Offering a slight update on Ethiopian classics, Mela Bistro is an excellent option for healthy and flavor-forward meat and vegetable based stews. The housemade fermented injera unique in its fluffy airiness, leaving one still feeling light by the end of a meal.A tasteful interior and very friendly service make for a great date spot.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: TIBS
Sofia Aluma
Wanted to love this place but we found it to be underflavored and a bit disappointing. Tried the sambusas, vegetarian platter but were underwhelmed. only thing we enjoyed was the Tej. Do not recommend.
We went to Mela Bistro in groups from San Jose a couple of days ago for diner. We all have a good experience. The food was great. I personally like veggie tibs, veggie kitfo and gored gored. The Tef cake was also great. Everything especially the veggie items were tasty and fast service. Besides, the staffs were very friendly and professional. Adiam Tesfaye treated us great. I will defiantly go there again and recommend Mela Bistro.Etsegenet
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Brian Bernert
overrated, overpriced, underflavored ethiopian food. the gomen was bitter and otherwise almost tasteless. there is at least a whole tomato (a sour tasteless tomato) in my beef tibs and salad. the salad dressing tastes like a commercial out of the jar dressing. this is a watered down version of ethiopian food that if you’re looking for the real thing you won’t find it here
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
Gaoge Li
The vegetarian platter was so colorful and fresh. The music and atmosphere were great!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Andom Gebreselassie
Delicious food and warm hospitality. If you are looking for Habesha (Tigrai, Ethiopia, and Eritrea)foods, that's the place you've to go.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mia Klenk
Went here for an anniversary & my boyfriend & I weren’t disappointed. We ordered the Meal Plate (for two) and ate it within 15 minutes. The flavors are amazing and you’re provided with so much injera. 10/10! The ginger lemonade is a great palate cleanser as well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Injera
Abigail D.
I love the veggies here. They are fresh, delicious and less oily than in other Ethiopian places. I just wish they had the real dark teff injera. Still highly recommended.
LT A.
Love this place! The owner is incredibly sweet and thoughtful, the vibe is exactly what you want on a Friday night in Oakland. Food is spectacular. All around great place.
Oh my goodness, yes!!!! There was happy tummy dancing at the table. We eat family style and everything was so delicious and perfectly spiced / flavoured. The ahi tuna asa kitfo was surprisingly delicate. The fish goulash asa wot was to die for, we had the Mela starter platter which was a wonderful opener. We had citrus olive oil cake which was fresh and citrusy and a perfect ending to the meal. I would eat here again! And again!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gin C.
We stopped by for dinner and the place was not packed. This place is near by Lake Merritt with street parking. We got the vegetarian platter, Ada kitfo (tuna), sambusa, and beet and almond cake to share between 2 people. We had so much left over for another meal! Everything was great and tasty.
Andrea Z.
Walked in on a Friday at 6pm with a friend and was seated upon arrival. The restaurant was fairly empty but staff mentioned incoming reservations later in the evening as the balcony and front tables by the window were not available. Food: Green lentil and berber hummus - a pale green thin runny hummus topped with berber spices oil, really tasty served with warm pita bread, wish the hummus was a tad thicker but delicious flavorVeggie platter - ordered two servings and got a beautiful platter with two portions of the 5 vegetables dishes on a large shared injera with extra bread on the side Misir Wot- spicy red lentils were super flavorful with a nice kick, personal favorite Yellow split peas - warm and comforting nice creamy savory split peas Gomen - stewed collard greens that were earthy, with a slight bitterness very tasty and a nice contrast to the other veggiesCarrot and green beans - veggies were cooked well with a crisp tender texture Beet and potatoes - this was okay, served cold, beets provided a nice sweetness and potatoes starchinessSalad - fresh contrast to the cooked items Injera - nice spongy texture with a tangy fermented flavor Service overall friendly but not super attentive, great recommendations and knowledge of the menu. Had to ask for water refills and had to walk to another table to get the servers attention for the check. Overall great spot in Oakland for Ethiopian food, great flavors and variety, would definitely recommend trying the veggies platter!
Marcos Cannabrava
The best Ethiopian restaurant I've ever been to. Their food is amazing and you can get them to serve it all in one spinning plate for sharing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef TIBS
Jeanne Trang
i've never tried Ethiopian cuisine before, and I feel like Mela bistro was a great place to start as they had an easy-to-read and understand menu. The food itself was delicious, the location was easy to find and locate. I also appreciate how patient the staff members were as we went in an hour before they were closing! they were also really generous with allowing us and a couple of patrons to sit around till we were finished with our dinner. 10/10 would recommend yall stopping by to try out their food!! my friends and i tried the beef tibs ($18) & roasted peppers and berebere hummus ($10) which was fireeeee and something i'd for sure reorder when i stop by again!tips:- unisex bathroom available with sink for handwashing outside- street parking available in the nearby area- public transportation like bart nearby (walking distance)- great for sharing/family style or individual plates/portions- perfect for dates/friends/family/kid friendly
Offering a slight update on Ethiopian classics, Mela Bistro is an excellent option for healthy and flavor-forward meat and vegetable based stews. The housemade fermented injera unique in its fluffy airiness, leaving one still feeling light by the end of a meal.A tasteful interior and very friendly service make for a great date spot.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: TIBS
Wanted to love this place but we found it to be underflavored and a bit disappointing. Tried the sambusas, vegetarian platter but were underwhelmed. only thing we enjoyed was the Tej. Do not recommend.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
One of the best Ethiopian places in the Bay Area.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Injera, Sambusa, TIBS, Citrus Cake
We went to Mela Bistro in groups from San Jose a couple of days ago for diner. We all have a good experience. The food was great. I personally like veggie tibs, veggie kitfo and gored gored. The Tef cake was also great. Everything especially the veggie items were tasty and fast service. Besides, the staffs were very friendly and professional. Adiam Tesfaye treated us great. I will defiantly go there again and recommend Mela Bistro.Etsegenet
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
overrated, overpriced, underflavored ethiopian food. the gomen was bitter and otherwise almost tasteless. there is at least a whole tomato (a sour tasteless tomato) in my beef tibs and salad. the salad dressing tastes like a commercial out of the jar dressing. this is a watered down version of ethiopian food that if you’re looking for the real thing you won’t find it here
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
The vegetarian platter was so colorful and fresh. The music and atmosphere were great!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Delicious food and warm hospitality. If you are looking for Habesha (Tigrai, Ethiopia, and Eritrea)foods, that's the place you've to go.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Went here for an anniversary & my boyfriend & I weren’t disappointed. We ordered the Meal Plate (for two) and ate it within 15 minutes. The flavors are amazing and you’re provided with so much injera. 10/10! The ginger lemonade is a great palate cleanser as well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Injera
I love the veggies here. They are fresh, delicious and less oily than in other Ethiopian places. I just wish they had the real dark teff injera. Still highly recommended.
Love this place! The owner is incredibly sweet and thoughtful, the vibe is exactly what you want on a Friday night in Oakland. Food is spectacular. All around great place.
Restaurantji Recommends
Oh my goodness, yes!!!! There was happy tummy dancing at the table. We eat family style and everything was so delicious and perfectly spiced / flavoured. The ahi tuna asa kitfo was surprisingly delicate. The fish goulash asa wot was to die for, we had the Mela starter platter which was a wonderful opener. We had citrus olive oil cake which was fresh and citrusy and a perfect ending to the meal. I would eat here again! And again!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We stopped by for dinner and the place was not packed. This place is near by Lake Merritt with street parking. We got the vegetarian platter, Ada kitfo (tuna), sambusa, and beet and almond cake to share between 2 people. We had so much left over for another meal! Everything was great and tasty.
Walked in on a Friday at 6pm with a friend and was seated upon arrival. The restaurant was fairly empty but staff mentioned incoming reservations later in the evening as the balcony and front tables by the window were not available. Food: Green lentil and berber hummus - a pale green thin runny hummus topped with berber spices oil, really tasty served with warm pita bread, wish the hummus was a tad thicker but delicious flavorVeggie platter - ordered two servings and got a beautiful platter with two portions of the 5 vegetables dishes on a large shared injera with extra bread on the side Misir Wot- spicy red lentils were super flavorful with a nice kick, personal favorite Yellow split peas - warm and comforting nice creamy savory split peas Gomen - stewed collard greens that were earthy, with a slight bitterness very tasty and a nice contrast to the other veggiesCarrot and green beans - veggies were cooked well with a crisp tender texture Beet and potatoes - this was okay, served cold, beets provided a nice sweetness and potatoes starchinessSalad - fresh contrast to the cooked items Injera - nice spongy texture with a tangy fermented flavor Service overall friendly but not super attentive, great recommendations and knowledge of the menu. Had to ask for water refills and had to walk to another table to get the servers attention for the check. Overall great spot in Oakland for Ethiopian food, great flavors and variety, would definitely recommend trying the veggies platter!
The best Ethiopian restaurant I've ever been to. Their food is amazing and you can get them to serve it all in one spinning plate for sharing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef TIBS
i've never tried Ethiopian cuisine before, and I feel like Mela bistro was a great place to start as they had an easy-to-read and understand menu. The food itself was delicious, the location was easy to find and locate. I also appreciate how patient the staff members were as we went in an hour before they were closing! they were also really generous with allowing us and a couple of patrons to sit around till we were finished with our dinner. 10/10 would recommend yall stopping by to try out their food!! my friends and i tried the beef tibs ($18) & roasted peppers and berebere hummus ($10) which was fireeeee and something i'd for sure reorder when i stop by again!tips:- unisex bathroom available with sink for handwashing outside- street parking available in the nearby area- public transportation like bart nearby (walking distance)- great for sharing/family style or individual plates/portions- perfect for dates/friends/family/kid friendly