Mama Ayesha's Restaurant

1967 Calvert St NW, Washington
(202) 232-5431

Recent Reviews Order Online Reserve

Customers' Favorites

Lamb Shank Basmati Rice \u0026 String Beans
Lamb Shank Basmati Rice & String Beans
Foole Hummus Kibbeh Jibna WA Zaytoon
Hummus Bil Lahmeh
Mushakal Mashawi
Vermicelli Rice
Chicken Tikka
Baba Ghanoush
Shish Taouk
Grape Leaves

Menu

Cold Mezza
Hummus
Chickpeas, tahini, lemon, and garlic.
Labneh
Strained yogurt and olive oil.
Kabis
Pickled vegetables.
Hummus bil Lahmeh
Hummus, ground lamb, almonds, and pine nuts.
Baba Ghanouj
Baked eggplant, tahini, lemon, and garlic.
Harateen (Helen's Salad)
Tomatoes, red onions, feta, lemon, cabins, cilantro, and olive oil.
Jibna and Zaytoon
HaloumI cheese, green and black olives, and cabins.

Hot Mezza
Fatayir
Spinach pies, onions, sumac.
Haloumi
Haloumi cheese, zaatar and olive oil.
Foole
Fava bean, cumin, lemon, and garlic.
Fatayir bil Jibna
Spinach and feta cheese
Sujok
Spicy beef sausages and garlic potatoes.

Salad Mezza
Fattoush Salad
Cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers, radish, fried pita, and pomegranate dressing.
Taboullah Salad
Parsley, tomatoes, cucumbers, and cracked wheat.
Toor Salad
Lettuce, tomato, cucumber, chickpeas, olives, feta, and house dressing.
Tahina Salad
Cucumbers, tomatoes, red tahina, garlic lemon, EVOO.

Fried Mezza
Falafel
Chickpeas, cilantro, garlic, and tahini dressing.
Kibbeh
Bulgar wheat, ground beef, sauteed onions, and pine nuts.
Zaatar fries
Hand cut potatoes, zaatar
Cheese Rolls
Mozzarella, feta, and vegetables.
Zahir
Cauliflower and cumin.

Charcoal Grill
Shish Taouk
Marinated chicken breast, mixed vegetables, and vermicelli rice.
Mushakal Mashawi
Shish kabob, kifta, shish taouk and vermicelli rice.
Shish Kabob
Marinated leg of lamb, mixed vegetables, and vermicelli rice.
Kifta
Ground beef, onions, parsley, and vermicelli rice.
Reeash
Loin lamb chops and garlic potatoes.
Salmon Meshwi
Atlantic salmon, tabouleh, and vegetables.

Vegetarian Specialties
Koosa (V)
Stuffed yellow squash, rice, chickpeas, tomatoes, and mint.
Mujadarah
Lentils, rice, caramelized onions, and yogurt.
Warak Inib (V)
Stuffed grape leaves, rice, chickpeas, tomatoes, and mint. Vegetarian.
Makloobah (V)
Spiced rice, cauliflower, and carrots.

Traditional Specialties
Makloobah
Spiced rice, chicken, cauliflower, and carrots.
Menzalah
Eggplant, ground beef, onions, pine nuts, almonds, and vermicelli rice.
Bamya
Okra, lamb, tomato stew, and garlic.
Musakan
Half chicken, baked bread, sumac, and sauteed onions.
Jab bil Toma
Half chicken, garlic stew, lemon, and vermicelli rice.
Mouzat
Lamb shank, green beans, and vermicelli rice.

House Made Stuffed Specialties
Warak Inib
Stuffed grape leaves, ground lamb, lemon, and rice.
Mushakal Mahashi
Warak nib, Maloof, and kosha.
Malfoof
Stuffed cabbages, ground lamb, lemon, and rice.
Koosa
Stuffed yellow squash, ground lamb, rice, and tomato stew.

Desserts
Arabic Rice Pudding
made with a hint of rose water
Kanafa
Sweet cheese topped with shredded wheat and pistachios
Baklawa
Layers of filo pastry with a walnut crusted bottom and honey.
Esh il Asfoor
Rolled filo pastry filled with ground pistachios.
Namoura
Fillo pastry filled with Ishta and honey

Photos

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Recent Reviews

Food:
The Bamiya (okra/lamb) bowl was filled with okras and exactly 3 pieces of meat. A LOT of okra and little meat. The lamb is what makes okra dish tasty!
The eggplant dish was heavy and plating was poor for the $23 they charge for it!

Service: took close to 40 minutes for food to arrive, had to wave at waiter to get water glasses refilled. Waiters overworked and under trained.

Atmosphere: they charge upscale restaurant...
November 2025
I have lived in the neighborhood for a long time and finally decided to spend the evening at Mama Ayesha’s after passing it several times. We ordered several small dishes and one entree. The falafel was the best I’ve ever had in my life and everything else was great as well. Our waiter was extremely nice and the interior of the restaurant is beautiful. I will definitely be coming back!
November 2025
This was a really fun, fancy place to eat! My sole complaints it that their water fountain thing made it sound like it was raining harder than it actually was outside, and it was kinda distracting. But in a way, it was also soothing.
September 2025

More Reviews

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Mama Ayesha's Restaurant

1967 Calvert St NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 232-5431