Melkam Ethiopian Restaurant

Cash Only, 1-woman ran shop. I really wanted to like this place since it is a small business. But it really was lackluster. I ordered the veggie combo that came with: misir wot(spicy red lentils), kik alicha (yellow split peas), gomen wat (the collard greens-esque dish), and atakilt wat (cabbage and carrot no potato here)The lentils in the misir wot unfortunately were more al dente than pasta. Meaning, the lentils were basically undercooked. No one likes undercooked legumes. It's chalky and hard and not fun to eat. The flavors were good. The other dishes were ok too. The greens weren't stewed for a long time. The split peas, mushy and full of flavor. The injera was authentic, sour and tangy. A bit too sour for my taste. Some will like that. I would definitely come out of my way here to pick up injera. I believe it is a pack for 8 dollars. It was bordering good and okayI was lazy and curious. Didn't want to drive to Fairfax and wanted to try this place out. I should've driven to Messob. For 12 bucks I got the combo and one of the items weren't cooked properly. I don't think I'll be coming back. Parking: forget about it. It's a seedy area and parking super far is kind of scary. No parking lot. Street parking that is always full.

Great surprise in the area it is both a small supermarket and a restaurant. The food portions are good size and the staff is very friendly.

First time having Ethiopian food and it did not disappoint! Yes this restaurant is indeed a "hole in the wall" but isn't that a tell tale sign of great food?My party of three sat comfortably in the small dining area (large parties beware), it seems like many people order to-go. There was only one kind lady manning the restaurant when we arrived on a Saturday afternoon and the dining experience felt intimate, like being invited to eat at someone's house. We ordered and waited for the waitress/chef/hostess to cook the food, and within 10-15 minutes we were served. We ordered the Yawaze Tibs and the Vegatable Combo and it was a lot of food. The Tibs was delicious and I highly recommend ordering it. I'm a big fan of sour foods so I enjoyed the Injera very much. Had leftovers to go and I look forward to coming back here in the future. Thanks for the experience!Notes: Street parking. Cash only. Bottled Water $1

We showed her a picture that was on yelp and she knew exactly what it was. Amazing food!!! It's no fancy place, literally a hole in a wall joint. Which are always the best! :)

So good and seriously home made.Brought my friend who never had Ethiopian food and she was impressed.I had the veggie plate and it was so large I made a second meal from the leftovers.Small place makes you feel like your grandma's kitchen.Will be back when I'm in the neighborhood.

A simple spot - a grocery and restaurant that is CASH only. If you don't have cash, there is an ATM at the liquor store next door ($3 atm charge :( )No menu available so be prepared for an engaging conversation as what you will receive is based on what ingredients are available for the day. Great price of $10 for a veggie special. I ordered my food to go and although I was a bit disappointed when I opened the box to see there were only two mains of lentils and split peas and a small amount of collards and cabbage...the flavors and spices of the food blew me away. I have never tasted cloves be used for lentils before and was pleasantly surprised. Also, I was able to get full and have enough to save for at least one more additional meal. Don't expect much when it comes to appearance of this place but do know the food is worth it.

This is as authentic as it gets! She's a sweet lady, and her prices are reasonable. Best Ethiopian restaurant I've been to, Definitely will come as often as I can!

The food here is so good , but the lady was extremely rude to me . I asked for my food to go and she just grabbed the plate and threw it in my face. I did nothing to her that would've gotten her upset and she still didn't even pack my lunch. Amazing food but bad service

Best Ethiopian restaurant in LA I recommended everyone go and check it out you don't get disappointed

Melkam is a truly small business with a single lady usually working the counter and kitchen. It is on a small block with other businesses that serve the local Ethiopian diaspora community.The food is delicious, and portions are generous (you'll be eating tibs and injera for days). Not all the menu items are available everyday (call ahead to see if what you're looking for is on tap). This is a neighborhood gem for those living in/near Ktown who are craving Ethiopian food but don't want to go all the way out to Fairfax.