If you’re looking for an authentic Ethiopian taste, this is the right place to go to.Dietary restrictions: Very Good Vegan and Vegetarian options availableKid-friendliness: The have Kids menu if you’re children are looking to eat a different food
I love their food! I always get the mushroom tibs and avocado salad. Straight fire!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Makeda TIBS
Steve Davis
My wife and I have been to Makeda several times. For the most part, we have had good experiences. However, our last visit was very disappointing.The service was terrible on this specific visit. The waitress brought us to our table fairly quickly when we arrived but service drastically went down hill after that. After they sat us down, the staff forgot about us the whole time. It was as if we were invisible to them. We literally had to wave down any staff that walked by our table to get their attention because nobody ever checked on us the whole time we were there. They never brought us water, even though we asked two times for water. My wife also asked for green tea but they never brought it either. To our surprise, they still charged us $3 for the green tea. It took about 45+ minutes to get a small appetizer. It was at least an hour from the time we sat down to get our entrees. This was on a Sunday night and it appeared service was slow for everyone but it didn't seem like it was that busy.The food itself has been good in the past and was decent on this visit. However, the shiro my wife ordered was full of oil. The amount of oil in it seemed excessive and the shiro just didn't taste good. My wife didn't eat it.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
to you Park
Best vegan dishes. The lamb was ok. Nice jazz band music on Thursday nights and bustling but not noisy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Injera, Veggie Combo
Azalech Kebede
" I love the owner he's very friendly and old white rose they treat very good I love Monday and Thursday the jazz music and the food the drink I love everything like makeda restaurant thank you for your
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sanduni Steinitz
I went there with my family for my birthday. Makeda was the waitress that served us and she was wonderful, kind and very hospitable. The food was delicious and fresh. And they sang happy birthday and gave me a lovely coffee cake for dessert. We left early since it’s a week day but their live music was about to start and it seemed like the place to be at night.
I was there Friday night, January 12,2024 ,they are so expensive,one Gold level was 22 dollars,it was so ripped off and the music stop by 12:45 am , ever where in Virginia the music stop at 2 am ,so I don't recommend this place for enjoyment...
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Marc Gorton
Had the Derek Tibs... so freaking good. Had to fight myself not to eat the leftovers as soon as I got home good. Went on a Tuesday night, service was good, atmosphere was great. Band playing later that night just made everything better. Really looking forward to going back and trying more on the menu. Parking anywhere in Alexandria is a bummer, so if you have a group, jump in the biggest vehicle and pile in. But DO pile in!
The live music was great, and the crowd was lively. The food was delicious, although a bit pricey. While one course could easily consist of three courses at other restaurants, including appetizers, main dishes, and desserts, this place charges more than most.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Assa Goulash and Awaze TIBS
Brian Keller
Amazing live music made the night extra special. The injera was excellent with a distinct sour dough taste. We ordered four dishes and three were spiced perfectly with excellent texture. The shiro, typically my favorite, could have been creamier and more flavorful. Overall it was a fantastic evening- thank you.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Tracy Feerick
Very delicious food and quick service. They don't even give you utensils so you know it's authentic. All dishes come with a salad too which was
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Kitfo, Veggie Combo
Red Mun
I would love this restaurant more if it wasn't located in such an awful plaza.The food is authentic, and all the serving staff are extremely kind and genuine. If you do go, please tip in cash as I've heard of the owners deducting more tips than needed from their service staff. They have live music towards the end of the week and their bar is good! Drinks are decently priced. I only wish some of the dishes were cheaper because I would eat there more often. I definitely recommend eating here if you're interested in exploring new cuisines.Vegetarian options: Very vegan and veggie friendly cuisine!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Injera, Taste of Makeda, Fried Meat with Garlic Onion Jalapeno Another Dish Cabbage with Beef
Marivic L.
This is really a 3.5You enter at a nice bar area and into a quite large dining area. Service was friendly but VERY slow. Seriously, prep yourself.The food was good. I got the lentil sambusas which were kinda dry without much flavor to me. They give you a hot sauce with it. With the hot sauce, it was much better. The veggie plate was delish. I always get a veggie plate when I'm at an Ethiopian place and this was average to better, based on my experience. While I would get it again, the service will keep me away. Also, they have live music on Thursday-Saturday, according to the server. We left before it started (we saw them setting up) and noticed that the place got quite full. Obviously, it's a draw.
If you’re looking for an authentic Ethiopian taste, this is the right place to go to.Dietary restrictions: Very Good Vegan and Vegetarian options availableKid-friendliness: The have Kids menu if you’re children are looking to eat a different food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Makeda TIBS, Ethiopian Kettefo with Tebes, Veggie Combo, Fried Fish, Kitfo
Delicious!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
I love their food! I always get the mushroom tibs and avocado salad. Straight fire!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Makeda TIBS
My wife and I have been to Makeda several times. For the most part, we have had good experiences. However, our last visit was very disappointing.The service was terrible on this specific visit. The waitress brought us to our table fairly quickly when we arrived but service drastically went down hill after that. After they sat us down, the staff forgot about us the whole time. It was as if we were invisible to them. We literally had to wave down any staff that walked by our table to get their attention because nobody ever checked on us the whole time we were there. They never brought us water, even though we asked two times for water. My wife also asked for green tea but they never brought it either. To our surprise, they still charged us $3 for the green tea. It took about 45+ minutes to get a small appetizer. It was at least an hour from the time we sat down to get our entrees. This was on a Sunday night and it appeared service was slow for everyone but it didn't seem like it was that busy.The food itself has been good in the past and was decent on this visit. However, the shiro my wife ordered was full of oil. The amount of oil in it seemed excessive and the shiro just didn't taste good. My wife didn't eat it.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
Best vegan dishes. The lamb was ok. Nice jazz band music on Thursday nights and bustling but not noisy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Injera, Veggie Combo
" I love the owner he's very friendly and old white rose they treat very good I love Monday and Thursday the jazz music and the food the drink I love everything like makeda restaurant thank you for your
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I went there with my family for my birthday. Makeda was the waitress that served us and she was wonderful, kind and very hospitable. The food was delicious and fresh. And they sang happy birthday and gave me a lovely coffee cake for dessert. We left early since it’s a week day but their live music was about to start and it seemed like the place to be at night.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: TIBS Wot, Sambusa, Kitfo, Injera, Doro Wot, Makeda TIBS
Wonderful atmosphere and good
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I was there Friday night, January 12,2024 ,they are so expensive,one Gold level was 22 dollars,it was so ripped off and the music stop by 12:45 am , ever where in Virginia the music stop at 2 am ,so I don't recommend this place for enjoyment...
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Had the Derek Tibs... so freaking good. Had to fight myself not to eat the leftovers as soon as I got home good. Went on a Tuesday night, service was good, atmosphere was great. Band playing later that night just made everything better. Really looking forward to going back and trying more on the menu. Parking anywhere in Alexandria is a bummer, so if you have a group, jump in the biggest vehicle and pile in. But DO pile in!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ethiopian TIBS
Restaurantji Recommends
The live music was great, and the crowd was lively. The food was delicious, although a bit pricey. While one course could easily consist of three courses at other restaurants, including appetizers, main dishes, and desserts, this place charges more than most.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Assa Goulash and Awaze TIBS
Amazing live music made the night extra special. The injera was excellent with a distinct sour dough taste. We ordered four dishes and three were spiced perfectly with excellent texture. The shiro, typically my favorite, could have been creamier and more flavorful. Overall it was a fantastic evening- thank you.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Very delicious food and quick service. They don't even give you utensils so you know it's authentic. All dishes come with a salad too which was
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Kitfo, Veggie Combo
I would love this restaurant more if it wasn't located in such an awful plaza.The food is authentic, and all the serving staff are extremely kind and genuine. If you do go, please tip in cash as I've heard of the owners deducting more tips than needed from their service staff. They have live music towards the end of the week and their bar is good! Drinks are decently priced. I only wish some of the dishes were cheaper because I would eat there more often. I definitely recommend eating here if you're interested in exploring new cuisines.Vegetarian options: Very vegan and veggie friendly cuisine!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Injera, Taste of Makeda, Fried Meat with Garlic Onion Jalapeno Another Dish Cabbage with Beef
This is really a 3.5You enter at a nice bar area and into a quite large dining area. Service was friendly but VERY slow. Seriously, prep yourself.The food was good. I got the lentil sambusas which were kinda dry without much flavor to me. They give you a hot sauce with it. With the hot sauce, it was much better. The veggie plate was delish. I always get a veggie plate when I'm at an Ethiopian place and this was average to better, based on my experience. While I would get it again, the service will keep me away. Also, they have live music on Thursday-Saturday, according to the server. We left before it started (we saw them setting up) and noticed that the place got quite full. Obviously, it's a draw.