What is kitfo?
Kitfo is minced beef seasoned with mitmita and spiced butter, served rare, warm, or cooked. Here is what it is and how to order it.

Kitfo is finely minced beef, gently warmed and seasoned with mitmita and niter kibbeh (spiced clarified butter). It is rich, tender, and a favorite comfort dish.
How it is served
Kitfo can be served leb leb (lightly warmed and rare), tere (raw), or fully cooked, so you can choose your comfort level. It often comes with ayib (a mild fresh cheese), gomen (greens), and injera or kocho.


Frequently asked
Is kitfo raw?
It can be raw or lightly warmed, but you can ask for it cooked. Tell your server how you would like it.
What comes with kitfo?
Commonly ayib (fresh cheese) and gomen (collard greens), with injera or kocho to scoop.
More in this guide: food & flavor
Or browse every TiruList guide.
Keep reading
All articles
Food & Dining
A guide to Ethiopian and Eritrean food
New to Ethiopian and Eritrean food? Learn injera, the spicy stews (wot), grilled meats like tibs and tire sega, fasting dishes, and how to eat it all with your hands.

Food & Dining
What is tire sega?
Tire sega is fresh raw beef, an Ethiopian delicacy served with awaze and mitmita. Here is what it is, how it is eaten, and where it fits in a meal.

Food & Dining
Best Ethiopian restaurant in the DMV?
The food, the injera, the buna, the welcome. The community ranks the Ethiopian and Eritrean restaurants it actually goes back to, and you can add your vote in seconds.
The TiruList directory
Everything Habesha in the DMV, in one place.
Restaurants, churches, markets, services, and events, vouched for by the community.