Merkato

Cozy little Ethiopean/Eritrean restaurant near the center of London. The menu has 8 different possible meat combos and several vegetarian ones. They all cost 40£ for 2 or 3 people. We were 2 and the plate that we got was more than enough for both of us. The food was bloody lovely, a tad spicy but not too much, mostly flavourful. Overall, would highly recommend this restaurant if you're looking to try out Ethiopian cuisine for the first time!

My very first time trying Ethiopian food and I really liked it! I know there are a few Ethiopian spots around Kings Cross and after doing a random Google Maps search I came across this one that had a really good rating and reviews so I suggested to my friends who were visiting in town that we should give this a go. I had made a reservation prior but upon arrival on a Monday evening I was surprised to see that it was basically empty so reservations aren't needed on week days although weekends could be totally different. I was greeted by this very nice lady and I chose a table inside since it was rainy earlier that day and a bit chilly. Between my friends and I we ordered one vegan combo and one meat (combo 2) to share and it's safe to say that we had way too much food. I personally really liked the injera - interesting texture and taste which I suppose could be off-putting to some people as it's made with a special flour so tasted a bit sour but together with the veggies and meat it was such a nice complimentary bread. I really enjoyed both combos but gotta say my personal favourite was the meaty one because of the spices and the range of proteins we had - beef stew, spicy chicken stew and lamb. Everything was genuinely so tasty and the flavours were stimulating my appetite as I ate. I liked the lentils and Dahl (I presume?) a lot, they were such nice pairings with injera and I simply couldn't stop eating! With that all being said, I did expect some of the meat dishes to be much spicier given they were named "spicy beef and chicken stews" but I suppose as an Asian with a high spice tolerance I was expecting a lot from a place that's obviously adapted to the local bland British palatte. In total, we paid around £20 per person excluding the beer and wine and an extra chicken dish that my friends had ordered which was a great price considering how big the portions were. Service was great, the lady was so smiley and friendly the whole time giving us recommendations. The interior design felt very homely with the decorations on the walls, making you feel like you were really in Ethiopia for a true local dining experience. I would love to come back and try other dishes soon!

great ethiopian food near kings cross. love the acidity in the injera and the richness / authenticity of the traditional coffee ceremony! for the combo dishes inside we recommend the lamb base curries- meat was soft and tender. however for this price there are cheaper options. we paid £60 for 2 persons in total for reference:)