Mim's is amazing. Pro tip: if you can handle some spiciness, ask for the spicy version of their shawarma.

Favorite "Middle Eastern" place in the cities and the best restaurant near the St Paul U campus by a mile. Great food, really good service, unassuming and unpretentious. Love this place. read more

I went to Mim's on a weekday for lunch. I love myself a good Mediterranean plate and get killer cravings for them... it was a wonder I wasn't licking their door at 8am. Parking kind of blows since it's next to the U. But I parked a few blocks away and I believe that every step earns me a guilt-free bite of pita. It was still fall when I went here, and the sunflowers on the patio were gorgeous. I can't wait to go back in the summer! But it was chilly this day so I ate inside. I ordered at the counter - small beef kabob platter ($6). The man at the counter (possibly the owner) had a big beautiful smile on his face that made me even more happy to be there eating grilled meats. Water and silverware are self-serve, and they bring the food to your table once it's ready. Though there was only one order ahead of me, it took over 15min for my plate to come out. I looooved the variety - kabob, rice, pita, hummus, falafel, and veggies all on one plate! The beef had a great char on it, and the consistency of the hummus was perfect. The pita was very thin, yet still held up when I filled it up. If you're hungry, I don't recommend the small plate. I definitely could have eaten more, especially since it was all so good. I'll be back, Mim! read more

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Delicious food prepared by lovely hosts. Would recommend to anyone. The chicken shawarma is fantastic.

I love Mim's! Amazing food, most friendly staff I have ever met. Their hummus is the best, so as the rice. whenever I get the kabob platter, I will always get half hummus and half rice. Remember my first time there, the staff sincerely wants to know my name and my food preference (because I really CANNOT stand onions). Lamb is usually more chewy. If you don't like chewy meats, I would recommend beef or chicken kabob. Even though the interior is not as fancy or glamorous, I don't go to a restaurant just for the interior design, so who cares. read more

Mim's Cafe - Menu - Middle Eastern Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

The staff is super friendly and I love their falafel wrap! Plenty of creamy hummus inside and the veggies were all really fresh (not limp/bruised or stuff that had been sitting in vinaigrette for hours, which I seem to get every once in a while from mediterranean wrap places). The falafels were crisp and piping hot. Great place to go when I'm at the Saint Paul campus, and pretty reasonably priced. My boyfriend had the schwarma wrap and really liked it too, the meat was well seasoned and didn't have any weird heatlamp taste. read more

Mim's Cafe - Falafel wrap. Plenty of hummus, veg, and super crispy fresh falafel - Middle Eastern Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Love this place! The interior is a little rough around the edges, but the food is delicious. You may wait a little long for food, but when you get it it's GOOD. Favorite is the chicken kabob sandwich. read more

We had the falafel, chicken kabob, and french fries. Delicious food, very reasonable prices, and friendly service. We were able to dine-in, so the food was hot and we didn't need to re-heat a take-out order at home. We'll be back. read more

Hands down the best Mediterranean food I've had in the Twin Cities. The staff are friendly, the food is always fresh and home made, the home made chai tea is the best I've ever had. This was a staple of my college career and I continue to come back whenever I am in the area. read more

Got the meal meant to share. Great value, huge amount of food, and quite tasty to boot!!! I will definitely put this on the list of places I frequent. read more

Mim's Cafe - Got the meal meant to share, and it was HUGE. Great value, and quite a tasty dinner. I will definitely be back. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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One of our favorite restaurants in St Paul. Mims offers tasty and high quality middle eastern foods. We have gone there many times. The food is reliably excellent. Seating is available inside and outside on the large patio. The servings are generous. We especially enjoy the saffron rice, falafel, flatbread and hummus. All the meat choices are high quality. They offer lamb, beef, chicken. Customer service is top notch, always a smile. Great take out too. read more

Chicken kabobs were outstanding. Chicken was moist and had good flavor!!! Don't let the cheap prices fool you the food was excellent.

Best balance of quality and price for Mediterranean food in the Twin Cities. We enjoy their shawarma sandwich with fries (usually to-go), as well as their falafel, hummus, and babaganoush. Fresh, delicious, and made with love! The owners are incredibly kind and remembered us after a few visits - what a special place! read more

I have been here for a few times since last year and I was never disappointed. Very fresh food! Top shelf Shawarma, ( gyro,doner); again, it is not processed or frozen...fresh made daily. Kofte Kebab is great and also falafel. It should be more organized inside of restaurant. Like; tables, dish area... It is ok to park on the road up to 1 hour and free . read more

Mim's Cafe - Homemade Fresh Shawarma! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Delicious, inexpensive middle-eastern food. The "sheik's platter" is highly recommended! read more

Mim's Cafe - Middle Eastern Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Mim's has some of the best falafel in the Twin Cities. I've been to the standards---Falafel King, Holy Land---as well as more than a few smaller venues (Jerusalem's, Abu Nader, Java, Shish Cafe, Lyndale Grill and Grocery, Loon Deli) but Mim's comes out nearly on top for pure freshness, taste and value. The cafe itself is a cozy little spot next to the St. Paul campus of the U. It could stand to be a little bit more sparkly and decorated, but it's decent as it is. I had a falafel sandwich ($4) and a side of fries ($1). The falfel pieces themselves were excellent: fragrant; crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside; loaded with herbs; and not oily. The tahini was also fresh and actually tasted like sesame, which is a departure from the industrial-grade tahini you find in most places. Similarly, the tomatoes and cucumbers in the sandwich also had flavor and didn't seem to be the plastic cafeteria service veggies you find all too often at inexpensive Middle Eastern joints. A couple gripes: the pita was not fluffy enough and seemed more like a triple-thick flour tortilla, rather than a proper pita. It was still tasty, but a bit too flat for my likes. Also, the french fries were super-oily and not crisp in the least (soft french fries are depressing and hard to justify eating). For $4, the falafel sandwich is a great, delicious bargain. I only wish Mim's were not so out of the way; otherwise I'd be there all the time. read more

The falafel has that certain Je Ne Sais Quois! If I spoke Arabic I would use that instead. We've been to Mim's on a couple of occasions, the first time I had the falafel sandwich - other reviewers were right, the pita isn't all that good. My dining companion had the cheeseburger and fries. The fries were or at least seem to be hand cut and great! Our second trip back I had the falafel platter and my dining companion had the schwarma. Both were a large amount of food for a reasonable price. That falafel platter way so fricking good, I keep thinking about it. I'm not falafel expert, but they were crispy on the outside and hot and I can't even describe it on the inside. Herbs and deliciousness over flowed from the falafels. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm. The 2 meals at Mim's were only about $10 total, which included the pop. The service is friendly and quick. A very popular little joint! I'd eat there everyday if possible. read more

Imagine going to a little cafe-deli style place where everyone just seems *exceptionally* happy to make food for you. And not in that weird overbearing way, but in that incredibly friendly, warm, welcoming, "I wanna eat here" way. That's how it is at Mim's, and that definitely pushes it into the soaring 5 star range. The falafels are nicely spiced and the ones I had were more moist than I was expecting considering other reviews. (Pleasantly surprised, there.) The falafel platter is an exceptionally good deal--you get a ton of food--and you can pretty much make yourself 6 small pita sandwiches out of your fixin's. Which is more pita than you need, but you'll eat it anyway because it is *so* good. The chicken gyro and sandwich were also tremendously good--nice and juicy and savory with peppers and cool tzatziki-like sauce. Drinks are by-the-bottle and if you get non-bottled water you get an adorable 1970s/80s tupperware cup to fill at the water station. It's like being a kid all over again! I am anxious to try the lamb/beef gyro since I've been on a bit of a Quest For the Perfect Gyro lately (hey, we all gotta have our causes). Next time, Mim's. Next time. The atmosphere is casual, the food is great, the owners/runners/staff are exceptionally friendly. Mim's is a great lunchtime find. read more

Excellent authentic food. Great hospitality. New fav Mediterranean spot. Falafel is amazing as well and I love the authentic thin arabic bread. Hummus was an A+ too. read more

We got here just before the lunch rush. Ordered a small platter and a large platter. The falafel is divine, the hummus was fantastic and the beef and lamb, while slightly over cooked, were delicious as well. Service with a quick smile and the cooks were very engaging. If I could give it six stars I would. At 12:15 the line was out the door. read more

The best falafel, baba ganouj, and hummus anywhere. It's incredible and nowhere else that I've tried can compete (and I only even try other places because Mim's is closed on weekends but my cravings are not). I usually get a large falafel platter per person and a side of baba ganouj (and sometimes an extra side for later in the week, so sue me). I get it to go and it travels impeccably - all the way back to White Bear (*will travel for Mim's). The service is also outstanding. They are kind, warm, welcoming, and generous. The care they take in preparing the food is apparent in the quality and the presentation. The kitchen is completely open, so you can watch all the action in the kitchen while you wait, and transparency in food preparation is just generally appreciated. The prices SO AFFORDABLE it's crazy! More food than 2 people can usually finish in one sitting (we like leftovers), homemade, from scratch, right in front of you, for about what you'd pay at a fast food joint. Like, what?! I really cannot say enough good things. I wish I could eat here every day, though I'd never dream of begging them to be open on weekends - those guys deserve a break. If you haven't tried this place, please do!! It's just south of 36 on Cleveland a bit. Get the falafel and baba ganouj and you won't regret it! read more

I work at the U across the street and this is legitimately the only good place "on campus" to get lunch--the other options being Subway, Papa John's, or an overpriced salad...so not really options at all. I've only ever ordered the falafel small plate at Mim's, but I'm ready to branch out and try the other great middle eastern specialties. The falafel small plate is super affordable for the amount of food you get. I always leave feeling STUFFED (in a good way). You get three magically crisp falafel balls, lettuce & tomato salad, tahini, hummus, and a big ol' stack of pita bread (essentially a deconstructed falafel sandwich). It's a meal I feel good about eating. The ambiance and decor is pretty minimalist, but there's ample seating and lots of sun. My favorite thing is to sit at the bar and watch the two chefs cooking up orders. The pace is very diner-esque, and it's fascinating to watch how they communicate and put together the orders, especially during the lunch rush. In the summer there's a great big deck out front. And if you're not full, and need dessert, you can pop into the adjoining Lori's Coffee House and get a fantastic cardamom cookie. I love having Mim's across the street, and it's always a treat to have lunch there. It only makes me wish there were more places like this along the campus stretch of Cleveland! read more

I should have tried the falafel. I had the shwarma. The bits were tough and charred and didn't have any "length" to them. The hummos (sp?), however, was delicious. The right amount of good quality olive oil was poured over it as well, making me long for days I spent in Israel. I loved the non-descript little spot. You can even access wifi from the coffee shop next door. If I attended or worked at the U of M St Paul Campus, I'd totally frequent this place as the employees are nothing but amicable and I'm confident that I had an off day on the shwarma. But next time I'm back, I'm getting the falafel. Thanks, Kedar, I wish I'd read your review beforehand. read more

Mim's Restaurant (a Middle-Eastern deli) is located on the corner of Cleveland and Bufford on the University of Minnesota's St. Paul campus. It's sister-shop is Lori's Cafe, right next door. I interviewed the owner for a story I wrote for a journalism course. He's a very nice guy and named the place after his daughter who they call Mim. You'll most likely hear MPR as you walk in , some Arabic phrases spoken by the kitchen-staff, and hippie professors talking ag politics. You can't miss the menu as it's a colossal chalkboard hovering the kitchen and cashier area. This Middle-Eastern place is as safe is it gets if one isn't very new to the cuisine. Even though the statue of schwarma rotating in the corner of the kitchen may spur some questions, you can find American french fries on the menu in a snap. And you can buy Coke. But, in my opinion, you'd be greatly missing out if you decided to play it safe here. The vegetarian burrito (my favorite) is served much like a Burrito Loco burrito - everything tightly snug in its shell, wrapped in foil. The veggie burrito consists of slow roasted vegetables ( peppers, eggplants, onions, tomatoes, etc), rice, some sort of bean (lentils, chickpeas, etc.) and warm Indian spices - (cinnamon, curry, tumeric, saffron). This thing has a liquid component as the moisture from the vegetables combines with the compressed beans and picks up the warm spices to create this unforgettable juice that makes it incredibly messy and incredibly delicious. I went here once on what I think was a 'pre-date' date and it was a terrible decision for this reason. Also, the staff is very personable. It had been nearly a year since I went there and Maged, the worker you're most likely to see, remembered my name and asked where the friend that I usually came in with was. He even mentioned such detail as to comment on the improvement of my complexion! What a guy. In short, Mim's is a safe place. But you'll miss out if you play it to safe. It's an unintimidating place to test the waters of Middle Eastern cuisine. read more

I was reading Lisa P list and stumbled onto her falafel list. Came across MIm's. I tried to go there on a Sunday but it was closed. Thank God for the lot in back, as tight as it is, and people don't seem to know how to park in it. Also you can go in the back door up some not very steep steps. The guys at the counter are very friendly. I was super nervous about the pita. I was very surprised that the falafel is served in a very tight wrap. It looked cool that it was green inside. Very thick tahini sauce, so no drippage. We tried the hummus. Really good flavor and texture, and nicely dressed with oil and parsley on top. A good drink selection. I saw a guy eating a philly steak sandwich and fries, both looked very good. Looking forward to trying the other selections. read more

The falafel is delicious, the owners understand veganism, and the food was quick... what more could a girl ask for?... Oh yeah dolmas and vegan garlic sauce :) Also two thumbs up for not using the same deep fryer for meats and veggies/falafel! read more

Best Felafel Ever. When I moved here from Chicago, I thought I'd never find a place that even came close to Sultan's in price, taste, and amazingness. Though Mim's isn't as pretty as Sultan's was, feeling more like a big open empty room than a cozy lunch spot, the staff and food more than make up for it. I've eaten a few thing son the menu, both kabob and Felafel mostly. The felafel is the best. if you get the platter, for not that much money you get huumus, pita, and the best fried little balls of chickpea in the TC. If you opt for a sandwich, they're large and moist. The pita is thin, warm and stretchy enough that it doesn't just disintegrate while you try to eat. The flavors mix wonderfully. The french fries, which sometimes at middle eastern places can be soggy or cold, are just right. They are the perfect fried frozen treat of diners and have that same slightly salty crisp! The water jug is always full, and because it's ceramic and not plastic, it's very tastey water. The staff is very friendly, and always treats me with the happiest, brightest demeanor. They answer questions, smile and if the place is empty(which is never ever over the lunch hour), they will chat with you a bit. Though you often have to wait a bit for your food (they make to order, and during the school year it can get really busy in there!), they will bring it to your table. They always remember who you are and what you ordered without one of those little number things. I've started bringing all of my lunch meetings here, and it's a great place for it. The tables are big and roomy, and most of them are round. Though the service can be slow, we are usually meeting and don't even notice the wait. Each co-worker I've brought here has loved it and now ask if we can go back every time! read more

Went there for lunch around 1pm the other day and got the kufta kebab plate (about $8). I got to sit outside and enjoy the nice weather and atmosphere. The food was great! The Kebab was juicy and savory; the serving size was good: not too much and not too little. The plate came with a piece of pita bread and sides of yellow rice, hummus, and salad. Wished there was more hummus because their hummus is really good! My friend and I polished off our meals because the food was that good, but I didn't feel guilty or overly stuffed! Service was fast and friendly as always even though the place was a tad busy. Overall a good meal :). This place is a favorite among the University community as well as outside. I like to have lunch here with friends. Probably ideal for a group of 3-4 friends. I can't wait to go back! GREAT PLACE, GREAT PEOPLE, GREAT LOCATION :) read more

I stopped at Mim's last night as part of my ongoing quest to find the best falafel in the Twin Cities, and because several Yelpers recommended it. So far, the best falafel I've ever had is at Beirut Restaurant in West St. Paul, and it still is as of July 21, 2010. I am running out of places to try in the Cities. I ordered the falafel platter. It came to my table courtesy of a friendly cook/waiter/register guy (there was just one guy working in the cafe when I was there). The tahini sauce was really good-- nice and garlicky, just as it should be. The hummus was really, really good, with a small pour of extra-virgin olive oil and what might have been sumac powder, or a dark paprika, drizzled over the top. It was creamy and smooth -- the texture of Comet scouring powder is absent here-- and it had just the right nip of garlic and lemon. I could make a meal out of just their hummus and bread. The falafel, however, was rather too bland for my taste. It had a mild, sweet, almost squash-like flavor, not the garlicky, cumin-laced flavor I prefer. The texture, though, was perfect. Not at all soggy like some places serve it, but moist and tender in the middle with a crunchy exterior. The platter was almost enough for two meals, as it's also served with two side salads and pita bread. Definitely, it's a very good value for just under $9.00. Mim's probably has the third best falafel I've had in the Cities, behind #1 Beirut and #2 Abu Nadir. The food earns four stars just for the perfect texture of the falafel and because of the delicious sides served with it. However, I subtracted another star because the cafe itself is somewhat... well, it's ugly. It didn't seem particularly clean and has zero eye appeal, both inside and out. There was a huge tub of dirty dishes sitting right by my table and they appeared to have been there for awhile. Perhaps the one guy manning the register and food was a bit overwhelmed, but still. My recommendation: try the falafel, but wait to judge it until you've had Beirut's. It's absolutely worth the drive to West St. Paul if you are a falafel-holic. Beirut's falafel ain't for sissies-- you have to like it with lots of garlic and cumin, plus their tahini sauce is also the best I've ever had. read more

I would always stop here durning my undergrad years at the U of M! I come by here when I'm in the area. It's a lovely coffee shop. Always check out their soup of the day! My favorite is the Lentil and Spinach soup! read more

As a plant biology major, I spend far too much of my time withering away on the St. Paul campus. What is one to do when they get hungry? Go to the Subway on campus? Pack a bag lunch. No, we go to Mim's. Mim's is a great little hole-in-the-wall along Cleavland Ave. A mere half-block away from crappy over-priced pizza at the student center, it is an unassuming place with great food. I've had the gyro and the falafel sandwiches. The fries are always a bit soggy, so I usually pass on those. Today I have plans for a falafel platter. Those falafel are just so good. SO GOOD. Reading reviews here though, the burgers are also supposed to be pretty tasty, so we'll have to see what strikes my fancy today. The prices are amazing, the staff is always super friendly and awesome - a great place to get a bite to eat. read more

The Mim's cafe and the Lori's cafe are adjacent to each other and are connected from the inside. I have had burger once at Mim's and I remember it was good but I come to Lori's occassionally as it makes a great meeting place. It is one of the few cafes around the U of M St. Paul campus. The house coffee is just 2 dollars and they have a selection of giant muffins for just 1.5 dollars. Reasonably priced for students! read more

The atmosphere is peaceful and beautiful, the perfect place to spend a summer day. I highly recommend ordering the middle eastern food. Best kebabs I've ever had. read more

This. is. it. I have found the best falafel in the cities! Seriously, go here, it will make your tummy happy you did. Whenever I'm on the St. Paul campus I daydream of these place. I wish I actually had sufficient income and need not worry about calories because I would come here on the daily. I only ordered a falafel sandwich with a side salad, which were dynamite, but it appears that the thing to order (if you want to be hip) is any of the menu items as a platter. It is a whole bunch of goodness at a super good price. For instance, the falafel platter is $6.85 or something awesome and comes with everything you would ever want from a Mediterranean stop, the balls, hummus, rice, salad, and pita. The meat options are priced higher, but the most expensive thing I believe was still under $12. The sandwich and salad combo was about $6.50, very cheap and very filling. The falafel was perfect, crispy and not greasy, the filling was bright and more flavorful than usual. The other ingredients inside where super fresh. The salad was yummy and they don't over dressing it! I'm sure you could ask for it on the side if you prefer, they seem easy going enough. read more

So they got rid of the spicy cheeseburger but plenty of tasty and affordable options. remain. Portions are huge and probably could be split or used for 2 meals. Ordered lamb shush kabob sandwich Huge, tasty, and enough vegetables to make my mom proud. read more

Originally came into Lori's next door searching for some soup on this chilly day. The sign said "no soup" and I was told a tomato bisque would be ready in about ten minutes if I wanted to wait but suggested I head over to Mim's instead. Came over, checked out the menu and decided to order a small village salad and a small falafel platter (which includes 3 falafel balls, hummus, veggies, and dressing). I sat down and received my platter pretty quickly. The falafel is perfectly crispy, the hummus is very smooth and simple, and the dressing was great. After almost finishing my platter I decided to ask the girl behind the counter (who is so sweet and kind to the customers!) where my village salad was. She apologized and almost immediately brought it out to me after whipping it up and I appreciated that. The salad was very fresh and simple and the dressing on it was nice and light. The decor/atmosphere has much to be desired I admit, but the food will definitely bring me back!! read more

The food and service is beyond amazing. The falafel was some of the best I've ever tasted. The prices are very reasonable as well. I will definitely be coming back here again. read more

I love this place!! Seriously this is probably the one and only good Middle Eastern place in MN. Their tahini dressing with the chicken salad is something I can't find anywhere else! The owners are wonderful and always very helpful. Parking is a little difficult since it's all street parking, but I never had trouble finding a space! This is place is totally worth the price! read more

Mim's Cafe - Falafel combo! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

I work near Mim's and have been going here for a couple of years now. I have not tried every restaurant that serves falafel in the area, but have been to a good deal of the most well-known in the area and I still love Mim's more than any of the others. They not only have the best falafel, as it has never been dry in the many times I have had it and also the flavor is great, but they also know how to make the falalfel sandwich perfectly. There is a sauce that I believe is tahini based (maybe hummus?) and then a veggie combination that is absolutely delicious. Beyond the food there are two guys, who I believe own the place, that are very kind and always say a genuine greeting when I walk in the door. They have great fries that seem to be hand-cut as far as I can tell, but I do urge you to eat them there as they can become a bit soggy if you get them to-go and let them sit. There is also a nice outdoor eating patio for nice days. The only thing to be careful of is to check their hours online before going because as far as I know they are closed on weekends. read more

Came here during an off hour, and the place was deserted, but I can imagine this place is crowded during normal meal hours. This is located right by the U of M's St. Paul campus, and is perfect for cheap, delicious, Mediterranean food! I paid $8 for a small chicken plate, and the portion size was extremely generous for the price paid. There was rice, crispy pita, hummus, vegetables, and tzatziki sauce. It was SO filling, and if you don't have as much of an appetite, there are sandwiches and smaller portion options for under $5. Perfect place for students looking for a good cheap meal! read more