Meskel Restaurant

The best Ethiopian we've found in Seattle, great friendly service in a home ambiance that felt welcoming. Photo: Veg combo and beef tibs

My wife and I have been coming here for almost 10 years. It has been wonderful ever single time. The food is incredibly delicious, the service is fast and the owner is so sweet and welcoming that you always feel like you are having dinner with your family when you go there. We have eaten at dozens of other Ethiopian restaurants across Seattle and Washington, Meskel is by far the best. Everything is so flavorful, and the injera is perfect. This is also a great restaurant to relax with company because the atmosphere is very cozy and low-key. I have never been happier and more comfortable eating out at a restaurant than when I'm at Meskel.

We’ve been several times, and have never been disappointed. The vegetable platter and the lamb is our go to, it is so good I dream of it.

My favorite restaurant of any kind in the United States. And I have been to pretty much any urban area you can think of, specifically eating at Ethiopian and Eritean restaurants trying to find the equal of Meskel. If it exists, I have not located it. Meskel's fitfit is hands down the best I've ever had. And the bozena shero is ridiculous. Have been coming here for 30 years, I hope I get 30 more.

This was my first time trying this cuisine. This place was clean and almost felt like a restaurant in a home (my be it was ) . I went for lunch very odd time (3pm) there were not many people and server was only one lovely lady. It looked like she took order and prepared food by herself. - were were two people so we ordered vegetarian platter and yobeg tibs . - everything was so fresh and delicious -if you are in this area do visit this place -I could not find menu pictures so I especially clicked pictures of menu so it would be helpful for people

Extremely pricey compared to other Ethiopian restaurants nearby. The menu online says a different price though. The take out boxes broke. Overall, very bad experience

Hospitality 100% The veggie combo with lamb 🥰😋😋 You cannot go wrong eating here!

Best Ethiopian food I’ve ever had. The owner is so sweet too. Really feels special, like home cooking.

Over the past year we have tried four Ethiopian restaurants in the Central district, and hands-down, Meskel is our favorite because: 1. The combo plates are generous, and the lentils are tender, and there's a side of Ayib (the feta-like cheese). The food is the best here. 2. The meat entrees are generous, well flavored, and tender. No gristly bits. 3. They are able to turn down the heat so that those of us who don't care for spicy food can eat here comfortably. 4. The environment is light and bright (the carpet does need replacing--I hope with a hard surface). 5. In good weather, outdoor seating. 6. Excellent service. Our water glasses stayed full, it was easy to get the server's attention, and she was so pleasant and eager to help us with our requests and questions.

This was one of those times that I decided to step out of my norm and try something new....never had Ethiopian food before! But my friend has been here before...so here we go! This place is a little facility tucked into the local neighborhood. Like most places around here, it's street parking only. So it is hard describe what the food style was...so I'll just describe it. So we both selected a couple items from the menu. But when they came, they were together on a large plate. Each diner is given a large bowl that contains a type of soft spongy flatbread. Each picks up different parts from the large plate that also has some sides like salads. It's a very interesting way to eat...without silverware, but it works.

Friendly and welcoming, great atmosphere, delicious food! Would recommend for a big group, but also great for solo dining. Outdoor seating is excellent for summer.

This is still THE BEST Ethiopian restaurant in Seattle. Went for dinner tonight. We've been eating here for almost 10 years..The owner is really nice and the quality of the food is always outstanding. We get the veggie combo and it has a perfect variety - so delicious! We moved away from the Central District 7 years ago and now live 30 minutes away and don't mind making the drive over there because it's that good. Highly recommend!

I was turned onto Meskel Ethiopian Restaurant years ago by a good friend. It's the BEST Ethiopian food I've ever had. I will drive from Arlington just for a plate. BB the owner is very sweet and will make you feel at home. You will not leave hungry or disappointed. This place is AMAZING as is the service. 10/10 all around!

I went in with great expectations but was disappointed. This is close to other Ethiopian places which I think serve better/fresher food. I was welcomed by a what I perceived as rude waiter- But then I am here for the food - so i ignored. I was served food on a cold injera. When asked why is it so cold and could we have it warmed up- we were yelled at saying this is how it is served and it is fresh (I think she assumed being non-ethiopian we would be new to Ethiopian food). Anyways we continued with eating our food- the shero, Doro wot and red lentils that we ordered were all good and I had no complaints there. Red lentils were cooked a little less and felt less mushy. But considering service and cold injera- I think i would stick to the places nearby that provide a better experience

Meskel is my all time favorite Ethiopian restaurant! Whenever I ate there , she always served fresh and delicious food like a homemade meal. I love how friendly the service as well. We love her vegetarian/ vegan combos

The food is amazing here, freshly made and generous portions. The staff was really friendly.

This might be my favorite Ethiopian place in the Seattle area!! Absolutely a hidden gem. Prices are affordable and you can be full for $20 per person. The staff are super friendly and food always comes out promptly. The veggie combo is a great way to get lots of variety.

My husband and i do not eat spicy food. When asked if the plate was spicy the server told my husband " just drink water". My husband then took his first bite and drank about 2 glasses of water after that. My husband and i couldn't finish our plate of food. I wish the server would have suggested a different plate for us to have a better experience, especially since it was our first time eating ethiopian food. The doto wot dish was spicy, the bread tasted like vinegar and the cheese tasted like lime/vinegar. I did not enjoy my plate. The coffee was good.

This place is a hidden diamond on the edge of CD in Seattle. As you approach the lovely red brick building you can see the raised patio with patio furniture surrounding the place, summer would be a great time to indulge in that. Myself and my partner walked in. They spoke the language of the owner and conversed with her. We went in during the first hour that she was open. Keep in mind she's only opening her doors for 4 hours daily. Very exclusive food. We ordered what they called Fasting Food. Which is all the vegetarian options served on injera. My favorite was the smoky, savory goodness of Shero. The decor is beautiful, big windows cover the southern side of the establishment making it perfect for a sunset dinner.

Meskel is special! It's my favorite Ethiopian restaurant, the food is wonderful, and it's a family ambience where I always feel a warm welcome. I love the green chicken and the veggie combo! My family has celebrated events at Meskel over the years, and the hosts even remember our dietary needs. There's a nice patio outside, too.

This is truly a hidden gem. The food is absolutely incredible. The veggie combo with the spicy lamb is a must-have.

Decent food but the owner was very rude to me and i was the only customer in the restaurant. It was an awkward experience and it felt extremely unprofessional

Meskel is the best Ethiopian restaurant in a city with great Ethiopian food. Get the kitfo raw, bring your family and prepare to eat way too much.

My brother and I had an excellent meal here this evening. Tasty food, a generous portion of kitfo and cheese and... well, it remains a favorite after many years. The quiet atmosphere is most appreciated! Our server was thoughtful and good natured.

Ate here during a recent visit to Seattle. It was quite the experience. Felt like home as the main server treated us like a concerned Auntie. She not only did she chat us up about what we were going eat and made sure that we had enough room at the table, she also brought US a wet towel after someone spilled on their shirt (me). We ate outside which was lovely. We ordered the veggie combo and both the chicken and beef tibs. It was all wonderful. We would def go back.

27 years in business, that's a testament in itself. Take out during COVID 19 era, July 2020. Food: tasty, filling, balanced in seasoning. Food was so heavy I weighed them all. Weight listed in photo descriptions. Hit the spot for my Ethiopian food craving. I got 4 orders for 4 people ($73 after tax), and we have solid leftovers. Next time I will get 3 orders for 4 people. I can see the veggie combo being enough for 2 people for light to medium appetite eaters. *Beef tibbs- unanimous family favorite! Flavorful! Comes with a salad, very acidic to cut the meat. * Veggie combo- good variety and flavor. Great to compliment with a meat protein dish. * Kitfo- competitively did not have as much flavor as the other dishes ordered. It was good, but wish I could have had it raw as recommended. Restaurant said not serving raw at this time. * Doro Wat (chicken) - was mostly sauce with one drumstick and egg. Wish it was made with cubed dark meat. They definitely give extra/enough injera, Level of spice was good! *Guava juice is thick like a nectar drink. Sweet, yummy, but light in flavor. Service: did take out, food ready when I got there. Order was correct. Ambiance: COVID 19, take out, dining room empty. Lots of tables, clean and bright. Has wrap around house outdoor seating available. Location: corner house restaurant on corner of Cherry St and 26th St. Street parking all around. Value: Fair. Large portions. 4 orders for $73 after tax. Recommendation: YES!

Had a beer across the street at MBC then came over for dinner at Meskel. The food was homey, tasty, fresh, delicious. We were treated like we were showing up for family dinner. A hidden gem.

I always enjoy Ethiopian food and was excited to come here based on recommendations and reviews. However, I was disappointed due to service, food options, and overall experience. I felt like our party of six wasn't welcome from the moment we entered even though I had called ahead that we would be coming and if that was okay. Seated near the front of the restaurant on a cold night meant we got a chilly wind draft each time someone entered or left (the place wasn't packed and there were other seating options). When asking questions, it felt like we were a bother. We asked for like ice (yes, just ice) and the BBQ special and both were unavailable which was weird. The food we did get was fine with good spice flavor though - they give you plenty of injera for your meal. It tasted similar to other times I've had Ethiopian food. My main annoyance is that I usually get a meat or veggie/meat combo platter at Ethiopian places for the variety similar to an Indian Tali, but this place only has a veggie combo and no meat combo. I think without this it's hard for first timers to come given they don't get a chance to try multiple dishes.

3.5 stars. Great service, okay food. Tip: if you're gluten free, call in advance to make sure they have 100% teff injeera (they did last time I went)! Food: I love the flavors of Ethiopian food, and our craving for that was met. We ordered the vegetable combo (good) + a spicy beef dish (very tasty). Their portions were smaller than our last Ethiopian food outing, but honestly, we were stuffed so we didn't need more. Service: There was a mama cooking in the kitchen, and a friendly young man who took our older and helped prep as well. They were both very sweet! We did have to flag him down once, but overall, no complaints. Ambiance: Due to the recent craziness in Seattle, we were the only ones there. The restaurant is a converted house and has a homey feel. I was really into the music/videos in the background. Overall, loved their warmth and friendliness, gluten free injeera, and the flavors in that beef!

Served by the owner who was rude and asked if it was our first time having Ethiopian when we were asking questions about the menu. The injera was cold and tasted like it was store bought. Prices were very expensive compared to other comparable restaurants. Street parking was easy. Finding the entrance was a little tricky.

This place was great don't pass up when I'm town you will not be disappointed Place makes you fill right at home with fresh food and great family love.

I've been eating here for years this place is always amazing. I had the veggie meat combo it was so good. The lady who owns it is super friendly very nice environment. Excellent food and great location. If you thinking of Ethiopian try this place, talk to the lady.

Came here while I was in Seattle last week and tried their kitfo, lamb tibs and shiro and everything I tried was super delicious. Def recommend this spot

I consider it a foregone conclusion in dining out that any experience where an irate restaurateur threatens to call the cops on you just for showing up to pick up an order is not a good one. I was going to pick up Ethiopian dinner and dine at a friend's house in the city. Posted hours on Meskel's website are 4-11 p.m. on Tuesdays. The friend, a regular here in pre-plague times, called to place an order while I was driving down to the city. That was the plan: she'd call and order at 5, I'd pick up at 5:30. Except that my friend couldn't get through. No answer at the restaurant. No answering machine. I was driving and didn't look at my phone. I didn't know this until I checked my phone later, after...the incident. The website said to knock on the back porch door, entrance on 26th Ave, to pick up orders. I went up the steps and knocked. Just a normal knock, like five rapid taps. The sign on the door required masks and gloves; a couple of stickers indicated this is one of Seattle's Best Places. There was no other sign. Eventually, an older woman yelled through the door indistinctly, "Read the sign!" I thought she meant the mask/glove sign; that's the only sign there was. "I'm here to pick up an order and yes I have mask and gloves!" I yelled. She yelled louder, "No orders! Read the sign!" "My friend ordered by phone," I responded. "We have no orders! We're closed! Closed sign! Why you keep knocking over and over?" (Huh? I knocked once.) "There is no closed sign here!" I yelled, and gave up. I headed down the stairs to leave. As I left, she slid open a window on the 26th Ave side of the building and yelled "YOU ARE STUPID WOMAN! Sign says CLOSED! YOU NEVER COME HERE AGAIN! I WILL CALL THE POLICE!" She's sure right about me never coming there again. There are plenty of other Ethiopian places in town that are not run by people whose anti-psychotic medications have run out.

I've been eating here since I was a child so it's been a good 10+ years. The food has always been 5 stars. Everything is ALWAYS fresh & the portions are perfect! This is hands down the best Ethiopian restaurant in Washington.

The food here is okay ... the injera didn't taste fresh but everything else was great. !!! Our waitress seemed to be the only person working ... she was very polite!!! My mother ordered the beef and collards dish ... we didn't see much beef on her plate.

Lovely restaurant inside of a house (so finding the entrance was a bit confusing but probably a user error :)). The service was great and friendly. The food was equally as good and incredibly flavorful! I really enjoyed the red lentil component of the dish. Also loved the communal aspect of sharing the plate with your eating buddies. Highly recommend if you're in the mood for something different

Very authentic! Came here right when it opened at 4pm and had a pick of the restaurant. Overall service was good, food tasty, and felt that I was getting an authentic experience.

I was pleasantly surprised with the ambience of this restaurant and it is at par with most Ethiopian restaurants in Seattle in terms of taste. We ordered the veggie platter and doro tibbs. Most of the food tasted pretty good but the greens were too salty and the chicken was way too oily. The food also took very long to arrive! I've only been here once so not sure if this was a one-off. I might give it another try because I had a good time.

We were blown away by the quality and flavor of the food. The woman serving us was so kind and accommodating and made sure we got the best meal! would highly recommend and will definitely be back!

This restaurant makes me feel like I'm back in my East African home eating mom's injera and tibbs. I've tried a handful of Ethiopian restaurants in Seattle, and this is my favorite so far. Definitely pay this place a visit if you love Ethiopian food. For the foodies out there, do yourself a favor and order some Kitfo :)

My favorite Ethiopian place! I've come here 3 times in the last year. It's never crowded when I come and the nicest lady has served us every time. I came here with my sister and we split the vegetable combo and each got guava juice. The guava juice is to die for, more like a smoothie and very refreshing. The vegetable combo is big enough to split and I love all the different dishes to try with the injera. Highly recommend checking this place out if you like Ethiopian food.

This place is fantastic. Ordered food to go on a recent visit to Seattle and the flavors and dishes are all very fresh and authentic Ethiopian cuisine. The customer service when I picked up the food was also very kind and accommodating.

I went to pick up my veggie combo. It was soooo good. The Shiro, lentils, greens, potatoes and cabbage all amazing. A vegetarian feast. Extra injera comes with your food, but sopping up the "plate" of injera soaked with the dishes is delicious. I hope the community continues to support Meskel.

Meskel never disappoints! I love this restaurant and the service. The chef and owner is so sweet! I highly recommend this to anyone in Seattle or visiting Seattle. Food is so flavorful and delicious!

Undoubtedly the best Ethiopian food I've ever had and it's not even close. I have had a decent amount of the menu and everything I've had was delicious. I couldn't recommend it more!

How I heard of this place: A dozen friends were gathering for a feast at Meskel and I was among those invited! Type of cuisine: "Flavors burn a little brighter at Meskel, and the menu extends beyond the standard wots (stews rich in berbere, an Ethiopian chile-based spice blend), tibbs (cubed-meat sautes), and veggie combos--there always seems to be something special simmering in the kitchen. And here the injera isn't just a floppy, edible utensil, but a lively flavor unto itself, lending a cool, pleasantly sour counterpoint to all the slow-cooked stews." (The Stranger) Ambiance: A homey setting from the moment you walk up to the corner establishment, reminiscent of visiting a friend for an extraordinary meal. Outdoor patio seating for sunny and warmer days, brightly colored red interior with seating for small and large parties. The family friendly environment is palatable from the moment one sets foot in the doors, and is welcomed by Belaynesh Chera or other members of her family. What I ordered: Shared plates all around, our table had one order of the Vegetable Combination ($15.99): red lentils cooked with spices, cabbage, carrot, potato, shero, greens and tomato fitfit, as well as the Yebeg Tibbs ($14.95): cubes of fresh lamb sautéed with onion and served with fresh salad. Not to mention, plenty of injara! What I loved: The salad! Everything on our large plate was smashing, from the spicy to the mild, from the vegetables to the beans, but there was something about the lemony salad that truly stole the show. Why I loved it: Simple, homey atmosphere enjoyed with friends and excellent food! Cost: Average ($13 - $16 per shareable lunch entrée)

I'm not an expert but I love Ethiopian food and Meskel is always my go to when the craving kicks in. The fact that it's in a house gives the authentic feeling right off the bat. The food is always well prepared and flavorful. I recommend the doro wat, beef tibs and veggie platter. We even asked for an extra egg in the doro what... Great call! Service was good - when we went the whole restaurant was packed and there was only one server. She did her best considering!

Meskel prepares good Ethiopian dishes but the service has gone south. The owner is impatient and rude while taking orders. The restaurant needs a good waiter/waitress to deal with customer in pleasing way. Not coming back.

I've never had Ethiopian food before until I came here after a friend recommended this place. When we walked in, it totally reminded me of someone's house but was made into a restaurant. There were no problems making reservations and the service was attentive. I was surprised that you're not supposed to use utensils when eating but you use your hands the whole time. Our group of 8 ordered family style which included a couple veggie combo platters and several stewed beef and lamb. Here's how you eat it: You rip off a small piece of injera (this spongy, slightly sour bread), use it to scoop up a small amount of food from the platter, and consume. It's like food and crafts! My favorite was the meat especially the stewed lamb. As a note, don't eat the injera too fast because it expands in your stomach. I was surprised that I was already getting full while we were halfway done. We ended up having a LOT of leftovers in the end. Ethiopian food isn't for everyone but I personally enjoyed the food here at Meskel. Don't be afraid to try something new! I'll definitely come back here again when I'm feeling adventurous.

Lamb tibbs is always my go to but the greens, doro wat, green chicken are delicious too. The espresso at the end will make any meal complete. Try this place if your into Ethiopian food, you won't regret it.

We craved Ethiopian food since we moved to the area, and we tried multiple places: Meskel, Saba, and Ras Dashen. Meskel was the worst. The food was not special, the place was weird, the service not friendly, and the baby seats were very dirty. The prices were a bit higher than the others.

Really great food, came here on a Sunday, great quiet ambience, really able to have a conversation with dining companions and enjoy the outstanding food.

Food is always so good. Some Ethiopian restaurants are bland. This one is not at all. The veggie combo is plenty for two people!

My all time favorite Ethiopian restaurant... and I've tried multiple. The veggie combo is my absolute favorite in the whole city, the owner is so extremely nice, and she offers gluten free (teff only) injera option which I appreciate so much. The best!

They now have a truck which is in Downtown Bellevue every Friday! My first time trying it, I had to do the sampler (so I know what to do next time). Sampler is $12. Each of the other individual orders is $10. Not sure how I feel about individual servings as I understand the fun of Ethiopian food to be eating in community (sharing bread). But the food is good...the curry is very flavourful, the stew as well and the tibs have just the right texture. Comes with a salad on the side. See you next Friday!

Great food! It is sometimes hard to call in an order later in the evening. But worth it!

Hands down the best Ethiopian food in Seattle! Love this place!! Highly recommend the green chicken and veggie platter. SO GOOD.