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Mandi Xpress

4.8 (77 reviews)
Closed 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
Updated 1 month ago

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Sunny side up Eggs, New York breakfast style , foul + tameas bread
Medhat E.

I finally found the perfect place to eat healthy authentic food and finally met the best chef and cook Mr/ Alvaro very friendly and always wants to make the client happy to the extend that he can cook your meals the way you like it even though it's not the way it's explained in the menu. Great experience, Excellent customer service super friendly atmosphere Again I'm glad I finally got the right place to eat healthy authentic foods.

Mandi chicken with basmati rice.
jun b.

First time to try Yemeni cuisine. The place is casual, clean and convenient. We were curious about the Mandi chicken. My wife and I are seniors and thought just sharing a whole chicken plate would be more than enough plus it was better value. They were generous enough to give us 2 full half chicken plates instead. The rotisserie chicken was fall of the bone tender and well seasoned. The fragrant basmati rice was a nice surprise. The fried onions, raisins and almonds just elevated it to stand on its own. We were very satisfied with the food and experience. We have to be back to try other dishes.

Megan S.

got takeout of their bread, salad, lamb, chicken, and beef. the taste was alright, best thing was the lamb for sure. chicken was really dry and you need to have it with the sauce for it to go down. rice underneath was not bad, i liked that they put nuts in it but i wish there was an option to take out the raisins. did not really like the salad, since it was just cut vegetables with lemon juice.

Adeni chai
Peter H.

New Yemeni restaurant in Irvine! They've only been open for a month. Big big fan of Yemeni food! We decided to drop by after doing some grocery shopping. We weren't hungry yet so we went in only to get drinks. The workers there are REALLY nice. They asked us if we've ever had Yemeni food before and spent the time to explain their menu to us. After telling them we were only interested in getting some drinks, they also took the time to explain each option to us. There is plenty of seating inside. Very spacious and clean. Not too loud and perfect for a group or eating by yourself. We ordered their Adeni Chai and their Yemeni Coffee. I was specifically wondering if they had Karak tea and discovered it was their chai. And it was! Very delicious, creamy, and unique. I can drink like 3 of these a day if I could. The Yemeni coffee definitely packs a punch when it comes to energizing you and giving you that caffeine kick. There is a considerable cinnamon taste to it as a heads up if you're into that spice for coffee. I look forward to coming back to trying their food!!

Lamb stew sizzle
Yonnie C.

Great food, fantastic flavors Chicken Mandi, juicy chicken on a bed of rice flavored with raisins and nuts Lamb stew, sizzling and full of aroma Fish mova, tender fish, lathered in a smoky mildly spicy chile paste The bread is top notch Love the service (Written by the husband)

Chicken Mandi dish - $18
Arshad H.

Mandi Xpress is a casual HALAL Yemeni restaurant offering popular Yemeni dishes as well as some sips and sweets. I stopped by for a weekday lunch with a co-worker. Fish Mova ($25) This tandoor grilled butterflied fish dish was prepared with Yemeni spices like cumin, coriander, tumeric, garlic, chili, etc and created an extremely flavorful, tender and mouth watering dish. Served with a large Yemeni flat bread, this was the perfect accompaniment to scoop up all that fish. Adeni chai ($9 for a kettle for 2 people) - This aromatic Yemeni style milk tea originated from the Aden region. It's made with black tea, milk, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves. It was rich, creamy, soothing and the perfect way to end a meal. Overall I was impressed with the fish and chai here. I saw that they have fahsa here (simmered lamb and beef dish) and will need to try that on my next visit. My co-worker ordered a chicken mandi dish ($18), and said it was just ok, and it looked a little plain to me. I tried his rice and while it was aromatic, it wasn't as good as the one at Mandhi House in Anaheim.

Fresh Yemeni Bread
Sheri L.

Food was so delicious! Ordered Mandi Chicken (half chicken) served with rice. The chicken and rice were so flavorful! The giant Yemeni bread has an amazing herb flavor and is huge! Super soft and fluffy on the edges and crisp in the center. We also really enjoyed the Adeni Chai, it is lightly sweetend and perfectly spiced! And on top of the flavorful food, the staff were very friendly and welcoming! We will definitely will be back!

Vita M.

So happy to find a new halal food in Irvine! It is the first Yemeni restaurant in town, and they're still in their soft opening phase. I believe this is their second location in California (the first one is in Riverside). We tried their Lamb Mandi and Shakshouka, so good!! The bread is good too! Don't forget to mention that the customer service is amazing. Amr was the gentleman who took our order, and he was very friendly and informative. The place is clean and modern. We pray that their customers continue to grow and that they will last for a long time!

Louna H.

The Mendi here is absolutely outstanding. The rice is perfectly cooked and infused with rich, aromatic spices, while the meat is incredibly tender and full of flavor. The chicken was juicy with a beautiful roasted finish, and the lamb was fall-apart soft. What really made this dish special were the toppings--crispy toasted nuts, sweet raisins, fresh onions, and lemon wedges that added a refreshing touch. The balance of flavors between savory, slightly sweet, and tangy was just perfect. The portion is very generous and great for sharing. You can tell this is authentic, high-quality Mendi made with care. Definitely one of the best I've had--highly recommen

Bread
Colin O.

I have traveled to the Middle East on several occasions and always enjoyed their lamb dishes. Upon returning to the States I could never find any places that replicated what i had there, at least not in Irvine. Stumbled on this place just by chance. Loved it. The mandi lamb was just like the one i had in Qatar and also in Abu Dhabi. Great mesh of flavors with the savory lamb, and the sweet raisins. A little pricey, but it was a good portion as well. I will definitely be back.

We were comp'ed fresh bread and hummus. Excellent!
Daisuke Y.

Unexpected discovery in a strip mall found amongst other food offerings. If you've never had Yemeni food, this is an excellent place to start. The portions were very generous, and the server (owner?) was very helpful in describing each dish and how it was prepared. When he brought out our food, he guided us on how to best enjoy the dishes. It was nice to have the option of sitting inside at large tables or outside. After our meal, we also enjoyed Yemeni coffee and desserts. Will be back for sure! Everything is made to order, so be patient and you will be rewarded with an amazing meal.

Spread of food
Jessica M.

This was an amazing experience! Newly opened in Alton Square, it looks like it's garnering a lot of interest from what I saw. We got to try a lot of food here and everything is made fresh from the bread to the fish! The service was also amazing, I've never been anywhere more attentive to my dining experience than here. I felt so taken care of and they even have lots of seating for small and larger groups! I can't wait to bring some of my friends here whether to eat or just chill and sip coffee or chai. I'm so happy Mandi Xpress opened in Irvine to give it some variety!

Lamb Mandi
Amanda L.

The food is super good!! Beware that one portion is totally enough for 2 people AT LEAST. The staff was very friendly and I really enjoyed coming here.

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28 days ago

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24 days ago

It was so good, I loved every bite. Would recommend! I would recommend after a nice workout to enjoy some good yummy food and food

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24 days ago

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28 days ago

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5 days ago

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11 days ago

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17 days ago

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3 days ago

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25 days ago

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3 months ago

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3 months ago

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4 months ago

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1 day ago

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2 months ago

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1 month ago

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2 months ago

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3 months ago

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3 months ago

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4 months ago

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23 days ago

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4 months ago

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10 days ago

Came for breakfast. Very yummy. Food tastes clean. Nice owner gave us extra bread and free milk tea.

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2 months ago

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15 days ago

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7 days ago

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19 days ago

Food was amazing!!! Great customer service, place is clean, friendly great experience.

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1 month ago

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17 days ago

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2 months ago

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8 days ago

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29 days ago

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2 months ago

Mind blowing delicious!! A must try! The rating is very well deserved. The bread came out fresh and hot. Thank you!

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17 days ago

The food is so fresh. The chicken is soft and falls off the bone love it. I would go again.

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Ask the Community - Mandi Xpress

Bei Restaurant

Bei Restaurant

(322 reviews)

$$

The food is amazing and the service is great. My wife asked about a drink that wasn't on the menu…read moreand they didn't have it but our server mixed it up for her. Lebanese style falafels are the best and this place nails it. I commented to my wife how beautiful the chicken had come out, the colors, little black charred corners and edges from the fire, golden reflection on the glaze. It is not cheap but worth every penny. Our server was great and we can't wait to go back. The place is so unassuming from the outside and beautiful on the inside.

This is a cozy and chic restaurant! Parking is a bit limited on the lot but you can park on the…read morestreet. The staff is friendly and interior is beautifully decorated. Started with a pomegranate margarita to drink. For entrees we got mixed shawarma and kofta kebab. Finished the meal with knafe. Pomegranate Margarita- The base is strong with a refreshing pomegranate flavor. It has just the right amount of sweetness with a hint of tartness. Mixed Shawarma- It comes with chicken and beef shawarma. Both are tender and flavorful. It comes with warm pita bread, fattoush salad, and garlic and tahini sauce. The salad offers a freshness that complements the rest of the items. The sauces are perfect on the meat. Kofta Kebab- You get ground beef kebab that is seasoned and cooked to perfection. Pairs well with basmati rice and fattoush salad. You get a tasty yoghurt sauce that ties the flavors together. Knefe- This is a delicious dessert that comes with gooey cheese on a shredded phyllo base that is nice and crunchy. Finished with a sweet honey and rosewater syrup and a sprinkle of crushes pistachios. Great experience overall!

Panini Kabob Grill

Panini Kabob Grill

(1.9k reviews)

$$

Panini Kabob Grill has been one of my absolute favorite Mediterranean spots in Orange County for…read morethe past eight years, and it continues to deliver every single time. The consistency here is unmatched and the flavors, the freshness, and the quality never miss. Their beef kafta kebabs are some of the best you'll find anywhere! They are juicy, well-seasoned, and perfectly cooked. And the lime dressing? I could put that on everything or drink it! Haha! It's bright, tangy, and ties the whole meal together. We recently brought out-of-town guests who had never tried this type of food before, and they were genuinely impressed. Watching them fall in love with the dishes I've been enjoying for years made the experience even better. Panini Kabob Grill remains a standout for delicious, reliable, beautifully seasoned Mediterranean food. After eight years of visits, it's still a 5-star favorite.

We've been to the Santa Ana location many times, but it was our first time here at this restaurant…read morein Irvine. We arrived around 7 PM and got the very last table at the very end outside. I think this was the forgotten table, but it wasn't a major deal. There were heat lamps hung from the top, which were very hot. It was extremely uncomfortable for me and so I switched seats with another family member. Our server was friendly and brought us our drinks. We chose the family meal and added two beef koobideh kebabs. We also ordered the hummus trio as an appetizer. We enjoyed the smooth creamy hummus. We could've used more pita bread. But we were way out in the back corner, the forgotten table. In comparison,the portions here are smaller for the family meal from what I've had at the Santa Ana location. No pictures because it was too dark outside and barely any light.

House of Kabob - Boneless Chicken Kabob

House of Kabob

(935 reviews)

$$

Well, I think I have a new favorite Persian kabob restaurant! It's pretty far from home, but I…read morecould easily work it into the flight path so to speak, between the Tustin REI and 17th Street in Costa Mesa. Located in a small but busy plaza, HOK is a small, potentially packed restaurant with a few tables outside. About half full mid afternoon on a Saturday, i got a table and quickly made a decision to try the combination plate with a chicken and kubideh kabob, with rice. Next time I'll branch out, but this first sample provided much pleasure and evidence that they can't do anything wrong (except be closed when I'm craving more ;) A few minutes after placing my order the warm flatbread came out with butter. Comparatively, many other Persian restaurants use Lavash sections, so I enjoyed the contrast. The neighboring table of four received their plates one at a time, so I figured the kitchen and grill were probably also fairly constricted like the lobby. Nonetheless, it didn't take long and the generous, colorful portions were a sight to behold! The first thing I noticed was how moist and tender both kabobs were. Not burnt or dry anywhere on either type. That's attributable to the elevated method of grilling, but here the chef has it down to a science. The second observation came later when I didn't feel excessively thirsty, or bloated, ir dehydrated. Some restaurants really brine the meat while marinating, but here it's another level of perfection. Good service and a reasonable price, although the menu prices might be behind current food costs. Still, it was totally worth it. I didn't have a way to keep leftovers in a safe temperature range, so I ate everything. Full, but not stuffed.

I honestly don't even know where to start. The food is just…read moreokay, nothing special at all and absolutely not worth the outrageous prices they charge. The service was even worse. There were four waiters for only two tables, yet they were all standing around chatting instead of paying attention to customers. Completely inattentive and unprofessional. Then it got even more ridiculous. They charged my credit card twice, with two different amounts. When I pointed it out, the waiter casually said, "Sorry, our system once in a while does that." Really? What kind of shady business admits their system randomly charges customers without their knowledge? That's not a "system issue," that's a huge red flag. Thank God I always monitor my credit card activity. How this place is still in business is beyond me. Overpriced, poor service, and extremely questionable practices. Definitely not worth it.

Habibi Time - Loaded Fries

Habibi Time

(248 reviews)

After watching so many videos of people eating a crispy shawarma wrap, I had to get my hands on…read moreone! So, I'm glad I found this place! It's in a shopping plaza near the airport in Newport, surrounded by office buildings, and not somewhere I would have thought to visit otherwise. There was plenty of parking in the lot around 12:30 pm on a Saturday, although the store itself was packed with a line to order. I noticed that many people were ordering to go, so we managed to snag a table after ordering. I ordered the chicken shawarma wrap and asked for it to be "crispy." I didn't see that option listed, so I made sure they pressed it. Wow, that was AMAZING! Having it crispy on the outside was a nice touch, which contrasted from the soft texture inside. The chicken was very tender and full of flavor. It's has garlic sauce, but not a lot, so it may be worth asking for some on the side if you prefer it more saucy. Also, the wrap is on the smaller side, so maybe not the best option if you're hungry. We also ordered the loaded fries with beef to share among our group of 4. It was really filling! The beef was very tender, and the fries held up well under the toppings without getting soggy. I also liked the added crunch from the onions and cabbage. I didn't expect making a wrap crispy to be such a game changer, but it really was! It's definitely worth trying. And I'm ready to come back for another round.

Always down for some shawarma!…read more Habibi Time is serving up casual Mediterranean food. I've been hearing friends rave about their bites and had to drop in for a taste. I got their Chicken Shawarma Bites and their Beef Shawarma Bites. The bites are essentially just a wrap that's been cut up into bite-sized pieces. The Chicken Shawarma ones were my personal fav! It featured juicy marinated chicken shawarma wrapped in thin tortilla bread with garlic sauce and pickles. Yumminess wrapped and stuffed with more yumminess! The Beef Shawarma bites featured slow-roasted tri-tip, tahini, onions, parsley, pickles, and a drizzle of tangy pomegranate sauce. While delish, this oddly reminded me of pho? A bit odd, but it kind of worked. Both came with a side of fries, garlic sauce, and pickles. Overall, it was pretty good! I will say that it's a bit expensive for what you get. The 12-inch wrap (cut into bites) were $19.99+.

Mandi Xpress - arabian - Updated May 2026

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