This cozy Ethiopian café invites you to dive into generous combo plates bursting with flavor, delightful honey wine, and a warm atmosphere filled with art.
"Merkato lives up to its name, operating as a restaurant and a specialty foods market. The vegetarian combo and staples like awaze tibs or yebeg alicha are the way to go, while the wall decor and umbrellas hanging from the ceiling add charm to the experience. Leave enough time to visit the adjoining market that’s stocked with spices, incense, fresh injera, and Ethiopian soap." - Oren Peleg, Eater Staff
"Sip honey wine and feast on simmered stews, sizzling fish, meats and seasoned vegetables that you eat with your hands using injera — a spongy, sourdough crepe made on a huge, round griddle. The veggie platter is one of our favorites — the colorful array of six veggie items creates a great balance of flavors. We love the ambience here and the food’s always fresh. In the market you can shop beautiful fabrics, bulk spices and popular Ethiopian music." - Huge
"Like its name suggests, Merkato is a functioning market. But there’s also a tiny adjacent dining room with delicious, affordable food that's ideal for a quick lunch. Our go-to is the #13 asa tibs, a gigantic platter consisting of six vegetarian sides such as collard greens and stewed lentils, and a gorgeous whole fried white fish sitting on top like a July centerfold. It’s warm, flaky, and easily enough food for two people, making the $20 price tag a very good value. " - Brant Cox
"Like its name suggests, Merkato is a functioning market. But there’s also a tiny adjacent dining room with delicious, affordable food that's ideal for a quick lunch. Our go-to is the #13 asa tibs, a gigantic platter consisting of six vegetarian sides such as collard greens and stewed lentils, and a gorgeous whole fried white fish sitting on top like a July centerfold. It’s warm, flaky, and easily enough food for two people, making the $19.99 price tag a very good value. " - Brant Cox
"As its name suggests, Merkato is a market filled with everything from pantry goods to CDs and T-shirts. But behind all the merchandise is a tiny kitchen in the back that’s making excellent Ethiopian food. We usually stick to the vegetarian section of their menu, the spicy and earthy lentils are a standout, but you can’t really go wrong with anything. Call (323) 935-1775 to order, and know that they also sell Ethiopian wine to go." - brant cox, kat hong
