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MAKINA CAFE

Updated

Phone: (704) 651-0623

Address: 46-11 SKILLMAN AVENUE 11104

View on Google Maps

TLDR

Vibrant Ethiopian-Eritrean flavors in a cozy, stylish Sunnyside setting, featuring everything from slow-cooked stews to smoky berbere-spiced prawns.

Reddit Sentiment for MAKINA CAFE(based on 4 Reddit opinions)

25% Positive75% Neutral

Tags

ethiopian 11eritrean 8injera 7tibs 6prawns 6View All

Neighborhoods

Sunnyside

Featured Articles

Dedicated reviews and comprehensive features focusing directly on this restaurant.

very positive

Makina brings the first Eritrean and Ethiopian dining experience to Queens, evolving from a popular food truck into a brick-and-mortar restaurant that spotlights authentic, unsung recipes from Egziabher's culture.

• Jul 15, 2026
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Grubstreet
The Resy Hit List: May 2026
positive

Makina Cafe, now with a permanent home in Sunnyside, offers traditional Ethiopian and Eritrean dishes like injera and tibs, alongside creative cocktails and a standout doro wot.

Resy • May 1, 2026
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Resy
Makina
positive

Will Hartman reviews Makina, an Ethiopian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens, highlighting its flavorful dishes like shiro and prawns, making it a great spot for weeknight meals and casual dates.

Will Hartman • Apr 30, 2026
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Infatuation

Other Article Mentions

Lists, round-ups, and guides where this restaurant is mentioned alongside others.

Mentioned In
New to the Hit List (June 2026)
positive

Makina Cafe, formerly a food truck, now has a permanent home in Sunnyside, serving Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine with creative cocktails and standout dishes like doro wot.

Resy • Jun 1, 2026
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Resy
Mentioned In
The Resy Hit List: The Restaurants to Know in New York This June
positive

Resy spotlights Makina Cafe's transition from a food truck to a brick-and-mortar location in Sunnyside.

Resy • Jun 1, 2026
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Resy
Mentioned In
The Resy Hit List: March 2026
very positive

Makina Cafe in Sunnyside, now with a permanent home after a decade as a food truck, serves authentic Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine, including their signature doro wot and creative cocktails.

Resy • Mar 1, 2026
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Resy
Mentioned In
NYCFeature
neutral

Makina Cafe is set to serve its distinctive dishes at the Juneteenth Food Festival in Brooklyn, contributing to the celebration of Black-owned businesses.

No author specified • Jun 9, 2025
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Infatuation
Mentioned In
Eater Heatmap: The Hottest New Restaurants in Queens, February 2024

Eater editors • Date unknown
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Eater
Mentioned In
The Best Brunches in NYC
positive

Makina Cafe in Sunnyside offers Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine for brunch, including injera bruschetta and vegan platters. Enjoy it while the sun is still out.

Bryan Kim • Date unknown
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Infatuation

Details

Transitioning from a beloved local food truck to an elegant brick-and-mortar space in Sunnyside, this eatery serves vibrant Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine [4], [5]. The restaurant features unique design elements reflecting the architecture of Asmara, Eritrea, and offers a menu that blends traditional staples with creative culinary interpretations [9]. Guests can enjoy high-quality dishes prepared with heirloom spices, ranging from slow-cooked stews to unique, Italian-influenced cutlets [9].

Food Overview

The menu focuses on authentic Ethiopian and Eritrean dishes, including standouts like 12-hour slow-cooked doro wat, creamy shiro, and smoky berbere-spiced prawns [3], [4], [9]. While traditional favorites like injera, tibs, and various vegetarian samplers remain central to the experience, the restaurant also features creative additions like berbere panko-crusted skirt steak and offal-inspired mushroom dishes [3], [9].

Highlights / Recommended

"The berbere-spiced prawns are frequently cited as a standout menu item, alongside the tender lamb alicha and the slow-braised doro wat [1], [3], [4]."

Mentioned Dishes:

  • •shiro(3)
  • •injera(3)
  • •berbere spiced prawns(3)
  • •doro wot(3)
  • •lamb alicha(2)
  • •tibs(2)
  • •misir(2)
  • •gomen(2)

Customer Sentiment

Diners have expressed high satisfaction and positive sentiment toward the transition from a food truck to a permanent restaurant, praising both the authentic flavors and the inviting atmosphere [4], [9].

Reddit Opinions & Reviews

Top Reddit Posts About MAKINA CAFE

What are the best value meals you have had in NYC?
This post highlights the restaurant's reputation for offering quality Ethiopian and Eritrean bowls, tibs, and injera.
Ethiopian
A discussion thread where users confirm the restaurant's successful opening in the Sunnyside neighborhood after initial confusion regarding its status.

Recent Reddit Mentions

From post: Ethiopian

"A user provided a link to confirm that Makina has indeed just opened."

Neutral
Feb 4, 2026View Comment →

From post: Ethiopian

"The user inquired if Makina was closed, as suggested by Google Maps, but another user confirmed it recently opened."

Neutral
Feb 4, 2026View Comment →

From post: Ethiopian

"Makina has opened in Sunnyside."

Neutral
Feb 4, 2026View Comment →

From post: What Are The Best Value Meals You Have Had In Nyc

"Makina Cafe is known for Ethiopian & Eritrean bowls, tibs, and injera options."

Positive
Dec 9, 2025View Comment →

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