Mandi Xpress Yemeni Restaurant and Coffee
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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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
1 month ago
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Thanks for sharing this. “Tasted like a meal from home” is a big…
1 month ago
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Best food in Riverside is a huge compliment. So glad you loved the…
1 year ago
First time here, we came after the rush hour. Food were delicious we ordered fish mova served aromati rice, lamb fahsah with huge Yemeni bread, xpress kibbeh which is fried meat pockets, midye baklava. I asked if I can get each flavor, and the lady was nice enough to give me. Turkish coffee, ice matcha latte with almond milk and Yemeni coffee (didn't take pic of the ice matcha latte and Yemeni coffee). The place was clean, the only this is they need more help. Feel bad for the little young lady running around taking orders and serving food. We have no complaints and we'll be back. read more
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Thanks so much for visiting us and for sharing your wonderful…
I took my BF out for dinner, and I wanted to order everything on the menu. We ordered chicken mandi with rice (beautiful saffron color), yemni bread (made fresh to order), green salad and cheesecake. My only complaint, is the waiter kept bringing us dishes that we didn't order, (salad and 2 cucumber yogurts) and they gave us plastic plates and utensils (which was weird since we did not order it to go). Don't get me wrong, this is a great restaurant, with delicious food and I'm definitely going back, they just need to make a few tweaks to be perfect! read more
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Thank you for sharing your experience, and we appreciate your great…
2 months ago
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
We’re pleased you’ve already visited us a few times. We’re glad the…
4 months ago
We found this amazing restaurant in Riverside! It is open late to dine in. The restaurant was clean and the service was excellent. We had kind customers service and we asked for recommendations since it was our first time trying out Yemen food! The food was delicious! It was a good portion. The salad was fresh and I loved the chicken out of the two. The bread was perfect side for this meal. Go pay them a visit! read more
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Thank you so much for this amazing review! We are absolutely thrilled…
We came here when the place just opened for few weeks. The place is quite new. I believe we supposed to order and pay first before get seated. There were 2 staffs and one manager at the time we ordered. And one of the staffs was assisting the order. Both staffs were not familiar with the menu because they need to keep asking the manager whenever we ask on the ingredients of the food and what it was consisting of. Which to me clearly staffs didn't have any product knowledge before start working on the floor. As for the food, Chicken Mandi was super tasty the bones of the chicken was removed easily when we pull it out and rice has some nuts and raisin. Yogurt & Cucumber Salad was tasted fine. Lastly their signature dish was soo delish. It was served on tender lamb served in hot stone and accompanied with bread (which in our experience, bread took sometimes to come when the lamb had been delivered on our table). Additionally, this place also served Yemeni coffee (coffee w/ cardamon & milk). Foods were fantastic, only downside was the service which could be so much better. read more
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Thanks for your detailed review! We're sorry to hear about the…
1 month ago
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
We’re glad the Yemeni flavors stood out and that you enjoyed the lamb…
3 months ago
I came here for the first time. Not familiar with Riverside but right away I got great service! The food was good. Special thanks to Um Amar. read more
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Love hearing your first visit was a good one. Great service matters a…
4 months ago
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience.…
23 days ago
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Love hearing this. I’ll make sure the team member at the register…
10 months ago
We stopped at Mandi express after visiting Riverside downtown. The food was amazing we had the family plate lamb and chicken, Lentil soup, and hummus with bread. The meat was tender and delicious. The chicken was tasty. The lentil was warm and hearty. Everything worked well together to make a very combination. I highly recommend it Now let's talk about service. What can I can say you know good service when you are at the receiving end of it, because it just makes you feel good. The lady at the counter. "Oum Omar" I asked her for her name because I was so impressed with her service. She took our order and was very friendly explaining the options. Over all a very nice lady. The sever Moartaz was super nice as well he got us our order of Karak tea and made it himself so I like to give him credit for that amazing tea. It was perfect for the nice outdoor seating cold night. So to make long a story short. If you like good service and amazing food, you won't go wrong by visiting this little gem nested right in the bosom of Riverside. I hope you find this review helpful and drop me a comment. Check out the pictures With love from Morocco and Egypt read more
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Thank you for this absolutely wonderful and detailed review!…
9 months ago
Everything is amazing, wonderful food, and wonderful service, and really nice ambiance that makes everything special and joyful. read more
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear…
11 months ago
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Wow, thank you so much for this incredible review! We are absolutely…
7 months ago
What an amazing little gem in down town riverside. This morning we wanted something different for breakfast and came across mandi xpress. We ordered their breakfast platter. It was such a warm delicious meal. The service was great. The vibes were immaculate. My husband wants to go back tonight for dinner lol. read more
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Thank you so much for the kind words! We are thrilled to hear you…
9 months ago
First time here today. I ordered the combo beef koobideh and chicken shish kabob. Big bold flavor in every bite, absolutely delicious, and big portions. The service was friendly, helpful, and professional. Moatez was great, helped me understand my menu options, and give me suggestions. The restaurant is clean and the decor is inviting and gives me a since of the origins of the food, with great painting and decorations of Middle East. I have found my new favorite lunch spot in the Mission Inn area of Riverside. If you haven't tried it, try it soon. Especially if you are like me and always looking for something new and different, this is the spot. read more
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Thank you for the glowing review! We love being part of the Riverside…
11 months ago
I had the Lamb Mandi and did not disappoint' huge portions and very savory. Great service and kind people working the place. Definitely will come back when the opportunity arises. read more
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Thank you so much for the fantastic review!…
4 months ago
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We are absolutely…
1 year ago
The food and service were absolutely exceptional! I'll be coming back many times! The restaurant itself is also very beautiful and welcoming. Highly recommend. read more
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
We are delighted that both the food and service were exceptional for…
We had a really good experience at this place because of the friendly service and amazing food! Located in Downtown Riverside, this hole in the wall, restaurant provides yummy Yemeni food. The cashier/server was very welcoming, and related to our friend's citizenship journey. Afterwards, she gave us some baklava on the house! She also recommended the fish dish with bread and we ordered this with two additional lamb mandi dishes. We ordered at the counter and assumed these individual meals were more small, casual meals. We were surprised when the food came out in huge portions, which is great if you are eating family style. The great thing was that we were able to have leftovers! For the price point, this was an amazing deal. The food was very well-seasoned and comparable to other Middle Eastern food I've had in more restaurant dense areas, such as LA or Orange County. I would definitely come back again if I am in the area, and recommend this to those who love authentic Yemeni food. read more
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Thank you so much for your incredibly detailed and kind review! We…
2 months ago
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Thank you for sharing this. Our family-style meals are meant to be…
5 months ago
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Thank you for your patience and for being so understanding! Mother’s…
5 months ago
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear…
1 year ago
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Thank you so much for this incredible review! We are absolutely…
3 months ago
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Thank you so much for the wonderful review!…
1 year ago
My experience was very good. The place is very clean and neat. Food is flavourful, decent portions with a great quality , Saed who I believe is the manager is a very nice gentle man. Highly recommend. read more
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
That's fantastic to hear! We truly appreciate your kind words about…
8 months ago
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Thank you for the great review! We are so happy to hear that you…
2 years ago
New Yemeni restaurant in Riverside so of course I had to try it. Wasn't sure what to order but decided on the half chicken Mandi. The presentation of this dish was very nice but unfortunately the taste was not. The rice was served lukewarm and was very dry. The toppings of raisins, fried onion and almonds surprisingly did not do anything for the dish. The chicken was served piping hot but again very dry and lacked overall flavor. If they fix the dryness and maybe use some more spices this could be an outstanding dish. When the server asked me how my food was, I was completely honest with him and told him everything I've said in this review. He was very nice and apologetic for my experience. He offered me additional food at no charge which I respectfully declined. As I was getting ready to leave, he did come by and give me a piece of cheesecake at no charge which I thought was a nice gesture. So in conclusion, the service, cleanliness and ambiance were wonderful. I will give them another chance in the future and update my review accordingly. Until then, I think 3 stars is fair. read more
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Thanks for your honest feedback. We're sorry the Mandi wasn't up to…
1 year ago
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem. Had a great time with family here. We enjoyed the food together and the service was AMAZING! Ria, Emaan, & Saed were sooooo nice and sweet! The ambiance is reminiscent of Arab, yemeni style. Casual and formal mixed into one! Enjoy you won't regret it! Insha'Allah! read more
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
What a truly wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you had such a…
5 months ago
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Thank you so much for the 5-star review! We are absolutely thrilled…
2 months ago
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Thank you so much, Edgar, for your wonderful five-star review! We’re…
11 months ago
My friend and I stopped in a few days ago to try their Yemini coffee and we weren't disappointed. The woman who helped us, Um Amar (I believe this is how she spelled it, I apologize if I got it wrong ), was very friendly and even took a picture of me and my friend. The coffee was really delicious, and had an herbal flavor with lots of comforting spices. It was served in beautiful china. We also got a delightful pistachio pastry. Would recommend. read more
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
What a lovely review! Thank you so much for stopping in to try our…
1 year ago
No notes... it is perfect. The food is delicious, it's beautiful, it's fresh, it's clean, the service was great! The location is easy to park at and has inside and outside dining. It's made to order so your bread will be made when you order it. It's a delightful place to dine that is casual and inexpensive. It's a gem... perfection. read more
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Thank you for such an incredible review! We're thrilled you enjoyed…
2 months ago
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Thank you for your feedback. We’re pleased you enjoyed both the food…
10 months ago
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
What a fantastic first visit! We are so glad we could make your…
10 months ago
The food had an authentic taste with perfectly balanced spices. The ambiance was very clean and beautifully designed with cultural touches. The service was fast, and the staff were extremely helpful. Highly recommended for anyone who loves authentic flavors. read more
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
That is a wonderful review! Thank you so much for taking the time to…
1 year ago
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
This is such lovely feedback—thank you!…
1 year ago
Hookah was bomb! The food was so delicious! But the people were the best! Felt so welcomed and so well taken care of. It is definitely a new downtown favorite made for a wonderful date read more
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Thank you for this absolutely fantastic review! We're thrilled the…
8 months ago
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Thank you so much for the kind words! We know that waiting for a…
1 year ago
Amazing food and even better service! Hospitality the second you walk in, they took the time to explain the menu and all available items. I don't know what's in their yogurt sauce but it was fire, the boneless chicken had a unique spice to it, best chicken at all Yemeni restaurants in SoCal hands down. The staff were constantly checking in and gave us a lot of complementary side dishes, portions are huge. Was too hungry to take a pre meal pic read more
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MandiXpress Yemeni R.
Thanks for the fantastic review! We're so happy to hear you had such…
More info about Mandi Xpress Yemeni Restaurant and Coffee
3940 University Ave
Riverside, CA 92501
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(951) 777-1043
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https://mandixpress.co/riverside
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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…
Is this open?I go to the one in Westwood and Buena park. This is closer
Yes it is Open
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