This was a wonderful meal! The place is on the small side so go early to get a table. The vegetarian sampler was a great way to try a little bit of everything. We also ordered two meat dishes which were also delicious. Everything is served for sharing and there are no utensils offered so be ready to use your fingers ;) We asked for advice from the server and were not disappointed in our meals. I would definitely go back. read more

Meleket Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Very tasty savory food, friendly service. Spent $17 and got a injera chicken and lentil, found the feel of spice matched the decor: legit.

Nestled in the historic alpine building of Montgomery Hills is the first Ethiopian restaurant Near Snyders. Parking is a problem here, the parking spaces facing the main road have a ditch that needs to be filled, in front of the pet store is two spaces with signs that you will be towed. I got beef tibs with berebere which was supposed to be mild I asked to make sure they would me mild, but they were too spicy to be enjoyable, the beef was too chewy I couldn't eat it and didn't want to take it home. The two side TVs were in diagnostic mode I took a time lapse picture of the same six pictures that repeat it all night, the center screen had sports commentary on mute which is the most useless thing to watch. read more

The food here is excellent and reasonably priced. I took my friend here who had never had Ethiopian and we had a great dinner, and it's a good date night place. I recommend the beef tibs. The downside is that parking in the tiny lot can be a challenge, so I try to go there on off hours. read more

I loved the food I thought it was delicious! First time ordering from here. I had a best friend once who was Ethiopian; I was offered Injera at her house, and didn't like the texture (it was so new to me). I tried it again, after all these years, and~ I wish I could tell her I like it now! ...Unfortunately I had a beef samosa :( mixed in with my veggie samosas. I handled it well when I discovered upon taking a few bites, I think. But, it was disappointing some, cause I haven't eaten meat in years I can understand how mistakes can be made - please be careful when arranging o.o read more

The parking is horrible. The spaces are made for ultra compact cars only. Nothing taken away because of the PL. Not the restaurants fault. food was just ok IMO. I was immediately turned off by discolorations in the injera. The veggie platter cost $20 and had the smallest portions I've had from a Ethiopian restaurant in a while. One piece of injera on the bottom and one folded piece on top. Thats rare. Most restaurants give plenty of it. The cabbage was very crunchy and the carrots were dirty. Which means they weren't peeled. I didbt get any potato. The collards were frozen chopped collards. Highly disappointed!! I expect more for such a high price and small portions of vegetables. Won't be back read more

Went with a group of friends and we all agreed this is the best Ethiopian we've had, and we have been to a lot of places around here. The three-meat three-veggie combo for $35 is a great deal. A lot of food. We also got the kifto beef cooked super rare. Melt-in-your mouth delicious. Finally, our server, Nunu, was very attentive and a pleasure to talk to. She made us feel right at home. We will be back! read more

We had a combination veggie platter and tasty samosas as an appetizer. We were celebrating my daughter's birthday, and the staff kindly offered a slice of cake with a candle to recognize it! read more

If you're on the hunt for some good quality Ethiopian I'd say this place is a must try. The wait was lowkey long...but hey, it is what it is. You really get what you pay for and there's plenty of injera to satisfy your cravings. The food is well spiced and full of fireeee. Try it. read more

Meleket Restaurant - Doro Firifir - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Definitely one of the best Ethiopian places I've ever eaten at. We got the Doro Wat Meleket Special Tibs (Lamb) Shiro Wat Special Kitfo Gomen Besiga 2 Veggie Combos Tripa and a special order of Gomen Wat The doro wat was a dark glassy brown sauce that shimmered with the thin red glow of chili oil placed on top. The dish was certainly spicy, and it clearly warned you of that on the menu, but was also full of depth and flavor and was "good till the last drop." I can tell you that as I took it home and shared it with T, after he was done with the chicken and exhausted the injera, I used water crackers to squeegee the last bit of sauce on the plate. Yes... I do not lie. The Meleket special tibs was also quite delicious. A catchy nuanced flavor that was welcome company at the table. Shiro wat was one of my favorite things. It was the... burnt sienna one. I'm not really even sure what I was eating, but I wanted a lot more of it. Really, I could go through everything and everything... but the biggest takeaway from this was that all of the Ethiopian food we've had. Things I probably wouldn't order again: The quesadilla (there was really nothing special about this one). The tiramisu But literally EVERYTHING else was spectacular. They KNOW their Ethiopian. I even forgot to mention that we had Sambusas as an appetizer, in addition to this type of Ethiopian bruschetta with house made cheese and kale and it was quite good. Highly recommend. ALSO! P.S. Try the raw meat dish. It was the one everyone was the most nervous about ordering... and was easily one of the favorites amongst a good portion of the table. read more

I was craving Ethiopian food for lunch and selected Meleket Restaurant based on the laudatory Yelp reviews and was not disappointed! I commenced with an appetizer of three veggie sambussas ($6). A sambussa is a Ethiopian/Somali hand-held pastry, akin to an Indian samosa. Both stem from the original Persian word sanbosag. The veggie sambussas were stuffed with lentils, onions, and Ethiopian spices, baked in a triangular pastry, and served piping hot with a spicy dipping sauce. The filling was juicy and bursting with flavor. I concluded I prefer sambussas way more than Indian samosas, which I also enjoy. The sambussas' lentil filling was bursting with flavor and juicier than the dry, milder, potato and pea filling found in samosas. My main course was the veggie combo ($13). The combo included five vegetarian wots. Wot, or wat, is an Ethiopian stew served on injera, a highly nutritious, spongy, sourdough-risen flatbread made from teff. The five wots were: misir (spicy lentil stew), atakilt alicha (cabbage, carrot, and potato stew), kik alicha (yellow split pea stew), gomen (Ethiopian-style collard greens stew), and shiro (roasted and powdered chickpeas stew). In addition to the injera on which the wots were served, there were three additional injera rolls. The meal was outstanding and substantial. I was impressed by the quality, quantity, and value of the meal. I have spent time in Ethiopia and can attest to the authenticity as well. I highly recommend Meleket and plan to return the next time I'm in Silver Spring. read more

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I have not had Eritrean food enough to decide what particular dishes are my go-to. On this special occasion among many friends, I let my appetite run free to try anything that is served at our table. Beginning with a drink is absolutely necessary, but imagine my reaction to honey wine! Ladies and gentlemen, I'm not referring to meade or ice wine, I'm talking about honey-infused-wine. If you have not ever tried it and can bear a very sweet honey taste to what we are conditioned to recognize as wine, save yourself the embarrassment, try Tej. Again, let fear not hold you hostage to your comfort zone, Eritrean cuisine requires you to try everything with abandon. Like Ethiopian cuisine, injera requires the use of your most natural eating utensils: your hands, so please, dig in! On this particular evening, we had everything from veges to tripe to meat meant to be uncooked. Order Sambussas, or empanadas for us uncultured folks, the chicken and beef were just a delicious tease. If you're a leaf eater more often than not, try the Vege Combo or any of the choices under 'Vegetarian' because they are that filling and that yummy. But if you're less of a leafy green muncher like I am, move on to the Special Tibs of lamb, absolutely meant to run out and ordered a second round, Tripe Tripa, and Kitfo (raw, uncooked meat). I can't thank the staff enough for dealing with our advantageous group of diners, but their patience and kindness has a place in my heart, right next to that honey wine. If you're looking for a spot to try something new, let this place introduce you to some darn good Eritrean delicacies. **Side tip about parking: Park across the street in public open lot, it's free after 6p.** read more

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My taste buds are still reeling, and I'm afraid that the only way they will recover will be to head back soon for another meal. So the good news is that the Kifto was so good that I've been mooning over it all day long. The better news is that I didn't get a photo of the dish, which means I have a reason to order it again. It was so good that I came home and started searching for recipes for Niter Kibbeh just so if know what I'd just experienced. I'm not going to attempt it at home - just needed confirmation that yes, the beef was seasoned with cardamom. Wow. I've since learned that the chefs are actually Eritrean, which explains why the spicing is slightly different than at the Ethiopian restaurants nearby. Meals eaten with hands work best when shared, especially when served in such large portions. The prices here are reasonable and the service us excellent. Don't be afraid to ask questions, and know that they will help you work around any dietary needs you have. You can not go wrong with an order of the vegetable sampler. I also recommend that you plan for a cup of strong coffee or tea at the end if your meal. You didn't need sleep, did you? I fined with a group snnd honestly can't tell you everything we ordered beyond my favorites, which were the Bayu bites and the Kitfo. The injera was fresh, springy, and had a nice tang. I'm positive that everyone at my table was happy and full at the end of our meal. I appreciate that they offer dishes for those that aren't adventurous enough to scoop up a handful of injera and raw kifto. I have friends and family who play it safe, so I'm always on the lookout for restaurants that can accommodate all of us. I'll probably never order their pasta or hamburgers, but their take on bruschetta (Bayu bread) was delicious. Before you get upset at the inclusion of "non authentic Ethiopian food" remember that this is actually Eritrean cuisine, which apparently has plenty of influence from Italy. The interior of the restaurant is modern and clean. The menu is easy to understand and the waitstaff and owner is quick to help the unsure. They open at 8am and serve breakfast until 11. Parking is easier than it would seem, as there is a country lot directly across the street. Parking is free after 6pm and reasonable before then. I can't wait to return. read more

Meleket Restaurant - Bayu bread is toast with spiced butter, cheese, and kale. Served with tomatoes and onions. Delicious. - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

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Excellent flavored Ethiopian food; good value for quantity and quality of food. Doro wat, Veg combo and zizi's special tibs (lamb) were all excellent. Did not care for the beef tibs; lacked in flavor. Each entre comes with two pieces of injira and a tasty veg on the side. Note that the food comes on injira in the takeout container, so plan to eat this right away so that it doesn't get too soggy! Didn't care for the wings or fries; wings were soggy. Only hangup was they were a bit slow when we went to pick up and had to wait an extra 15 minutes for the food to be ready. read more

The food (once we got it) was amazing! The best thing was the tibs firfir! It has injera mixed in and it's just incredible! Would definitely get that and an order of the veggie platter. We also got an order of the melekets special tibs and tomato salad; the tibs were ok but the tomato salad was bomb! The food overall I would give 4 stars. Ok let's get to service. We went with kind of a big group, 9 people, on Friday night. We got there around 8, placed out order by 8:20....and then didnt get our order till around 9:30. At no point during the first 45 minutes did our server come and explain the situation. We had to ask her where our food was and she simply said it was coming. I mean if the food is going to take forever, JUST communicate that to us. Every table was waiting for about as long as we did. I'm not sure if this happens often. The food was good but NOT worth over and hour wait. The owner did come talk to us after and said sorry the food took so long and next time you come in sambusas on us. So pretty terrible service, but good food read more

Meleket Restaurant - Melekets special tibs - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

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Super yummy! And vegan friendly! The veggie combo was excellent and huge! The lentil sambosas had a sauce that was especially good!

Never disappointed! I always order the veggie combo. Seasoned to perfection and you can split it or save some and eat it later.

My wife and I came here for lunch today. We ordered the Meleket's Special Tibs (beef) and the Zizi's Special Tibs (lamb chunks and lamb leg with bone) upon the recommendation of our waitress. Thank goodness we asked her because her recommendation was excellent. The special tibs marinade for our dishes were seasoned so well we just "nom-nom" with the ample servings of injera. I've only had Ethiopian food a handful of times, but I would have to say if I lived around there, I would be a regular! read more

This small, local, Ethiopian restaurant is usually quiet on weekdays, with good, fast service, kind staff, and delicious food. I always get the veggie combo, but lately I've been trying their Sambusas and other appetisers as well. Everything is delicious. Can't go wrong at Meleket! read more

Meleket Restaurant - Veggie Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Delicious food. I wanted to order it again the next day. The chicken sambussa was a great start to the meal. We also had the beef tibs, veggie combo and bozena shiro. The beef tibs had a strong flavor to it...couldn't put my finger on it but it definitely grew on me the more I ate it. Loved the bozena shiro! I love shiro but never had it cooked with meat. Also, great value and portions! Looking forward to trying out more dishes. read more

Yelp search comes through again to find this hidden gem. Nearby, open now, high rating, directions! It's in the mini restaurant row between Snider's and Georgia avenue. Parking is sparse, but there are county lots across Seminary Road and across Georgia. Small place, with a dozen tables, a bar along one wall towards the back, and a little stage at the front for the Saturday night live jazz. Soft music, subdued lighting, would work well for a date night. We ordered the tibs firfir, spicy beef simmered until it was nearly falling to shreds, and the alkilt alicha, cabbage carrots and potatoes in a slightly sweet sauce. By waiting for the latter to arrive for a photo op, we probably gave away the fact that we're Yelpers! That photo doesn't really make it obvious how large the injera is, about the size of an LP (12" for those of you who missed the age of vinyl records), and it had that wonderful sourdough tang and stretchy texture. The platter included small portions of greens and lentils that were not mentioned on the menu. It was late, and we were both hungry, yet the portions were large enough that we both went home with enough leftovers for a lunch. $16 each, tax & tip included. Service was cordial and attentive, with water and injera replenished as needed, and wet wipes when we were done. Chef Abe stoppd by to be sure everything was OK. Now I can't vouch for authenticity having never been there, but I've been a fan of Ethiopian food since tasting it at the restaurant of the revered Mama Desta before she left town in 1983, and I've never had better. Every item was properly cooked and complexly seasoned. I'd like to take the eponymous ram's horn bugle from over the bar and alert the town that this is the place for Ethiopian food. Small quibble: $3 seems a bit much for tea made with a bag, but given the price/quantity/quality of everything else it's a slam dunk 5 *****. read more

Meleket Restaurant - Atkilt alicha & tibs firfir - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

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I'm not Ethiopian, but I eat Ethiopian maybe 2-3x a month, so I consider myself pretty well-versed and an experienced Ethiopian diner. It's one of my favorite cuisines and I'm writing here today to tell you that this is the best Ethiopian food I've ever had! The kitfo -- phenomenal. I'm tempted to fly back to the DMV once a month for this. The injera was perfect. All the tibs - so tender, so juicy, so flavorful. I could go on and on, but words can't even describe how good Meleket is. You'll have to see for yourself. Go now! read more

Where do I even start... parked in the public sparking across the street (convenient) there is a small parking in front but super busy. The music, ambient is authentic. Friendly service and attentive. The spice level was perfect not too spicy. Loved everything about this spot! read more

Meleket Restaurant - Menu and front seating area - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

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This is the cutest little place right off of 495! After yelping nearby restaurants, my friends and I stopped in on a Saturday night and was pleasantly surprised. There was a live band performing and we were able to snag a table towards the back. Once seated, we were greeted by the chef himself (he was super sweet and attentive)! A couple of my friends never had Ethiopian food before, so he helped us order based on the things we liked. We started off with beef and chicken Sambussas that were absolutely delicious! I could've eaten an entire plate for dinner. We then moved on to a veggie platter with lamb and chicken. All four of us enjoyed it, and appreciated that although they were busy, the chef made sure we were taken care of! If I'm ever in the area, I'd definitely stop in here because the place is cute, affordable and delicious! Perfect for girls night or date night, especially with a full bar and live band. read more

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Probably the best Ethiopean food I've ever had, and I live in Silver Spring, so I have plenty of options and I've tried almost every one in the area. The wait time for carry out can be long though so if the restaurant say food will be ready in 30 minutes, give them an hour. But it is totally worth it!! We just order early and wait an hour to go pick it up. The food is definitely worth the time it takes to prepare. read more

I had a friend years back that made me Ethiopian food and it was great. I have not had Ethiopian food since then. I was in town and I heard from someone to try an Ethiopian restaurant in Washington DC but I didn't want to travel that far for it. I checked Yelp and I saw great reviews for this place. The restaurant was very nicely decorated and we met the owner and his wife there. They had some recommendations and we ordered the Meleket's Special Tibs (Beef), Yebeg Alicha, Gomen Besega and Veggie Combo. The food was delicious and we all enjoyed the meal very much. Thanks for the food suggestions and the great reviews in Yelp which helped us find this place. You got to eat there. Great food, service and ambiance. Highly recommended read more

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This place is easy to miss as it's tucked away in the old retail space where Armand's pizza used to be. The parking lot is horrendously tight so you may be better off parking across the street at the public parking lot. If you are trying out this place with a two or more meat-loving friends, you will definitely want to go for the Shifinfin which is a meat platter that consists of Kitfo/Ayib, Beef Tibs Fir Fir and Lamb tibs. The portion size is much bigger than appears to the eye and of great value for only $24. Be sure to ask for extra injera because you will certainly need it! Don't order the Timatim Salad...it comes doused in vinegar. read more

Meleket Restaurant - Shifinfin - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

I always enjoy this restaurant when I come. The first time I came was with a group and we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. For many of us it was our first time having Ethiopian cuisine & the chef himself came out to help us order. He came out multiple times to guide us and check to see if our meal was okay. On my second visit I can still say that I enjoy it very much. It's a small restaurant but everyone is very friendly. The food this time around was still really good. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because although the staff is very friendly and welcoming, they can be a little on the slower side and a little forgetful. However - I would not let that discourage you from visiting at all! read more

Meleket Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

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If you order pick up CHECK YOUR FOOD they gave me the smallest portion of what I actually ordered and added stuff I didn't even order. When I asked to combine things to order they said I couldn't but when I got home they had mixed it with other things I didn't even order. I'm sure dining in is fine but the descriptions and the menu don't add up to what I received. It was my favorite Ethiopian restaurant a year ago but I'm not sure what's changed, but the taste is not the same. read more

Avery authentic Ethiopian restaurant. They food a super good and very delicious. They restaurant is very clean and every customer request is taking to account. The inside is very nice and very welcoming. The owner is very close to the guest and will do his best to make your dinning very enjoyable. I strongly recommend Meleket if you ever want to discover Ethiopian foods. read more

Had the vegetable combo. What an amazing dish! It was great for two people! Service was great! I would recommend this restaurant to anyone I know. read more

Excellent dinner! They did not disappoint. I took the fam here. We ate Well!!!. Very neighborhood oriented, so service was not hurried. You're expected to relax and eat. If you're in a hurry, go somewhere else. Inexpensive and deeep menu. Lots of choices. Parking is a challenge only a few places out front. I parked around the corner in the supermarket parking lot. I did not get towed or ticketed. YMMV. read more

First time coming here.. the ambiance and decor was above par for Silver Spring ethio eateries. The veggie combo was good, although a tomato Jalepeno salad would have added a nice balance. The portions were a bit small for two people. I was still hungry and they knew this yet didn't even offer dessert, just brought the check immediately. Never once checked on us and both the wait staff didn't seem too friendly. read more

Food was good though it took forever to come out. The service was absolutely horrible. I got the wrong drink to start, we let the server know we had never been and wouldve appreciated some guidance she just kept leaving us and coming back asking if we were ready to order. We had to repeatedly ask for water. We wanted more collard greens she said she had to check if getting a side was an option, she never came back. In a nutshell food was delicious service was horrible. Give it a try and be patient ! read more

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Wonderful Ethiopian food. Loved the veggie combo!!! And the chicken Sambusas!!! Outstanding!!!

Be aware that the prices in their online ordering are lower than the price they ask you to pay at the counter when picking up. They don't take payment online. They will tell you the prices are wrong and expect you to pay more than what was listed when you ordered. And they treat you like it's your fault or responsibility that they don't communicate well with their online order system provider. read more

The food at Meleket is excellent. I shared the sampler with two friends, which came with 3 meat dishes and 3 veggie dishes. We tried the doro wot, lamb tibs, and chicken tibs. The veggie dishes comprised of roasted vegetables, lentils, and chickpea. All of the dishes were very flavorful and paired well with the soft bread. The service was a bit slow but had a nice chill vibe at the restaurant. Would definitely recommend for large groups. read more

Meleket! What a wonderful dining experience. I've enjoyed Ethiopian food since my three years in Peace Corps, and my kids love it too. Living in Washington, DC, there are of course many good places. But this was EXCEPTIONAL. My son treated my partner and me to Sunday lunch. We shared one tray and ordered doro wot (spicy chicken stew), special lamb tibs (fried meat), Fit Fit which is a mix of injera (the ever-present bread), and a vegetable mix. The doro wot was very flavorful and thick in consistency. I kept repeating "ye taff-i-tahl" "It's delicious." We're good eaters but we had lots to take home, too. The waitress was friendly and efficient. So, go and enjoy and be thrilled. Mr. Wood read more

We ordered veggies, lamb and beef. Everything was just ok. Nothing was hot, just lukewarm. The veggies were sparse. I think there are better places for Ethiopian food in Silver Spring. read more

Amazing food and service. Definitely get the lamb tibs. If you enjoy veggie, get the veggie combo with the extra shiro "wot" on clay pot.