The last time I was at this place was ten years ago when I was in DC - I decided to stop by on my trip last week and was so glad I did! The food is as good as I remember - the musakan is one of my all time favorite dishes. the atmosphere is warm and inviting, and great service. This is a hidden neighborhood gem where you can get in without a reservation. read more

No other way to describe this place other than incredible. The decor was perfect, service was wonderful, and the food even better if that's possible. We began with Baba Ganouj, Fattoush, and Meat Rolls, then the three of us shared two orders of Mushakal Mashawi. My husband had a Mango Martini that was also excellent. Wish I lived in DC -- we would be regulars! read more

Overall: This place is has been a staple of the neighborhood for decades and you will understand why once you tried it. Tastiness: I have come here multiple times with family and friends and everyone always loves their dishes. My parents are picky about lamb and loved the lamb dishes they tried. Overall, I can attest to ALL of the lamb dishes because I have tried them all. Order with confidence and a hungry stomach! :) The wine selection is robust - I would recommend the white, red, and rose house wines from Lebanon, as a great value and taste. Presentation: Presentation goes as far as it is practical in this restaurant - nothing is out of place, but it is not a priority - tastiness is. Service: Over the years I have interacted with multiple servers and they have all been effective, professional, and welcoming. A delight! Ambiance: When I stepped inside the restaurant I felt transported to the Middle East - the decor, the music, the lush plants, and water installation make this place instantly charming and set the tone for a welcoming and enjoyable dinning experience. Cleanliness: Very clean and organized. Price: Well-priced for NW DC with excellent service and delicious food. read more

I went to Mama Ayesha's pre-COVID. The food and service were great. I'm originally from California and have some great Lebanese restaurants there, so it was tough trying the same types of dishes here at Mama Ayesha's. Although it wasn't quite the same, they still have great food for DC and am excited to try this again! read more

Mama Ayesha's Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The iconic Mama Ayesha's with the big mural has always caught my attention and I have finally gotten the chance to try it! The anticipation was worth it, the food was delicious, comforting, and cooked to perfection. The chicken in the Makloobeh was juicy and flavorful, the lamb in the Mouzat fell right off the bone covered in the rich braising sauce. On the other hand I did not enjoy the dessert as much, the vermicelli in the knafeh was not cooked enough and lacked in flavor. The fattoush was yummy but the veggies were cut very chunky. The experience itself was great with good customer service and a relaxing environment. I am quite content with Mama Ayesha's :) read more

See all

Idk where to begin. Our server was fantastic and very accommodating. My friend has never been to a Mediterranean restaurant so I figured this staple would be a treat. The hummus was out of this world and the tabbouleh. Entrees were superb. The only downside I could see is parking, however it's definitely worth it! read more

Amazing Palestinian food! I had the makloobah and the chicken was so soft, it fell apart. Service was great, as well. I will make the trip to DC and come again in the future. read more

Mama Ayesha's Restaurant - Chicken Makloobah - Middle Eastern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I stay at Omni Shorham every year for a conference and always to go Mama Syesha. I went there to pick up dinner last night and enjoyed the Bamya dish. But I left my credit card there. and did not realized it until this morning. The staff there was so honest. They called me and informed that they had my card and had put a hold on it so it would be secure. I retrieve my card and just want to thank them for this. I will do back without hesitation any time. read more

Had an amazing dinner here tonight! There were plenty of available seats on a Friday evening, and the wait staff were exceptionally kind. The hummus was delicious and the pita bread came from right out of the oven. Both of our entrée dishes were also amazing, so we will definitely be coming back! read more

Mama Ayesha's Restaurant - Mujadarah and Makloobah - Middle Eastern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Fabulous Palestinian food! We came for the musakkhan, but wound up also ordering the hummus and menzalah. Absolutely delicious! Highly recommended! read more

See all

Service was terrible. Waiter was nowhere to be found. Unbelievable. I had a craving for middle eastern food and thought I'd try this place. Will never come back again. read more

Something has called me to this spot for 20 years. Finally got my way and man was I thrilled. Hummus better than I ever had, kiffeh (first time), they were out of lamb shank but the charcoal grilled lamb chops and lamb shish kabob were amazing. Usually I think "I could have made these as good" but not this time. Thank you, Mohamed, for a memorable meal. We felt well taken care of. Mike and Jill read more

Wonderful find in DC! The food, service and ambiance were excellent. We had the hummus, eggplant chicken and lamb shank. Portions were large and plenty of leftovers. read more

I made an entire meal out of appetizers. The service was great. The kibbee is delicious, as is the hummus

I'm going to preface this by saying that my rating for this place is a composite of the experiences from all the times I've been here (I've been 3 times) - my first time was during Ramadan where our food came out 45 minutes after it was time to break our fasts and I was not thrilled, but they were much more prompt with excellent service on subsequent visits. Mama Ayesha's is a pretty iconic Egyptian restaurant in Adams Morgan, best known for the mural outside featuring the presidents who have dined here along with Mama Ayesha. It is definitely one of the more authentic places for Middle Eastern food. Having grown up in the Middle East, my standards for Arab food are pretty high and I'd say Mama Ayesha's meets them. Their chicken, beef, and lamb kababs are all well seasoned and their appetizers (meat pies! and great hummus amongst many others) always hit the spot. It's also the only place I've found maqlooba (medley of rice, meat, vegetables) in DC. What always has me going back though is the knafeh a la mode - ice cream with the warm knafeh (cheesy, sweet dessert with a noodle like topping) go really well together! Ambience: Elegant and classy with beautiful mood lighting. Perfect place to take family in town to, equally well suited for a date night. Noise level is on the more quiet side, allowing for good conversation. read more

See all

We were a large group with a set menu and they served us a huge amount of incredibly tasty food! The hummus is the best I've had and I loved the pistachio desert. Very kind service. read more

We had an amazing meal at Mama Ayesha's. The food and the cocktails were fantastic! the staff were friendly and the restaurant has a very interesting history. highly recommend! read more

Went here with my girlfriend on a Friday night. It was pretty quiet so we were able to get food pretty quickly. The dishes were good. She got the veggie Koosa which was alright but the squash tasted weird to me. I got the Mouzat and it was pretty good, pretty much what u expected from lamb shank and rice. read more

Mama Ayesha's Restaurant - Mouzat - Middle Eastern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Best baclava and falafels I've ever had!! Great ambience and kind people. Large portions and great prices. I will be back!

Cute restaurant in Adams Morgan. The outside doesn't look like much, but the inside is beautifully decorated. Parking is horrendous. It's damn near-impossible. Highly recommend you walk/uber. My bf and I came here as a recommendation by one of his lovely aunts. She used to frequent this restaurant years ago and really thought it was something special. Now that we've tried it, we can definitely say we agree! We both enjoy mediterranean food quite often, but Mama Ayesha's was truly unique. Recommendations: For starters, you MUST get the Kibbeh. So unique and delicious. This is an authentic dish that can't be found everywhere. We also ordered a half-order of the stuffed grape leaves. Yum! For entrees, get the lamb shank! (Mouzat) ^ The bf loved that one. The meat fell off the bone. If we're ever in town again, I think we'd like to come back. read more

See all

Overall good experience. The food was pretty good. The ambiance was pretty good too. The lamb shank was what 3/4 guests ordered. I'm not a huge lamb person, so I decided to get the chicken/roast chicken. I tried the lamb, but I'm not a big lamb person, so I really have no comparison. I will say all 3 guests demolished their lamb shanks so they are definitely good if you like lamb. The chicken, what I ordered, was very good. Had leftovers for the next day. Was pretty good. Would go back for sure. read more

See all

A large group of us arrived at Mama Ayesha's after day one of our conference. The dinner was prearranged with our host, so I never saw a menu (well, outside the cocktail menu). Within minutes of sitting down, our family style meal began. I'm pretty sure we had every appetizer they offer and all were quality. I was a big fan of their Taboullah salad and the eggplant dish (I believe it was the Baba Ghanouj). Yes, the hummus was solid, but I've had better. Our mains were also a sampler of various dishes. The grilled lamb was cooked to perfection and the beef was tasty. We also had Falafel and even being a meat-love I could enjoy the Falafel. We ended with Baklawa and Mint Tea. To be honest, the Baklawa was a bit of a letdown, but the tea was refreshing. I'm sure they have other desserts which are worth exploring. Net-net, if I find myself back in the DC area I could find my way back to Mama Ayesha's. read more

See all

Great food, service and atmosphere. Will come again soon. Highly recommend. Will come again.

I was thoroughly impressed with my dinner at Mama Ayesha's! I came here for a friend's birthday because the only thing he wanted was Hummus, so I went on Yelp and looked for a Mediterranean restaurant and started reading reviews. Reviews were great, pictures looked good, and I made a reservation. It's located in Adam's Morgan, near the Rock Creek bridge. Atmosphere was nice, dimly lit and inviting. Food: Mushakal Mashawi - a mixture of skewers that included the Shish Kabob (lamb), Kifta (chicken), Shish Taouk (beef) served with Vermicelli Rice. I am usually averse to eating lamb because I do not enjoy any type of meat that is "gamey." Usually with Mediterranean cuisine, I don't mind the lamb/beef mixed gyro meat because the spices used masks that taste. I took a risk and gave the mixed plate a try and to my surprise, I enjoyed every single thing on my place. The Shish Kabob (lamb) was so tender! It was cooked medium, which was perfect. The Kifta (chicken) was also a shocker! I have never had such tender and juicy grilled chicken breast from a Mediterranean restaurant every. Every bite was amazing and I just wanted more. The Shish Taouk (beef) was a bit overcooked to my liking, which dried it out, but overall, the flavor was on point and still ended up tasty. Hummus - it was just okay. I read from another reviewer it was the best he has ever had, so it got me excited. But to me, it was just okay. Wasn't over the top and wasn't bad. I think it was too smooth and thin for me but I enjoyed it. Falafel - Pretty good! Each piece was hot, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Just like how any falafel should be, no complaints. Overall the highlight of the evening was the main dish, Musahkal Mashawi. Definitely come here and give it a try, you will not regret it! I am actually looking forward to coming here again soon to eat the meats. Yum! Service was okay, the waiter was a bit pre-occupied at other tables so it was hard to get some requests, but nothing terrible to complain about. When he was at the table, he was very attentive and friendly and recommended some good things to eat. read more

Mama Ayesha's Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We had a very poor experience at Mama Ayesha's. This was the second time we've visited the restaurant. For our first visit, the food was good (3.5 stars) but nothing to write home about. We decided to give it another try tonight. We enjoyed our hummus, baba ghanoush, and salad. Unfortunately our main dishes arrived incorrect and extremely bland. About halfway through our meal, we noticed that the table across from us was staring at the area under our booth. A few seconds later they quickly came up to us and showed us a mouse scurrying around our feet. We quickly got up from the table as the family left the restaurant before ordering their food. As we were discussing the bill with the hostess, we then saw the mouse coming straight towards us then right back into the kitchen. The hostess did not apologize in anyway whatsoever. He told us to not overreact as it was a small mouse. He also stated that, "We're in DC. There are mice in every restaurant." My grandmother also remarked multiple times BEFORE the experience with the mouse that the restaurant seemed very dirty and unkempt. The hostess was extremely disrespectful as he got in my fiancés face about the situation. We refused to pay the check and left the restaurant. We would not recommend Mama Ayesha's and we will not be returning. read more

This place is outstanding. Everything they serve here is simply amazing. Highly recommend

My husband and I had an amazing experience at Mama Ayesha's. Our server was extremely kind and attentive. We ordered the baba ghanouj for our appetizer and of course it was delicious as I am a huge eggplant fan. For our entrees, we ordered the "Mouzat" (lamb shank) and "Jaj Bil Toma" (chicken). The lamb shank was SO TENDER and was complimented well with the green beans and rice. The chicken was also soft and flavorful. Portions were in good size and pricing was fair. I highly recommend this place if you're looking for some authentic middle eastern cuisine. read more

Mama Ayesha's Restaurant - Bottom left: "Mouzat" (lamb shank) Right: Jaj Bil Toma" (chicken) - Middle Eastern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Outstanding food, interior, history, and customer service! I stopped in tonight for the first time since moving to the area a few weeks ago. I read about Mama Ayesha's incredible story and was inspired to walk over. Upon entry, you'll notice their dimly-lit interior is quite inviting, and gives the larger space a much cozier feel. Beautiful decor. I was greeted with a (masked) smile and warm conversation while waiting for my meal to go. I ordered their hummus, kibbeh, and knafeh. Each dish was thoughtfully prepared, boasting delicious and authentic Palestinian flavors. The hummus was smooth and acidic- truly one of the best I've ever had. I'm looking forward to sampling all of their menu items and next time will dine in for the full experience. Thank you Mama Ayesha's! read more

Mama Ayesha's Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Oh my God. The food, the ambiance, the service. if i could give 10 stars i would. it was so good. my partner and i ordered so much food and not one thing was bad. everything was delicious. HIGHLY recommend read more

This is a Palestinian business that has been around for well over 50 years. If you want to support great restaurant with excellent food and service this is the place to come to. read more

I started with the foole. It was good but I'm used to a more robust foole with chopped tomatoes and this one was under seasoned. I then went on to add hummus which was done well. It was creamy and had a nice acid and is served with a soft but nicely chewy pita. I finished my main meal with the Menzalah which was really good. The eggplant and almonds paired really nicely and the accompanying rice dish was wonderful. Now if you really want a treat their walnut Baklava is heaven! Served hot and crispy and not overwhelming sweet, it really is perfection. read more

A great ending to our Ramadan, complete with family and friends. The service was spectacular!! The food IS LEGENDARY!!! My mom told us stories of when Mama Ayesha would come out and dine with them (then college aged, young Muslims) sharing her stories from home and her love of cooking. Keep this energy!!! My mom said this was the FIRST establishment that they ate at because they were halal!! What history!!! We arrived patrons and left family. MASHAALLAH!!!! We will be back soon. read more

It was fine. Everything was a little bland for my pallet. But the service was good especially given the size of the group I was with.

The food here is phenomenal and the service is excellent. We were given excellent recommendations on dishes as well as wine. Stopped by here with my family and we were all very impressed with every dish we tried. Here's what we got: - Hummus bil Lahmeh - Baba Ghanouj - Kalaya - Kibbeh - Shish Kabob - Musakan (this is a must try) - Bamya - Kifta We ordered quite a few things, but we had 5 hungry people in the group and we honestly had no complaints about any of the things we ordered. We even got a few desserts, which were really unique and delicious. Overall this is a great spot for some excellent food in AdMo. read more

Mama Ayesha's Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

We absolutely loved our meal here! Once you step in inside, it feels like you are transported to the Middle East. Every dish we tried was fantastic! Fatoosh was refreshing, Makloobah was delicious. The Sujok was fabulous as well. Definitely recommend. read more

Preface: I don't understand why so many of the reviews are full of praise and yet only give a 4-star rating. You ain't Gordon Ramsey. Give them a 5! Review: I had the best meal I've had in a longtime here. The ambiance was great; the food far exceeded my expectations; and our server, Amir, was a cool dude who was covering his brothers' shift because it's still a family-run restaurant. My experience with service generally in DC has been a serious let down, so it was nice to have someone talk to you like a person. Take the time to read Mama Ayesha's story in the menu. Her recipes and legacy live on through this place and I loved every bit of it. read more

The dishes are very poorly spiced. Portions are small. Appetizers masquerade as main dishes. Service is poor. Way overpriced!

If you are looking for an authentic Arabic/Syrian food, do not miss this place. The food was awesome. The restaurant was super old. Mama Ayesha opened in 1950s and has been serving Arabic/Syrian food for more than 60 years. They also have a dish made out of eggplant and ground beef which I really loved read more

See all

A lovely Middle Eastern place with a fantastic menu, I wish I could give it five stars however it just seems like the building and everything inside is very much outdated and not in a good way meaning you feel like it's not the cleanest place. The food was really good especially all the small little appetizers (Meeza) I would definitely give it a second chance and see if I can change my mind because I really want to love it. read more

Very sorry to see such a place with a long history of service to the DC area , run down like this , Food was less than average, the waitress tried her best to accommodate us since we were the only customers in the place, expensive . Bye Bye Mama Ayesha . read more