Such a wonderful little Ethiopian store and café tucked right off Murphy Road! The service was fast and friendly and genuinely welcoming. We ordered the Dry Tibs and the Meat and Veggie combo. The food was beautifully presented, fantastic, and packed with flavor. I absolutely loved the Dry Tibs. You can tell they care about the quality of what they're serving. Prices were very reasonable too, especially for the portions and quality. Small place, big flavors, great service, and absolutely worth checking out. We'll definitely be back! read more

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Absolutely amazing place with cool interior and fantastic cultural food. Truly an experience I will not be able to experience again any time soon unless it is here. 100% recommend and will try again soon! read more

Merkato Grocery and Cafe - Ethiopian food - Cafes Near Me - Murphy, Texas

just bought some injera here before christmas, great shop! would recommend, prices are reasonable and the staff is nice. food items are arranged nicely and are easy to find. read more

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My go to place for ingira Good spot for food too! Liked their small scale and home feel! read more

the costumer service was was amazing and the the food was even better. Highly recommend

actually, this may be an unfair review because the food was tasty and the service congenial and friendly, and maybe the portions are more reasonable if you eat in. I got takeout. the boxes were reasonably heavy, so I was surprised to open the container and after unboxing injera after injera, found a very modest amount of anything other than the bread in either container. the injera was good, but with tip, it came to almost $20 per box, which is a lot to pay for mostly bread. read more

Had a late lunch here today. Food was really good, especially the TIBS firfir! Very comfortable atmosphere. Very friendly service. Reasonable pricing. We will definitely be back. read more

A bit of a drive for me from Frisco, but I always buy the to-go dishes and some injeras here, all very very good. The people there are extremely friendly and helpful too, always a great experience shopping here. read more

I love Ethiopian food and have enjoyed this fine African cuisine in 30 restaurants, across the U.S.A. Merkato Cafe is my new favorite restaurant because of their delicious meat and fresh vegetables cooked in traditional style. Plus, this is the most friendly, comfortable, homey place for a casual meal or coffee. The prices are a bargain especially when sharing a platter of food. What a nice surprise..... THE WARM HEART OF ETHIOPIA LIVES IN MURPHY, TEXAS !!! Try it. You'll like it ! read more

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Good food near me and a good price for the sizes. So happy to have Ethiopian food near me

I had been putting off trying this place for fear of it being too spicy but OMG it was SO good. We did the tips and the sampler, loved every bite!! Thank you for this surprising find, we will be back!! read more

The food is very delicious. We ordered the vegetarian sampler and loved everything, highly recommend!

Incredible food in a very cool space; modern decor combined with old and new Ethiopian art. the aromas of the cooking food were heavenly and the food was even better. I can't believe it's taken me so long to come but I will definitely be back. Also, the portions were generous and I went home stuffed, with leftovers. If you're thinking to check this place out, don't hesitate any longer. I just wish we had gone sooner! Delicious delicious food and great service. I Will return soon. read more

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Outstanding food in every aspect. Ms. Fe (owner & cook), knows the meaning of, "Service & Quality" of food. Price per Plate is cheaper than all the traditional Ethiopian restaurants in the area. My entire family of five ate to our heart's content for about 50% less than at Q of Sheba, or similar restaurants. The BYOB options makes it even more attractive. THANK YOU Ms. FE FOR A VALENTINE DAY's FEAST & FOR YOUR HOSPITALITY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO RETURNING SOON!! read more

Merkato Grocery and Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Murphy, Texas

Great tea. Poor service. Cold food. The food was tasty but room temperature, both the appetizer and the entree. Additionally, they have old menus that don't reflect the higher prices they are charging. Disappointed. read more

I just moved to Murphy, and when I found out there was an Ethiopian restaurant down the street, I knew I just had to try it, good or bad. I give them props because they not only have to cater to a town that's probably not used to these flavors, but it's a little harder to find authentic Ethiopian ingredients out here. I ordered the veggie and meat combo platter. I loved the injera they used. My two favorite dishes were the doro wot (chicken stew) and the green beans. When I return, I'll have to try their kitfo! read more

First time here.. Tried the veggie combo, it was okay.. Not much flavor that we expect from a typical Ethiopian meal. Most of the curries served with Teff tasted bland. Quantity & service provided are good. Coffee was pretty good. read more

I stopped by today at lunch. I ordered the Vegi Plate and it was awesome!!! It came with the Injera (of course) and (2) types of (Lentils) Mesir Wat plus cabbage and potatoes, Beets and Gomen (Collard Greens) I'm sure that I've forgotten something in the description but my lunch was perfect and based on what I've found out about Ethiopian food; healthy as well. I'm stuffed as though I really pigged out. And that's hard to do without meat. Fun fact Injera is made from grass, is gluten free (if you care about that), and a great source of protein; yet contains no meat. Don't let the small size and mild profile of this place fool you. They're definitely serving it up, so check them out. read more

I cannot believe this place is been here since 2011, and I didn't even know! The food is excellent and they seem to be doing a pretty fast carry out business. You can also buy Injera or lentils to take home and cook yourself. My husband got the Tips saucy and I had the vegetarian sampler. We ate in the restaurantwhich has a small dining area. Highly recommend trying it! The quality is as good as other Ethiopian restaurants we have been to in the area but the prices are much lower. Next time we will carry out. read more

Merkato Grocery and Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Murphy, Texas

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Great find for really really good Kitfo...perhaps even better than the Big D hot spots for kitfo...and there are several. Star Bukri is a strong contender but this new find may snatch their crown! Very pleased with their kitfo...and I have had kitfo all over this country, from Red Sea in Adams Morgan/DC to Abyssinia in Phoenix to peoples homes. This is some Grade A kitfo! read more

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Incredible service, the food was outstanding and the portions were enough for two more meals! We loved the other items for sale in the grocery. Awesome place to browse and they even sell fresh injera! Will continue to support... thank you for offering your hospitality and delicious food. read more

went to pick up some mitmita for a recipe and was impressed by the outoging, friendly lady behind the counter. She was so cool, I started shopping around the cozy little place. It kind of feels like going to an Ethiopian friends home. The cafe side is carved out of half the space. But the informal, laid back vibe is great. Anyway, I also left with some berbere, some pretty fragrant injera(wheatfreee sourdough flatbread she makes herself) and a tub of her misir wot.(cooked lentils) . Just heated up some misir and am hitting it with the injera. I would describe it as what meat eaters always WANT vegetarian chili to be. I'm looking forward to dining in to try other stuff. read more

Never thought I would be eating Ethiopian food. Man I did not know what I was missing. Since coming here I have been back here in 5 times in a week. Two can eat for cheaper than fast food and a hundred times better. The employees are so friendly and go above and beyond. You will never go wrong by trying this quaint little restaurant. They also have amazing things to purchase. read more

Merkato Grocery and Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Murphy, Texas

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Showed up to try this new Ethiopian place. I was told they are "out of food." What? How can they stay in business?

We love this restaurant. Since discovering it, we go weekly for a vegetarian platter. One of the veg. options is spicy, but the rest aren't -- a perfect mix. Healthy and delicious! There's not much ambiance, but the food, friendly service, and low prices are spectacular. read more

We discovered this place In our neighborhood and will definitely go back. Since we have not had Ethiopian before, we asked for sampling of meats and veggies. The platter came with three four meats and probably eight veggies and I would say we liked every dish. Three of us ate until full and there was food left over. The place is a hole in the wall market with some tables for seating. Nothing fancy but it is authentic to the proprietors background. It was too late for coffee but we definitely want to come back for that. Food was five stars. Owners very nice. Try it out. read more

We went to Merkato tonight for the first time and were really impressed. We'd never had Ethiopian food and didn't know what to expect. The food and the service was excellent! The food alone would've been enough to bring me back, but the owner was so friendly and helpful that it added even more to the experience. read more

Murphy, Wylie, NE Richardson, E Plano and surrounding areas! We have a hidden gem nearby! I discovered Ethiopian food in one of my travels and is now one of my favorite foods (and as a world traveler and foodie, it's saying something). This quaint place has splendid Ethiopian food close to home. I dare say it should also a nutritionist's paradise. For example, the vegetarian plate has a wonderful mix of lentils, kale, cabbage and vegetables. For $5 more get various meats plus the aforementioned. Please help keep this place in business! read more

I wish they would ADD chicken tibs to their menu, tired of driving to other restaurants in Dallas.

This is one of our family's favorite restaurants. We come here often and the food is always wonderful. In my opinion, it is one of the best Ethiopian restaurants in the Dallas area, and it is great that it is so close to our neighborhood. read more

We have been here twice for dinner and really enjoy it. When you first walk in, you see the grocery store where Ethiopian ingredients, food, coffee and tea are sold. Take an immediate right, and you're in the dining area. You may be the only people there...don't let that worry you! It's a small, humble, intimate place, and the service feels like home...like your favorite aunt is cooking for you and serving you. Service is friendly and helpful in case you need assistance with the menu. Both times we had Tibs (beef cooked in small chunks with peppers and onions - I think! - like fajitas only different) and Kitfo (normally served like beef tartare; we asked for ours to be cooked). Both dishes are served on a large tray covered with a large injera (an Ethiopian bread made with teff flour, that is soft and chewy) with vegetables and Ethiopian cottage cheese (very mild...almost like ricotta, but creamier). The veggies have varied the two times we've been here, but all were delicious. We were happy to see that collard greens were on the tray both times - this recipe for those greens is already one of our favorites - less bitter than what we're used to. Note: there are no knives and forks. Instead, a basket of large tortilla-sized injera is served with the meal. The server showed us how to tear pieces of the bread off and use them to scoop up food and eat it. The second visit we also had sambossa for an appetizer - like samosas in Indian cuisine - filled with lentils. They come two to the order and we could have eaten dozens! They are served with an Ethiopian green chile paste which is all kinds of wonderful hot that sets the whole mouth on fire! We recommend using only small - I mean, tiny - spoonfuls per bite. I enjoy it with all of the food. The server described the Ethiopian coffee ceremony - which includes hand roasting and hand grinding the beans. We look forward to coming back during the daytime to experience that. But we'll be back again for meals as well. It's on our list now of regular stops and a nice break from the franchise restaurants along the George Bush Turnpike or FM 544. read more

I hadn't had Ethiopian food in years but this place was phenomenal. The owner is so hospitable and sweet; you can tell she has a passion for cooking. When you walk in, you walk into a small grocery area. Through a small doorway to the right, you find a small restaurant seating area. Ethiopian music plays in the background and traditional paintings and instruments hang on the wall. We just asked her to bring us what she would recommend and minutes later, we were facing a ton of different options all atop injera (traditional bread - thing and sponge-like). For those of you unfamiliar with Ethiopian food, you eat by tearing off a piece of injera and using it to pick up bites of food. My favorite was the "dry tibs," which reminded me of fajitas. It was such a fun experience. Next time, will have to try the coffee as SHE ROASTS THE BEANS WHEN WHEN YOU ORDER - SO AMAZING. Will definitely be back. read more