Merkato is your go-to spot for authentic Ethiopian cuisine, featuring hearty, flavorful dishes served with injera in a cozy market setting.
1036 1/2 S Fairfax Avenue, 1036 S Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90019 Get directions
"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
"The Mint is not only a great place to see new up-and-coming musicians and comedians perform, it is also a short distance from a stretch of Fairfax known as Little Ethiopia. Head to Merkato for deliciously spiced beef in dishes like the Yetibbs Fir-Fir, stuffed puff pastries like the Yesega Sambusa, and plenty of injera bread, or Ethiopian honey wine. —Oren Peleg" - Mona Holmes, Farley Elliott
