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Popular Ethiopian restaurant serving authentic cuisine in a casual cafe-style setting (note, the management burns a lot of incense!) for very reasonable prices. The generously sized combo platters are popular and the restaurant is known for its vegan and vegetarian-friendly dishes, although there's plenty of meat on the menu for the carnivores in your party, including Ethiopian steak tartare.
Merkato is Las Vegas’ premier Ethiopian restaurant, and that’s saying more than you’d probably think, because there are several in town. First a warning: Merkato is located in a rundown neighborhood about two miles east of the Strip. At first glance, you might want to turn around, but you shouldn’t. Once you get past the look of it, you’re in for some really good and interesting grub (and the Merkato staff is exceedingly helpful and friendly). Ethiopian dishes are predominantly beef, lamb, and vegetables, with virtually every meal anchored by a spongy sourdough bread called injera. Most dishes come on a plate that’s completely covered by the thin bread. You eat by tearing off pieces of the injera and using it to pick up bites of whatever you’re eating. Silverware is rarely provided unless you ask. A staple is kitfo, which is raw beef served tartare style, but there are also several cooked preparations, such as fim tibs—cubed beef or lamb grilled with onions and jalapenos. The portions are huge and everything is $15 and under. Our recommendation to get the most tastes in one sitting is to combine an order of kitfo with the vegetarian mix (yenat guada). For $25, this combo will feed three or four. The resident Ethiopian beer is an amber called St. George for $4. Hours are 11 am to 2 am daily.
