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    Memi’s

    4.6 (36 reviews)
    Open 3:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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    MEMI’S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Memi’s

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    Kunefa
    Lena M.

    I loved coming to Memi's with my mom. We are Libyan, so it's nice finding more North African places in Richmond. Memi's is a beautiful shoutout to Egyptian dishes. I loved seeing some classic staples here too. The owner is beyond kind and sweet. She is so passionate about what she does here, we loved meeting her. Here is what we tried: Mulukhiyah with Chicken: What an iconic Egyptian soup! How cool to find it in Richmond too. It was really good. The chicken wasn't for us, but the soup was just right. Lamb shank: While the spices and flavors were all right, I think the lamb itself was a bit off for us. This could've just been the night we went. Koshari: My mom's favorite dish of the evening. Something you can't find easily in Richmond either, this was really nice. Kunefa: We finished our evening with dessert, and it was a little overcooked for us. I adored the heart shape. They have a lot of yummy things on their menu. The service was great here too. I am excited to return to try more.

    Hummus Dip
    Nikki J.

    Visited on a Friday night dinner with a friend. No wait, and it was not busy or loud. They have a good happy hour deal! So i got an old fashioned and Hummus Dip. For dinner, i got Combination platter (Lamb, Chicken Shish Tawook, and Kofta) with rice - great portions! And MAN was it delicious! I was glad to have leftovers for lunch. Our server was very attentive. Memi herself also stopped by our table to check on our meal. She is nice & genuinely wanted to know how we were enjoying our visit!

    Lamb
    Lauren M.

    The space is super cute, warm, and inviting and I love what they've done with the decor and ambience since the last spot moved out. I'm interested to see what they're going to do with that small lounge area in the rear! What does it say about your calcium I really love Egyptian food so I was excited to see that Richmond finally has something. The service is great. The stuffed grape leaves are absolutely the best I've ever had in the US - spiced to perfection - not pretty, but phenomenal. The food was light and full of authentic flavor, which I really appreciated. I also tried the lamb--while the seasoning and flavor were spot on, the meat was slightly overcooked. I'd recommend slicing the lamb more uniformly to ensure a more even cook throughout. Still, a solid dish overall with great potential and the portion size is out of this world! We also got the koshari and absolutely loved how light yet filling the dish is! The fried onions on top are nice, but we would have loved if they were caramelized like noted on the menu. The chef came over and talked to us a bit. Whatax sweetheart! She loved that I could identify the spices, flavors, and regions the dishes boast, and I was recommended the cabbage, and I'll be back for the stuffed eggplant too! Also. If you haven't heard, Egyptian falafel is hands down the best, so I'll be back for that, the dolmas, & zalabia!

    Michael S.

    4.8 stars. Because I am an old picky man. Memi's is a great find. As Egyptian food, it bears a lot of similarities to other Mediterranean cuisine. So the thing that sets this apart is that they simply do it better. We went in just after they opened at noon to get a non-trad brunchy meal. Environment: the temperature was downright chilly. I usually like to be cool, this was cold, like maybe 65? When Wife said something to the server, her response was "we have hot tea." I would have preferred "I'll talk to the manager about adjusting the heat." There were only 4 other customers, I think that is not beyond reason. We started with the Memi's sampler, which is listed as "Hummus, baba ganoush, feta cheese, and falafel. Served with pita." Without a word, they subbed in gebna ("Feta blended with garlic, sour cream, and mayo") for the feta, and that was serendipity for us because it was amazing. Should have told us about the sub, but no biggie. All three dips/spreads were absolutely delicious. There was a little heat in each of them, just under the level that would make my wife back away. The pita was perfectly heated to the point of mild scorches but still hearty enough to scoop the dips. Our mains. Wife had the Hawawshi ("Crispy pita stuffed with spiced ground meat, onions, and herbs") with fries. The meat was well seasoned, the fries, though seasoned were not your usual seasoned fries. I *think* the seasoning was zatar, wife was not sure. My lentil soup was creamy with bits of onion and also durkee-type onion straws on top. Very good but I would have preferred a less fine puree to allow for a little of the lentil texture. Rest assured, though, I licked the crock. It was delish. The place is not cheap (menu pix with pricing attached.) But it is good. Good enough for every week Sunday brunch? Not at this price point. But definitely good enough to keep top of mind. So the only minor old man complaint? If you are open at noon, and your restaurant is colder than a Canadian summer, you need to have real coffee available. Not cold brewed, just make a pot of coffee. Forcing me to hot tea was just a little annoying. We will be back. In summer.

    Marci F.

    This is a hard review to write. I must preface the review with three of us, lived in the Middle East and have eaten extensively all over the Middle East, including Egypt if I don't think of it as a Middle Eastern food, I thought the food was very tasty. It's just not what we're used to from how the preparation was to the taste to when they say it's a tomato and cucumber salad. We expect mostly tomatoes and cucumbers. What we truly did love where the creative drinks with Middle East influence from old-fashioned with dates to a pomegranate drink that I had we decided if you don't think about it or don't know about Middle Eastern food you'd probably enjoy the place. The service was excellent. The atmosphere was lovely, but don't go there expecting traditional Middle Eastern food And it's not like they're just twisting it. It's just I don't know.

    Interior with the Airstream!
    Jennifer H.

    Looking for something different? Memi's offers Egyptian dinners that are spiced well and delicious. You may have a hard time deciding on what to order, but I can say the Kofta (got mine off the grill menu but does come as a sandwich too) and the falafel sandwich were wonderful. Unique indoor atmosphere due to the Airstream trailer that houses the kitchen!

    Tagine Beef and Potatoes
    Lisa C.

    Memo's was a great experience. Neither my partner nor I had tried Egyptian food before but gave it a try because we both enjoy other Mediterranean cuisines. The food was superb and the service impeccable. Our server was personable and efficient. She offered recommendations that were spot on! The brick interior painted added a brightness to the candlelit interior on a grey winter day. I'm looking forward to returning in warmer weather when the "garage" door is raised. We ordered Gebna as our appetizer: feta blended with garlic, sour cream, and mayo. Served with pita. I had the Tagine Beef with Potato which while delicious did not compare to my partner's Chicken Shawarma. For dessert we shared the Zalabia because one can never go wrong with fried dough, powdered sugar and syrup Memi's also boasts a nice selection of craft cocktails and wines. The Rhino Cabernet Sauvignon, (California '22) was full bodied and paired well with the Tagine.

    Cocktails
    Kara I.

    Exciting new restaurant I would love to visit again! Food and drinks were fantastic. We loved our cocktails and wine. We decided to share the Dolmas & Gebna for appetizers, which were delicious. For our main we shared the combo platter. So glad we did this because the beef, lamb, and chicken were all delicious. Nothing but good things to say about all of this food! The only thing that didn't quite hit was the seating. Most of the restaurant is small tables and those awful metal seats that are horribly uncomfortable if you are anything more than skinny. If you are at a place like this, you want to share plates of food! But the tables are quite tiny. I wish they would expand the booths they already have for more comfortable seating! Very happy to see the space put to good use though. Excited to come back!

    Old fashioned happy hour $7
    Kenya M.

    Memi's is a vibe! It's really nice and chic. The menu is stacked with delicious options and it makes it hard for an indecisive lady like me to decide lol. The bartender was really nice and helpful. They have a really good happy hour as well. The dolmas were super flavorful and my friend said the lamb shank was bomb too! He cleaned that bone haha. Memi's will definitely see me again soon.

    Mulukhiya with chicken
    Caitlin A.

    I am so happy to have finally tried Memi's! My friend and I went for happy hour drinks and dinner, and had a great time. We loved the vibes and the bar stools were very comfy. I was a fan of the Arabic music playing in the background too! The employees were all so kind and helpful in explaining any dishes we had questions on. The food and drinks were delicious as well. My only "complaint" is a result of my own expectations for the dessert we got, kanafa, as I'm used to the super cheesy Palestinian knafeh, but this wouldn't have been a problem if I read the menu description properly. Can't wait to come back and try more drinks and dishes!

    Aya C.

    Reminds me of home. As a Syrian I am always checking out Arabic food places and seeing how close it hits to home. I will say this place does it for me. I have tried the kosheri, the mlugheyeh with chicken, the rice wrapped in cabbage, the sampler dips, the pasta with bashamel! All were AMAZING. definitely recommend. Who I believe the owner came over to check in with my table as well at to her surprise I spoke Arabic. My mother will be coming to visit me soon and I will be taking her as well. The ambiance is real cute as well. Make sure to check up the upstairs bar as well!! The drinks are delicious.

    Kashari
    Paula M.

    We just ate at Memi's and had a great experience - they had both sides of the building open so air was flowing through and the booth we sat at was comfortable. We are all vegan, so we ordered the baba ganoush and kashari (sorry if misspelling), which was all great! Our server was very nice too and explained that all the VG items on the menu are vegan, which was very helpful too. The owner even came out and spoke with us and she's just a lovely person! Overall great experience :)

    Stuffed eggplant
    Julie W.

    I cannot say enough, glowing things about Memi's from the amazing food to the service to the quaint atmosphere. Each dish is lovingly prepared with unique spices and cooking methods. Their portions are generous and reasonably priced. They were gracious enough to host our dinner group of 18 and did so flawlessly. This is a must stop for a fabulous experience.

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    4 months ago

    We absolutely love this place! Great food, drinks, and vibes! Highly recommend it to all

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    7 months ago

    Prompt and friendly service, interesting options for entrées, and the food is healthy and delicious.

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    1 year ago

    best food i've had in richmond the desserts are life changing please please just give this place a shot absolutely delicious and best staff

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    Memi’s - mideastern - Updated June 2026

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