Queen of Sheba: Ethiopian food in Oklahoma City
by Greg | September 19, 2008 | 26 Comments
(votes: 26, average: 4.04) 
Loading ...Queen of Sheba is located at 2308 N. Macarthur in Oklahoma City (map). Hours are Tuesday through Saturday 11am to 10pm and Sun from 5pm to 10pm. Call them at 405.606.8616.
We are not, as a species, all that great at trying new things. And when we do venture into something different, we generally need reassurance that it’s similar to something else we already know. That is, after all, how we’ve found out that so many things taste just like chicken.
So, when I asked people about Queen of Sheba, they often described it by comparison. “Oh, it’s like Indian food,” someone told me. But someone was wrong. I love Indian food. I loved Queen of Sheba. But apart from a few shared ingredients, they have little in common.
First, a word about the building. Queen of Sheba is in a shopping center that has seen better days. The potholes in the streets have found their way into the parking lot as well and the entire area appears, at times, like a good, stiff wind might blow it all down.
Inside, it’s a different story. Co-owner Mimi Younis has taken great care to make the interior of the restaurant as welcoming and comfortable as the outside is drab and rundown. Because it’s an Ethiopian restaurant, Queen of Sheba plays Ethiopian music, but it’s soft and in the background. I never felt that the atmosphere was overtaking my space. Rather, it provided a nice backdrop for a laid-back meal.
Attention vegetarians: this is a great place for you to eat. They have plenty of vegetarian options at only $7 or $8 a piece. And if you prefer veggies but occasionally enjoy fish, they’ve got that for about $11.
For an exotic restaurant — it is Oklahoma City’s only Ethiopian joint, after all — the prices are pretty reasonable. Appetizers run about $4. Entrees don’t go above $13. But there is a problem. A kind of big one — you have to choose something.
I swear, reading the menu was torture, because trying to decide what to get is so hard. This isn’t like Applebee’s where you’re bored into indecision. At Queen of Sheba, everything just sounds too good.
For the decision-impaired, such as myself, I recommend the Queen of Sheba platter ($13). It doesn’t have everything on it, but it will give you a nice sample. Included are Kay Watt (spicy, stewed beef), Yedir Watt (spicy, stewed, bone-in chicken), Yemisir Watt (spicy, stewed lentils), Yebeg Alitcha (lamb), a dish with chickpeas, one with carrots and potatoes, and a small salad with a fresh, homemade dressing.
There are no forks on the table and I don’t know if you can request one or not. The main eating utensils are your hands, though you’ll likely be holding Injera — a spongy, pliable bread that you can pinch and eat the food with. It comes, rolled up, with the meal and it has a light, slightly sour taste to it.
There’s also a full bar, if you’re into it, and a space for live music. It’s definitely an experience and one I hope all of you take the time to enjoy.
It’s not like Indian food. It’s not like anything else I’ve ever had. It’s just Queen of Sheba and once you try it, you’ll have more than enough reason to come back again and again.
(4.70 out of 5)
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So far, 26 people have responded to this article. Won't you join in?September 19th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
I ate at Queen of Sheba on this past Wednesday with some friends. I can’t believe this place has been there for over 3 years and I’ve only been twice. I went there when it first opened and then recently.
The food was great and the staff are very friendly. I just hope people are not put off by the no fork thing. It really is something to experience and the entire family can have fun.
This is definitely a must try!
September 21st, 2008 at 8:46 pm
This is a wonderful place to meet a group of people and order the large platters.. So tasty!
September 21st, 2008 at 10:08 pm
I’ve heard many people talk about this place, and I’ve yet to try it. Now that Eat Around has, I’ll *have* to give it a try.
September 22nd, 2008 at 7:39 am
I love the Sheba. The owners are just about the nicest people around. Everyone should try it. Its a really unique experience for OKC. (Try the Shuro Watt)
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:26 am
Yes! This is probably my favorite place in OKC. Bring a bunch of friends, and get the platter. Also, there is an appetizer that is like a pastry shell with beef, and it is amazing.
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Definitely go for the platter. Having never experienced Ethiopian food before my visit to Queen of Sheba, I wasn’t sure what to order. Having this sampler definitely was a good decision. And I loved every bit of it (though it was too much for me to eat by myself). A vegetarian friend of mine joined me for the meal and loved it, too. Actually, he had been there once before and suggested I give it a try with him. I look forward to a return visit. As for forks, I didn’t even want to bother asking. Eating with your hands just makes the experience more memorable.
September 23rd, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Queen of Sheba is truly a gem–love it when restaurant owners branch out with something new that’s not done anywhere else in the city. I agree that the food is much different from Indian food. It has a tangier vibe in general–the bread in particular. The variety is good and eating with the bread & fingers is fun. Just come prepared and don’t wear white. The atmosphere and style of serving is also good for a group.
September 27th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
love this place. it’s great for meeting friends or taking a date. great vegetarian options, too!
October 3rd, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Holy Batman, I live one mile from here and have never heard of it. The no utensils thing will be a challenge for an OCD handwasher like me, but your review is so good ima tough it out!
October 10th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Queen of Sheba is a great restaurant is a some what tired location. It’s food is definitley not the usual Oklahoma fare and it compares to some of the best Ethiopian restaurants I’ve been to in DC.
(not to be a jerk but check the spelling of Ethiopian in your heading)
October 10th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
@Traci, wow thanks for that spelling catch. I can’t believe no one had spotted that until now. I have corrected it.
November 12th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Ate there today. Was great. There were 3 of us in there and the food was just simply great. I like that it’s different from everywhere else, not busy (which i doubt they like), and was good food. It’s like they have big kettles of stewed meat in the back and just put piles on the platter for you and your friends to enjoy. This place is a must for anyone that likes the non-applebees types of restaurants……
November 18th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
I love Queen of Sheba – I had the fish and it was sooooo good. The atmosphere was the best,the restaurant clean, and the staff was very accomodating (they will give you silverware, if you ask). Also, they usually have open mic poetry night, and a live band on Saturdays – they stay open late, too! I need to go back, soon!
November 18th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
I took your advice today and had the Queen of Sheba Platter… VERY good!
I thought it would be kinda weird to eat without a fork, but in all, I liked it. It added to the flair of the food. Same as using chopsticks in a Chinese place.
Very good food, I will be going back!
November 19th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
I went to Queen of Sheba yesterday and it was really good. I have driven by this place many times and would never have thought to go to it if it weren’t for Eat Around OKC.
I had the Queen of Sheba Platter and loved it. I did not know what to expect, because it was my first time eating Ethiopian food. I thought it would take some time get used to tearing the “bread” and eating the food without utensils.
It was not an issue. I would highly recommend this place!!!
November 20th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Have eaten at Queen of Sheba since it opened and half the fun is visiting with Mimi – she is so friendly and welcoming.
Also, Ethiopian food is great for kids and toddlers who like to eat with their hands anyway. My son loves it.
You will get a steamed towel before you eat, which really cuts down on the mess factor.
Special occasions call for the coffee ceremony – if you’ve never had it, you are in for a treat!
December 17th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
This is my favorite place to eat with friends. Thanks Sara for the tip about the coffee ceremony!
January 29th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
[...] about Indian food. Unless you just had wrongheaded ideas about it in the first place. 4. Queen of Sheba. Such good food! We’ve been there with friends, we’ve been there alone, it’s a [...]
April 2nd, 2009 at 2:35 pm
I was so unimpressed with this place. Not that the food was bad, but it was totally blah. Very overpriced. Fourteen dollars per person for the sampler platter with salad, beans, corn, and 3 small piles of meat. Calling that spongy substance bread is totally misleading. It was more similar to insulating foam than bread. The whole “eating with your hands is so cool,” thing is lame. Everyone in the place was asking for forks. Everyone being us and one other table of two. We should’ve taken the hint from the empty parking lot. Overpriced blah food, save your dough and eat somewhere good.
April 21st, 2009 at 9:08 am
Is the owners of this Ethiopian Restaraunt Ethiopian Jews
April 21st, 2009 at 9:20 am
I’m not sure if that was supposed to be a question or a statement, Kool. Mimi is Ethiopian, but I don’t know anything beyond that. Is there a different cuisine I’m unaware of?
May 27th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
For those that would enjoy something different, this is it. Was in on a Friday night to a live light jazz band to compliment the atmosphere. Going in and not a fan of Lamb, Sheeba hit the mark with great flavor and spices. And eating with your hands, come on, it’s all part of the fun of it. I guess Eric takes his own fork to McDonalds to use and dips his boring McNuggets in the blah barbecue sauce. Poor thing!
June 5th, 2009 at 7:02 am
Went there last night for the poetry jam (1st Thursday of the month), food was good, ordered the lamb and lentils (bread was so-so, too different and filling for me), place was crowded. Its a fun and different place to eat with friendly crowd and staff.
June 7th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
I must say that this place is certainly unique. I got the combination platter for $13.
While the food is flavorful, the injera bread is not quite my cup of tea. It’s quite a foreign concept to wrap your head around, but it’s a fun experience and a good way to open your mind up culturally to new things.
Oh, and the service was great. =)
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:05 pm
I have eaten here twice so far and LOVED EVERY BIT. Words fail to describe how much I love this food. The only thing I wish they had is jalapeno injera. The waiter is always incredibly nice and attentive, and someone comes out to explain the whole process for any newcomers. Last time I was in, they were playing Biggie on the sax. Needless to say, they kick a thousand asses and need way more business.
February 4th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
I’ve been to queen of sheba restaurant before, and it was really nice. Great food and the owners were friendly. Great learning experience. Now i’m hungry
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