display in the front entrance of Silver Spring Library. We know there is a large Ethiopian population in Silver Spring, as many come to the library. This display will be here for several weeks, at least till 10/24. A few months ago, we had an Eritrian display, and perhaps half our displays honor various cultures of many Silver Spring citizens. The other half are usually Art or Collectibles. If you have a beautiful display to offer, please contact Mrs Levy at Silver Spring Library 240-773-9420. The library is at 8901 Colesville Rd. We will be having a Book Festival for all ages on Saturday, Oct 24 from 10am-3pm. Storyteller at 11am, and information on the new library will be available, plus Bake & Book Sale. Come join us!
I’ll miss Tijuana’s.
Yep, me too. Anyone know what will become of the art work? The mysterious (and well endowed) senorita painting overlooking the buffet? The Mexican Betty Boop? I’m disappointed that East Silver Springers now have to walk all the way to Mi Rancho for a 1100 margarita…
I hope the painting overlooking the buffet was saved! That thing made the place!
Hmm! Now I wish I had gone into the place. Was there any notice to anyone? Did the regulars have a chance to enjoy the place one last time? Any idea where the staff went?
Jennifer, did you know your CBD map on google is actually missing the southern chunk? Most of it may be parkland but it’s still the CBD.
Editor’s note: I’m not sure parkland and the community college fall under the business district. Google Maps actually puts Jessup Blair Park in the city of Takoma Park. The county’s park and planning commission would beg to differ.
I’ll check with the Silver Spring regional center and get back to you. Thanks! — JD (Oct 8, 2009)
Wow, what a shock to hear about Tijuanas! So glad I got in my last late night Corona on their patio before they closed! I loved their salsa! I’ll miss you Tijuanas and all that lovely Mexican karaoke.
Abol rocked! So glad I gave Ethiopian food a second chance at a better place! I had the Veg platter with a glass of Yellow Tail Cab. Their baklava was, just heaven with some chamomile tea. Awesome :-)
Thanks for the recommendations!!
There are two other Tijuanas, run by the same people. One is in Rockville, but the other is not far from SS — in the triangle at the corner of University Blvd and Carroll Ave. Same menu, same margaritas, same prices. In fact, the menus we were given last night have the address for Georgia Ave. on them. We can’t walk there anymore from downtown SS, but at least it isn’t much of a drive.