About Letena
There’s a chic gallery vibe—concrete floors and white walls enlivened by gorgeous textiles—at this fast-casual eatery. Though the food has a modern spin, it’s still deeply authentic. Vegetables are a standout—look for collards with a hit of jalapeño or finely chopped mushrooms, tossed with bits of red onion, garlic, hot peppers, and olive oil. Doro wat—the spicy, bright-red stew of chicken and hard-boiled egg—has a hint of sweetness to mellow the fire. Tamer but no less flavorful is alicha siga what, a curried beef stew, and lega tibs (ask for it dry so the morsels of beef turn crisp). Also good: Chicken tibs; string beans and carrots with caramelized onions.