Mela Bistro

Ethiopian food is not a cuisine that I knew I liked until I came here. It was delicious! The dishes are flavorful and very balanced with a lot fresh vegetable sides featured. The meat is saucy with a nice heat to it and is extremely flavorful. The honey wine was also a special treat--not as sweet as a port but sweeter than your average white wine. And the make it in house!

The service was excellent as they explained each dish. The inside is small so consider making a reservation.

The portion sizes were large and I had leftovers the next day. Will definitely be back!

Not the best Ethiopian in the east bay, but it hits the spot if you're craving it

Roasted pepper gimlet- will balanced drink, though I'd recommend checking the dehydrated fried fruit for mold (mine was dark when I flipped it and kind of smelled)

Sambusa- well seasoned, good crispy texture

Veggies platter - typically this is the shining star of Ethiopian restaurants, however me and my husband agreed we only liked one of of the 6 things there on there, typically at other places, the majority of the platter is good

Service was spotty and slow, we didn't get initial injera for a while and we definitely didn't get a refill so we were literally picking juicy soggy bits from the plate with our bare hands

The place is cute, with NOLA architectural vibes

Overall, this place is just OK, and definitely not the best compared to the other Ethiopian joints in the bay area.

Purely a take-out/takeaway review. I am obsessed with the Ethiopian food scene in Oakland, Admas is my go-to since I live closer but Mela was a happy find.

Mela is located in the heart of downtown Oakland, so parking can be a headache. Street parking is the way to go if you're dining in, otherwise walk there. For takeout, you can call them right before you pull up and put your hazards on, but I got honked for blocking the busy street. I had to go for their veggie sampler and the acclaimed green lentil and berbere hummus which was FIRE. I've never had a green-colored hummus, and the berbere wasn't spicy at all, made for a great splash of color. The pita bread they pair with it is pillowy soft and I was literally WIPING my pita around ever corner of the container to get all of the hummus. Finger. Lickin'. Their veggie sampler is divine, although it doesn't look as pretty in a to-go container, I'm sure dining in would be gorgeous. They give AMPLE injera bread, so that's always something I look for.

I think Mela also offers a more palatable dine-in experience, so if you have the chance I heard that's the way to go. Plus they offer cute cocktails from the photos. People are sweet and service is so kind, they answer their phones promptly too. Support ya local biz, and treat yourself to a feast of the rainbow.

Mela Bistro is a great neighborhood spot! Not only is the food delicious, it's nutritious and doesn't make you feel bloated and weighed down after you gobble it up. Ambiance is casual, cute and service was good!

I recently tried this spot for Ethiopian food, and it hit the spot! The veggie platter and the asa (fish) wot were tasty. They even served fresh injera - it was just made. Plus, the service was solid. If you're craving good Ethiopian eats, this place is worth checking out.

i've never tried Ethiopian cuisine before, and I feel like Mela bistro was a great place to start as they had an easy-to-read and understand menu. The food itself was delicious, the location was easy to find and locate. I also appreciate how patient the staff members were as we went in an hour before they were closing! they were also really generous with allowing us and a couple of patrons to sit around till we were finished with our dinner.

10/10 would recommend yall stopping by to try out their food!! my friends and i tried the beef tibs ($18) & roasted peppers and berebere hummus ($10) which was fireeeee and something i'd for sure reorder when i stop by again!

tips:
- unisex bathroom available with sink for handwashing outside
- street parking available in the nearby area
- public transportation like bart nearby (walking distance)
- great for sharing/family style or individual plates/portions
- perfect for dates/friends/family/kid friendly

Walked in on a Friday at 6pm with a friend and was seated upon arrival. The restaurant was fairly empty but staff mentioned incoming reservations later in the evening as the balcony and front tables by the window were not available.

Food: Green lentil and berber hummus - a pale green thin runny hummus topped with berber spices oil, really tasty served with warm pita bread, wish the hummus was a tad thicker but delicious flavor

Veggie platter - ordered two servings and got a beautiful platter with two portions of the 5 vegetables dishes on a large shared injera with extra bread on the side

Misir Wot- spicy red lentils were super flavorful with a nice kick, personal favorite

Yellow split peas - warm and comforting nice creamy savory split peas

Gomen - stewed collard greens that were earthy, with a slight bitterness very tasty and a nice contrast to the other veggies

Carrot and green beans - veggies were cooked well with a crisp tender texture

Beet and potatoes - this was okay, served cold, beets provided a nice sweetness and potatoes starchiness

Salad - fresh contrast to the cooked items

Injera - nice spongy texture with a tangy fermented flavor

Service overall friendly but not super attentive, great recommendations and knowledge of the menu. Had to ask for water refills and had to walk to another table to get the servers attention for the check.

Overall great spot in Oakland for Ethiopian food, great flavors and variety, would definitely recommend trying the veggies platter!

The stir fry beef was very tough. Rice was dry. Not a fan of the seasoning. Had a good kick to it

The food is amazing, the service is perfect, and it has a perfect vibe. I can't stop coming here!

We happened to run across this restaurant after the one we set out for was too crowded. So glad we did because this was great food! The owner went around to each table to chat. It was 80% full and there was a nice buzz of chatter. Go there!