What to Expect
Queen Makeda is a family-run Ethiopian restaurant on Lanark Road, cooked by an Ethiopian mother and served, in several recent reviews, by the family's son Aaron. Patricia (July 2026) ordered the vegan veggie platter and called it “so delicious, and felt clean/healthy”, while Max (July 2024) picked the sizzling beef as “my favorite by far” alongside a lamb dish shared family-style off the injera.
The garden seating gets mentioned as often as the food: Gabrielle (September 2025) recommends sitting outside, and Tonderai (April 2025) found the setting cool compared to the heat of Harare nights. Most reviewers say the portions are generous, but Vouchline (September 2025) found the $14 Alecha Wot took about 32 minutes to arrive and worked “more as a light lunch than a full meal”.
Only cash is accepted, and a few reviewers note the restaurant is quieter than the food deserves. Queen Makeda is open daily from 12:00 to 22:30.
Quotes are from Google reviews, credited by first name and month.
The Menu
Menu photos
Prices aren't listed yet, so ask when you order.
What Diners Say
from 130 Google reviews
★★★★★
Great little cafe in Harare with vegan food! It can be so hard to find vegan food in Harare but with Ethiopian food, you can never go wrong! We opted for the veggie platter which comes with four or five different options - everything was so delicious, and felt clean/healthy.
★★★★★
I absolutely love supporting family businesses, and this restaurant was a gem! Our server, Aaron, mentioned that this is his mother's business, and she is Ethiopian. We had reservations for Monday at 8 pm, and the restaurant was empty but had a lovely ambiance.
★★★★★
The food is absolutely incredible. You can tell it is homemade and that there is a lot of love poured into every bite. You might need to call ahead to ensure they are open but highly recommend sitting in the beautiful garden. Great vegetarian and meat options!
★★★★★
Service & Atmosphere: Queen Makeda offers a peaceful, homely setting—it’s based in a house with the option to sit indoors or outdoors. The ambience is calm and welcoming.
★★★★★
By far the best Ethiopian restaurant I have been! Everything fits. Wonderful food, perfect waiting time, tasty coffee and the Ethiopian lady (owner and cook) has always a heart-warming smile for the guests. I feel welcome and like home every time.
