Meleket Ethiopian Restaurant

They take forever to make the food. Terrible service. Don’t bother

Wish there were pictures of the dishes so it was easier to order.
We went for lunch on a Thursday, and there was no parking available. A huge problem.
We ordered the three meat and three vegetable platter and it was enough for two people.
The grilled chicken and beef were amazing. It was served with jalapenos and grilled onions.
The sauce on the lamb dish was delicious, but I didn't care for the rolled up bread underneath the sauce.
The cabbage was amazing. Would definitely order again. The chickpea option was not good, and lentil option was mid.
Service and food was very slow.
I wish they served the food with utensils as well. I prefer to not eat with my hands, even though I know that's part of the cultural experience.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 2

I don’t know what’s going on with this place but they keep serving people ice cold injera and cold vegetables. I used to like this place. Maybe they do this to people that aren’t Ethiopian? I’ve never been served cold vegetables and injera at any Ethiopian restaurants. I’ve noticed other reviewers reporting the same experience

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 1

Service: 3

We love this Ethiopian restaurant! The food is wonderful. My college aged son always requests a meal from here when he is home. We dine in and take out. Highly recommend!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We just ordered delivery from this restaurant for the first time, and we are so glad to have found a solid local Ethiopian place. The portions were generous. The injera was light and plushy, and the stews really hit the spot. Much of the baklava around DC is so similar that I think it must be made somewhere centralized and distributed. If I'm not mistaken, this baklava tasted like it must have been made in house. I got the veggie platter and my husband got the meat and veggie platter, and he was very impressed as well. Let me tell you, if you're interested in eating more vegetarian food but want something filling and hearty, I give Ethiopian food a shot. And for you local Silver Springers, this is a great place to try it.

Food: 5

Dang I was recommended this place by an Ethiopian I met out and said it was the best in the area. I named some spots and she was like yup way better. I was super excited to come and eat this food. When I got here I sat at the bar and no one said anything to me for 10-15 minutes. The food came out late and was not hot enough and the flavor was great but very dull like it wasn’t seasoned enough. I know other Ethiopian places will make an American version with less seasonings., not saying they did but it ok at best. I was super disappointed with the whole experience. They didn’t even refill my water at all and asked me how it was and then ignored me for 10 minutes. Not sure I’ll be coming back but we’ll see.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 2

Service: 1

Having grown up with the rich flavors of Ethiopian traditional food, I can confidently say that Mekelet Restaurant is one of the best places in the DMV area to experience and truly savour the authentic taste of Ethiopia. The dishes are prepared with care, bringing out the depth of flavours and cultural heritage that make Ethiopian cuisine so unique. Beyond the food, the warm and welcoming hospitality made the experience even more memorable. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who wishes to enjoy genuine Ethiopian traditional dishes and a heartfelt atmosphere. Thank you, Mekelet, for such an outstanding experience. Feleke M,

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

One of my favorite places to eat. Food is always fresh and authentic. The owner and staff are always pleasant. Great family spot.

Friday Night Jazz Band is FIRE!!!!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Normally we enjoy the veggie combo and the Gomen be Siga with no issues (other than occasionally not getting the pico de gallo in our to go bag). However, today both dishes did not meet the expectations from past orders. The injira was cracked and what I assume as old/stale as it was cold and did not have the normal light source but fragrant flavor. It was porous and very sour. The dishes were mediocre at best. It was a disappointment after having a craving for their normally delicious dishes.

Food: 2

The service here was so considerate and kind! They even took the time to make sure that we liked our drinks — offering us samples, and even making the coffee themselves!

Highly recommend this place for an authentic and enriching experience!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

My warm dinner, veggie combo, was served on cold injera. The The injera was cold and stale. I think that because I was not with Ethiopian people when I came, they gave me old injera. Also, the server never came to ask if I needed anything, despite there being very few customers. When I asked for warm injera, the server brought me injera cut up in squares, instead of the normal roll and charged me an extra $8.32. The veggies were a mixed bag with a few being pretty good, a few okay, and one really bad. The misir wat was great and the collard greens were bad. The collard greens tasted like they were out of a can. The beets were okay. I was charged $30.00 for a veggie combo, and paid $40.00, including tip. This was the worst experience I have ever had at a restaurant in terms of food and service. This is my neighborhood Ethiopian restaurant, and I have been here many times in the past, but I will not be back. The food and the service were really bad. There are 20 Ethiopian restaurants within 2 miles of this restaurant, so why would I go back to this place with old cold injera and a rude server?

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 1

Excellent organization for a private party for 40 people. Easy to arrange, great location, ample parking across the street. Food and service was excellent.

The shiro here is one of if not the best I have ever tried.The service is lovely and all of the staff members are friendly.They take care of their customers with high efforts and ask if you need anymore food or anything else.They refill your drink even if you didn't ask.They also have fantastic coffee here.And overall this restaurant Is a 5 star for me.

Great atmosphere and food. Service was amazing. Really want to come back for different dishes. Getting the 50/50 Chicken and Lamb and Veggie combo was perfect for two big guys to eat. Getting the espresso was the best way to cap off a delightful meal.

Parking is tough, so plan for that. It is worth it!

The food didn't take long to come unlike some restaurants, and the taste was not disappointing at all, it was very sweet and perfectly spicy. The service was phenomenal the staff were very polite, respectful and had a nice scene of humour😂.overall it was a very enjoyable experience