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Meaza Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Ethiopian Ethiopian [Edit]
5700 Columbia PikeFalls Church, VA 22941
(703) 820-2870
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
When the people of this area stop and think about who bakes the finest bakery products around, they're probably thinking of Dama Bakery/Dama Pastry & Cafe
58 reviews for Meaza Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"The Doro wat sauce was fantastic." In 6 reviews -
"...food was delicious, especially the veggie combo, and it was..." In 8 reviews -
"We had the kitfo and tibs combination and it was tasty." In 8 reviews
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58 reviews in English
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Review from Kyle C.
Arlington, VA
4/22/2012
I love Ethiopian food but hated having to haul my plump ass to Adams Morgan for it. Meaza is closer to home and delicious! We take friends and usually get the mixed veggie and fish entree and add some meat dishes to it. My favorite is the Meaza Tibbs which is beef on a sizzling hot plate. My wife calls it Ethopian fajitas.
A couple downsides: Some of the staff seems to have a language barrier so a little patience may be needed when ordering and the beer isn't kept as cold as I prefer it.
Overall, worth the visit(s). -
Review from Ben S.
5/5/2012
Meaza's claim to fame is that you can get 100% teff injera for a little bit extra, though I have never seen it on the menu as an option and I've never tried to order it. Meaza is also a very big restaurant with a separate banquet room next door in a strip mall. I've been here 4 or 5 times and I always find it a solid offering, though it isn't my favorite restaurant at all. I've had a whole range of dishes from kitfo, to the vegetarian sampler. All are good. Portion sizes are on the small side, so you definitely cannot be getting 3 dishes for 4 people or anything like that.
I'd eat here more if I lived in the area, but not worth the drive to me. -
Review from Kassie N.
Manassas, VA
3/17/2012
A friend lives down the street from here, so we stopped in. I was very pleased.
The restaurant broken into 2 large dining rooms and a small bar area. Each dining room has a stage area. There isn't much decor, just a few paintings (Ethiopian leaders?) on the walls. Ethiopian musicians take turns on stage, very good performers.
The food was delicious. The food is served in a large platter in the middle of the group. And it's always good to remember that Ethiopian is spicy! 3 entrees were enough to feed 5 people, with some left over! -
Review from Mira V.
Falls Church, VA
1/30/2012
I had a living social deal for this place so I decided to finally cash it in before it expired the other day.
I've passed this place my whole life, but have never thought of actually going inside.
I had my husband and my 2 year old with me, we went around lunch time, pretty quiet but not empty.
The servers are very friendly ( at least the two ladies we had talked to, to get advice on foods to order)
The place is nice, seems clean and bathrooms are kept clean as well. I can imagine though when this place is full that it can seem a little crowded.
We ordered the Sambussa as a appitizer, crispy on the outside but luke warm. You can tell they were premade and fried earlier in the day, but the fact that they were still crispy on the outside and not soggy gives them a "ok".
We ordered a lamb dish and a beef dish (unfortunatly I cant remember the name or the number of the dishes we ordered) However when we were leaving another table ordered something that was sizzling and and smelled wonderful the waitress said it was number #22. Something we will def be trying when we come back.
The food was really good and two dishes is more than plenty for two people. The meat is pretty tender, only a few pieces with too much fat, but aside from them cut into perfect little finger bites and marinated and tender so that your not chewing forever.
Im a huge fan of the cabbage salad that comes with the plates, it gives it that extra crunch with not to strong of a vinegar flavor, really compliments the meat and the bread mixture.
We ended up having a bill of $32 which for me is kind of expensive for lunch time, but I dont think they have a lunch/ dinner menu so I am assuming you can expect to pay the same thing for dinner time.
We will definatly be back and its good to know there is a place like this close by to our house and we dont have to travel to Adams Morgan ( I hate dealing wth DC) -
Review from Christian C.
Reston, VA
1/26/2012 2 Check-ins Here
The fact that I am 35 years old and have lived in this area most of my life, surrounded by Ethiopian people and restaurants, and am just NOW trying their food gives you permission to smack me. Moving on.
Not much to look at from the outside, but very nice on the inside (classy). The staff was super nice and polite, to the point where I felt even if I wasn't there with someone who spoke Amharic they would be very helpful in deciding what to order. We ordered the kitfo (regular), ye beg tibs (lamb), and milas ena senber (tripe and tongue). The raw beef was clean and fresh tasting, the tripe was surprisingly very tender, and the sides of mitmita and awaze provided a nice kick to each bite. With dinner we have a delicious bottle of tej, or Ethiopian honey wine which complimented the meal well. After attacking our food like ravenous wolves we still ended up with a lot of leftovers which the staff packed very neatly to go.
Throughout the meal the owner came by personally several times to check to see if we needed anything. Great service and fantastic food has guaranteed I will be back. Can't wait to try everything else on the menu.
P.S. Please note that as I was typing this review, I was also applying for Ethiopian citizenship.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Wespen N.
Arlington, VA
4/2/2012
Ah, now Meaza is how it's done: a huge parking lot, affordable and heaping mounds of food that aren't afraid to be as hot and spicy as they can be. There's also an Ethiopian grocery store attached to the restaurant, which is extra convenient. We've always eaten outside when we come here, so I can't say how it is on the inside, but nothing can compare to having fresh injera, warm chickpeas and strong coffee on a warm summer night.
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Review from Sharif N.
3/7/2012
I had a wonderful time at this restaurant. The servers were very nice and explained some of the dishes to all of us. We were a large party, but they really took care of us. They gave us samosas to start out with, which were pretty good. For dinner we got a combo platter that served 5-6 people. The lamb, chicken and beef were all excellent. The vegetables were all excellent and spicy with different types of sauces mixed in and delectably spicy. They gave you ample amounts of the chewy spongy bread. This was the best tasting Ethiopian bread I have tasted. It was a really nice experience and I will definitely come back with friends and family.
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Review from Scott V.
6/18/2011
My wife and I ate here tonight for dinner. Overall, compared to other Ethiopian restaurants in the area, the food was only okay. The ambiance of the place is unique - you feel like you're in a banquet hall, because, well, you are. There are two large rooms, separated by partitions. In the other partition, a small Ethiopian family was quietly celebrating something. In the main dining room, interesting paintings on faux animal skins depict various Ethiopian rulers, including Haile Selassie. A small dance floor sits near the entrance with a tiny raised stage for performers, and I'm sure the place gets hopping with the community bustin' a move for festivities.
Since the sign told us to seat ourselves, we took a table on the side of the room, which was up on a raised area with three other tables. The menus were delivered as soon as we sat down, and the waitress soon after took our orders. We started with sambusas, which had a nicely spiced plentiful filling, but they were barely warm. You could tell that they had been fried at least hours before and just thrown in a microwave or oven for a few minutes before bringing them out to us. The dough was very tough to chew.
For the main meal, we were very excited to dig into the special veggie combo with awaze tibs (spicy cubed beef.) The veggies were passable, but uninspired, and some were a bit too greasy. The beef had a nice rich flavor, but it had more liquid than I've seen before with awaze tibs. Also, the beef was not of a very good cut, as there was a lot of gristle, and one bit was so tough and tendony that it was impossible to chew. We still ate it all with gusto, as it was not awful, but it was just okay.
I wish I could say I liked it better, but I think this was a onetime visit for us. -
Review from Shalu K.
Alexandria, VA
1/12/2012
This is my favorite Ethiopian place around this area. Love the Awaze Lamb Tibs, Meaza Lamb Tibs, also all the veggie dishes are great. Always get the Tomato appetizer to eat with the meal...the fresh tomatoes and onions do something really good with the hot food :)
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Review from Ruth C.
Ehh, as my favorite chu would say: womps. Not sure this was the best place to pop my Ethiopian cherry. I feel like Yelp let me down a little on this one.
Store attached to it was pretty generic to theme, only things of note were some less-than-enticing baklava and ground spices. Plenty of parking on a less than busy evening. Service could have been better, they were surprisingly inattentive given there were two servers and three tables seated, including ours. Decor leans upscale, and the few folks who made it out on the dreary night gravitated towards the tables rather than the bar graced with a telly in the back.
I'm a little annoyed by the waitress's description of the sambusa. Even though I told her I only wanted a bite, she said it wasn't big enough to split. I guess she thought we would eat like obese Americans, because I totally would've been happy cutting one in half once I saw them. Filling was on the chillier side of lukewarm, which is pretty unappetizing... no pun intended.
Plethora of food. Injera was like a thin, spongy pancake; an interesting balance for some of the spicier selections, and the additional individual injera was more than enough to whet my appetite. Carnivore that I am, I enjoyed the ye beg tibs far more than the liyu ye tsom wot. The lamb cubes had a nice bit of gristle on still, and there was some decent flavor hidden behind the heat of the chopped jalapenos. Reviewing the menu, I again question our server's decision to recommend the special veggie combo over the regular lineup. Timatim fitfit was mushy and unexciting. Lentils were okay, and the potato salad was good. The remainder of the vegetarian dollops didn't really impress. I'd be open to trying veggie orders again elsewhere, but if I ended up back here I'd stick with the meat.
Edit: Rounding my 2.5 star review down now that I've had tastier Ethiopian elsewhere. -
Review from Mimi K.
Alexandria, VA
3/14/2012
I love this place. Food, service, and ambience A plus. And as one of the yelpers noted the owner does come and check on you which I thought was professional, cozy, and classy. Definelty will be going back over and over again!
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Review from Warron F.
Manassas, VA
7/29/2011
I have eaten here many times. The servers are friendly, the food is excellent, and well priced.
Doro Wat is my favorite Ethiopian dish. -
Review from Lia M.
1/25/2011
It was a dark and stormy night (well, icy) when Ruth C. and I met here for dinner. Due to said weather conditions, the restaurant was fairly empty, though warm service and lighting made it inviting.
Ruth, being an Ethiopian virgin, let me make suggestions and order. We had sambusa, liyu ye tsom wot (special veggie combo), and ye beg tibs, which included plenty of injera and was more than we could eat.
The sambusa was tasty and flaky, though it could have been warmer. The special veggie combo was a recommendation from our server - I had first ordered the regular veggie combo. The special was fine, but I prefer spicy food and the texture of the timatim fitfit (tomatoes with injera crumbs) did not sit well with me. The tibs were fine as well - could have used more flavor, and I prefer the well-done lamb tibs. After dinner, we were present with a dessert tray, but declined.
In all, Meaza was fine. Nothing overly wowed me. While I would not object to dinner here, I probably would not suggest it. -
Review from Maria G.
Annandale, VA
8/27/2011
Food was ok... I've had better Ethiopian food elsewhere. The dishes were not very well seasoned. What made me upset was that the restaurant did not accept my specialicious coupon because it wasn't printed... and the next time I was able to stop by the restuarant, the coupon had expired and they refused to honor it. If they were more accommodating, maybe I would go back. But there are honestly tons of options in that area when it comes to Ethiopian food, so I'm definitely not missing much by crossing them off my list.
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Review from Davi K.
Alexandria, VA
5/26/2011
The food is amazing.
Much of the staff has limited English-speaking skills.
The food is amazing.
If you're in for an adventure, try the kitfo, which is spiced beef, and get it RAW. It's way better than the cooked version, IMHO.
Also, try the Doro Wot, which I like to call "mother and child." It's spiced chicken with an amazing sauce and comes with an egg.
Can't praise Ethiopian good enough.
Did I say the food is amazing? -
Review from Alex F.
Alexandria, VA
11/10/2011
Great place, good food, no complaints.
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Review from Jessica H.
Arlington, VA
11/26/2010
I like this place a lot. Similar quality to Lalibela II, a mile or two down the road. Meaza has better atmosphere, whereas Lalibela II always feels like I'm being put in the back of someone's private party. We usually get the doro wat and the veggie combo. Good injera, nice place.
In fact, sometimes I stop in the tiny attached store and argue with the manager until he agrees to give me some small number of injera to-go. Like 3. Sometimes he won't go lower than 5 for $3, even though I only want 2 or 3. And then I eat one in the car on the way home, and then I take some to work and everyone is in awe, because I have injera in my lunch.Listed in: Best Eats in…
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Review from Dian C.
Arlington, VA
9/6/2008
Yum, I love Ethiopian!
We had one issue though with mystery meat. We asked the waitress to recommend meat dishes for us and she recommended 2 beef dishes and 1 lamb dish. She asked us if we wanted one of the beef dishes rare, medium, or well done. We looked around at each other and settled on medium. You can't go wrong with right? WRONG!
When all the dishes came out, she put the beef dish in the center. It was a deep dark red and at first I thought it was the sauce that gave the dish its color. I scooped up some of this mystery beef with my bread, chewed, and though "hmmm funny consistency." A few minutes later, it dawned on me that I thought the consistency was funny because I had never had raw ground beef before.
The rest of the food was delicious, especially the veggie combo, and it was really great to share everything.
As the other reviewers mentioned, the decor was very nice, with an trendy upscale bar area. The faucets in the bathroom were also really nifty! -
Review from Frank O.
Woodbridge, VA
12/7/2008
Now, overall, I must say food wise, this place is pretty good. We always get the vegetarian sampler with the fried fish, and this is a good dish. We've gotten a lamb dish in the past, which is good, and we've gotten the beef stew which is also good. When we went last night, we got kitfo for the first time, and we ordered a half serving medium and a half serving raw, and the raw was actually better. This may sound odd but ORDER THE KITFO RAW.
Now as for issues... first. Please, I beg of you, please...is it too much to ask to have someone come and seat us? Why do we have to seat ourselves? Now usually when we go, it's not too crowded. But I cannot imagine what this would be like if it were actually packed out.
Also...service. The first time we were there, they forgot the fish that came with our vegetarian AND FISH combo. This last time, the server forgot about the drink I ordered, and she rarely came by to check if I needed a refill on water. She also FORGOT TO GIVE ME BACK MY CHECK CARD WHEN I PAID. That does not go well with me.
One plus in the service column is that the owners always come around to each of the tables and see how you are doing, and how you are liking your meal. That is one thing I do like.
So...come here for the food, but not the service. -
Review from Mark M.
Austin, TX
2/26/2010
I've been here 3 times now and I'm loving it. I don't claim to be an expert on Ethiopian since I've only been to a few others in my lifetime. However, this is the only one I've ever come back to, so I guess that says something. Plus I got a recommendation for this place from an Ethiopian taxi driver, so I'm sure he knows much better than me.
So now to the food. We always order the super veggie combo which gets you about 7 different veggie dishes and then we order some kind of meat which they plop in the middle. This is easily enough to fill 3 people and they are constantly offering you more injera bread if you need it. I'm a spicy food fanatic, so I always ask them to make it hot and they never disappoint. If you're not careful, they will make it downright nuclear.
The real reason I probably come back here instead of places I've been to in Adams Morgan is the parking. There is plenty of it so no trolling for a space in Clarendon or DC. Also, the restaurant is pretty big, I've never had to wait for a table. This is true rarity in the area because you can always expect long waits for good food.
Also, this place is pretty cheap. The meal I just described came out to $25. It's been 4 hours since we left and I'm still stuffed. -
Review from Melissa S.
Arlington, VA
7/2/2008
Just checked this place out on Sunday night and I am glad we did. My boyfriend and I are familiar with Ethiopian food and it is one of our favorite cuisines. While we've been to one of the trendy D.C. Ethiopian places, it's nice sometimes to be able to just head out to a less crowded restaurant in the 'burbs.
The space is large and very open, with authentic decor on the walls, a large, modern bar and a stage and dance floor. There is live music and Ethiopian dancers every Friday and Sunday night. Coincidentally, we headed there on a Sunday night and i am so glad we did!
The first good sign was the large amount of Ethiopian people dining here. Second, the wait staff was very friendly. We got a table right away. The food was quite good. We ordered some Ethiopian basics since this was our first time to this place: Doro Wat (traditional spicy Chicken dish) and a vegetarian platter. The Doro wat sauce was fantastic...spicy, rich and complex. However, there was one overcooked chicken leg in it! Maybe this is the way that some places prepare it but I have always had a large portion with shredded pieces of chicken in it. The sauce was wonderful for dipping but I was disappointed in the small sinewy piece of chicken we got.
The vegetable platter contained the usual suspects: yellow split peas (slightly bland), collard greens, cabbage, and spicy lentils (delish!). Most of the vegetables were served cold, which again, I have never experienced at an Ethiopian place. They were tasty, but next time I will ask them to heat everything. Included on the vegetarian platter was a delicious cottage cheese, dry and chunky how i like it.
I would definitely recommend this place for a simple date night or for going with a group of friends. It is a very good addition to the NoVa dining scene. Can't wait to go back and try some of their other dishes. -
Review from Jed W.
1/16/2009
I have to be honest, this was my first time going to an Ethiopian restaurant. One of my sister's friends wanted to try Ethiopian food, so we went.
The place was not crowded at all, and we had our choice of seats. I knew the concept of Ethiopian, and there were 3 of us, so we each chose an entree.
I should mention that soft drinks come in a can here (so you're charged by the can), and are not cold, so be prepared to ask for lots of ice.
So we had three dishes - one chicken, lamb, and beef. The bread that it came with was cold, so we had to ask for the bread to be re-heated. Little did I know that ordering three meat dishes meant there would be no vegetables whatsoever. When they say meat, they mean only meat. Next time, I'll know to order one thing that has vegetables.
I saw a whole fish on the menu and there was someone at the next table just ripping that fish into shreds with his hands - I found that pretty humorous. The food was good - good spices, the chicken especially was very spicy. Reasonably priced, but the service could have been better. -
Review from Robert S.
Washington, DC
6/27/2010
Thus far, Meaza has had the best Ethiopian food I've had in the DC area. Although I heart Ethiopian in DC, Meaza is certainly a cut above.
I had dinner with a friend here after we halfway drove to an Indian restaurant and passed Meaza along the way, then decided Ethiopian sounded good, too.
It's a rather large restaurant, but the service wasn't bad, although a bit thin, but meh. I ordered the lentil sambusa for my appetizer. Delish. Then I had the "special veggie combo" (liyu ye tsom wot), which was more than enough portion wise. The food didn't taste as abrupt and disconnected like other Ethiopian restaurants I've eaten at. Everything complemented each other quite well, and gave the effect that I was eating one item rather than several separate pieces. Loved it.
Definitely recommend it. -
Review from Gi A.
Washington, DC
12/28/2008
Because my friends have been getting knocked up left and right, I noticed the changing table in the bathroom. Probably not why our Ethiopian friend recommended this place, but still, a nice touch.
Yummy: misir wot (red lentils), shiro alitcha (split peas), and No. 24, the meat dish the name of which we obviously cannot remember. I found the spicy dishes punchy but not very subtle; my husband loved them, but he'd be happy with chile peppers in his cereal. Adequate: the injera (flat, spongy bread). I think we got the kind they give non-Ethiopians; it lacked that sour note that makes injera injera. No love: ungodly amount of onions in the salad, as in, you ain't getting any later unless you pick out the onions.
Our server was helpful, gracious, and beautiful (I know; completely irrelevant), but obviously very busy. The other server, however, was a bit sloppy. She brought out only half of the dishes we ordered and the check plate with two handwipes on it but not the actual bill.
So far, this is the only Ethiopian restaurant I've been to outside the District. I wasn't as impressed as Brothers Sietsema and Carman, but would probably recommend it to those who want to impress their meat-and-potatoes cousins without leaving NoVA. -
Review from Anjali M.
Falls Church, VA
1/27/2012
Not the best, but definitely not the worst Ethiopian I've ever had. The ambience is unique. The decor has paintings of Ethiopian rulers through out and the restaurance is very open, which I liked for the people watching aspect. As for the food, it was ok. I order the Lamb Tibs and they were overcooked and a little dry. My dad ordered the Chicken Curry and it was delicious. It also heated up well the next day for lunch leftovers.
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Review from Anson P.
Roanoke, VA
3/9/2008
I took my girlfriend here to expose her to Ethiopian food. She wasn't a fan, but then again what do I care? I'll eat for the both of us. Food is my mistress.
I was a bit confused when we entered because it was a seat yourself kind of place and the restaurant was packed. It looked like a hot spot for Ethiopian cuisine and revelry.
We had the kitfo and tibs combination and it was tasty. I like tibs better than kitfo in general. Kitfo is a ground meat preparation and tibs are like sirloin tips. We also had a vegetable combo consisting of greens and some type of potato mixture. If you're not used to it, you might be surprised by the food all coming on one plate on one giant piece of injera or flatbread. This place gets a big plus for giving you a pitcher of water, as I tend to drink a lot of water.
I would like to give credit to Tyler Cowen of the ethnic dining guide for helping me find this place. I've never met the man, never seen him in person, and never taken any of his classes. Also, he looks a little goofy in his pictures, but he sure knows his ethnic food. He's usually spot on with his recommendations. -
Review from Jared H.
Washington, DC
8/31/2009
Beef Awaza Tibs - Beef was tough.
Lamb Awaza Tibs - Decent
Duro Wat - Chicken was miniscule and tough. Sauce was excellent.
Not worthy of the City Paper's 2009 Dining Guide. Average with mediocre service. -
Review from t.sa c.
Arlington, VA
6/11/2008 1 photo
My boyfriend and I went for dinner, this' my first time trying Ethiopian food and his second. Overall the atmosphere was great, decors' modern and bathroom's clean (this shows a lot about a restaurant). The owner, after we told her it's our first time, was so friendly she taught us how to dig in and start cutting the meat into pieces for us.
I can't speak for authenticity (although judging by the crowd was mainly African) since this' my first dip on Ethiopian cuisine, but the overall experience was really enjoyable. -
Review from Andrea H.
Alexandria, VA
7/12/2011
Whenever I want Ethiopian food. We come here. 'nough said. It's good. The servers have limited English at time though.
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Review from marc a.
Arlington, VA
1/16/2010
Normally I like to give long reviews, but I'll keep this one short and sweet--this was the best Ethiopian I've had in the area. Not without its faults, but simply delicious food for the most part. I need to thank that Ehtiopian handyman in my building for recommending it for the kifto.
The service is okay, not spectacular but good. Our waitress, though, probably lost this the five star because her incredulity that a westerner and his Vietnamese companion would order the raw kifto that we ended up getting the rare. I think it would have been even better raw, and fie on her for talking us out of it! Next time for sure! The tibs were quite tasty and didn't seem as drenched in fat as at other Ehtiopian places we've been to. The veggies were all quite tasty, my favorites being the greens and the sauteed cabbage.
We didn't try dessert, primarily because the closest thing they had to Ehtiopian was baklava. But we enjoyed our night at Meaza and we will go back. -
Review from David T.
Washington, DC
8/28/2009
The bottom line: Great cheap Ethiopian food.
Went for an early dinner with wife and her ex-coworkers (1 Ethiopian and his wife). Parking was simple and the restaurant felt huge as we first walked in but I've heard it gets packed at times (it was the middle of the week and it was dead quiet at 6pm). So, as a result, we had a great table and great service.
My wife got one of the vegetarian platters (all parts were tasty) and the rest of us split a huge assortment. I remember the pork (maybe beef) tibs with jalapeño being delicious and the house fish and chicken (doro wat) too.
No one got any drinks and for the huge volume of food I think it was about $15 a piece with tax and tip!
I can't wait to get hand-dunkin-dirty again soon at Meaza. -
Review from AJ S.
Arlington, VA
10/14/2009
I personally haven't had a chance to partake of the bounty of U St in DC, but I hardly have the motivation to do so with such a terrific place practically down the street from where I live. Not until I ate here did I really begin to appreciate the wonderful flavours and diverse tastes of Ethiopian cuisine.
I went with my dining partner and my best friend, who hadn't had Ethiopian before, so we got the vegetarian sampler and a cooked meat dish, as well as getting adventurous and ordering a raw meat dish, which I believe was tere saga. Yes, they double-checked to make sure we really wanted it raw, but we insisted. It turned out to be chunks of tender, satiny uncooked lamb in a mild sauce, and was one of the best dishes we enjoyed, though the lentil dish we had was out of this world, too, and I think we all fought over the last bite.
But the dish that impressed me the most was, well, the dish - the injera here was unlike any of the tangy, chewy breads I'd partaken of elsewhere. This injera was heavenly, soft and warm with just a hint of earthiness rather than the tart sharpness which has so often made me wipe my fingers clean and reluctantly pick up a fork to enjoy my doro wat halfway through the meal. My friend was impressed beyond expectations, as was I, and a deliciously sweet glass of tej shared among us rounded out a fabulous meal.
The service, despite the holiday crowd (it was eid for the end of Ramadan), was impeccably attentive, and upon later research, I discovered that we did, indeed, get a table visit from the restaurant's namesake owner herself, checking around the entire restaurant (full to capacity, almost exclusively with Ethiopians) to ensure everyone's satisfaction. The prices were in line with other places of this caliber, and entirely appropriate to what felt was a fine dining experience.
Go - it's a terrific introduction for friends to the joys of Ethiopian cuisine, and a great place to know you'll get really good Ethiopian food whenever the mood strikes you. -
Review from Rachel P.
Washington, DC
1/15/2011
I have had Ethiopian at a couple of places, but haven't liked it all that much. My friends invited me to this place and I decided to tag along. It was very different in atmosphere than the places I'd been. Also, it was much better - I liked it! I think partially it was because the injera wasn't as sour as I've had it at other places (and I don't like sourdough). The sambussa was tasty. The veggie platter had some great options, and I liked the beef, but wasn't enamored of the fish. I'm so glad I found an Ethiopian place I like!
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Review from Simon M.
Arlington, VA
5/26/2010
It's located in a crummy strip mall near Bailey's X-roads so don't be fooled by the outside. The food here is very good. Some dishes are prepared slightly different when compared to Zed's or Dukem if that's your standard. You can get take out as well - you'll pick it up from the store adjacent to the restaurant.
It's never crowded and the staff is friendly. I've been here quite a few times along with take out, it never disappoints. -
Review from kate k.
Arlington, VA
3/25/2008
We have been going to Meaza now 3-4 y ears. It is really pleasant with a modern feel. The tables are "normal", with tablecloths and spaced far apart, so it's great if you'd really like to have a conversation. The service is very friendly and helpful.
We usually order one or two vegetarian combinations. These go around the edge of the big platter. Then we usually order at least one lamb dish and one beef dish that will go nicely in the middle of the platter. We usually get one meat dish for every 2 people. Sometimes we order extra collard greens! MMM!
The waitresses almost always bring more injera without us having to ask when we were running low.
It's always to easy to park there. An interesting shop is attached to the restaurant.
Is this the BEST Ethiopian food in the DC area? It's plenty good enough and is a very accessible, pleasant place for a wonderful meal. -
Review from James V.
Washington D.C., DC
2/15/2011
Excellent food and service -- this is our go-to spot for weeknight carryout and where we like to take out-of-town guests.
Meaza easily bests the nearby competition over on George Mason, and has the huge advantage of a large, attractive dining room. I'd say the food is easily competitive with Dukem and the rest of the DC competition. -
Review from Wyld K.
San Francisco, CA
2/12/2011
One of the better Ethiopian restaurants in the area, both as far as food goes and as far as atmosphere is concerned. The first time we went here, the food was extremely spicy (and we're fans of spicy food), to the point where we couldn't finish the gored-gored we ordered. Subsequent trips have been better, but it's made us question the consistency of the chef(s).
Some nights, Meaza has live music, which is a nice bonus. -
Review from Sara B.
Washington, DC
8/30/2011
They have the BEST LAMB I have ever eaten. Ever. Service is slow (but friendly) and prices are a little steep but the filling portions and the heavenly lamb recipe alone will keep be coming back over and over. I forget the name of it but it's the lamb dish made with Ethiopian butter. It's savory, tender and asolutely divine. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. My mom always gets the red snapper and it's also fantastic.
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Review from Crys B.
Washington D.C., DC
1/5/2011
I love ethi food! It took a while to grow on me but with some many ethi friends I had to keep trying it. It can be an acquired flavor and you may just discover something you really like.
to the point - the food was amazing! fresh, well seasoned and came out quickly. I had the lamb kikil, side of cabbage and qey wot to share with my friend. it was more than enough food. the owner stopped by to check on us and even wrapped our to go food. our server was a little slow and i could tell did not understand a lot of English (or maybe our accents). but she was friendly and attentive.
i'm looking forward to visiting again! -
Review from Doug G.
Alexandria, VA
3/16/2011
Like most Ethiopian restaurants the service leaves much to be desired. There is no host so you seat yourself and everytime I have been there the waitress seems to always remember to forget my drink. The food is tapered down to cater to non Ethiopians and a bit on the salty side. If you are look
