Last night I got to discover and try Mandi for the first time. I hadn’t heard about it before so was pretty intrigued when my friend told me about it. Mandi is a traditional dish of lamb and rice. The way they cook the lamb is they lower it into a pit in the ground filled with hot coal. Right underneath the hanging lamb is a large pot of rice. They then close the hole and cover it with sand so that the smoke doesn’t escape. The lamb then starts to cook slowly with all the fat dripping into the rice underneath. Finally once the lamb is ready it’s raised from the ground and served. The meat was super tender and absolutely delicious. Even the rice was just incredible.
Below are some pictures I took when they were pulling the lamb up from the ground. If you ever get the chance I highly recommend you try Mandi out.
53 replies on “Meeting Mandi”
where can we try this, Any restaurant that serves or any place recomended
no idea honestly, i’ve been living here for 34 years and i just found out about it yesterday for the first time.
You’re kidding right?
It’s everyone’s birthright when they live in Kuwait to know what mandy is… I knew this dish since i was 3 or something lol.
same here. i am surprised that you never heard about it, mark
I believe Mendi is a Saudi dish. It is not popular in Kuwait or among Kuwaitis unless you have Saudi roots, relatives, or spend plenty of time over there.
It’s a Yemeni dish, to be precise.
a friend from lebanon introduced me to this!
There is a place in Reggaie – as you enter Reggaie from 602 if I am not wrong, there is a restaurant that serves mandi.
How could you have never heard of Mandi? -.-
if you’re travelling in Saudi by road a lot of the rest stops will be serving Mendi. You’ll also drink coke out of a plastic bag which is quite and experience.
Are you guys serious?! Never heard of Mandi?? Dude its like 2nd to shawarma probably. Its a specialized Yemeni version of Machboos/Kharoof.
There are 2 Mandi places right opposite each other on Mahboola’s main street. And I’m sure there are plenty others elsewhere.
I’m 29 years old and this is first time I hear that Mendi is second to shawarm!!! I’m Kuwaiti btw and I just stated earlier of my knowldge about Mendi. Btw mom is sitting next to me, I asked her if mendi is popular in Kuwait and her response was “of course mendi is available in Kuwait and well known, what do you think Bedouins eat?!” >_<
Mark where did u have it, is it a place we can go to and order there? or we have to pre order by phone and eat where ever you were?
or this was a private dinenr 😉
we need address.
had it at a private camp
Mahboula’s main Street. Could you please specify Kuwait.
Mandi places I know of:
Mahboola, Mandi Rayaan: 23711163
(Suppose you’re on the main roundabout and heading towards the coastal road, go till the end, take the U-turn at the traffic light and then you’ll see cars for sale on your right. This place is right behind these cars) And there’s one exactly opposite it, on the other side of the road as well.
Mangaf: 23723344
(beside Princess Taxi, on the restaurants street)
Google: 29.138274,48.128765
from what i see in the pics above it seems like its a full goat cooked , do i have to order in this Mandi Rayaan full or can i order enough for 2 ppl.
sorry about my ignorance but this looks too tempting to resist.
Mumlaka @ riggae and @ fahaheel are the best
try the red/brown rice .. highly recommended
approx 2-3 KD
+1 Mamlaka
Mumlaka rocks
Its the same one I was referring to, could not recollect the name
I had no idea that Mandi was available in Kuwait. There’s a couple of Yemeni joints in Dubai that are famous for this.
@Mo,
any contact details for Mumlaka?
Thanks.
any where closer to kuwait city
Mamlika has a branch off of 5th ring road. Keep going past Avenues and after the first overpass its on your right. You can see it from the highway.
+1
Mumlaka, where is it?
sorry my bad its spelt as memlika
i dont know the exact location. these might help
https://www.almemlika.com/cv/
https://bndq8.blogspot.com/2012/04/al-memlika-restaurant-in-riggae.html
Almemlika should be renamed Cholestrol Kingdom.
+1
I vouch for Mamlaka in riggae or fahaheel. awesome food.
Mamlaka is amazing. Good service, very comfortable place, and great food! They also serve other dishes like biryani. It’s fantastic.
Btw I encourage first timers to eat AT the restaurant. Mandi places are the most chilled out, casual dining experiences. You have to take off your shoes, sit down on the raised carpetted area and you can rest on the pillows. If you’ve been to diwaniyas, you’ll know what I mean.
I for one love the chilli sauce that is served as a side as much as the mandi.
not a female oriented place.
Who said take your gf along? 😛
sounds like an excellent first date spot 😛
sitting on the floor, cross legged, bare feet, and pigging out on rice…not a way to impress!! well not the first time atleast…
wow you never heard of mandi …….. what the hell you were doing in kuwait then
glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Location for Mamlaka Riggae. Area 1 ( Old Riggae) Block 2 Street 2. Take the first right turn after the Lawyers Complex or the right turn just before MacDonald’s in Riggae. Cant miss it big huge ass Green Sign Board . Located in Durrar Complex Block B. Exactly behind the Lawyers Complex.
you never heard of mandi omg omg
why are living?
how have you been living?
were you really in kuwait for most of your life ? omg omg
😛
Its Mendi… not Mandi!
Mandi
Dude, you must be thinking of a Barry Manilow song. Its “Mendi”.
How come u don’t know mendi !
R U sure u have been living in kuwait ?
Best ever MANDY is in Yemen, for sure-) But we should try one which is here in Kuwait!
May be u know- are there any yemeni restaurants in Kuwait?
ok shut up with the ” omg u dont know mandi” comments already. damn it
you dont know mandi? omg
I know a Mandy !! She’s really nice, big fan of karaoke, Barry Manilow and gives one hell of a massage for 50 KD an hour .. lol
from what i see in the pics above it seems like its a full goat cooked , do i have to order in this Mandi Rayaan full or can i order enough for 2 ppl.
sorry about my ignorance but this looks too tempting to resist.
I love mendi. I like it best when its cold outside. mmmm
They cook pork in Hawaii in a similar way: Lower an entire pig into a pit heated with charcoal and hot lava stones, covered in banana leaves and Kahlua and leave it to simmer overnight.
wow some of you need to get off your high horses “ohhh you’ve never heard of mendi?” acting like you eat mendi every single day. lol walla some of you are so funny!
i know what mendi is but i’ve never tried it, but it’s not the end of the freakin’ world.
Try this Mandi and you will cry!!! https://www.q8food.com/?p=1211 it is in KSA – Khafji
Mark we have this every weekend at the chalet, im surprised you never heard of it in 27 years. What other culinary jewels do you not know of.