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    Mandi Xpress

    4.8 (208 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Mandi Xpress Takeout or Delivery

    Mandi Xpress Photos

    Business Info

    MANDI XPRESS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - Mandi Xpress

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    Beautiful restaurant  Khadija was an exceptional waitress  The chai is to die for
    Hammad R.

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

    Kim H.

    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

    lamb
    Edbert S.

    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.

    Family special lamb mandi and ground beef with rice plus separately ordered salad.
    Jeff L.

    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.

    Hummus and bread
    Chad K.

    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.

    Fish Mova, Chicken Shish Kabob, Xpress Rice, Fresh Yemeni Bread, Smoked Yogurt Sauce

    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

    Fresh Yemeni Bread
    Gillian S.

    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!

    Chicken Mandi
    Maria M.

    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!!

    Sheldon R.

    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.

    Paul S.

    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.

    The skewers with salad and rice
    Vell H.

    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.

    Maryam Q.

    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.

    Indoor
    Sung J.

    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!

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    1 year ago

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    6 months ago

    Loved the lamb Mandi and mint yogurt drink. Attractive tables/booths, clean and well maintained and friendly service.

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    7 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    9 months ago

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    7 months ago

    10/10. Lamb Mandi was incredible, and the amount of food you get for a family platter is actually enough for a family.

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    9 months ago

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    11 months ago

    Great customer service, clean atmosphere and great food. Would recommend also had the cheesecake and chai tea which were both delicious

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    1 year ago

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    11 months ago

    Mandi's food was delicious and the portion size was excellent! I recommend the lamb mandi. Very nice place to have a casual meal.

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    1 year ago

    This is the best I had in a while, the taste, the price, everything is absolutely amazing.

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    8 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    8 months ago

    Great lamb Mandi. Great service and ambience. Good chicken kebabs. Good quality and very clean.

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    8 months ago

    It was really nice food and service. I'll come back again soon and try more stuff out of the menu

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    7 months ago

    The food the service everything here is great very nice people they were treating us great it's very traditional

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    1 year ago

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    10 months ago

    Amazing food and service!! Everything was so delicious. I will be back very soon. And the service was great!

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    1 year ago

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    10 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    7 months ago

    good food and nice vibes. they had great service as well. would definitely come back!

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    1 year ago

    Excellent food and service. Lamb was very tender and tasteful! Everything was delicious!

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Wow!!! Love this place. Very clean, hospitable, and the food delish!!! We came here for food but the tea and hookah were also a delight!!!

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    1 year ago

    Loved everything we tried, especially all the lamb dishes!!!! The bread was amazing too overall 10/10 experience!

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    1 year ago

    One of the best mendi spots I had. I recommend getting the lamb mendi or chicken mendi. Definitely will be my go 1 spot for Yemeni food.

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    Page 5 of 6

    Mandi Xpress Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Mandi Xpress

    Are we allowed to park here, eat at the restaurant, and watch a show at the theater or should we only be parked here while dining?

    Hi, Please make sure you keep the receipt with you and to notify our front Team after you finish… Read more

    Is it open? If not, when?

    Yes it is open. They opened yesterday March 29th

    Is this open?I go to the one in Westwood and Buena park. This is closer

    Yes it is Open

    Is Mandi Xpress Zabiha Halal Certified?

    Yes, it is Halal certified.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Fufu's Mid East Grill - Hummus you get, when they mess up your order, not even the full size.( it is so good) so at least I got it still.

    Fufu's Mid East Grill

    4.0(820 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    I give FuFu's a solid 3.5. It's a nice, quick Mediterranean eat in a food court…read more I came to visit my friend and visit nearby businesses in Riverside in a food court. The food court had a variety of options and there was ample seating inside and out. All the indoor tables were taken but ambiance was nice and seemed busy with plenty of patrons. We decided to try Fufu's and it was pretty good. It reminded me of a Mediterranean chipotle and I thought the food was pretty fresh. The cashier was nice and gave me the option to choose half lettuce and half rice. I liked the chicken with the buffalo sauce and the rice + lettuce combo tasted nice with the protein. I liked the additional toppings of the pickles and tomatoes because it tasted refreshing with the other foods. My friend unfortunately did not really like his meal. He got a beef kabob and other toppings but the meall overall didn't taste good to him. He also only had the option of just rice and wish he was presented with the option of half rice, half lettuce. Overall, it was a fresh eat and I'd eat it again for a quick lunch.

    I tried the falafel at the mediterranean place which was ok. The sandwich was a little soggy and…read morebland, but the side of hot sauce helped add some flavor. My falafel wasn't fully cooked the first time I came. My friends got the beef gyro bowls and enjoyed that. They thought it was a great option! The staff is really friendly but the service is pretty slow. I'll probably skip out on this place next time for the falafel, but if you eat meat, worth trying.

    Photos
    Fufu's Mid East Grill - Picture of the establishment

    Picture of the establishment

    Fufu's Mid East Grill - Steak Beef Kabob Plate

    Steak Beef Kabob Plate

    Fufu's Mid East Grill - Fufu's!

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    Fufu's!

    Yafa cuisine - Pita bread

    Yafa cuisine

    4.8(204 reviews)
    2.1 mi

    Tried Yafa today and wow - absolutely delicious! I ordered a chicken pita and it was super fresh,…read morejuicy, and full of flavor. The chicken was perfectly cooked, tender and well-seasoned, with amazing pickled veggies and a generous amount of creamy sauce. The pita itself was soft, warm, and lightly toasted - exactly how it should be. Also we tried falafel and homemade hummus! So fresh! I think I've never tried better hummus And yeah - portions are great for the price, definitely will come back

    I'd give it 3.5 out of 5 stars…read more Yafa Cuisine is a good local spot and a decent value for the portion sizes. You definitely get a good amount of food for your money. The meat was tender, juicy, and well-seasoned, which was the highlight of the meal. The rice had good flavor, but unfortunately it wasn't fully cooked, which took away from the experience a bit. The food also took a while to come out, so be prepared for a longer wait. One downside for me was the pita bread. It was very dry and hard, and not enjoyable at all. Another concern was the open kitchen. While the area looked clean overall, I did notice the cook using the same gloves to prepare food and then handle items that didn't appear clean, which was a little off-putting. Overall, Yafa Cuisine has good flavors and generous portions, but a few quality and cleanliness details kept it from being a higher rating.

    Photos
    Yafa cuisine - The shawarma rotisseries

    The shawarma rotisseries

    Yafa cuisine - Falafel goodness

    Falafel goodness

    Yafa cuisine - Falafel pita

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    Falafel pita

    Bon Appetit Shawarma

    Bon Appetit Shawarma

    4.6(35 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    I'd come back here again!!…read more I saw this food truck at the Arco gas station & was curious about it, so I did a quick google search to check the reviews. The reviews were outstanding, so i decided to order a box to-go to share with my bf. And IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT. Yes, it's a little pricey but everything is so well seasoned! I forgot the name of the item I got, but the fries were so good!! (I typically hate fries). And the garlic dip we each had was delicious!! The burrito was so good! The server had a thick accent but he was very attentive & helped us on the questions we had. I'm not even from the area but I'll be back to try some of their other popular items! FYI - you can bring a bag of chips and they will load it up with your choice of meat, garlic sauce, tahini sauce, fresh veggies, and cheese for $10! As advertised on their truck.

    This was the best decision I made all day!…read more Food truck located at the Arco off University and Iowa Ave near the University Village in Riverside, CA. I was in the area for gas but could not resist the inviting aroma from the truck! I was greeted by an existing customer who suggested I try fries, Sharma plate and the burger. I tried the single Burger combo. The meat was cooked to perfection. Grilled, juicy flavor, smooth down my throat! The left over feeling was pure satisfaction, never a heavy feeling you can get from fast food. This was not fast food! It was a crafted masterpiece of flavor. The owner uses a mixture of flavors, with a garlic like sauce that compliments the fries. The fries were also fresh, flavored well and had the cant eat just one affect on me! The location is well lit, busy on the corner if traffic present. Free parking at the arco. The owner was a delightful gentleman. He asked good questions, ensuring I did want the pickles and lettuce, what kind of drink as well as offered me a first time customer rate. Not sure if that applies always but I appreciated the gesture. The prices are very reasonable too. I will return! The flavor, I can not forget. The customer service, I would never not tell someone else about. However, the taste of that burger and fries will have me trying other menu items! Job well done Sir! I apologize, I can not spell your name but I appreciated the different languages you told me you speak. Although I can not speak either, the universal language is great food, service and now, a new customer!

    Photos
    Bon Appetit Shawarma - Order window

    Order window

    Bon Appetit Shawarma
    Bon Appetit Shawarma

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    Mandi Xpress - coffee - Updated May 2026

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