Meskerem Ethiopian Restaurant

First time trying Ethiopian food and I wasn’t really sure what to expect. The inside smells like incense as soon as you walk in and the space is pretty small. Probably seats around 15 people max. The workers were super nice and helpful, they gave some recommendations and I ended up going with a beef dish that came with the traditional sour dough. Portion size was big. The beef and sides were good but I personally couldn’t get into the sour flavor of the dough. I mostly just ate everything else on the plate. My friends really enjoyed their meals though. Would recommend if you’re curious to try something new in the area!

Having tried 10+ Ethiopian restaurant in 10 different cities, this place is solid when it comes to flavor. The injera bread though is not good in comparison to what I am used to. Probably the bread is 2/5 while the place itself with the food, ambiance and service is 5/5. Maybe I will order food without injera the next time. A lovely spot in STL otherwise.

A wonderful experience with Ethiopian food! The dishes were incredibly tasty, each infused with a unique blend of Ethiopian spices. We also had the chance to experience traditional Ethiopian coffee, which was rich and distinctive—unlike any other coffee we’ve tasted. The service and hospitality were fantastic, and the restaurant was clean and beautifully decorated with Ethiopian art and crafts. If you’re in the area, don’t miss this place—every item on the menu is reasonably priced.

POOR SERVICE. DISGUSTING, DRY, CARDBOARD TILAPIA. I ordered the yellow lentils (pictured in two images) and was literally given a teaspoon of lentils. Seriously.... I was given a teaspoon of lentils. That teaspoon of lentils was full of hard orange lentils. The shiro wat tasted old and chalk- like. The customer service is non existent. The quality of the food when carry out orders are placed tends to leave alot to be desired. In this case, I wasn't afforded the option of receiving a fair or full portion of food. The quality of service and product has diminished significantly. The food isn't worth the monies paid or the time it takes to travel, struggle to find parking and to pick the ill tasting, poor proportion food up.

Love Meskerem! The food is always delicious, great spices and flavors. I always get a combo platter. So yummy. Plus it's a neat experience eating!

The food is great and the personnel is super friendly. I went with my family after a visit to the botanical garden. The food was amazing and the prices were good. The staff was super friendly, helpful, and kind. It is very well located. The decor is a bit outdated, though. Super recommended.

We’ve had a unique food experience here as all of our food came out on a sourdough crepe. You don't get any utensils since you tear off a piece of the crepe and use it to load your food onto it. The flavors are complex. We’ve had several combo plates, and it is something to experience for yourself.

I went for lunch on my birthday and tried Ethiopian food for the first time. I didn't have much expectations but they are really good. Their one platter meal is quite fulfilling for an average human. The injera meals are a must try. The server was so kind she got me a baklava as a complimentary dessert for my special day. Would recommend this place if you like trying out new cuisines.

After several years of hearing about Miss Graham from my friends, I finally made time and tried it with a friend. I came in with high hopes that the food was going to be good based on everything that people told me, and it definitely did not disappoint! Both the food and the ambiance was great! I ordered the Doro wat and it was perfect! I loved everything about this dish, the meat stew the lentils, as well as the yucca?. The food is marinated so well and flavors and spices and they also served a well proportioned meal that was very feeling! Hands down I will be coming here again! I love that they decorated and African decorations around the entire restaurant, even in the bathroom. I also loved reading all of the facts about Ethiopia on the back of their menu, I thought that was great to be able to learn more about the country that represented the restaurant.

Valentine's Day at this restaurant was an idea inspired by wanting to do something a little nontraditional. However, the decorations and overall vibe still made for a nice romantic evening. For a few of us, this is the first time we've had Ethiopian food. We were excited! The wine and beer options are a bit limited, but they were still tasty. We tried the Ethiopian honey wine and that was lovely. We went with one vegetarian and one meat combination platter for two people. This was shared for four and it turned out to be a lot of food! We also ordered an appetizer, but it was never delivered. Our combination planters for both vegetarian and meat eaters were combined into one large dish. Each of the items were spread out on a bread called Injera. Each of the items were incredibly tasty with some that we enjoyed more than others. The heat level overall was decent with some mild and a couple on the medium spice level. I would strongly recommend the accommodation platter for a full experience! The only downside of our evening was unfortunately the service. They were very busy with most tables full however, there was only one dedicated server, and another person assisting periodically. The server did his best, but it was an impossible feat. Also, our dish took quite a bit of time to come out of the kitchen. We were not offered an explanation however I think they ran out of injera because we only had two pieces delivered to four of us. The four of us discussed coming back again on a non-holiday Friday.

I got the Meskerem combination platter (delivered) and it was absolutely delicious. It came with 3 different types of meat stews/dishes, as well as kik alicha (yellow split peas) and cabbage stew. It all comes on a delicious, sour, and soft injera bread, and everything was so flavorful and well spiced. Eat it with your hands, and get lost in the vibrant taste of Ethiopian cuisine!

Never having had Ethiopian food before, I was blown away! I had a friend give me recommendations so I apologize I'm not sure what everything is called. To eat, we ripped up pieces of the bread and scooped the sides into it, creating little balls (?) with every bite, so a lot of finger food! The meat is quite vinegary/sour which works for me! I also really liked how soft the bread was, almost like a crepe. I forgot to take more pictures, but it's more filling than it looks and you definitely get your moneys worth. The only downside was the long wait time. When we got into the restaurant, there was only one other party in the restaurant and it still took 25 minutes to get our food after ordering!

Very Very Good. Your initial reaction will be to ask for silverware; not in an Ethiopian restaurant!!

Good food authentic and traditional Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine deliciously prepared. The Injera is exceptional and the sambosa delicious. Fast friendly service well worth the wait.

Always mind blowing food and service here. Our waitress was friendly & helpful. We got veggie and Meskerem platters, they all have nice tangy taste and interesting spices. Honey wine is highly recommended. Service wasn't slow. We came here at 7pm and left by 8pm. And just learned today that they opened this restaurant in 2007. This must be why they are so good!

First experience with Ethiopian food, and it was super delicious! Eating with your hands is part of the experience, so get into it! Came in with a large group, and the servers were able to accommodate which was great. Overall great experience!

Solid Ethiopian spot in tower grove neighborhood. Quick service and the meskerem combo plate had a nice mix. Injera was a bit thin, nothing special but worth a visit!

it was ok, first time eating Ethiopian food. Vibe inside was cool, weightress may have new, kept on dropping everything and appeared confused. I tried a lamb dish, didn't give too many lamb vibes, not sure if that wasn't just beef prob would try something new in future

Ordered the combo with meat and one with vegetables. Delicious. Enough food to take home for another yummy finger licking (literally) meal. Gluten free bread offering! No frills but comfy atmosphere. Service very polite and accommodating. Comfort food delux!

In town for a few days and I always like to try an Ethiopian joint in any new city I visit. This one was pretty decent. Food was tasty and portion sizes were good. The waitress was really kind. Overall would recommend

Just Wow. Had both Meskerem and Vegetarian Combo at a friends house last night. It was SO good - especially the vegetarian combo. Brought leftovers home for lunch today. Even better. So flavorful. This is my new favorite place to eat out! And it was all gluten free. Yum yum yum. Ps. I rarely write reviews - only if super impressed or super disappointed.

"Turn down for Wat!" Loved the food. Will be back. The Wat (spicy sauce) food was incredible! I love spicy, ate spicy. Wife doesn't love spicy, ate mild. Very happy.

I love the food at Meskerem! I have taken several family and visitors there. For many of them, it was their first experience with Ethiopian food and they loved it too. Eating with your hands can get messy but LET IT! Immerse yourself into the culture and enjoy it as they do. I ALWAYS get the Lamb Tibs, extra spicy, extra saucy and with double cabbage. It hits most times! I say MOST because my dish has been salty once or twice but I charge that to a specific cook. The place is family owned and operated so it may have been that one family member who tends to OVER season things. I have had PLENTY MORE good experiences than questionable so this place is still a GREAT pick. Each time I have been there the staff was kind but more on the quiet side. They aren't chatty people BUT they are attentive and get the job done. The restaurant sits on South Grand amongst several other international restaurants. You will often hear and see Ethiopian music videos while you eat and the decor reflects the culture. If you're in STL, VISIT THEM! I bet that won't be disappointed,

I've been to Meskerem 3 times so far!! The food is extremely delicious! I would highly recommend the veggie platter. Even if you are not vegetarian, it is so flavorful--it comes with a variety including some of the tastiest green beans I've ever had and yellow lentils. It easily can be two meals. This is the best Ethiopian place I have found!! Please note: there are no utensils--you get a soft piece of injera bread (which you use to pick up the food).

This place is amazing. Probably the best Ethiopian food I've ever had. My husband is from DC where they are known for their Ethiopian food and said this beats what he's had there. We tried the chicken tibs and special fish. Both were amazing and great portions. The special fish was my favorite of the two but don't think you can go wrong with anything here.

South Grand has so many options for cuisine and pretty much any nationality...but one of my favorites is Meskerem. Went today after catching the Orchid Show at Missouri Botanical Gardens, was during lunch but they have plenty of seating. Service was good, staff friendly. Did have to wait for the check for a bit, but they have one waitress. The food was great, you do eat with your fingers (FYI). Started with the lentil sambosa and had the Gomen Besaega for my meal. If you like collard greens, this is the option to get. Stop in and check them out.

I'm never disappointed by this place. It's always an explosion of flavor when I eat here and I love it. I'm one for variety so my partner and I shared the veg combo for two. We definitely could have ordered the combo for one and shared. Huge portions! For drinks we had the spiced tea and mango juice. The tea had the same spices as chai does except there is no sugar and milk. It was very comforting. We started with the lentil sambosas and it was a great start to the meal. They were so good with the sauce! Service was a little slow but it was a Saturday night at peak dinner time and it only seemed like two women were working the front of house so I can't knock stars off for that at all. Not their fault and they still took care of us and got our orders in accurately.

Just wow. Truly incredible food - incredible staple of STL. I could gobble those sambosa and chicken tibs on the daily. Never change.

Portions here are huge so be prepared for a filling meal. The meat dishes are so tender, I would definitely recommend the chicken. They serve all the food on a fluffy sourdough flatbread which was so addicting. Have only tried take-out but I heard they provide even more sides when you dine-in. Would try that next time!

Meskerem was a delicious weeknight meal that I happened to stumble upon. I had only had Ethiopian food once and I absolutely loved it so I was willing to give Meskerem a shot. When I first arrived to the restaurant it looked a bit small but then I was walked to the back room that had more space and was well lit. A minor downside was that the back smelled like cigarettes but was quickly overtaken by the smell of delicious food. I ordered the tibs n quosta that came with two sides. One of the sides was a lentil stew and the other was a combination of potatoes, carrots, and onions. The meal was absolutely delicious however the injera was a bit too acidic for me. Despite the slight acidity, it did not take away from how good the meal tasted and I will definitely be coming back when I'm craving Ethiopian food!

THIS food is outstanding! Their use of spices is phenomenal and I loved every item on the Vegetarian Combo plate. Both of our appetizers were very tasty also. The service was good without being intrusive. The restaurant seems small and cozy, but there's an additional dining room off to the side. The quality of the food was well worth the price paid and I especially like the system they have for payment. Looking forward to coming back!

The food was divine! We were a party of 3, shared a combo plate for 2, and 1 extra bread. I am craving this food now!!! Unfortunately, I am in another region of the country now, but next time I am lucky enough to pass thru Dt. Louis, I will definitely be going again. The food, service, price, and vibe are all terrific!

This was my first time trying Ethiopian food in my life so I was not sure what to expect. Came on a Friday lunch without reservations and there was plenty of seating left which is nice. We ordered the Meskerem Combo for 2 and at first when the food came, I didn't think that there was that much but as I started eating it, I couldn't believe how much food there was. I was expecting injera to be kind of like roti in the sense that it would have a mild flavor so you could eat a lot of it, but it was not like that at all as it had a bit of sourdough flavor. By the time I finished eating the injera with the other entrees, I was stuffed! Also, I was a bit worried about eating with my hands but it turned out to be very okay, not messy at all actually. I think my favorite dish was probably the Miser Wat which is essentially just curried lentils. I also really appreciate the egg in the Doro Wat. I think in general I was really surprised with the flavors not being extremely heavy and the seasoning to be something I felt like I've had before rather than haven't. Overall, would definitely come back to try this again. I think this is a pretty great place for first introduction into Ethiopian food. Also, I feel like the amount in this dish can comfortably feed three people.

I went here for lunch alone, wanting to try a new restaurant im not sure what i expected, but the service was terrible. i've never left a review on a restauran, but ive also never left a meal feeling so badmy and miss treated! I walked in no greeting. i asked may i take a seat. I was given a hand gesture from behind the bar. She came to my table and and just looked at me. After a staring match that she obviously won I ordered an appetizer and entree. She left. I flagged her down a little later to order a drink that was our last interaction before i asked for the check. I was the only person there when I arrived, so once another couple entered I payed close attention to her interaction with them and it was completely different. She talked a lot about menu offered to take pictures of the couple, hawked there table and made sure they were happy. Please do better i usually tip very well, i come from managing bars and also serving when i was younger. I will never visit here again and will tell everyone I know if your not Ethiopian they will not give you proper service.

I was new to Ethiopian food. The owner came over and helped us pick out our food, then showed us how to eat it. The food is amazing. The restaurant is small, intimate, and fun. This needs to be on everyone's must visit list

Really great authentic Ethiopian food. I love that it is served family style and traditional. Of course, they give you the option otherwise if that's not your thing. We have been coming here since we moved to the area and it never disappoints. It is great dining in here, but their to go business helped get us through the pandemic. Their special fish is of particular note as it is beautifully cooked with a slightly crispy edge on it. The injira that comes with every dish here is an absolute star of a culinary staple starch. One of my favorite starches other food gets served on or with in the world. The sour flavor is sublime. They usually also have authentic Ethiopian music videos playing and have a solid traditional honey wine available.

Love this place - def in our top 5 most often rotated/ consistent STL spots for casual dine-in/take out. Food is legit good and extremely consistent with great value and fast/friendly service. Our go-to for my very carnivorous husband and me is the vegetarian combo for 2. This is coming from my husband who doesn't consider any meal an actual meal if it doesn't have meat. So that's really all I have to say to describe how much we love it. The chickpeas in berbere sauce is our personal favorite. The non veggie combo is good too but we just love how the flavors and sauces are deeply steeped into the veggie dishes more - perfection with the injera. It's the perfect comfort meal that we don't feel guilty about! One of the many great gems on south grand.

Delicious food! We had the combination platter to try a lot of different options and the sambosa. Everything was delicious and well seasoned. Spices were great.

If you walk in and see a large party (or even a few large groups), expect to wait 2 hrs or more for your order. There are only 2 servers working the dining area; don't know how many working in the kitchen. Many people from the next room (where the party was seated) came over to our side by the bar to ask for things, since the servers were in and out of the kitchen. We arrived just after 6:30 pm on Sat May 13 which was the day before Mother's day. There may also have been Graduation parties. We knew from our prior visit last year (I think in the Fall) that our order would take a long time to be brought out, but last time it was not 2+ hours. We ordered appetizer Sambosa with Beef (like Samosa but different spices). Took almost 1.5 hrs for that to come out. Our Vegetarian Combo (for one) --a Miser Alecha, a Miser Wat, a Shiro Wat, a Butecha, a Gomen Wat, a scoop of green beans w/ carrots, onions in tomato sauce, and finally a scoop of cabbage, potatoes, carrots with garlic, ginger in curry -- on Injera lined plate, came out maybe 30 min later. After another 10 min or so, the Injera lined plate of my Lamb Tibs order came out with a scoop of their cabbage and scoop of Miser Alencha (lentils), but without the lamb --that came out maybe 10 min later. By then we had gotten almost full so we packed most of the lamb to take home, along with injera. We ordered similar items at our last visit and they didn't take this long, so it was the crowd not the foods. There were lots of pickup orders throughout our 2+ hrs there. We probably won't go back on a Saturday night. No photos since we were starving after waiting 2+ hrs.

Tasty and located in south grand corridor. Great for lunch and a wander into all the cute little shops.

Friendly staff; food is always delicious here. Get the platter options for various samples.

Always a great meal. I brought my girlfriend here to introduce her to Ethiopian food. She totally loved it. My suggestion is to go with the Combo platter if you don't know what to order. Now she wants me to cook Ethiopian at home. Lucky for me Meskerem sells injira to take home!

Really enjoyed the home cooked flavor here. It has the family owned vibe, and the was just delicious!

Had this place bookmarked for a while and finally decided to get some takeout. They're still doing takeout during the pandemic. I just ordered online and it was ready to go when I got thefe. Super fast and easy. Ordered the Meskerem Combo, Lamb dish and beef sambosa. Everything was delicious! Was worried there wouldnt be enough for 2 so I ordered the extra lamb dish. But the meskerem combo definitely would've been enough. But so glad we ordered the lamb tibs because it turned out to be my favorite. Will for sure be back! So glad there's good ethiopian food in St. Louis!

Very unique place. Everything was delicious. We definitely ordered more than we can handle. Parking is street parking so it is a bit challenging for me since I am not a fan of parallel parking.

Went with coworkers last week to this fantastic treasure for a sip of the lovely Honey Wine and a platter of the best Kitfo and warm crispy Sambusa. What a delicious lunch with kind staff and a fantastic atmosphere. Don't wait to be adventurous... run out today and enjoy a meal with friends at this lovely restaurant.

DELICIOUS!!! if you like soul food, then you'll love this. double the flavor and very filling. seriously every single thing tasted so good I couldn't decide on a favorite. but if I had to pick it would be the green bean/carrot dish. love the bread. it's very airy, liked it's made with soda for those extra bubbles. be warned tho it'll fill you up very quick so be sparing and focus more on the veggies. food like this makes me want to become a cook

First time trying Ethiopian and it was delicious. We had the combo platter just to try a good range and there was nothing that we didn't like.

A friend recommended this restaurant as I am an enthusiast of Ethiopian food. I've been to countless places around the country and this is one of the better ones I have experienced in terms of the food (I ordered takeout, so I cannot comment on table service.) It was truly excellent. Ready on time, kind staff and memorably delicious.

Delicious savory cuisine! We enjoyed the vegetarian combo platter and samboas. Yummy Beef Sambosa

This place is very soothing. The lady serving us was very kind and attentive to everything we needed but also gave us space to ourselves. My partner has spent time catering and making Ethiopian food for people in the past and thought this place was excellent. This was my first time eating Ethiopian cuisine and I thought it was very good. I made the mistake of thinking what we ordered would not be enough to fill us but ended up completely stuffed and had to take a whole box of food home!

First time coming and the ambiance was alright but The restaurant had great service and the food was just as good. We tried the platter and avocado salad, and both were delicious. I went the vegan route on my entrees but they do offer seafood, lamb, and chicken.

Food was okay but everything being seasoned the same and almost being a paste was odd the service was outstanding though and it feels like a good experience to at least try. The ambiance is decent. I recommend trying it but I don't think I would go back.

Absolutely wonderful Vegetarian/Vegan Combo plate! The service and food were outstanding!

We had the Vegetarian Combo for 2. Not only we're we impressed by the portion sizes, the flavors were amazing. The restaurant is clean, with thoughtful decor and ambient music. Service was very attentive.

Absolutely adored this place! I have never had Ethiopian food before and it was such an enjoyable experience. My friend and I split the Meskerem Combo for 2 which comes with 3 different meat items, and 2 veg all on top if this special kind of bread they had. The bread is a lil sour and has a spongy texture but it is sooo good and soaks up the food nicely. The meat options on top definitely have a bit of a kick to it but no worries, the staff were quick to refill drinks so you will be good to go! My favorites were the chicken which came with some boiled eggs and the lentils. Would definitely come here again to try some of their other dishes. Also the service here is AMAZING! Food came out in less than 10 minutes, they were quick to refill drinks and ask us how the food was. Now go check it out! It's so yummy!

The food was very well seasoned and tasty! I think the meat dishes is where the cooking was best. We ordered the lentil sambosas and the Meskerem and Vegetarian combo platters. Our party of 7 was was unable to finish 3 platters, so really a 2 person combo platter could easily feed 3. Service was prompt and friendly, and the artwork around the restaurant added to the colorful ambiance.