I will have to give Awash another try.
I’m really surprised by your Ethiopian friend’s appraisal of the food. I suppose the decor, service, and prices (!) are Westernized. And I can see how that might rub some people the wrong way. Like Genet’s putting on airs or something.
But I lived for several years in the heart of the Ethiopian community in Washington, DC. I know good Ethiopian food. And I stand by my statement the food at Meals by Genet is the best Ethiopian food I’ve had in LA by large margin. The ingredients are higher quality and the flavors more robust.