Mina Restaurant Cathays is a fully licensed Lebanese restaurant at 43 Crwys Road in Cardiff. Established in 1990, it has a long history of serving evening meals built around fresh ingredients, herbs, warm spices and the generous sharing style of Lebanese hospitality.
Hot and cold mezze are central to the menu, including hummus, moutabbal, tabbouleh, falafel, vine leaves and kibbeh. A mixed selection lets newcomers explore several textures and flavours together, with Arabic bread served alongside the small dishes.
Charcoal grilling shapes many of the larger plates, from lamb cutlets and shish tawook to kofta, prawns and salmon. Mixed grills arrive with rice and vegetables, while couscous can be paired with lamb, chicken or a vegetable preparation.
Garlic, parsley, mint, oregano and spices give the food brightness without relying on heavy sauces. Reservations are welcomed every evening, making Mina suitable for an unhurried meal where a table can share mezze before moving to individual grills or traditional mains.
Address: 43 Crwys Road, Cathays, Cardiff CF24 4ND, Wales
Mina Restaurant Cathays Menu
Cold Mezza Starters
Hummus
Everyone’s favourite. Mashed chickpeas with tahini sauce, garlic, lemon juice and topped with olive oil. (vegan)
Baba Ghanoush
Blended charcoal grilled aubergine then mashed with garlic, Tahini (pure sesame oil) and lemon juice served with olive oil. (vegan)
Tabboule
A true classic, chopped fresh parsley, diced tomatoes, mint, spring onion and cracked wheat Tossed with olive oil, lemon juice and herbs. (vegan)
Fattoush
A delightful mix of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, spring onion, fresh mint and parsley and toasted Arabic bread tossed with olive oil, lemon Juice. (vegan)
Waraq Enab
Home made, a healthy mix of rice & Vegetable, wrapped with pickled grape leaves then cooked in natural juices. (ask if you want yoghurt-mint sauce) (vegan)
Lebanese Salad
Fresh mixture of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, spring onion, fresh mint, parsley and dressing. (vegan)
Leban-Bi Khayar
Home made yogurt mixed with cucumber, mint and a touch of garlic. (v)
Greek Salad
Fresh lettuce, cucumber, tomato, spring onion, with Feta cheese, olives and dressing. (v)
Prawns Cocktails
Fresh prawns mixed with homemade prawns sauce, served on bed of salad and garnished with slice of fresh lemon. (v)
Hot Mezza Starters
Mina Meat Balls
Delicious little spicy lamb meat balls served with our unique tomato sauce.
Halloumi Cheese
Grilled Cypriot cheese, served with lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes. (v)
Falafel
Vegetarian traditional eastern snack made of chickpeas and broad beans and flavoured with exotic spices, shaped into balls and deep fried served with our special yogurt mint sauce. (vegan)
Kibba
Lamb and cracked wheat shell filled with seasoned minced lamb, onion and roasted pine nuts, deep fried served with our yogurt mint sauce.
Jawaneh
Marinated chicken wings with oregano and spices then grilled on charcoal.
Sujuk
Sliced Lebanese spicy sausage (beef) with our unique tomato sauce.
Battata Harra
Cubes of baby Potatoes cooked with coriander, chilli, garlic and spices. (v)
Foul Moudamas
Boiled broad beans, chickpeas simmered in tomatoes, garlic topped with olive oil and lemon juice. (Vegan)
Mussels
Cooked with cream and garlic sauce.
Garlic Mushrooms
Fresh mushrooms sautéed in garlic, parsley. (V)
Tiger Prawns
Shell less, Sautéed in garlic, with our Lemon coriander Sauce.
Vegetarian Selection of Mezza
Platter of 6 mezzes in a smaller portion: Hummus, Baba Ghanoush, Tabboule, Falafel, Warak Enab and Halloumi Cheese. For two person £17.50, For Three Person £23.50, For Four Person £29.50.
Vegetarian Selection of Mezza
Platter of 6 mezzes in a smaller portion: Hummus, Baba Ghanoush, Tabboule, Falafel, Warak Enab and Halloumi Cheese.
Lebanese Main Courses
Mina Lamb
Tender cubes of leg of lamb slowly cooked, stir fried with tomatoes sauce, mushrooms, onions, green and red peppers, garlic and chilli (mild spicy), served with rice.
Lamb or Chicken Couscous
Served in a traditional plate, bed of couscous topped with mixture of tasty vegetable and tender cubes of lamb or Chicken fillet.
Kastaletta Ghanam
Marinated pieces of tender lamb cutlets charcoal grilled sautéed with our special fresh rosemary and port sauce or Peppercorn Sauce, served with rice.
Shish Tawk
Cubes of chicken fillet marinated in garlic, lemon juice, olive oil and char-grilled and just melt in your mouth. Served with rice, and grilled tomatoes, onions, mixed peppers.
Lamb Mashwi
Tender cubes of lamb marinated, char-grilled, served with rice, and grilled tomatoes, onions, mixed peppers.
Mina Kofta
Ground meat “lamb” with onions and parsley on a skewer, char-grilled, served with salad and grilled tomatoes, onions.
Mashwi Mwshakal
Combination of Shish Tawk, Lamd Mashwi and Mina Kofta, served with rice and grilled tomato, onion and mixed peppers.
Chicken Dishes
Mina Chicken
Marinated chicken breast grilled sautéed with our special fresh lemon and coriander sauce, served with rice.
Chicken a La Crème
Marinated breast of chicken grilled sautéed onion, mushroom, and cream, served with rice.
Chicken Fajita
Strips of chicken breast, onion, mix peppers, Mexican seasoning (Spicy) served with tortilla bread and chips.
Chicken Au Poivre
Marinated chicken breast grilled, finished with peppercorn, mustard and cream (peppercorn Sauce) served with Rice.
Vegetarian Dishes
Vegetarian Couscous
Served in a traditional plate, bed of couscous topped with mixture of tasty vegetables and spices, with herbs.
Dolma
Home made, Delicious dish. Moist little rolls of vine leaves stuffed with a healthy mix of rice, tomatoes, fresh parsley and spices served with salad (ask if you want yoghurt-mint sauce)
Veggie Club
Aubergine, tomatoes, courgette, onions, garlic, special Arabic seven spices, sautéed, served with Mediterranean rice. (ask if you want melted cheese on the top).
Halloumi Fajita
Onion, mix peppers, Mexican seasoning (Spicy), topped with grilled halloumi Cheese. Served with tortilla bread and chips.
Sea Food
Grilled Salmon Steak
Salmon fillet char grilled, served with our fresh herb tomato sauce or Lemon coriander sauce. Served with rice.
King Prawns
Charcoal grilled shell less King prawns finished with sautéed garlic butter, fresh coriander, lemon sauce. Served with rice.
Moules et frites
Mussels cooked with cream and garlic sauce are served with chips.
Steak
Char-Grilled Sirlion Steak
Served with chips.
Steak Au poivre
Grilled sirloin steak finished with peppercorn, mustard and cream (Peppercorn Sauce). Served with chips.
Mina Steak
Grilled sirloin steak finished with sautéed onions, mushrooms, and cream (Mushroom Sauce). Served with chips.
Kids Meal
Chicken
Grilled chicken stripes. Served with chips and salad.
Meatballs
Our handmade backed. served with rice and salad.
Side Dishes
Mediterranean Rice
Garlic Bread
Garlic Bread with cheese
Basket Of Bread
French Fries
Bowl of olives
Gliten free Bread
Dips
Desserts
Arabic Sweet
Multi layer pastry stuffed with pistachio nuts and drizzled with honey syrup served with diary whipped cream.
Vanila & Toffee Honey Pot
A cermaic dish filled with vanilla ice cream topped with layer of toffee sauce and hony finished with mixed nuts.
Cartmel Puds… Sticky chocolate pudding
a rich velvety chocolate sponge topped with sticky chocolate sauce.
Yogurt with Honey
Home made yogurt topped with honey and pistachio.
Cartmel Puds… Sticky Toffee Pudding
A light dates, moist sponge with lashing of sticky toffee sauce.
Selection of Ice cream
Joe’s Ice cream
Soft Drinks
Ayran
Natural drinking yoghurt.
Coke
Diet Coke
Lemonade
Fanta
Pineapple Juice
Orange Juice
Tropical Fruit Juice
Apple Juice
Mango Juice
Cranberry Juice
Tonic Water
Soda Water
Liqueur Coffee
Josephine
Rum.
Irish Coffee
whiskey.
Calyso Coffee
Tia Maria.
French Coffee
Brandy
Baileys Coffee
Kahlua Coffee
Coffee
Arabic Cofee
Arabic Roasted coffee with cardamon.
Arabic Fresh Mint Tea
Arabic tea bag with fresh mint leaves.
Cappuccino
Cafe Latte
Expresso
Dappia
Latte Macchiato
Mina Coffee, Milk and Cream in 3 Layers served.