Stopped in last night for a quick treat to help me power through packing for my flight. I ordered the turmeric & honey latte with coconut cold foam, and my girly got the tamarind tea -- both were good. Not too sweet, just right. I really appreciate when I can actually taste the coffee without it being drowned in sugar. Service was solid, especially considering how packed it was. Only downside was the layout -- the cashier is right next to the entrance, which led to a bit of a traffic jam at the door. The ambiance was cozy, but the space definitely feels tight for how popular this place is. A larger location (or better flow) would make a huge difference. It was very loud and attracts the younger crowd. read more

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My husband didn't want to leave DC without trying this restaurant. I'm glad we were able to go because everything was wonderful. I loved the habibi butter rice. We asked for it crispy for an extra $2. It was probably my favorite dish. The butcher's steak kebab was picanha. Perfectly cooked. I also recommend the lamb hummus. read more

Yellow - Levantine G&T - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We wound up at Union Market and decided to stop at Yellow for an easy lunch. We started with a Moroccan Mint Iced Tea with Coco Cold Foam on top and a Mish Mish Soda (a light apricot & honey mix). We sipped and watched the people (it was hopping at weekend lunchtime) as the food arrived. I got a crispy falafel pita - perfectly cooked and balanced with bright veggies and a warm, crunchy falafel. It was the perfect size for lunch. We also split a Fattoush - a nice blend of apple, cucumber, feta, crunchy pita chips, and harissa vinagrette. Finally, we also got an order of hummus - the best, creamy hummus I've had in a long while, with HUGE fried crispy pita chips that were crunchy and lightly chewy. These things were awesome! When we stopped into Yellow, I didn't think it would be this good. But now I have a reason to purposely get out to Union Market. You should get out to Yellow, too! read more

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Came for the lamb pita and it was great. Just wish it gave more meat (my friend's one looked like it had more than mine) and cost a little less. The bbq taste was understated which is good. Not tangy, just a hint of it. And it came with garlic sauce (toum) which was awesome. Pricey but def worth having once or twice if you're in the area. The cookies and baklawa mocha were also solid (oat orange blossom toffee and halawa chocolate chip for the cookies, and roasted walnut + rose + orange blossom for the coffee). Cookies could be slightly bigger for the price but tasty nonetheless. The people working were nice and the place had great energy. You gotta get lucky to find seating which we did, thankfully, since it's first come, first serve. I wish I could've tried their other pastries but it was mostly sold out (came at 11:30am on a Saturday). read more

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My first time trying the yellow in union market and loved it! This location had a more extensive dinner menu compared to Georgetown. We went with a party of 5 and were able to sample a lot of their menu and loved everything! Their fresh pita is so warm and perfectly seasoned with zataar and olive oil. Fattoush salad was fresh and tart! All kebabs were moist and delicious but particularly enjoyed the lamb and swordfish. Whole roasted cauliflower has great texture with pepitas on the outside. Definitely in my favorite DC restaurants and I would absolutely come back. read more

Yellow - Fresh pita - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Ordered: Baklawa Mocha Latte (~$6): roasted walnut, rose, and orange blossom Ras El Hanout Butterscotch Cruffin (~$7): muffin shaped croissant filled with butterscotch pastry cream and dipped in ras el hanout sugar Za'atar Croissant (~$7): filled with labne Breakfast Egg Pita (~$10) + Kefta (+$3): soft scramble, kashkaval, labne, tahini chopped salad Breakfast Batata (~$7): spicy hash brown tots, shawarma spice, with toum Aya's take: Yellow is my new favorite color! I was unexpectedly in DC for 12 hours and decided that my only meal here would be at Yellow Cafe. It's 10:30am on a Monday and why was it packed! I knew I was in for a treat. Yellow being a Levantine-inspired cafe and me being Lebanese, I was curious to see if they would actually execute the pastries and sandwiches well or if I would be disappointed as I've been with other cafes before. I'm glad to say it exceeded my expectations! The Baklawa Mocha Latte was a strong start. It was warm & soothing, nutty & floral, and sweet & creamy. The Ras El Hanout Butterscotch Cruffin had a perfect texture and the butterscotch pastry cream was delicate yet rich. The Za'atar Croissant was a pleasant surprise. This is the first time I've seen this beautiful creation and I'm SO glad that 1) they used good quality za'atar and 2) the amount of labne filling was actually balanced! The only thing this needed was a side of olive oil to dip into. The Breakfast Egg Pita + Kefta was such a great take on a Middle Eastern breakfast sandwich. The pita was fresh, the soft egg scramble with the added kefta was incredible, and the veggie toppings added some brightness and more nutrition to each bite. And please do not miss out on the Breakfast Batata. These will live rent-free in my head for the foreseeable future. They had the perfect crunch on the outside with a pillowy and layered inside. Not to mention, they were deliciously seasoned to the point where the toum on the side wasn't even needed (although always appreciated). I love everything about this place. Shout out to Chef Michael Rafidi for executing on this idea and hope they make their way to NYC! read more

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Good food, but that's where the positive experience ends. Service is a mess, some people getting numbers, others getting names called out. It's very chaotic, and this was at 2 pm on a weekday. There's only 1 single bathroom with massive line ups. Prices are standard for the area. read more

KenScale: 8.0/10 Visits: November 2025 Back in October, my wife Jun and I visited YELLOW café/restaurant in Georgetown from acclaimed Middle Eastern chef Michael Rafidi who made his name in the DC dining scene with Albi. We really liked our dinner experience there so we decided to check out the other YELLOW location in Union Market. Unlike the Georgetown branch which focuses on the "(not) pizza" sourdough pies, the kebabs are the centerpiece of the menu at the Union Market location. We also enjoyed a dining experience at this location as well during our visit last month. At this point, I already knew that Jun was going to order the lamb awarma hummus which she so enjoyed at the Georgetown location. Dip some pita breads on this delicious hummus and you already have a very promising start to the meal. Jun was also interested in ordering another hummus dish this time, but the red shatta hummus (with feta cheese), based on Middle Eastern chili paste, didn't quite have the same impact. We also tried the little gem lettuce salad with pickled peppers and tahini ranch and it was quite solid, too. On the main kebabs section (all kebabs are served with whipped tahini, herbs and sumac onions), we settled on lamb kefta and butcher's steak. Jun remarked how she always finds very satisfying lamb dishes at Albi and its sister restaurants, and her observation was true in this case too, as the ground lamb was outstanding with its smoky flavor and moist texture, somewhat outshining the steak (which was not bad on its own, by the way). We ran of room for desserts this time but I would've loved to try a different soft serve on the dessert menu this time (at the Georgetown location, we tried one with Concord grape flavor). Getting a reservation at this location of YELLOW also requires some advance planning, although the dining space was bigger than the Georgetown branch so you might have a better luck with walk-ins. The beverage menu seemed more or less the same as the Georgetown location, too, with some hard-to-find wines from the Middle East. So, do we have a favorite between the two locations of YELLOW? It's a bit of an apples to oranges comparison given the different focus on the principal dishes between the two, but both are equally compelling in my view. I certainly would come back to the Union Market location for some more lamb kefta kebabs. read more

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Yellow is always a highlight of my DC trips. Outstanding food with wonderful flavors and freshness, creative menu, and wonderful ambiance. Love everything here, can't go wrong with any choice! read more

Yellow - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The BBQ Lamb Shoulder pita is the best thing $20 will buy you. I've never even had one fresh- it's always had travel time from the time I've ordered to the time I get to eat it. The batata tots are amazing and the ras al hanout aioli is such a good dipping sauce for them. Go ASAP! read more

I have been to this place around 5 times for the All the Kebabs dinner transformation. Each time, the freshness, service, and overall experience has exceeded my expectations. After trying all of the kebabs on the menu, the chicken is the best. It is cooked to perfection and packed with immense flavor. Do yourself a favor and get the bread add on since it really elevates the experience. My one suggestion is to bring back the ribeye please. The ribeye was even better than the chicken. The new steak option is fine but it isn't the same as the ribeye. A couple of tips are to make a reservation ahead of time because like most Yellow locations it gets full very fast. I would also skip out on appetizers and just order 2 kebabs per person. You'll thank me later! read more

LOVE YELLOW!! Excellent food and coffee. This time, I got the halawa honey latte and the jammy egg shakshuka croissant. Both were delicious, a perfect and quick on-the-go breakfast. My only qualm with the Union market location is that it's small and chaotic. I would love if they found a bigger venue that can handle more customers and is more enjoyable to eat at. read more

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They literally took 1/4 of the baklava away and said it's because people were complaining that the box was too full.... For $13 give me the full amount. read more

Yellow - Baklava shrinkflation - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Greet immediately on entry and I was able to get a seat even though I didn't have a reservation and it was decently busy inside. Tables are close to each other in some areas and there is a communal table in the center so just expect to be close to other patrons. I had the mish mish soda which definitely had an interesting flavor and the lamb kefta which was delicious. The pita is an extra cost- which if I'm paying for the kefta I feel like they should give you some pita but it's still quite filling without it. The waitress was attentive and they check in often. read more

Yellow - Lamb kefta - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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today was my first time at Yellow (union market) I realized today was not a traditional day but a collab x pop up with comedian Mo Amer who i do not believe was there, I waited a little over an hour in line to get in, the featured items today were Palestinian inspired tacos , so i decided to get a taco and a hot baklawa mocha! I decided to try the Falafel Con Queso though I was not able to eat it right away as I would have liked I have to say I still enjoyed the taco though eating it about 4 ish hours later, the falafel was full fluffy and flavorful and played nicely with the tahini pali salad and spicy pickled cabbage which was not overpowering and provided nuance to the dish, the tortilla was soft yet firm and had a nice chew and held while eating! the mocha hit the spot with the roasted walnut notes shining through as the weather went back and forth deciding to be hot or cold cloudy and rainy or dry and sunny, I had browsed the menu recently and definitely want to try some other items on a regular day! The staff was warm as well and the space though crowded was clean and a nice size ! overall a good experience and a good first impression read more

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Came to Yellow on a whim while visiting the Union market district with a friend. We didn't have a reservation but were able to snag a seat at a bar table as soon as we walked in. It's definitely a little bit pricey so my friend and I decided we would split a couple of things. We started with the pita and smoked onion labneh dip, which was by far my favorite thing we ate. In fact, if I come back, I'll probably want to order every single one of the dips and we seriously debated ordering a second round of the labneh. For a main, we got the lamb kefta kebab (which came with onions, charred veggies, and tahini sauce.) it was super yummy and I would definitely get this again. We also got a side of the buttered rice and the potatoes. The rice was amazing... A really cool blend of savory and sweet and paired perfectly with the lamb kebab. The potatoes were good but a little bit over fried for my preference however, it was fun to eat them like potato chips dipping into the garlic Sauce. For the dessert we could not resist getting one of the soft serves. We opted for the twist which comes with sesame brittle as well. It was absolutely delicious and I can see why people are such fans. Service was friendly but sparse and the bar chairs are definitely not made for big girls like me. The bar table was also a bit tight and I kept getting accidentally elbowed by my neighbor throughout the meal. read more

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I think I've found my favorite coffee shop/cafe in DC! This way habibis indeed! The signs were so cute and I love the color yelllow! I went right when they opened to ensure I could get the zaatar croissant. It was a weekday so very quick. Weekends I heard get pretty crazy and once the baked items are sold out, that's it! They serve their coffee menu all day. Evenings there are more food items available for dinner. The inside is open concept with high top seats or traditional tables and an open kitchen style so you can see meal preparation. It was very busy at dinner time. The zaatar croissant is a must! Flakey, flavorful, and the added layer of labne inside is chefs kiss! Large enough to share but I ate all of it alone! $7.50 was worth it! Upon recommendation I got the halwa honey latte. Very good & strong! Sweet with hints of honey. Finally as an extra treat tried the labne soft serve. Was a bit surprised at how expensive it was for a cup. $12 but so worth it! The brown butter ice cream is well balanced with the crunch of baklava and topped with a dusting of pistachio flecks. Outstanding! I also tried the twist soft serve. Found it to be overly sweet with the caramel. Stick with the labne. Way better! really wish they opened at 7-7:30am instead of 8am on weekdays so could grab coffee & baked items on the way to work. Cant wait to visit again and try more items on the menu! read more

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So happy this spot is in my neighborhood! Yellow has become my go to lunch spot! The BBQ lamb pita is m favorite item on the menu following by the brisket hummus. Whoever thought of that combination... genius! The smoked amba chicken pita and batata tots are also worth trying! The restaurant itself is well lit and nicely decorated. It's good for solo dates, couples, or groups. Pro tip: expect a line if you go on weekends but it moves quickly in terms of placing orders. However, finding a table may be hard. read more

Yellow - Batata tots, brisket hummus, bbq lamb pita - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Probably one of our favorite restaurants ever. We found this on a food tour and wanted to go back every day. We didn't find anything we didn't like. Don't expect a lot in the way of atmosphere. It's all about the food. read more

Very tasty spot for a fun and unique dinner in DC. The vibes are great for casual, but can be upped a bit, though the service doesn't quite make it unfortunately. Friendly and forward, but not thoughtful or practiced. Cocktails could be better, and they didn't even bring out the Raki before putting it on ice, which was a trajesty if I ever saw one! But that goes to the service portion - it lacks thoughtfulness. The food however makes up for all of it with quite the feast going on here - the hummus is out of this world, especially the burnt ends one, the carrots were so good, I couldn't believe I was eating vegetables, and the kebabs are great. Fair Warning though, it's not cheap for the amount of food you get, but it's worth it. read more

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I haven't written a review in years. And typically I skip writing about places that have a lot of hype. However, Yellow is worth coming out of hiding. This location is fairly busy but the crowd comes and goes in a timely manner. The BBQ lamb sandwich was so tender, the bread soft, and the little gem lettuce perfectly fresh and crisp. As a lover of olive oil cake and pistachios I was drawn to the basbousa. The texture was moist and it was not too sweet. The rose milk tea was warm and cozy. I would definitely return again before 11 to try out the breakfast. read more

Good food and good service. Food and drinks are a bit pricey but worth the quality and the novelty. - Octopus + soujek kebabs (added with wood-baked shatta flatbread) - very flavorful and HUGE portion. I underestimated the portion size and could've split this up with 1-2 other people easily. The octopus and soujek pieces were juicy and cooked to absolute perfection (so maybe you want to order this kebab for yourself only), but the shatta flatbread was really huge. It definitely would've been good to split that flatbread among multiple people (just not the kebab meat itself because it's too good to share). Lots and lots of flavor in every bite. - Halloumi kebab - I'm not a huge fan of halloumi cheese, but my wife enjoyed it. It seemed a bit salty to me and could've been enhanced with some sweetness, maybe a sweet sauce. - Labne soft serve (baklawa + brown butter pistachio) - amazing!!!! Very novel, creative, and deliciousssss. It was thick, creamy, sweet but not overly so, and delightful on your taste buds. Absolutely perfection, and I can't think of anything to improve on it. read more

Freaking delish...everything and more that you expect from visiting an ethnic spot. Love the middle eastern fusion of caffeinated drinks and pita sandwiches. I had the halawa honey latte (double espresso) and bbq shouldered lamb was soooo flavorful. I can taste the bbq but also loved the creamy feta and red onions. I'm definitely planning on returning with friends and family! read more

Yellow - Bbq lamb shoulder pita - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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One of my friends was visiting from Oklahoma and she was dying to try this place. I loved how fresh the falafel was and the carrot hummus was delicious. My friends loved the lamb hummus and the lamb kebab. Apparently the chicken thigh kebab is the best one so next time I go I'll be sure to try that. The service was outstanding. They were SO FAST. They gave us a time limit for the table but it didn't even feel rushed because they food came out in a timely fashion. The pita with the hummus was very hot and literally melted in my mouth. Apparently this place has a Michelin Star and you wouldn't really get that vibe because it feels a bit casual but the decor is beautiful and the tables were comfortable. Highly recommend! read more

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Deserves all the stars . I just wish there were more locations nearby me. Everything is fresh, from the pastries and desserts. I always come for breakfast. For the Jammy Egg. It's a pizza wrapped up in a tiny crossiant. Halfa Honey for coffee 10/10. The date labin for dessert is Delicious. Highly recommend coming in before 9am to avoid lines. read more

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Very impressed with my Iced Latter from Yellow! The Halawa honey latte was the perfect amount of sweetness, and tasted fantastic with oat milk. Their pastry case here also looked amazing. Very kind staff, it was busy on a Friday morning, but it moved pretty quick! read more

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Lamb pita plus pastries alone are worth the trip. Long lines are annoying but good things come to those who wait. Tuck in to nearby restaurant supply houses after the feast read more

Awesome menu--I can't wait to visit again and try more stuff. I got the coconut cardamom cold brew and a z'atar croissant filled with labneh. Service was friendly. Weird set up where everyone squishes up at the door waiting to order. Lots of seating. The space is well designed overall except for when you walk in the door. read more

This meal really blew me away. My falafel was so crispy and crunchy while the pita was still warm and soft. The other picked veggies were crunchy and everything was tied together with delicious sauce. My iced coffee was good, but nothing stand out. I'm usually a cold brew person, so that might have been it. The za'atar croissant was also delicious and unique. We ordered food to go and it didn't take too long to come out, even on a busy Saturday morning. In my opinion, take out is the way to go. Not a ton of seating inside and pretty loud. I definitely would love to return! read more

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This place was delicious! We came in for an early dinner and it was already quite busy. The inside is simple and modern. There were no available seating for dine in without a long wait so we placed our order to go. The friendly staff provided us water while we waited. Once our food was ready, we walked back to the market area and found a picnic table outside to eat at. We had gotten their Duck Breast, Crispy Brussels Sprouts, Charred Cabbage, and Burnt Ends pita to share. Everything was so packed with flavor and so good! I can't wait to go back and check out more of their other items. read more

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The buzz around YELLOW is well-deserved. I was part of a group of four who stopped in for breakfast on a Saturday morning. We arrived shortly after they opened, knowing they can sometimes sell out of pastries. I had the Date Labne (coffee cake) and Za'atar Egg Croissant. The coffee cake was dense, moist, and delicious -- a perfect pairing with their house coffee. The breakfast sandwich was packed with smoky flavor. It was refreshing to enjoy a filling and tasty breakfast at a reasonable price. The space is bright and inviting. I'd definitely return to try more of the baked goods and explore the lunch menu. read more

Yellow - Date Labne and Za'atar Egg Croissant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I have been to yellow for both the breakfast cafe and dinner. I think the morning pastries are yummy and the drinks are unique, but there is almost always a line. Their "lunch" pitas and batatas are extremely generous in size and so flavorful, in the best way. Now onto dinner - the food is 10/10. We tried some mezze, dips, kebabs, and dessert. The hummus and pita may be the best I have ever had - they will recommend you order an extra pita and you absolutely should! The crispy garlic butter rice is out of this world and an amazing side to the kebabs. I really enjoyed the steak kebab, while the rockfish kebab was fine but small and nothing special. The fattoush and cucumber salads are refreshing and delicious as well. The famous labneh soft serve is well known and loved for a reason! It's creamy & light, and the toppings are clearly home made and so flavorful! read more

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The first thing that greeted me upon arrival was the line that was wrapped out the door. Which was a sign that there was delicious food waiting on the other side of the door. The space was packed with seating on a first come first serve basis. I tried the lamb shoulder pita which was pretty good. It had a mix of delicious flavors which blended well together. The tots were also extremely tasty. However I could tell they mixed some of the fresh tots with some of the older tots because some were hot while others were cold. The staff were super friendly and overall it was a great experience. read more

Yellow - Tots - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I only gave 4 stars because the price point is honestly high for the quantity you get on some items but tbh the food is absolutely delicious. It's one of my favorite in the neighborhood, service is good no complaints so far. The long lines outside?definitely worth it. Ambiance could be noisy at times but on a calm day it's good for wfh. I'm not a coffee drinker so I always get their Moroccan Mint Iced Tea and it's fantastic. Also had the best cookie of my life here, not too sweet just perfect it's called the Oat Orange Blossom Toffee, you definitely gotta try that. I also love the pita sandwiches, highly recommend the Smoked Amba Chicken read more

Yellow - Moroccan ice tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I adore Yellow!! I used to go to the Georgetown location a lot, but the lines are so brutal and it's so overwhelming in there. I prefer this location just because it's more spacious and less chaotic. I can't even count how many times I've been here and while everything on the menu is fantastic, I'd highly recommend trying the turmeric+honey latte, jammy egg croissant, batata tots, or any of their pitas if it's lunch. I can't even pick a single sweet pastry here because I love them all tbh. So what are you waiting for?? Yalla!! read more

Yellow - Iced turmeric+honey latte with oat milk, jammy egg croissant, and batata tots - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Ive been here many times my favorite thing to get is 6 pitas to go to have them at home with beef kabobs. Pita is so good and fluffy. Has a great savory flavor with the garlic and seasoning. Service is great and friendly. It has a great interior with a ton of space and enjoy company or work. read more

Super soft and warm pita bread in the sandwiches! Got the bbq kefta kebab and chicken kebab pitas - I enjoyed the tahini sauce in it a lot :) I think my favorites are the tots, which was super flavorful with the perfect amount of crunch, and the fattoush, which was very fresh and had a big mix of different veggies. Didn't drink any of the drinks, but my friends really love the halawa honey lattes! I recommend getting here early as some items will sell out fast (like the jammy egg croissant which I will have to try next time). Can be difficult to find seating during peak hours but it was a nice environment - there was seating indoors/outdoors. Food also came out pretty quickly given how busy it was. read more

Yellow - Pita sandwiches, fattoush, tots - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Tried Yellow for the first time and everything by was great. I ordered the flank steak kebab and loved how flavorful and filling it was. Definitely coming back to try the dinner menu read more

Yellow - Flank Steak Kebab pita - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Best latte ever. Just simple and good. The labne croissant is something different and delicious. I don't think you can go seeing with any of their pastries or food in general. read more

**delicious, unique drinks! I really love the coffee here. I got the cardamom coconut cold from latte months ago and was blown away. So I had to get it again! Still as delicious as I remember. The cardamom is so delightful and flavorful. This time, I also tried the labne with pomegranate molasses. The labne was really creamy! The syrup was also good. Only thing I didn't like was that they added sea salt flakes. I'm ok with a bit for garnish, but there was way too much in my opinion. It made every bite extremely salty. Next time I'd ask them not to add it. There are a lot of seats, but it does get loud and busy on the weekends! The staff is nice and get out the orders very quickly. read more

Yellow - Labne - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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