Makina Cafe Eritrean-Ethiopian To Go — Restaurant in New York

Important Heads-Up If You’re Visiting the Long Island City Location

Makenna Cafe is a unique spot, but I want to share some clarity for anyone considering a visit—especially to the Long Island City location. Online, it can be a bit misleading. This location is not a dine-in restaurant. It’s strictly for takeout and delivery, but that’s not clearly stated anywhere on their site, so we were definitely surprised to find that out once we arrived.

We actually came just to buy injera bread in bulk. The place itself is a little hard to find—you have to ring the bell, and someone will speak to you through the intercom before eventually coming out. At first, the gentleman told us they don’t sell injera by the slice or in bulk. Then he quoted us a high price—around $27 for 8 slices. But after double-checking, he came back and sold it to us for $12, which is the usual price we’re used to paying. We appreciated that adjustment, because we were honestly about to go elsewhere.

That said, it was a bit odd that when we returned the following Saturday (again, around midday), they told us they didn’t have any injera available at all. For an Ethiopian place, that was unexpected—especially since it wasn’t near closing time. They did end up giving us three half-pieces of injera for a regular price, which we accepted and moved on.

Overall, it’s not a bad place if you’re just looking for takeout or delivery, but it’s important to know that the Long Island City location is just a kitchen. Not a sit-down spot. I’m leaving this review because I really wish someone had spelled this out when I was looking...

Terrible experience! In my 3rd time ordering here, I ordered online on their direct website for pickup. When I arrived, the worker was very rude to me. I gave him my name and he went to check on my order.He said he didn’t see my order in a rude way and didn’t have the “ticket” for it and claimed it wasn’t his fault and he couldn’t do anything. I showed him the email with my order and my credit card statement with the charge. He was dismissive and rude and literally said it is not his fault and it is my issue to deal with. I asked to speak with a manager, and he told me to the call the number I ordered from. I called the number on the website and no one picked up and then I realized it is likely the number to the kitchen in which he is working in and there is no manager on site. I was about to leave but luckily two guys from another food truck arrived and helped me to contact the manager. The manager was apologetic and after a while I got my food and some extra for the inconvenience. But without those two guys that helped me, I would be without my food and with the charge on my credit card and no help at all because there is no manager to talk to on site or a number and the person that hands you the food in the kitchen would not help. I will not order from this...

Fake Habesha Food Last week I visited New york and wanted habesha food. When I google I see plenty of sites. I picked the MAKINA because I saw the owner interview on Facebook before 2 years and I saw many star reviews I picked her This is the most disgusting location, with bad customer service, overcrowding lowe pay workers and fake food selling spot When I arrived there even though I was in the location I couldn't recognized the spot it looks like some truck alley dot and asked the people don't respond because too much busy with little pay finally someone answers and got my order I was devastated!!! They gave me two dishes, one tibis and one shiro and lentils with extra unreal injera and some junk veggies .I couldn't eat the food but trashed it into garbage. This food is fake. The shiro tests some kind of chemical which is not the real shiro I know and grows up my entire life. The lentils the same thing and tibis unreal the injera was like the worst The woman(owner) cheated the habesha people by naming habesha food.How can the habesha food Made by different people? I am Eritrean and I know Eritrean and Ethiopian food but this one doesn't represent habesha food. It doesn't have an Eritrean...