Memi's — Restaurant in Richmond

A group of us went to Memi’s for dinner, and it was hands down one of the best dining experiences we’ve had in a while. We wanted to try as much of the menu as possible, so we ordered a bunch of different dishes to share—and honestly, everything was amazing.

We kicked things off with the Dolmas, Gebna Dip, and the Sampler, which set the tone for the night. The dolmas were perfectly seasoned, the gebna dip was rich and creamy, and the sampler gave us a great variety of flavors to start with.

For our mains, we went all out: Hwashi, Combination Platter, Molokhiya with Chicken, Beshamel, Lamb Shank, and Tajin Beef with Potato. Every single dish had something special to offer. The hwashi was incredibly flavorful, the combination platter was perfect for tasting different proteins, and the molokhiya was warm, comforting, and packed with great spices. The beshamel was rich and creamy, the lamb shank was fall-off-the-bone tender, and the tajin beef with potato had that deep, slow-cooked goodness you just can’t rush.

To go with it all, I had the Date Old Fashioned, and it was easily one of the best cocktails I’ve had in a while. The dates added just the right amount of sweetness, complementing the whiskey without overpowering it. Smooth, balanced, and absolutely worth ordering again.

On top of the fantastic food and drinks, the service was top-notch. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely excited about the menu, which made the experience even better. The restaurant itself has a warm, welcoming vibe—perfect for both group outings and a cozy night out.

And to top it all off, the pricing was incredibly reasonable for the quality and portions we got. We left feeling like we got a fantastic meal without breaking the bank, which made the experience even more enjoyable.

If you’re looking for a place with bold flavors, great drinks, an inviting atmosphere, and fair pricing, Memi’s is a must-visit. We’ll...

What can I say about Memi’s in a few words? Delicious food, lovely ambiance and perfect for family and friends or even a date night, great happy hour, and all around an amazing time at a family owned local restaurant. From beginning to end of my friend and I’s visit, we were greeted with smiles, wonderful hospitality, warmth, and could feel the love put into this place. The happy hour is from 3-7 with $7 classic cocktails, $6 wine by the glass, and $5 domestic beers including High Noon. My friend and I both started with a cosmopolitan and the Memi’s Sampler which had hummus, Baba Ganoush, feta cheese served with falafel and pita bread. It was $19, but I thought it was definitely worth it for what we received and how delicious the dips were. The falafel itself was delicious on its own, and I’ve got to say I think it’s def the best falafel in Richmond if not Virginia. I also ordered a mojito later on, both the cosmopolitan and mojito were delicious. I got the Kofta sandwich which was served on pita with a side of fries, and I also ordered a side salad. I HAVE BEEN CRAVING THE KOFTA SINCE I LEFT. I really want it again today so badly, beyond tasty. The spices and meat and ingredients put me on a train to tasty town. The side salad had a light dressing that reminded me of a vinaigrette, simple salad but again very tasty. My friend really enjoyed her Fiteer, she ended up taking half home since it was a good sized portion! Memi herself, which is the very lovely lady that the restaurant is named after, came out to greet everyone and even spoke with us for about 5 minutes or so. She was so sweet and we both just raved about the food and how this was my first time having Egyptian style food. She was a delight to talk to, and it was an honor to meet her. My friend and I both highly recommend this place! I definitely want to try the other items, but man that Kofta was...

We were very excited to try Memi's after reading all the glowing reviews. Unfortunately, we left feeling a bit underwhelmed.

The service was friendly and efficient, with meals arriving very quickly.

The menu is quite intriguing, so we decided to try the hummus as an appetizer, and from the grill, the kofta and chicken. While the hummus was enjoyable, the grilled meats didn’t quite meet our expectations. Both the chicken and kofta were a bit dry for our tastes and lacked the bold, interesting flavors we were hoping for.

We had anticipated more upscale, refined, and memorable flavors.

The ambiance was a bit of a mixed bag. While the restaurant appears to position itself as Egyptian/Mediterranean, the atmosphere felt somewhat inconsistent. There was thematic background music—though mostly techno and fast-paced during our visit—but the large screens displaying football detracted from the overall vibe. It felt like there was too much going on at once.

That said, we recognize Memi's is still a new place, and we’re hopeful it will find its stride. We plan to visit again in a few months to see...