Monasaba

Yemeni restaurants are too few and far between in Orange County, but their numbers and visibility are growing – in part thanks to Yemeni-owned chains that are multiplying in certain parts of the country (Qamaria Coffee, Qahwah House). One such chain, Monasaba, opened a new location in 2021 on the edge of a small Stanton plaza, decorating the fast-casual, counter service restaurant more impressively than many new local restaurants with table service.

We tried a significant fraction of the small Yemeni menu, including shafoot, lamb mandi, chicken mandi, fatta tamr, beef qolaba, Yemeni bread, and for dessert, honey-drizzled bint al-sahn. While the lamb mandi – a giant shank atop a bed of fragrant rice, mixed with almonds, onions, and raisins – was spectacular (perfectly tender and beautifully presented despite being served in a takeout container), and most of the other items were similarly excellent, the shafoot (green herbal yogurt-soaked bread) arrived before everything else, and was so acidic as to set the otherwise wonderful meal off on a weird note.

Despite excellent reviews and food quality that had us dreaming of a return visit, Monasaba silently closed in 2022, initially claiming that the space was under renovation. It was replaced by The Spoon, a dessert and drink shop. Other locations of the chain remain open in Canada, with House of Mandi in Anaheim as the closest alternative nearby.