I just can't praise this establishment enough- I order through Door dash at work and the quality, presentation & taste never fails! Chicken mandi- moist seasoned chicken with the rice - Taste 5 stars- chicken sooo tender. Where is the fish?! That was the bomb! The beef koobideh is out of this world- with an awesome smoky taste. The Yemeni bread is too die for. Give it a go! read more

Mandi Xpress Yemeni Restaurant and Coffee - Mutabbal / Baba ganoush - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Riverside, California

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When a friend recommended Mandi Express for excellent Yemeni food, I was excited, and I was also curious. Could it compete with the Yemeni restaurant that I loved when I lived in Amman, Jordan? Well, yesterday was my first time dining here, and so far, Mandi Express answered that question affirmatively: yes. Cuisine: 5/5. I love the homemade Mexican rice that I grew up eating. Full stop. That said, what I tasted yesterday shifted my entire paradigm for what I expect in rice. Rich with impeccable flavor, the rice that came with the Koobideh plate was nothing short of perfection. I've had plenty of rice in different zip codes and time zones, but this rice was a straight up blessing in the fullest sense of the word. Ambiance: 5/5. In my experience, some of the best food is found in unassuming locations. Strip mall in downtown RIV, relaxed level of sketch, AND zero pretension here! Let the basic foos who care about ambiance eat at Fleming's or one of the restaurants at the Mission Inn. Service: 5/5. Warm and friendly. I'll return when I'm back in the RIV. Mucho respeto y shukran ya Mandi Express. Buen provecho. read more

Mandi Xpress Yemeni Restaurant and Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Riverside, California

It's in the heart of downtown riverside and do not let the complex fool you. This is a hidden gem. It's delish. We ordered so much. We started with the "safe" choices Beef Koobideh & Chicken Shish Kabob but then decided to get adventurous and went for the Fish Mova, a traditional dish from Aden featuring fish seasoned with Yemeni spices and cooked underneath the oven. And let me tell you... THAT FISH DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Of course we had to try the Lamb Mandi, plus the Cucumber Yogurt Salad, their fresh house-made Yemeni bread, and a DELICIOUS latte. And because apparently we had not eaten enough ... we finished it off with Qashtota a creamy Yemeni dessert made with Geymar cream, honey and black seeds, served with fresh bread. YUMMMM! The staff was AMAZING. So nice and kept checking on us. We came early for lunch so it was nice to be in there with the quiet ambiance and honestly the smells of the food made it feel like we were getting a home cooked meal. read more

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Was in the area working and came upon Mandi Xpress. The ambiance was very casual and basic and the staff were friendly as well as helpful. The food was very good and seemed fresh. The only downside was it took a long time to receive the order. I think there might have been a big to-go order because we were the only ones dining in along with one other 2 person party. From placing our order to leaving all in all took an 55min. We ate fast since we were needing to get back to work which took about 15min of those 55min. read more

Mandi Xpress Yemeni Restaurant and Coffee - Beef Koobideh - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Riverside, California

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Wow what an experience! The best food especially the lamb its so tender it melt idn your mouth. The portions is ginormous really worth it. Another plus they open late. My favorite is their cheesecake- the best one!!! Staff are friendly and helpful. Ambiance is very family oriented. Parking no problem read more

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Yummy yummy food and very clean place I loved it and Ms om Amer is very welcoming and she made the best selection for us read more

Mandi Xpress Yemeni Restaurant and Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Riverside, California

Took the kids here for a weekend lunch. It's a casual spot in downtown Riverside near the Main Library. Very chill vibes and never seems to be crowded. I picked this spot due to the stellar, near perfect aggregate Yelp rating and reviews. We ordered a family special with the lamb mandi and four ground beef kabobs (beef koubideh?). The flavor did not disappoint. We were looking for extra authenticity and my teenager just loved it. The lamb was as tender off the bone as could be. We had to order a side salad. The food tasted pretty authentic and fresh. There was an added layer of yumminess that we were looking for. read more

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WOW! First time trying YEMENI food and it was WORTH IT!! We weren't sure what to order and the cashier was very helpful in guiding us through the menu! We had the chicken kabob, and beef koobideh, as well as hummus and fresh bread. Everything was so tasty and made to order. Portions are HUGE. Located right in front of the main library in Riverside. This place is quiet with ample seating. I will say please review the menu ahead of time and see what looks good. I can't wait to go back and try out some new items on the menu. Each dish ranges from $18-$30 depending on the plate. Family meals are $50-$70 Rating 10/10 read more

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Pretty good place for yemen food. This place was basically in downtown Riverside. There's a parking lot so you don't have to worry about parking in a structure or street parking. We came in on a hot day but it didn't seem like there was AC inside, just a huge fan, just fyi. I decided to order the single order of lamb mandi, which was pretty good. The lamb was really tender and I loved the sauces accompanying the dish. The flavor was great. One thing to note was that the portions were huge... so definitely share with others when coming here. Service was pretty good. You would just order at the counter and they'll bring the food to you. We were basically the only ones here when we came, so nothing to complain about that. read more

Mandi Xpress Yemeni Restaurant and Coffee - lamb - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Riverside, California

Went on a Thursday at 4pm, ordered the mixed mandi and mixed grill and fish mova. The fish is really good from the grill and the lamb from the mixed grill plater are really good. When we were about to leave Kadira (the server - she's always very nice ) brought us the last dish with fresh bread. I'm not sure what it was exactly but it was really good. If you have a few friends to eat a big meal, I'd recommend this restaurant. read more

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Delicious!! Friendly! Fresh!! This is my first time ever having food from Yemen. I bought the coffee shop next-door and ran into andI met the owner Saad outside. He was so friendly and welcoming. He invited me to come in and have a kebab meal. I ended up with a big platter of kebab, tandoori chicken I think, rice, roasted tomatoes, and chilies. Two amazing sauces. I know where I will be eating a lot! Mayta, Sam and Baba we're all very friendly and welcoming as well. The restaurant is bright and cherry and very clean. Don't hesitate to come eat here! read more

Mandi Xpress Yemeni Restaurant and Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Riverside, California

Amazing rice (fresh almonds, golden raisins and spices). My wife got the Mova Fish plate. It was 2 large fish halves, rubbed with a citrus and spice marinade and then looked grilled on an open flame based on the lovely charred edges. We thought we would take leftovers home but we devoured the whole thing. I had the beef kabobs with 1/2 salad and 1/2 rice. Depending on how much rice you like, the 1/2 salad is the way to go. Gives some vegetables and brightness to a rich plate. Kabobs can easily get dry but these were nice and juicy. Served with a large green chilli for kick, and hummus. We also ordered a side of hummus which came with a huge, fresh baked flat bread. That was a meal in itself and we definitely took most of that home. The creaminess of the hummus and the wonderful olive oil on top was so nice. I highly recommend this restaurant especially if you have a large group. There were only two of us, but we saw many people coming in in groups of four or six that ordered these huge shareable platters that looked really, really good. read more

Mandi Xpress Yemeni Restaurant and Coffee - Hummus and bread - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Riverside, California

We had a family Eid celebration here and the staff were very accommodating. We were able to reserve a table, and order food so that it was ready when people arrived. The Mandi Platter/Mixed Grill paired with appetizers (hummus and sambusa) had more than enough food for our group of 11. The fresh bread is huge and tastes fantastic with the hummus. The servers are friendly although it does get busy in the evening so there might be a slight wait. The food is prepared fresh and presented very nicely, and you can do family-style or individual plates. A few menu items weren't available, so call ahead to make sure the appetizer or dessert you really want is in stock when you visit. Adenai chai is great way to end the meal. read more

Mandi Xpress Yemeni Restaurant and Coffee - Drink cooler - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Riverside, California

Delicious food and great quality! The beef kabodeih and chicken shish kabab were flavorful and juicy! Would come back!

This is our first time trying Yemeni food. We found this place on Yelp and decided to give it a try. We ordered a whole chicken that has meat falling off the bones. The rice tray that comes with it is huge and so delish. The golden raisins and nuts add such an amazing texture. The sauces were yummy and the Yemen bread took our breath away. We had no idea how big it would be but it is so good that we gobbled it up fast. The service was fast and wonderful. This place has a lovely ambiance and music. We will be back! read more

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Went here with friends on a Saturday around 2:40pm. Not too busy. Service was friendly, but took about 35 mins for my fries, Spicy Potato Xpress Appetizer. I was expecting something more filling with that name. Didn't know it was simply fries. They were good and spicy. Just didn't think it was worth that wait. Also it was about $10. The Mango Juice was good. Tasted like mango lassi. They were out of some of their vegetarian options unfortunately. Maybe they were short staffed, but I'd try this place again. The ambiance is relaxing, not too busy, not too noisy. * Spicy Potato Appetizer: 4/5, you'll need more food than this. Basically just French fries with seasoning, spices. * Mango Juice: 4/5, thicker like mango lassi, pretty sweet. read more

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With many Yemeni cafés appearing, why not a restaurant, too? Such is the case with Mandi Xpress, located on University Avenue across the street from the downtown branch of the public library, and next to Riverside City College Arts buildings. I'm already eager to explore more on the menu, but the unique take on familiar things, such as the chicken shish kabob plate with the special rice and grilled veggies was especially delicious. I opted for half-salad and half-rice, which proved to be an excellent balance. Friendly service and employees make coming here a joy, especially since I sometimes do food deliveries. Look for them on Über Eats. read more

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We walked across the street after studying at the Main Library. It was our first time trying Yemeni food so we ordered two of the plates-beef koobideh and chicken kabobs. We also tried the fresh Yemeni bread which came out made to order. Everything we had was delicious. The service was very helpful and offered great recommendations. There was a lot of seating space both inside and outside. They also currently have Ramadan buffets for those who are Muslim which was being set up as we entered. Overall a great first experience! read more

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Khadija was great Chai is to die for she served us really well Great food and clean read more

Mandi Xpress Yemeni Restaurant and Coffee - Beautiful restaurant Khadija was an exceptional waitress The chai is to die for - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Riverside, California

This place was decent. Price was okay. Empty when I arrived. The line was busy when I called and I had to order in, then wait. read more

Mandi Xpress Yemeni Restaurant and Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Riverside, California

a quick xmas day lunch to fuel for the day. first time having yemeni food so i don't feel i can truly appreciate this dish for its intentions but will comment on flavors alone. ordered: half chicken mandi and mango lassi. always a fan of mango lassi, how can it go wrong? chicken is crazyyyy marinated/seasoned? what is this flavor it was like a spiced up flavorful chicken my tastebuds never encountered such a flavorful chicken before. and i mean the meat is flavorful not just the outside bc that is easy. flavor all the way through to the bone. half rice/half veg is the way to go, the veg balances out the saltiness frm the chicken, and just eat your veggies. the cucumber yogurt sauce thing i think tasted better w the veg alone, but could go without. the red salsa sauce thing was so yum w the chicken. perfect spoon has a little rice, some pieces of veg, chicken piece, soaked in the red sauce. followed by more veggies/rice. service is friendly. a table was here celebrating for bday which made the vibes fun and friendly overall: still don't know what mandi is, i think rice dish. delicious, would come back to try more of the menu, but would park in the plaza bc walking through dtr is so sketch read more

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Everything is awesome. Moatz is the best!! Was told about this place by a friend and so happy that she suggested it.

Outstanding food and nice people. Lamb is very tricky to cook and can have a strong flavor. However, the Mandi lamb that we tried here was fantastic. It was seasoned to perfection and tender. Accompanied with some delicious rice. We can't comment on the other items on the menu but can highly recommend the Lamb Mandi. So nice to have an option for authentic Middle Eastern food here in Riverside. The prices are reasonable and portions are very generous, two of us barely finished the plate. Highly recommend. read more

Always passed by this place on the way to Mt Rubidoux, and after the long hike one day my husband and I got hungry and decided to try their food. Surprisingly, the two entrees we ordered were really good. I got the beef koobideh plate which comes with two strips of meat with a side of salad, seasoned rice, hummus, and two different sauces. Hummus was creamy yet not too strong. Beef was tender and flavorful, and not dry! Husband ordered the fahsah. It's a new dish for us; it's a mixture of lamb and beef cooked in their specialty sauce to compliment with the baked naan. Not gamey at all. Plenty of food for the two of us and the quality of the food was epic! Food is made upon order so go here when you have plenty of time or plan to order ahead for pick-up. Super clean inside, plenty for seatings, and they have a hookah lounge outdoors if interested! read more

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Food was delicious it was first time trying food from Yemen. Great advice on what to order the service was great. The ambiance was super chill we were the only people there at the time. More people need to discover this place then it would never be empty :) read more

Mandi Xpress Yemeni Restaurant and Coffee - Delicious ! :) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Riverside, California

Cafe & Lounge exceeded my expectations. The atmosphere is clean, modern, and welcoming, making it a great place to relax or meet up with friends. The food was fresh, flavorful, and well prepared, and the drinks were excellent. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed throughout our visit. Special thanks UM AMAR read more

Absolutely delicious! Our first time trying Yemen food! Absolutely coming back!! We ordered Beef koobideh and chicken Mandi with Yemen bread! If I could give it 10 stars I would! The gentleman who took our order was patient and nice. The restaurant was very clean and the music was beautiful, very peaceful!! read more

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We had a great experience at MandiExpress in Downtown Riverside. The service was friendly, welcoming, and attentive from start to finish. Everything we ordered was excellent. The Mova fish dish was full of flavor, chicken kebab was freshly cooked, tender and perfectly cooked, and the traditional bread was fresh out of the oven and delicious. You can tell the food is made with care and authenticity. Additionally, we enjoyed the decor, music, and historical information about Yemen at the tables. We ended the meal with Adeni tea and a latte, which were both amazing and the perfect way to finish dinner. Overall, everything was top notch and we'll definitely be coming back again soon. شكراً كتير read more

Mandi Xpress Yemeni Restaurant and Coffee - Fish Mova, Chicken Shish Kabob, Xpress Rice, Fresh Yemeni Bread, Smoked Yogurt Sauce - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Riverside, California

We visited Mandi Xpress hoping to try Yemeni food for the first time. The decor and ambiance were beautiful (very clean and thoughtfully designed, with interesting cultural notes on the tables). That part was a real highlight. We ordered chai, coffee, the "spicy potato" appetizer (I repeated this several times in different ways to be clear), and the beef koobibeh. For an "Xpress" restaurant, the order took more longer than anticipated (almost 30 mins), and when we got home, we discovered the appetizer was missing. We drove back, and the [male staff or owner] was very kind and professional, immediately offering a refund or to remake the dish. We appreciated that and chose to wait so we could try it. Unfortunately, when the food was finally ready, the [female employee/cashier] made sure to tell us (in a condescending, almost scolding tone) that we had not ordered the spicy potato in the first place. This was not true, and considering she hadn't repeated the order back to confirm in the first place, the attitude felt especially misplaced. The [male staff or owner] even motioned for her to stop, which says a lot. The whole ordeal took over an hour between driving back and forth and waiting again, and the dismissive service really overshadowed the experience. The food was OK, the chai was decent, and the coffee wasn't for us. In the end, while the ambiance is wonderful, the service left us disappointed enough that we wouldn't return. read more

Mandi Xpress Yemeni Restaurant and Coffee - Unfortunately neither of these were worth the attitude we received from the cashier. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Riverside, California

First time coming here. The food came quickly and the portions were generous and delicious! Definitely a great spot for date night

Delicious food and so good I love visit every time Delicious and enjoyable spicy, read more

Mandi Xpress Yemeni Restaurant and Coffee - Wow - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Riverside, California

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The experience here was very inviting and welcoming. I high key only needed an outlet cause my power was out and left with an order of their lamb soup and simply through kindness added some rice with chicken on top and blew my socks to Jannah (yes I had to Google heaven) . Specia thanksl to the wonderful Um Amar for her delightful hospitality despite the language barrier I felt cozy and well invited. Fyi, Im coming back for the coffee. read more

Amazing food, really delicious and testing great, the decoration so beautiful and relaxing. Good job keep going read more

My first time visit and also my last. I met my husband here for lunch and the best part of my meal was the mural on the wall. Having dined at places from here to Greece and many places in between I can honestly say the dish that I had here left much to be desired. The beef skewers with 1/2 salad 1/2 rice were lacking in flavor and the two sauces did nothing to improve upon that flavor. I was going to have a canned soda with my lunch, because the soda fountain was broken but, they were charging $3.99 FOR A CANNED SODA!! I politely declined, on principle alone. I'm giving them 2 stars because I liked the salad, which consisted of cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce and red onion and because the mural is beautiful. The other dishes may be good, but you'll have to try them for yourself. read more

Mandi Xpress Yemeni Restaurant and Coffee - The skewers with salad and rice - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Riverside, California

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This was my second time here and it's a cute very clean restaurant. I was on my lunch so I didn't want anything too heavy so I ordered the lentil soup and the egg plant. The egg plant with the bread was delicious But my lentil soup I would have preferred if they told me they didn't have enough. It was super water down and just tasteless. read more

The food was amazing, it tasted like a meal from home and I don't say that lightly. Very good spot

This is the best food I've had in Riverside. I'm not from the area, originally from LA. I am definitely coming back just for Mandi Express. Amazing service, amazing place, and amazing food. read more

Best restaurant in Riverside! Amazing food and amazing service. I come here every time I'm in the area.

the cashier was great. the food was incredible will definitely be back for more soon.

It was our first time at Mandi Xpeess and we absolutely LOVED it. The food was great, customer service beyond fabulous and friendly staff. Definitely going back more often. read more