WASHINGTON — We are hearing from Keith Lee as he does his highly anticipated food tour here in the DMV area. WUSA9 was the only station to catch Lee outside of a longtime Northwest D.C. mom-and-pop restaurant that’s been struggling lately.
This entire story all started with a family business meeting about longevity.
Lydia Tefera and her family own Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant on U Street in DC. Her mother and late father started the business that’s been a local landmark for over 25 years.
“In more recent years, in more recent time I think [longevity has] been a conversation we’ve been forced to have just because of the state of the business,” said Tefera.
Tefera posted a TikTok expressing family concerns that went viral.
“I was just like film and I just recorded. If I had to pick a target audience for when I posted that it was for my friends to tell their friends at the end of the day,” Tefera said. “So to see the outpouring of love and support and people like ‘oh I remember Dukem when I was younger, I met my husband here’ or whatever was special.”
During our exclusive interview with the family, WUSA9 asked them what they’d say to Keith Lee. The popular food critic who’s traveled the world and posted reviews that have helped thousands of small businesses.
“Lamb, beef, you can have it all,” daughter, Yodit Tefera said.
Then just 15 minutes later, Lee showed up at the restaurant. WUSA9 was able to speak with him one-on-one.
“The ‘Keith Lee’ effect, quote-unquote, is just the community showing up and the community showing love to these small businesses,” food critic, Keith Lee said. “There’s a story behind every business, it’s not just food this is a way people feed their families.”
“So, I saw the same video that everybody saw,” Lee said. “Then when we pulled up, I already saw it was booming so we decided we’re just going to go and eat.”
WUSA9 also spoke to Lee as he left the restaurant about his thoughts.
“This was the highlight for me, this is the best food,” Lee said as he pointed and referred to Dukem restaurant.
WUSA9 shared this reaction to the food with the Tefera family and they were ecstatic.
“I’m so happy, the people took their time from Maryland, Virginia, and friends who come here to support us.”
“That was the highlight,” Lydia Tefera said. “Keith I would like to say thank you for what you do, thank you for what you continue to do, your platform is amazing, your family is amazing, and keep going, you have something amazing.”
“Only up from here,” Yodit Tefera said.