Are you a new Angeleno looking for a way to spice up your life? Have you heard about the flavorings and cultural offerings of Ethiopia but figured you might never be able to truly indulge in the tastes and smells of East Africa without spending a chunk of your life savings just to make it happen? Look no further, you’ve found your in.

The ambience is subtle and to the point - Ethiopian with no apologies.

We’d been wanting to make it to Merkato ever since noticing their spotlight (multiple times, we might add) on our latest favorite binge on HBO - Insecure. The bright lights and dark interior, focused on food and the enjoyment of the people around us, were enough to pull us in almost gravitationally. Plus, it’s located right in the heart of Little Ethiopia, a roughly 20-30 minute drive, at most, from the majority of greater of Los Angeles.

We chose a Friday night at 7:30 pm and the wait for a table was only a few minutes. Rarely do you find anywhere of this quality of food in LA with such a short wait time at that hour on that day of the week. As we were seated we began to notice the human-focused atmosphere; as in, there was no music playing, the chatter was loud of vibrant, and the platters being served (as is tradition in Ethiopian cuisine) were all family style. They took their time in serving us because, as is the way in most cultures outside of the U.S., a meal shared among friends or family is a time for deliberate conversation and the food is almost an afterthought. It’s a refreshing way to think about our eating habits, as Americans.

The wait staff was incredibly kind and helpful. We didn’t get any weird looks when we asked what the table across the room was having. Because we wanted it and then we got it. A massive serving of chicken tibbs and their veggie combo was what we ordered up. The veggie combo is a great choice if you’re looking for a taste of all of the aromas and seasonings of Ethiopia. It’s a gorgeous mix of seasoned steamed cabbage, split peas in a more mild sauce, split lentils in red pepper sauce, collard greens steamed with garlic and green pepper, another ground pea stew, and tons of extra injera (a sourdough, fermented utensil-bread used to scoop all of the dishes from the platter). The classic chicken tibbs was spicy delicious and the perfect heft to our meal. All of this cost us, with tip and tax included, $40. Not bad at all for dinner for two in one of LA’s very best restaurants.

The atmosphere in Merkato is nothing more or less than traditional Ethiopian. Tribal patterned fabrics and artwork depicting famous countrymen and dignitaries cover the walls. Some of the most beautiful umbrellas hung as overhead lampshades were mesmerizing to gaze up into as we finished our meal and waited for the check. If you’ve got the time, take a quick peruse through the adjacent market to pick up one or two of the powdered spices for sale, as these are not oft-seen in our everyday Safeway or Ralph’s grocery haul. Some you won’t even be able to find on Amazon. We tried!

Within five minutes of leaving, James’ stomach was rumbling in pure joy as the memory of foreign flavors became literal parts of our physical being. The flavor profiles of five or six different vegetable dishes all mingling and mixing deep in our souls. The perfect Friday night out to our favorite local Ethiopian spot, earned from another week of hard work in Los Angeles. Don’t shy away from the unknown, as Merkato Ethiopian Restaurant just might open you up to a whole new way of how you experience the pleasure of food and of worldly cuisine.

California's Best: Merkato Ethiopian Restaurant-Market

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