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    Mama Wale’s Rice

    4.2 (202 reviews)
    ModerateAfrican
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    Order Mama Wale’s Rice Takeout or Delivery

    Mama Wale’s Rice Photos

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    MAMA WALE’S RICE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Mama Wale’s Rice

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    She N.

    This has to be the most disgusting old tasting African food I have ever tasted. I didn't even finish it and if gave me a stomach virus. I will never return to this place

    Vegetarian option with Fufu
    Ed K.

    Nigerian restaurant in the Mo Valley Mall food court. Flavorful food. Decent portions. Several meat and vegetarian options. Excellent service.

    Egusi, fufu, Chicken (diced) Jollof Rice Bowl
    Rose G.

    It's in the mall but that doesn't mean much because it was still very nice to eat there & it was so delicious, the egusi was vegetarian and so flavorful. The fufu was soft, was very fresh, & a perfect texture. The rice was flavorful & the chicken so good. The staff was very friendly, and though one of our egusi was a bit colder than we'd like, they were so apologetic and quickly warmed it up for us and it was perfect. The spicy one is so delicious but I couldn't take more than a few bites because i can't handle spice but my boyfriend loved it and he said it wasn't spicy at all; the non spicy one was just as good.

    Nathalie

    The food was DELICIOUS. I drove 40 mins, and i would do it again! I got egusi ( spicy ) and fufu. The service was great, unfortunately it's in a dying mall food court. I hope she gets her own restaurant!

    My first time trying this rice bowl with chicken, VERY GOOD :) :) :)
    Owen K.

    If you've never tried Mama Whales Nigerian Kitchen, stop by at the Moreno Valley mall food court. The service is great and the food is even better. My first time trying this type of cuisine. They will give you a sample, that's all it took for me. I'll definitely be back to try the other dishes.

    Pounded Yam (Fufu) Goat (Egusi) side note the goat is gamey
    Bridgette Q.

    I gave it a low rating due to the fact that it doesn't let you know anywhere or the website is not updated. The building is actually in the mall and it's just a little stand in the food court her options on her online menu are not comparable to what she actually offers. She only offers rice bowls. It's kind of like a panda express style. If we're just sitting there it's over seasoned. I don't know if that's just typical African food definitely not for me. The food food taste like mashed potatoes. It was an experience, but definitely will not go back. For these two items the esgui and goat with the beef fried rice came out to $40.63 I say if you never had try at least but there might be a restaurant that offer fresh food

    dry stew beef
    Alicia K.

    so to start off. looks like they recently moved, they're now located in the mall's food court area. me and my boyfriend spent 10 mins driving around the area trying to find it. we go in, and it doesn't look promising. it seemed like she was getting annoyed that we ordered a lot of food: two egusi plates with fufu and a meat pie. but for close to 60 dollars- it wasn't a lot of food. the beef from my plate was very dry, and why does my boyfriend's plate look like it has more food when they're supposed to be the same?! when we were first given our ordered, she forgot to give us the fufu This was my first time trying nigerian food, did i wanna be in the mall food court eating off my fingers... no not really.

    The best egusi I've tried
    Stephanie N.

    My favorite place to get egusi and fufu. The best I've tried. The egusi is flavorful, and not fishy like most egusi I've tried. You also get an option for spicy or no spice. My son picked up for me so I can't comment on ambiance or service yet. But it was easy to order and food was made fast for pick up. I can't wait to come back and try their other dishes.

    HY W.

    I rarely leave negative reviews but I received very poor customer service and I think the owner should be made aware because the employee I dealt with is going to make the business lose further money. I arrived 3/13 around 5:40 pm hoping to use a $5 off birthday coupon I received via email. I had no idea this restaurant relocated much further from me so my GPS took me all the way to Moreno valley mall which I live an hour from. I showed the older lady who was sitting by the cashier area my email and she kept saying she knew nothing about it, nobody told her and refused to help me. I told her to ask hee manager and she said she is off. I kindly asked can she call her manager because I drove an hour away for my visit. She says she doesn't want to bother her. She also kept saying cashier is not around... Well then how do you sell food? What I extremely disliked about her service was her attitude: she was never eager to help. I noticed the machine to self-order said Toast Tab and had a selection on screen that said redeem rewards so I decided I'll just self-order myself. All this time the older lady said not to mess up the machine... She even scolded me when I tried to scan my rewards barcode from email telling me not to mess anything up. She never once offered to help or check the machine herself. I should've never even spoke to her in the first place because it turns out the self-order Toast Tab kiosk was super simple to use the moment I added my order and scanned my email barcode. I wish I was able to avoid the ordeal with her. She never apologized for how she acted when the transaction went through. The only nice thing she did was offering me samples of both the spicy and non spicy egusi when I wasn't sure which to get. The mounted screens were turned off so it looks like the restaurant was closed. The foot traffic was very low Thursday evening so I really hope the owner has a good conversation with the older lady on how to improve her customer service, otherwise the business is going to be hemorrhaging money from her lack of effort with customers. 1 star review but bumped to 2 stars because the food was good.

    spicy Traditional ( Fufu & Egusi, eba, Amala)
    Shigufa S.

    this was my first time trying fufu and spicy egusi soup and I actually have not stopped thinking about it since! will be stopping by here again soon. quick service and very conveniently located next to the entrance to the mall food court.

    Pounded Yam (Fufu) Chicken (fried) 3pcs
    Celine T.

    First time trying this dish and it was really good! They served the egusi soup with a generous amount of chicken and the pounded yam was really soft (we asked for med spicy but it wasn't spicy at all) will definitely be back to try other dishes on the menu when we're in the area

    Shrimp egusi Traditional ( Fufu & Egusi, eba, Amala)
    Camie J.

    1st time trying Nigerian food it was delicious can't wait to try more things on the menu. Customer service was good everyone was friendly and helpful.

    All bread beef meat pie. Dry at the beginning of the day.

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    Business owner information

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    Mama Wale D.

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    11 months ago

    My first time having fufu and it was an amazing experience. With Vegetarian opinions made it so delicious and unforgettable.

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Mama Wale’s Rice

    Is there a larger size I can order for the Egusi soup?

    Yes

    View All 3 Questions

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    This small shop is worth visiting to have some delicious Nigerian food. If you're looking for an…read moreinteresting place to take a friend, this is a great choice. Portions are generous and there is plenty of outdoor seating and parking in the area. There are a couple of indoor tables, but I'd recommend going when it's nice out so you can sit at the picnic tables in the middle of the traffic circle out front and watch the planes on final approach to SNA. It does get a bit loud since the airport is so close by. You order at the register and the food can take a little bit to come out depending on what dishes are ready to go. I decided on goat as a traditional option and went with the non-spicy jollof rice. The cashier also offered their habanero sauce with a warning about how hot it is. I'm not sure what the greens were, but they were mild and not bitter like collard greens. The plantains were a nice sweet treat to round out the meal.

    I've really wanted to like this place more…read more I don't usually give bad reviews, especially to small local businesses but here we are. I came here because I've been wanting to try Nigerian food for the longest time. I ordered through doordash their beef egusi that came with fufu. It was about $28 for one portion. They put the beef on the side and it was dry AF. The flavor was okay but it was difficult to swallow since it was so dry. The egusi unfortunately had a strong fishy smell to it that was off putting. The fufu was probably the best thing there. I also gave some to two other girls to try and they felt the same. Unfortunately I was very disappointed in everything and didn't even finish my meal. That is rare for me. I also didn't like that when I came my order wasn't ready. I think they didn't even see my order. This place is small and casual. The two ladies working there were nice. The foods look pre-made. They also sell some grocery items in store. There is a few tables and chairs inside and outside. It's located in a business area by the round about.

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    Been wanting to try Ethiopian food for the longest time and finally got the chance to! We ordered…read morethe beef and veggie combo platter. It says it feeds 2 people but honestly this could've easily fed 4 people. We had a good amount of leftovers. The beef and veggies on the platter were delicious! They were all well seasoned, flavorful and tender. The only thing my flavor palette couldn't get used to was the sourness of the injera. It's supposed to have a slightly sour flavor from the ingredients that it's made with. It's healthy though! Has a lot of probiotics and fiber. Service was excellent. He was kind and attentive. Our server was the only one working and all of the tables were full. The restaurant is a bit on the smaller end, with about 10-12 tables. It can get packed quickly since this place is popular. There is parking out front in a shared lot with other businesses. Would recommend if you've been curious about trying!

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    Abyssinia Restaurant

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    Been trying some Ethiopian food lately and glad we found this place!…read more Came here with couple friends because I saw that the traditional combo is a type of food that you want to share, although I saw some people enjoyed their combo alone. It's very healthy and flavorful dish and it's vegetable based. Recommended to add additional meat dishes if you're craving more. Their injera bread (some sort of crepes) is something that you eat with, and I'm telling ya, you'll get addicted pretty quick ! The owner is nice and the staff that help us also nice. He recommended different type of beers as well, so we got to try them. They are very interesting. They have plenty of Ethiopian decorations and pictures all over the restaurant. Parking is plenty in the plaza.

    Lunch at Abyssinia felt a little like visiting another country...except it didn't require a…read morepassport or even a freeway. From Huntington Beach, it was just a surface street drive straight north to a quiet corner of Anaheim. I came with a buddy who had never tried Ethiopian food before, while this was my second or third experience. Since he's vegetarian, he ordered the Vegetarian Special, a colorful vegan platter with lentils, okra, cabbage, collard greens and several other flavorful, well-spiced dishes. He really enjoyed the variety because every section had a different flavor and texture. Everything is served with injera, the soft, spongy and slightly tangy Ethiopian flatbread. It arrives underneath the food as well as rolled up on the side. You tear off a piece and use it to scoop up everything--even the salad. No forks appeared, so we committed to the experience and ate with our fingers. I ordered the Awaze Lamb Tibs, featuring tender pieces of lamb cooked with onions, peppers, tomatoes and Ethiopian spices. The lamb was flavorful, nicely seasoned and complemented the injera well. My only rookie mistake was eating so much injera that I started getting full while I still had lamb left. At that point, I wasn't quite sure how to eat the remaining meat without wrapping it in even more bread. A fork would have come in handy, but I managed to get by. Apparently, Ethiopian dining requires both cultural appreciation and a touch of caveman skills. The owner initially came across as a little brisk, but it soon became obvious why: he appeared to be running the entire show himself; cooking, serving and handling the dining room during a lunch rush. Once things slowed down, he stood beside our table and shared some of his story and his philosophy about hard work, quality food, gratitude and the blessings of this country. He turned out to be a thoughtful and interesting man, and that conversation became one of the highlights of our visit. The restaurant is tucked into the corner of an ordinary-looking shopping center, but the inside has genuine character, with photographs of Ethiopia, cultural decorations and collected pieces throughout the room. I could imagine how lively it must feel on a busy evening with Ethiopian families celebrating over traditional food and drinks. Abyssinia offers good-quality food, an engaging owner and a cultural experience you don't get at the average restaurant. Definitely give it a try when you want to do something different. Ethiopia may be an airplane ride away, but this experience is only a surface-street drive to Anaheim.

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    Took my Lady Jane to Mozambique for her birthday. We wanted a Restaurant that had a nice view of…read morethe ocean. Made a reservation and arrived a little early. We were placed in a table on the roof that had a great view of the ocean and Laguna Beach. We were greeted by our waiter Juan and informed him about my Ladies birthday. He came back with a card wishing my lady a Happy Birthday with a Toucan on the cover. A nice Indaba Chardonnay from South Africa was ordered for my Lady. A nice sized pour of this wine and a glass of ice with a spoon was promptly delivered. We ordered the Seafood platter for two. Our dinner was delivered in a large platter with grilled lobster tails, butterflied prawns, shrimp, scallops and fried squid strips. Accompanying the seafood were bowls of hot melted butter and peri peri pepper sauce. The chefs knew how to properly cook seafood as everything was done to perfection. I am a home cook and a fisherman so I know how to cook fish and shellfish correctly. Enjoying the view we slowly ate our meal. Our water Juan was very attentive but not to the point of hovering over us. After we finished eating a complementary Birthday dessert was brought to our table with a lighted candle. My Lady made her wish and blew out the candle. The dessert was Mozambiques famous Banana Bread Pudding and a cup of vanilla ice cream. The bread pudding was covered in toasted macadamia nuts, blueberries, strawberries and boysenberries. The dessert was like the dinner delicious. Each piece of fruit was perfectly ripe and sweet. The meal, the atmosphere and the service deserve the 5 Star rating. I will definitely recommend Mozambique to friends and family and my lady and I are already discussing when to return there again for dinner!

    Had reservations with my best friend celebrating our 10 years of friendship. From beginning to end…read morethe food and customer service was great. Upon sitting down, waters were brought to the table and consistently refilled. We started with their ceviche, which was fresh and cooked well. Even taste through every bite. For entrees we had their Salmon and the lemon chili linguini (added chicken). The salmon had a good sear to it and the taste was amazing, cooked perfect to my liking- not over cooked at all, soft with every bite. The veggies and potatoes served with the salmon were exceptional as well. The green sauce served with it was so complimenting to both the protein and sides. My guest stated the pasta was delicious as well. "It had plenty of flavor and spices without overwhelming the palate. The pasta was perfectly cooked while the chicken complimented the meal- as it is wood smoked and still moist." Soon after we were done eating, I believe the manager greeted us asking how our meal was and if we were celebrating anything in particular. We shared we were celebrating our friend anniversary and he surprised us with their Portuguese hot butter pudding. The dessert was a perfect ending to the meal! It was a warm bread pudding complimented with fresh whipped cream and berries. Each bite melted in your mouth. Along with great customer service, the ambiance is good as well. Since it is rooftop, tables are tightly packed, but we didn't mind it at all. There is still enough room to walk and eat comfortably. A beautiful view is seen from every angle of Laguna as well. The waiters were very prompt and polite, even when busy. They openly accommodated any needs we requested. Definitely will be coming back, and recommend it to others.

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    Seems like a super underrated spot! To the point I don't know if I want to add to the dazzling…read morereviews because we felt spoiled having the chef almost to ourselves on a Sunday lunch time. We had lunch/brunch here and had an amazing experience! Andrew was such a spectacular server and even brought a great white wine to go with my ceviche. He accommodated to our party which had children and just provided just such a great experience for my parents 40th anniversary brunch. The menu has a lot of variety without being overwhelming or excessive (I don't trust restaurants that have too much on their menu lol). I ordered oysters, which were on the small side but the flavors they placed on top were amazing. I followed with an entree of ceviche which was generous, DELICIOUS, and nourishing. Our table ordered an array of items: Portuguese scramble, Shakshuka, Hugo's rotos con Jamon, the branzino, breakfast pizza, Italian breakfast sandwich, French toast- each one exceeding all expectations. Playlist was repetitive but fun for me, a millennial drinking mimosas and white wine lol.

    I love when you go back to a place and the staff remembers you! The bartender recognized my husband…read moreand came to greet him and shake his hand! Love that! Once we were seated, he came over and asked us what we would like to drink and suggested making a special beverage and it was delicious! Food was good and our server was very attentive and took great care of our party of 8. My favorite dish of the night was my hamachi collar bone! It was light and the watermelon salad was refreshing. The reason for the 4 stars was the pricey drink prices and they boxed up our chicken but somehow mixed it up and we came home with a dessert instead!

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    Awaze Ethio Fusion and Restaurant

    Awaze Ethio Fusion and Restaurant

    4.8
    (344 reviews)
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    I ate at Awaze Ethio Fusion restaurant for a work retreat and it was wonderful! They had small…read moretables and plenty of chairs so everyone was able to share the food and eat with their hands easily. The servers made sure we had enough injera bread for our entire party and explained each side dish. The Sampler combo was amazing and everything had a great balance of acidity and savory taste. The coffee was more on the acidic side and it was a great palate cleanser to start eating our dish! It is a bit hot inside so bring some sort of hand fan if you decide to eat indoors.

    Overall a solid place if you're craving Ethiopian food. I gave it a four star because I've had…read morereally good Ethiopian food in Washington DC, but honestly if you live in the local area, this is a good choice. Food: 8/10 we ordered the Awaze Veggie combo special, mild Awaze Tibs, and Ethio Fusion salad. Everything was delicious and seasoned well. My only issue was that the beef was a bit dry Service: 10/10 The server was really welcoming and kind. For some reason, we weren't able to use the bathroom but we needed to wash our hands so the server brought soap, water, and a bucket for us to wash our hands so I appreciated that. He would also come to Our table to check in on us so overall awesome customer service Vibes: walking into the restaurant feels like you're visiting an Ethiopian family's house haha but with a welcoming vibe. The staff was watching Football with his friends/family while we were eating so it's a very interesting informal atmosphere. Also they had a lot of small sized circular table so good for small groups, but for big groups, you should call restaurant ahead of time to make that arrangement. The outside of the restaurant looked a little worn down, and all the buildings looked old, but I didn't really mind it. Parking: the plaza was kinda dead on a Sunday evening so there was plenty of parking

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    Spacious, empty on a Tues night
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    Exterior. Second floor
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    Mama Wale’s Rice - african - Updated August 2026

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