My rating is based solely on the food--and the food alone. It is absolutely amazing! We tried the meatloaf, smothered pork chops, yams, black-eyed peas, mac and cheese, and greens. Out of all the sides, the mac and cheese was hands down the best. My least favorite were the greens. Overall, the food was delicious, fresh, and well-seasoned. You all have that part mastered, and I sincerely mean that! However, the lack of organization made the experience stressful. There seem to be too many ordering channels, and the kitchen struggles to keep up with fulfilling orders in a reasonable time. I waited an hour, even after placing my order online and receiving confirmation that it was ready. To improve the experience, I'd suggest limiting third-party delivery services like DoorDash and Uber Eats during peak hours, as those orders seem to slow down overall service. Adding catering orders to the mix only adds to the challenge. Most importantly, communication is key! A simple "We're out of that item" or "It'll be about 30 minutes until the next batch is ready" would go a long way. A quick "Thank you so much for your patience" can make a big difference. Also, managing the line better so staff knows what customers are waiting for would help. Again, you all have the food down. I truly hope to see better organization implemented so you can stick around--because we need great soul food in the IE! read more

Messi Soul Kitchen - Mac n cheese - Soul Food Near Me - Riverside, California

My coworker told me about this place since I just moved to the IE. Was in a soulful mood so I decided to stop by. Didn't know what to order but as I waited the two people in front of me ordered their plates. The first got a pot roast plate and it was spilling out of the container. I knew it was on after that. The second guy ordered a meatloaf plate and she put two huge hunks of meat in his container, no Diddy. I knew fa sho he would be eating for 2 days. I decided on the pot roast plate, yams and macaroni and cheese. Spilling out of the styrofoam container!! I ordered my wife the oxtail plate with yams and greens. There were only 2 nice young ladies to serve so it did take some time. I suggest a call in if you're in a hurry. Small unassuming place near La Sierra university. Not a sit down type of place. More designed for take out. Delicious food and great portions. Bravo! read more

Messi's is so delicious!! I havnt tried anything that i havnt enjoyed The red beans are my favorite i got a medium side of red beans with my order as well. This is also my first time having messi's delivered , you can order through their website either pick up or delivery. The order arrived at the correct time and my order was correct and nothing was missing or incorrect. their website is easy to navigate and pretty convenient because messi's always has a line because their food is worth the wait but having it delivered is super convenient. i definitely recommend coming here you can taste the love and effort they put into your food ! thank you messi's soul kitchen. read more

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Mom? What's for dinner tonight? Well I hope you're hungry sugar, cause we're having pot roast with potatoes and carrots, rice, green beans, and cornbread. Aw mom, you know how much I love your cooking. I know punkin, that's why I do it. That's what it's like at Messi. Home cooking. Good hearty comfort food. And a lot of it! You won't be fighting at the table for the last morsel of meat, cause there's plenty to go around. Not what it was like for me when I was growing up. Ten kids huddled around a rickety table, hoping that there'll be enough gravy left to sop up. But it was home cooking, and that is at the root of this place. My pot roast was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Almost, I say almost, too much salt. Its edge was there, but it didn't bite. The green beans are absolutely perfect. I wish that I had gotten more. Cornbread is one of my favorites and I wasn't disappointed. A touch of sweet and a lot of corn flavor. I was a bit disappointed that they were out of meatloaf, which was the main reason I was there in the first place. I got a hot tip that there had been a meatloaf sighting in my whereabouts, so I had to seek it out. Next time Alex J, next time. The ladies running the restaurant are very nice. Like family. I only have one sister. I wouldn't mind having a couple more. Quick Tip: Get there early or call in if you're looking for the loaf. It seems to be the popular dish. Even more so, now that I'm in the loop. read more

Messi Soul Kitchen - Mom, I'm home - Soul Food Near Me - Riverside, California

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I cannot fully express my family's disappointment! My dad loves to support small businesses so he decided to order a pan of oxtails and rice for thanksgiving. He spoke with the owner received a quote and planned to pick up the oxtails on thanksgiving day. Not only did they keep pushing the time back but they over charged him compared to what he was quoted. The pan was not full of oxtails, rather it was full of gravy and fat! On top of this travesty they charged us a $61.50 catering fee for an order we picked up!!! I am simply disgusted. I plead with the owner to hire better staff. No way we should have encountered such hostility on a lovely day. read more

Messi Soul Kitchen - Oxtails - Soul Food Near Me - Riverside, California

If you are supposed to be open till seven You should be open till 7 Love your food. Lot of gas time wasyed read more

amazing amazing service and food ! after having technical issues with their delivery service, one of their amazing staff members offered to bring the food to my house and she did ! thank you guys so much for the amazing food and outstanding service ! read more

Messi Soul Kitchen - Baked chicken with gravy. The gravy they give it on the side ! - Soul Food Near Me - Riverside, California

I give this location 10/10! The food was absolutely delicious! We had the pot roast, mac and cheese, cabbage, and smothered pork chops. Very well seasoned. Friendly staff! Ambiance was nice, there was nice music playing in the background. We will definitely be back! read more

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Food is very good but they do get busy and sometimes there's a wait in line to order.

I love love love love love this spot!! Everything is SUPER good there (except the pork chops which were really tough but I think it may have just been an off day, honestly). I ALWAYS get the oxtail with yams and Mac and cheese and always eat every last morsel. The servings are huge so it's usually a 2 meal serving for me (unless my kid gets to my leftovers first). The pot roast and meatloaf are also delish. We've not tried the chicken but we will next time! I'd eat there every single day if I could! It's a small family owned business and EVERYONE is sooooooooooooo nice and friendly. It feels like you're going to a friends house for dinner for reals. There's ALWAYS a line so be ready to wait but it's soooooooo worth it. You can also call in your order or place it online. GO TRY IT, YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!!!! read more

Get over here quick and try their amazing, awesome, tasty, delicious food! Family atmosphere and friendly, caring staff. Service with a smile from ALL employees. Everyone made my family feel right at home. Even other guests that came in seemed very happy and would speak about how great the food is at this location. My parents and the owner shared a great conversation. The food, service and price is so good that you'll want to continue returning all the time. read more

We ordered greens, pot roast, mac & cheese, yams, rice & gravy with sweet cornbread. The food was well seasoned and quite filling. We ordered family portions for a dinner party of eight. It was awesome. Family came in from Texas, and they were quite happy!!! Thank you, Carmen, for taking my last minute order and making it fabulous! We will do this again!!! read more

Beautiful Service. Don't think you're going to be in and out of there. They treat each order, Special! It's definitely worth the wait! We had the Smothered Pork Chops, Mack n cheese, and Collards! Pork chops were falling off the bone! The only reason I couldn't give them a 5 star rating is because they opened 15 minutes late! It didn't matter after we got our food! Healthy Portions! We Definitely Suggest Giving Them a Chance! We'll definitely be coming back! Remember they might run out of food so get there early! read more

Wow. You got to try if you're in the area Warning that long lines out the door are common. So be willing to wait for some great food read more

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Down Home Feeling..... Comfort Food to the FINIST !!! Oxtail Dinner is $24.99 with two sides,, everyone orders this.. baked chicken, pork chops, meatloaf, pot roast etc.. cone on in and see for your self plus they have deserts!!!! read more

Messi Soul Kitchen - Menu Daily - Soul Food Near Me - Riverside, California

Wow! I went into Messi not fully knowing what to expect. When I walked in I was one of three people in the restaurant, within 5 minutes the line was to the door. I ordered the full combo (1 meat, 2 sides, rice and cornbread) with meatloaf, Mac & cheese and yams. Watching her dish out portions I was amazed. This was enough food for two meals if not three. The taste took me back to home cooking. Best soul food I have found in a while. read more

The way that this place treats it's patrons, I don't understand how they are still in business.. The little young ladies working the front counter definitely need more customer service training. The food is mediocre it's only so sought after because it one of the very few soul food places in the Riverside area. If this place was located anywhere else I can almost guarantee that no one would tolerate it and the small portion sizes. I don't think I'll spend my money here. Sometimes you have to drive a little further to get the food and service you deserve when you are spending your hard earned money. read more

I'm new to the area. I found out about this place today and decided to give it a try. I walked inside the shop, and there was a small line of 5 when I got there. I chatted with the gentleman in front of me who said he was a regular. He said the line is usually twice as long and recommended getting here 10 minutes before opening time lol. I asked him what he would recommend, he jokingly said everything lol. There's no wrong answer he said.... I was helped right around the 15th minute mark. The girl at the counter was sweet and welcoming. Didn't catch her name. She kindly showed me all the meats and sides before ordering. Everything looked so good! I ordered the pot roast, mac & cheese, and black eyes beans. Came with pice of cornbread. The pot roast I thought was AMAZING. Loved the sauce, it was tender, and flavorful. The mac & cheese and beans were pretty good. The cornbread was excellent. I'm definitely coming back to try the other meats read more

We drove all the way from Lake Elsinore to eat here, and I am so glad we did! I ordered the ox tail. It's fall of the bone delicious. It comes with rice and gravy. I had to stop myself from finishing it cause I allegedly I am on diet. ;-) My partner ordered the meat loaf. I don't know what happened, but the minute I got distracted his plate was empty. He devoured it. The big servings justify their pricing. The owner is so nice too. We will be back for sure! read more

Messi Soul Kitchen - Ox tail yummilicious! - Soul Food Near Me - Riverside, California

I REALLY wanted to love this place, especially because it's a black owned business. However, I must be honest..I will not be returning. 1. I waited in line between 20-30min (not sure why it took so long but it did). I thought no worries, I will ne patient. 2. Ordered oxtails, was told an hour wait. No worries, I will take the pot roast. Was then told there was no rice. Yikes..okay I will skip the rice. 2. Paid full price for my plates to be told, there was no cornbread either (I would need to wait 20min). I'm understanding but goodness this was my first time here and it doesn't seem like the kitchen is ran well. The young lady at the front smiled and apologized but it was such a disappointing experience. read more

1st time what a disappointment, I called on the phone told them I'd be there in 15 minutes and inquired if they had oxtails. I got there in 17 minutes. Waited in line for 10 minutes only to be told they don't have any or had residual left then was given an excuse that they only received half of the order today. If I had known the circumstances I would've placed an order on phone. Maybe it's just me and I have unrealistic expectations of what A+ customer service is. It appears the ox tails are popular. Saturday 3:15 Cleanliness was good read more

Messi Soul Kitchen - Soul Food Near Me - Riverside, California

Okay, so I saw this place on Instagram, and I always wanted to try it. Y'all! This place did not disappoint okay! First mistake we stood in the pick up line... that was our bad! Then they had Pandora going it was a vibe! So we looked at the options and it was hard to make a decision but I ain't NEVER turning down no oxtails, so that's what I got...and then...they wasn't even stingy yall they filled up my plate! I had leftovers for 3 days lol...so we was ear hustling and the cook had said she had ribs in the back...and yes I ordered them too THEN she said she was fryin fish AND let us get a sample!!! And guess what, Yup! I ordered that too! The fish was seasoned down!!! Had to eat my fish plate there walked up outta there stuffed!!! Had to save oxtails for another day but my leftovers was BAWMB!!! Lol absolutely coming back here! I would say the only downside was they charged me for 3 fish plates instead of 2 but me just happy with my expectations from this place I just paid and didn't care. Lol Wait wait wait...I forgot 1 thing! Yall they get they desserts from Sweet Red Peach!!!! If you dont know, yall need to hop on it! read more

Messi Soul Kitchen - Oxtails and Rice, Mac n Cheese, Yams, and Cornbread - Soul Food Near Me - Riverside, California

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Oh my God! My e and my guy just tried this would food restaurant for the first time. We both ordered the meatloaf with collard greens and Mac n Cheese, a side of candied yams with cornbread. The food was Delicious. The corn bread was just like grandma use to cook moist and buttered like cake. We are already thinking of what we are going to order on our next visit. If you're searching for good soul food no need to drive to LA it's right here in the Inland Empire. Riverside, Ca. Thank you Messi Soul Food for Sunday Dinner read more

Food was good just needed to slow down on the salt in the Mac&Cheese. But over all the food was great service was fast, and Ambiance was great. read more

I got the pork chops with gravy Mac and cheese and the yams. I think the pork chops could've been more tender. I'm willing to try this place again next time I'm in the area. Maybe the oxtails next time. The food is good though read more

The food was phenomenal! Don't come unless you're hungry--they serve a lot. Both plates were $40, which is a great deal. You'd think the food would be heavy, but it's actually not. Still, the portions are so big there's no way you'll finish everything, so expect to take plenty home. The customer service was excellent--super friendly and accommodating. Highly recommended if you're a fan of soul food!. Chill ambiance. read more

The food is delicious. The owner is truly kind and wonderful but consistency and efficiency are key. A competitor that opens on time, maintains sufficient food supply, provides better customer service and streamlines operations so customers aren't stuck waiting while DoorDash orders are prioritized could easily gain an edge. Larger portions, more variety (such as cabbage and dressing), and a custom mobile app other than DoorDash to avoid long lines would also improve the experience. For instance, I arrived at 12:45 PM/"3rd in line" but they didn't t open until 1:19. I didn't receive my order until 1:58pm. This is something that happens often while they prioritize DoorDash orders. I waited another 30 minutes because she literally gave my oxtail order to a DoorDasher and when I requested that she fulfill my macaroni portions so they don't run out or give it to a DoorDasher her reply was, "your trying to be sarcastic". I'll continue to support them for now, but if something better comes along, I'll be ready. Stay tuned!!! 3:27pm The issue was not the portion size of the oxtails, which is why it was not mentioned in my review. The problem was that your employee was rude when I asked her to pack the macaroni before giving it to a DoorDash order just as she did with my oxtails or probably the other people in line who were behind me. Her response was, "You're trying to be sarcastic" and I was not. Furthermore, when I did not notice that she had packed the oxtails, I said, "Oh!, You packed the oxtails." Her response was, "Do you think I packed you air." She was rude, and despite arriving at 1pm and being third in line, I did not receive my full order that cost $184 until 1:58 PM. While I can deal with delays because your system is lacking, I cannot overlook poor customer service. Again, the issue was poor customer service due to the long wait and an extremely rude employee, NOT the portion size of the oxtails. read more

Listen, if you're looking for home style soul food like granny makes this is your place. I came late one Sunday so there weren't many options, but there was pot roast, which isn't my favorite until I had Messis's! Seasoned to perfection and tender. Mac good, green beans great, red kool aid even better! This is the best soul Food in the IE! read more

Food is excellent, service is top notch. Warm, friendly, family atmosphere. They aim to please.

The food is good when they have enough! I went yesterday at 3:30 pm and they were out of food! They open at 1 pm. They told me they had a rush of people - unacceptable- was very disappointed. They need to prepare better - you don't run out of food. read more

Wanted some good soul food so I Pulled up to Messi to get me some Sunday dinner...it was not to crowded on this day so I ordered the pork chop dinner with Mac and cheese and yams and it was so good the pork chops was juicy and delicious next I got the meat loaf wit greens, red beans and rice, cabbage, Mac & cheese and banana pudding and I must say this is the best soul food in riverside hands down she even hooked us up with a extra banana pudding would have gave 5 stars but the meatloaf was salty but other than that'll everything else was A1 so if you in riverside u must stop buy..... read more

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So disappointed it is closed/Out of business! The website should be updated. We drove over an hour and a half to see that it was not only closed but out of business. read more

With soo few soul food restaurants around this place is excellent. Some may complain about the price but I think the prices are reasonable. For a soul food restaurant to stay in business they have to charge, it takes a lot of time and money to prepare food like this and don't forget rent. Service was great. Ambiance good read more

I don't usually write yelp reviews, but I gotta give credit where credit is due. My husband is a true foodie. He is also always on the hunt for good SOUL FOOD. Me on the other hand, I like to stick with what I know and I'm also a vegetarian. My husband ordered smothered pork chops, pot roast with rice and gravy, mac & cheese, yams, and greens. Yah! True "big back" as my kids say lol. I ordered sides only. yams, mac & cheese, and greens. And no the greens didn't have neck bone or ham, which I thought was nice because I'm a vegetarian but also scared me because I know that good greens are cooked with neck bone and/or ham. Needless to say, my husband rated everything 10/10. I rate the greens and the other sides a 10/10. It was literally so good, top-tier. Great portions & customer service was very friendly. A must try! We will definitely be going back. I would have took a picture, but by the time I thought of writing the review, the food had been gone. read more

The food here is excellent!! When you walk up to the door, you see a line all the way out onto the sidewalk. Let me tell you that is advertisement enough for this place is really good.! I was able to connect with the owner and I had my grandmother's repast here last year. She did a fantastic job and made us feel like family. I wish I had some pictures of the food, but I gotta tell you, it went in my belly before I had a chance to shoot off any. read more

This place is awesome. U want home cooked soul food this is your spot!! Everything on menu hits.

Great food. The meatloaf, the chicken and the pot roast were slammin!!! The sides were great as well. I had the yams and the mac. Music was great, place was really clean and the amount of food you get for the price is amazing. Will be back for sure! read more

I had the pleasure of eating here while visiting a friend. The pot roast over rice, mac and cheese and cornbread were absolutely delicious. Very savory, satisfying and definitely made my soul happy. read more

Messi Soul Kitchen - pot roast over rice and mac n cheese - Soul Food Near Me - Riverside, California

This business has completely went downhill the past few months. They used to give generous portions and seasoned well. This last order will be the last time I order from this place. The Mac and cheese was tasteless, the greens just ok, but at least they served rice this time. Last time they lied and said they ran out but was only giving it to doordash orders. This time they literally gave me NO MEAT. LITERALLY 1 SCOOP of pot roast to where I was scared to eat it cuz half the little scoop was fat. I couldn't believe it! Not to mention there was a dead rat in front of their establishment and nobody cared to remove it. I should have known then that the food wasn't gonna be the same. To have to spend money on food and have to reseason it yourself and not even have enough meat to finish the meal is ridiculous with these prices. DO NOT RECOMMEND read more

Messi Soul Kitchen - Little piece of bland meat they gave me. I'm lucky they gave me rice and cornbread this time - Soul Food Near Me - Riverside, California

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We will be back for sure. The food was excellent! My wife and I went on a Sunday morning. Get there at least 30 minutes before opening, the lines grows early. Our meals were very good, great collard greens, ox tails and pork chops were good. Service was good and friendly. read more

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