Mini Mogadishu

10/1/2018

• 1 check-in

I have never had Somali food specifically, but everything on the menu looked so good. I'd only heard great things about this place.

Okay first off, walking in, unless you're only used to restaurants as places of eating with wait service, this might be different. For me it felt surprisingly cozy, possibly due to an understanding that large gatherings take place here and the restaurant could be booked by families. There's a magnificent throne right at the front of the restaurant, zebra stripe patterned fake banana trees, and wonderful, movable, cushion arm rests that remind me of Asia on the 'booth' chairs.

The dim lighting and friendly wait make this a comfortable place to spend a meal time. Their hours are wide, from 9 AM to 9 PM and parking is available out back.

We ordered the shared plate for 2 and wow there was so much food. It came out in about 20 minutes or so but the rice was so, so amazing. These people know how to make rice. I'm not a heavy meat eater, but the SO really enjoyed the food from a carnivore's perspective and I thought it was pretty good too. Order was enough to fulfill 2 meals for 2 people, so I'd say it was a pretty darn good deal.

They also have the signature spiced tea, but if you don't like too much sugar, just remember to request that. I don't love sugared teas too much and so I thought it was way too sweet. Fine because I just continued to drown it with water.

3/28/2018

• 2 check-ins
• ROTD 9/24/2018

Let's start this review out with some ground rules:

1) This place is more like a gathering spot than an official restaurant, so...
2) They may or may not be open during listed hours
3) They may or may not have any staff in the front to notice you've walked in or take your order. Consider it self service, where you go speak to the magical people behind the large red curtains in the back when you need help.

But if you are cool with the above, this is a good spot. I'm personally in love with the cardamom tea. The portions are large relative to the price. Must be because they aren't incurring the typical costs... Like wait staff? Fine with me!

11/4/2017

You ever hear the saying-- Don't judge a book by its cover? Well, this couldn't be more true for Mini Mogadishu.

My wife decided to surprise us for dinner. Her choice? This lovely Somali restaurant.

When we walked in, we were all confused as we had to wait about 7 minutes for an employee to come help us. Finally, this fabulous young lady came out and told us to sit anywhere. We had the whole restaurant to ourselves.

I won't lie--we had to google a thing or two to find out what the menu was offering us. While the menu looks small, there are a lot of options.

Even though we were 4 people, we went with the shared plate for 2. There was SO much food. We brought home 2 containers full of leftovers. Yay! We get to eat it a second time. The shared plate included rice (the best ever!), spaghetti and sauce, beef, goat, lamb, potato and pea soup, and a side salad. We were also given two pieces of bread (more like a crepe texture).

There was no shortage of flavor among this dish. The rice was simply the best ever. The pasta was, well, can you really go wrong? The beef was my favorite part. It was cooked perfectly with peppers and onions. The goat was cooked so well it fell off the bone. There were 2 drumsticks on the dish, it was tasty. The pea and potato soup was a family favorite.

During our time, there were several take out orders. It seems as though that may be their main source of business.

The inside of this restaurant has no frills or thrills. Just fabulous, authentic, home-cooked meals.

Remember, don't judge a book by its cover.

9/10/2017

When I found out Portland had a Somalian restaurant AND it had great reviews I immediately put this place near the top of my list of places to eat at. I had Somalian food at a tiny restaurant in California that was really off the beaten path, but the food blew me away. Ever since then I've been looking for Somalian food when I travel, let me tell you it hasn't been easy for me.  
We came here for a late lunch. It was a really quite place and not the kind of place I would've wondered in if it had been for my Yelp finding. I ordered the beef suquaar with rice and it was sooooooo good! There wasn't a crumb left on that plate when I was done. We did have to ask for naan, it didn't come with the lunch plate, but it was so worth the couple minutes to wait for it! We were a little disappointed the samosas weren't being served at lunch. I will definitely be back, probably for dinner so I can get my samosa fix!

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  Beef Suqaar alllllllllllll day!

  Beef Suqaar alllllllllllll day!

8/6/2018

Very good food. We got the plate for four people and it was enough for eight. Supper delicious. YUM YUM
price is so so reasonable.

9/2/2018

This place e is a real surprise in a diverse neighbourhood. Don't expect fancy decor, mood lights or music but you do get honest home cooked food and great staff. The guests make you feel like family since most are native Somalis. They guided us on our menu selections and told us eating with your hands is the custom. The shared plate for two was a good representation of the cuisine. The foul was excellent and the tea is not up be missed. On the downside nothing was really hit but I don't think that affected the taste.

11/14/2017

This place is now one of my favorite places to eat. I may never go out for dinner in Portland anywhere else!

I have been there twice, and both times were wonderful experiences. The ambience is a bit funny- the room is huge with tables and booths around the perimeter- but still very comfortable. All of the staff has been friendly & helpful to am extreme, though at times a bit slow (do not go here for a rushed dinner).

The food is delicious, all of it (though I would recommend skipping the pasta- the sauce tastes very good, but ziti is *not* traditional Somali food & doesn't fit in well). Their rice is hands down the absolute best rice I have ever had. Ever. I would happily eat it for every meal.

The shared plate for two is only $25 and a small mountain of food. More than enough for two with some left over to take home (and the wonderful man who waited on us added MORE FOOD to the takeout box, then gave me a container of soup as well!!!).

Also, their spiced tea is insanely good. The first time we got it with cream, the second without- both really tasty. We got watermelon, too, juice which was like a miracle.

I really hope their business booms and they stay there forever, because it is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to.

2/4/2017

• ROTD 2/25/2017

The reviews so far are spot on! A group of four of us came on a Saturday night and were able sit down right away. Our server Abdul was so sweet and gracious, and he explained everything on the menu to us. He even asked for feedback at the end of the meal because they are still so new and they want to know what people like.

2 of us shared a plate that included several kinds of meat prepared in different ways with rice, pasta and salad. It was all very tasty. Our friends had the vegetarian meal for two, and I actually preferred their dishes. Creamy lentils, a super flavorful spinach dish similar to saag, and a tomato based sauce perfect for dunking the injera bread into.

We had a huge meal and took home leftovers, and our bill came to $27. We will definitely be back to try some more dishes very soon.

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  Hours: note that they are closed on Wednesdays

  Hours: note that they are closed on Wednesdays
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  All of these dishes were vegetarian. So good!

  All of these dishes were vegetarian. So good!
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  The shared plate for two. You can't tell but the plate is HUGE. We had leftovers.

  The shared plate for two. You can't tell but the plate is HUGE. We had leftovers.

1/15/2018

This place is a hit with my two kids (2nd and 4th grade); particularly the pasta and chicken. And the platter is great for sharing with my husband. Quality food takes time, so be prepared to wait. The flavorful dishes are worth it!

2/23/2017

• 1 check-in

This place reminds me of Babylon, if that is any help to the Portland Yelper scene. It is a big wide deep space that has the look of a local community center, with sparse decoration on the walls and a rather clunky feel.  But it was warm on a cold winter's day, so that is basically meeting my minimum requirement.

When we came in we were not greeted and just took a table. Eventually a guy came out who could not speak any English and gave us menus, then we just sort of mimed our way through an order, without ever being really sure if we had actually placed an order. After about 30 minutes of waiting, we were getting more sure that we had not placed an order, but then this kid showed up who spoke fluent English. He was awesome and made up for the initial uncertainty. We had in fact ordered, but there is like one cook, the mom in back!! So since they do a lot of takeout business (it seems like only take-out business when we were there), that explains the wait.

So when you come here, you have to be really patient. Actually, maybe the best gambit is just to do takeout, cuz then you can just wait at home with Netflix instead.

But we were doing a family outing kind of thang, so we just had fun talking to the young man who was super enthusiastic and explained all the stuff we had just ordered. Man is Somali food awesome interesting!!  It's like Ethiopian meets Indian and then gets co-opted by Italian. Totally wacky!!  By the way, we got the strong impression that there is a lot more to order here than what you find on the menu, so ask questions!!!

If you come here for just one thing, GET THE RICE. WARNING to VEGANS: IT IS COOKED WITH CHICKEN BROTH.  But that's what makes this rice so good, yo, or rather one of the many mystical ingredients that makes this some of the best rice served in the state of Maine. And you're talking to someone who usually chooses other carbs over the rice!!!  So basically you can get like a huge hunk of lamb or a ginormous portion of goat (that's what the kids ordered, both were primitive but decent) with a dome of rice almost as big as your head. But this rice we could not stop eating and we took every last extra grain home with us and then we fought over it the next day!!

But really, this is a place for the veggies, and ANY addition to the vegetarian-but-awesome menu in Portland is a place that I am going to be frequenting. So here is the advice: Get the dish called Aanjeera Amhaari. You get a pile of bread, which some other Yelper parsed elegantly (I almost wish to plagiarize them, it sounded so erudite!!), to wrap around your bits of three dishes: 1) some seriously funky lentils, 2) some seriously tasty spinach, and 3) some incredibly bizarre "Somali chili" that just has to be fought over, so I recommend that 4 people order 2 portions. This is where the Italian influence can be seen, and also you can get PASTA instead of rice, but DO NOT MAKE THAT MISTAKE. GET THE RICE YO!!

Now, what's funny is that they also have Steak and Cheese (w/ fries) on the menu, so I am gonna try that for fun next time I go there.

I have been looking for Somali food ever since I moved to this corner of Maine, never could I find anything in Lewiston, so that you can find something in Portland is just the bees knees. I hope they do well enough business to stay open, and I also hope that the mom in the back keeps up her magic.

3/19/2017

Several weeks ago a Somali friend suggested I try the restaurant, so I put it on our "restaurant todo list".  It started out a little rough because the entrance/storefront is not what one might call inviting.  So much so that we walked up to the door, thought it was closed and went back to our car, ready to try the next restaurant on our list.  As my wife was strategizing our route, I looked up a saw a lit sign that said Open.  So we went back and actually tried the door this time :).  We were not disappointed.  

The service was very friendly and the meal was delicious.  The ambiance was non-existent, but I couldn't care less.  For those of you looking for a comparable cuisine, I would say that Indian is quite close.  The dishes were all very flavorful and the naan-like bread was wonderful.

1/16/2017

So delicious and affordable! I'm a little snobby about rice and they cooked their rice perfectly! We had a chicken dish with rice and a side dish of lentils with a small sale. When I called to order, they recommended the samosas and they were amazing! Perfectly seasoned and a delicious dipping sauce with spice and lime. Everything was great. We got takeout, but there is a dining room. It's a little sparse, but pleasant and clean. Maybe in time they will get a little more decorations or things to fill it out and feel a little more homey. They have only been open a month, so I think they are doing very well considering. Check them out! Very friendly and helpful.

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  A shot of the menu..it was yummy!

  A shot of the menu..it was yummy!

9/17/2017

Fantastic hidden gem (quite literally!). Highly recommended to dine in: the servers will love to tell you all about their unique and delicious dishes! Great place for take out too, once you fell in love with the food ate in person :)

8/22/2017

Excellent food, prices, and service! The traditional tea is fantastic, and the flavor of the dishes in general was great.
If I didn't live down in NH, I would be by constantly!

12/28/2016

• First to Review

The space is sparse the food is incredible.  Eight of us ordered almost everything on the menu.  Each dish had it's own specific spicing .  Nothing tasted the same and the textures also varied.  
The restaurant has only been open for about a week and a half however the owners have been cooking for a very long time.  Many family members were present and exceedingly friendly.  We didn't eat in we took our food home.  Next time we will have the whole, eat in, experience.  This is my new favorite!

8/2/2017

Best Somali food in town, my favorite is rice and lamb. I also like the anjeera and beer (liver)

8/13/2017

New favorite!! Excellent food, friendly people, new flavors. Mango smoothie and Somali tea both excellent, homemade bread....so good! Very laid back atmosphere. Wish we could have lingered for a couple of hours.

7/25/2017

Amazing food, amazing value, served to you by friendly humble people, enthusiastic to share their culture and delicious food with you.  The kind of business I'm happy to support.

4/8/2017

Abdul, killing it with customer service. We had the sampler plate and a couple samosas. I'd recommend the lamb, rice, samosas, and tea. The rest was good but you won't be sad if you go with these recommendations.

Only tip is they should update the menus and times of operation.

Thank i had a great time.

1/19/2017

I'd never had Somali food before I came here, but based on this place I can say it's delicious.  The restaurant is quite spacious and feels a bit like a community hall.  We came on a Thursday evening and were the only ones there until another couple came in an hour later.  The menu is pretty small and there was only one vegetarian item on it, which I ordered.  The dish was Anjeeri Amhaari which consisted of a plate stacked high with bread similar to Ethiopian injiri (but less spongy and more crepe-like) accompanied with three bowls that contained lentils, a red sauce with a hard boiled egg, and cooked spinach.  The meal was super tasty!  The red sauce was essentially a really rich tomato sauce that I wouldn't hesitate to put on any pasta.  The lentils were well spiced and flavorful.  The spinach was similar to Indian saag and also quite good.  My wife had a beef sambusa and the chicken and goat dish which came with a giant helping of rice and a salad.  She enjoyed the meal and was particularly partial to the sambusa and the chicken.  Both of our meals were quite large and filling so we were able to take a lot of leftovers home with us yet the bill was only $30 so it was definitely a good deal.  Our waiter was super friendly too, which was a plus.  We're pretty psyched this place is in our neighborhood and we hope to make it one of our regular spots.