Meskel Ethiopian Restaurant is an institution having been in the Seattle area for 30+ years. Now onwards to its second generation in the family, Meskel is now in an area that is dotted by many other Ethiopian restaurants. They remind an OG steward in a building that incidentally looks like a family house with an interior decorated with Ethiopian art. With much competition nearby, Meskel was sadly quiet on the day we went. The proprietor was nonetheless enthusiastic with new customers to her restaurant. Per her recommendation, we ordered their popular items listed at the top of their food menu. Side note: They do not offer a meat combo, unlike many other Ethiopian restaurants. The Food: Their injera (spongy bread) is impeccable with a potent sourdough taste. Despite having had many injera in the past, theirs stood out in this regard and is incredibly flavorful as is. Unfortunately, if one doesn't like sourdough bread, this could be problematic. Each entrée includes a full-size piece of injera. BBQ Special, $28.50 - 4.5 Stars Aromatic berbere-infused steak is slow cooked and paired with peppers and onions. This dish is served in a ceramic warmer with a small piece of charcoal underneath. Hubby said he liked this better than the typical meat combo. Vegetable Combination, $25 - 4 Stars The photo's veggie combo included veggies that are served with the BBQ Special, possibly just the salad, not sure. This combo with eight variants is modest compared to other restaurants both in terms of variants and portions of each. I commonly see ten variants in the veggie combo with bigger portions for each. Looking at older posted photos, the original portions are indeed bigger. I'll chalk it off to inflation. While the flavors of each are good, overall, this combo did not compare as well as others I have had. read more

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Such great service!! The owner does it all, she cooks and serves and even has great conversation with all her guests. This place is amazing. The food was so delicious and unique to me. Local owned place, go support. This was my first time having Ethiopian food and I loved it. It's served "family style" and portions are large. She gets all her spices shipped to her from family in Ethiopia. read more

Meskel Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I came here maybe 6 years ago and years later and just as good! I went here on a week day night with 2 friends and the restaurant was empty. If you've never had Ethiopian food give it a try. You get to eat with your hands! Every dish was fresh and tasty, with the vegetable combo you can try it all. We added the green chicken which was my favorite dish. The women (I'm assuming the owner) serving us a as warm and friendly. The location is in a neighborhood, with street parking, but there was plenty of parking on a weekday. I didn't have my kiddos with me, but I always take note of this and there's a changing table in the bathroom. I highly recommend Meskel, you won't be disappointed. read more

Meskel Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetarian Combination and Green Chicken - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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My girlfriend and I had a fantastic experience here today. It was her first time trying Ethiopian and my second time, first time in years. The food was fantastic. It's such a unique eating experience both with the flavors and physically eating with your hands. The owner does it all here, from waiting to cooking to serving. And she is a gem of a person. So kind and attentive and her cooking of course is top-notch. We had a long conversation with her after our meal about the state of the world. She mentioned she is looking to sell the building soon, so Meskel may not be around for much longer. What a shame that would be. If you've been on the fence about trying it, let this be your sign to go and support this phenomenal business. read more

Meskel Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetarian Combination - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Our favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Seattle. Terrific vegan platter, homey ambiance, kind, friendly service.

Just WOW! This is hands down the best Ethiopian food I've had on the west coast, I even liked it better than the Ethiopian restaurants I've had in DC, which many will say is the best place for Ethiopian food in the US. The variety of veggie dishes was much more than other restaurants provide, but the depth of flavor was what was most amazing. Very rich flavors, and everything cooked perfectly. We are coming back and coming back often! read more

Meskel Ethiopian Restaurant - Veggie combo with beef tibs. - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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. read more

Meskel Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

They won't serve you if they think you are sick and contagious. They won't even offer take out with payment by phone.

AMAZING FOOD, OWNER, AND AMBIANCE!! The owner was a super compassionate woman who was lovely to talk to and really cared about the quality of her food. She seemed to be the only one working the day my coworker and I came in, but she took the time to come out a bit after our food was served and explain what the different parts of the dish were as I'd never had it before. The restaurant also has a warm home feeling to its atmosphere, the portion sizes are massive (my coworker said this is typical for ethiopian places), and the food was affordable. Would eat again!! read more

Amazingly delicious food and relaxing atmosphere! The owner is so kind and friendly! I've been here before with friends and again on date night. I love the nice little second floor view out over the deck and street read more

Nice food! Real authentic Ethiopian cuisine! With nice service good place for eating with friends! read more

Meskel Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Omg this place was bomb! The owner and chef is so sweet & friendly. Her food is incredible. 20/10. Tea was delicious. St. George Ethiopian beer was light, think bud light. Vegetarian platter and the green chicken were soooo freaking good! We will absolutely make the drive from Tacoma to here for this food! My wife loves Ethiopian food and said this is her favorite in Seattle hands down read more

Enjoyed some amazing Ethiopian food on an even better patio (we loved the lamb as well as the veggie combo). The owner was so friendly and service was great - thanks for a wonderful evening! read more

Meskel Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Delicious Ethiopian food in an intimate setting. Excellent and friendly service. My coworker recommended this place, and I'm so glad I was able to try it. The portions are huge, and I easily got 2-3 meals out of my vegetable combination. They even gave me extra injera! read more

This is one of the longest running Ethiopian restaurants in the area - right now it's a one-woman operation (she waits on you, cooks) and she's wonderfully kind - like eating at a mom's house. I grew up eating Ethiopian (my dad lived and taught at the university in Addis Ababa before I was born) and have tried many places across the Seattle area over my 40 years here, but I prefer Meskel most of all because of the depth of her flavors and complexity of the spices. The chicken is also always great cuts and tender. Like I said - it's like home cooking for me! **For those commenting on the temp of the injera- it's typical to be cooked in batches ahead of time and fully cooled before serving - and Meskel does serve this room temp injera. It doesn't indicate a lack of freshness - this is just a typical presentation. You might be able to ask to warm it if that's your preference! read more

Our family loves Meskel, the environment is warm and welcoming and the food is fabulous. This is Seattle's Oldest Ethiopian restaurant, and BB, the owner is a community treasure. For those who know and love Meskel, they have been having a rough time since COVID, and I began a go fund me to help. Despite the challenges, the food is amazing. Meskel has fresh, wonderfully spiced dishes with vegan and gluten-free options as well as standard tibs, doro watt etc. Call ahead for the delicious GF injera! Great family dining with generous portions. If you can help, please share the go fund me link and help us keep a Seattle favorite alive! https://gofund.me/631e6bc0a read more

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 read more

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Went here recently with my boyfriend and had the most amazing food. We got the vegetarian combination which was flavorful and delicious and comes with injera, a sourdough type flatbread. The service was excellent and there was not a long wait. It's in a house-like building, so it feels very comfortable and you can tell the food is made with love. A perfect choice for family meals or date nights. The best Ethiopian food in Seattle. read more

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. read more

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! read more

Meskel Ethiopian Restaurant - Veggie combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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! read more

Meskel Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

For thirty years, no kidding, this is my go-to Ethiopian restaurant. I love their food. My faves are the veggie platter and the yeb beg tibs but have loved every dish I've ever had. The owner is a lovely woman who always had a ready smile and a gentle spirit. At this point, she feels like an old friend. Much deep love! read more

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. read more

Love this neighborhood place! My favorite is the vegetarian sampler, but honestly all the dishes are fantastic! It's also one of the few places we feel comfortable bringing our young children. The owner is incredibly welcoming and makes you feel instantly like she wants you to be there. read more

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! read more

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Consistently delicious food and a gracious & talented owner always makes this a good to place when I'm anywhere near Seattle!

The FOOD?! Wow, just wow. Best Ethiopian restaurant in Seattle, hands down!! The service was excellent and you can tell it's made with love. Everything tasted so good. Thank you BB, I will be back! Would have taken a photo, but the food didn't stand a chance. read more

What an absolute gem! Intimate little homey dining setting with attentive service that makes you feel right at home. The food is fantastic, served in large portions and prepared with love and care. Ethiopian food always makes for a tasty and unique dining experience and this place is just the best there is. This is the exact type of restaurant that this world simply needs more of. read more

Meskel Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetable combination and Ye Beg Lega Tibs - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Meskel is my favorite Ethiopian restaurant. Food quality is excellent and service is always amazing. Highly recommend. read more

Meskel is the best Ethiopian place in town, without a doubt! The service is awesome, as the matriarch of the establishment always seems to appear when something is wanting. Whether it is another drink, or more injera or simply the check, she approaches the table with the stealth of a ninja, armed with whatever ensures a fabulous time. The cozy setting makes you feel at home, or at least at the home of a good friend. All that aside, its the food that really separates Meskel from the many nearby Ethopian restaurants. And don't get me wrong, the other Ethiopian restaurants that line Cherry street are really good; in my 2 decades in the hood we've tried them all multiple times. Meskel is just better. The green chicken and veggie combo are staples of our dining, but I love all of their lamb dishes and my partner always orders at least a side of the shero. We love to go with other so we can order even more food (the Gomen Be Siga and both of the firfirs are straight up fire!). If you are in the Central District or in the state of Washington and have a hankering for great Ethiopian food, it is absolutely worth it. read more

Best Ethiopian in Seattle. We've loved this place for over 15 years. Love it! The injera is fresh and the food is delicious.

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! read more

Meskel Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetarian Combination + beef dish on gluten-free injeera - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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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 read more

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. read more

Meskel Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetarian Combination - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

Meskel Ethiopian Restaurant - Very good don't pass up - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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

Amazing food & service. Very clean restaurant & everything was fresh. Definitely will be back!

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