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    Yemen Cafe

    4.4 (684 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    Order Yemen Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    Yemen Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    YEMEN CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Yemen Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    Lamb Haneeth
    Jon K.

    Yemen Cafe's reputation precedes itself with being the oldest Yemeni restaurant in the US. Located on Atlantic Avenue among a string of other Arabic establishments, Yemen Cafe is one of the OGs and arguably the most famous. The atmosphere is no frills (except for a random tropical fish tank), and is essentially a large dining area with wooden tables and chairs. Once seated, you're greeted with complimentary broth, lemons, and some spices. The broth itself is bold and flavorful with tastes of lentils. We came in with a mission for meat and rice, so ordered their signature lamb haneeth and a side of hummus. The lamb is slow roasted for 6 hours and is noticeably tender and falls off the bone. We ordered one to share, though if you're very hungry and with company I would recommend a second entree as well. The rice was served with an okra sauce that was also delicious. The side of hummus was a full heaping plate topped with olive oil and paprika that was served with a side of their extra large pita bread. It also came with a free side of house salad that was simple yet delicious with its oil and spices dressing that gave it a tangy kick. The service is a little chaotic, I wasn't exactly sure who my waiter was but it didn't affect our meal. When craving a casual and comforting meal, Yemen cafe is a good choice.

    Patrick W.

    TLDR: I haven't even eaten there but wow was it good. Definitely will be returning, the baba ghanoush and both the lamb leg/stews were insane. Had this delivery at a friend's place and wow - everything was so tasty. Each order comes with this huge toasty pita that's perfect to mop up the sauces and plates. The baba ghanoush was the first thing I tried and I loved the texture. Not overly whipped or too smokey. Kinda of like rice pudding without the grains, that's just how it felt as I dragged the pita through it. The fahsah was this incredibly tender lamb stew that was my favorite. It's got a decent kick to it and that rich deep flavor. The lamb leg was also delicious, the edges are crispy but the meat literally falls off the bone. The chicken curry was tasty too along with the grilled fish. I can see why this place is popular, definitely will visit one of their locations again in-person.

    Justin S.

    After a year, I returned to Yemen Cafe with a singular objective in mind - lamb haneeth. This time, I ordered the lunch portion ($24.95). On a Thursday at 2pm, the establishment had less than 20% occupancy, so my party of 5 received seating immediately. Both the flatbread and accoutrements and the marag side soup remained unchanged. The salsa-looking dip tasted herbal, vegetal, and well spiced. The marag side soup, a lamb broth, proved delectable. Clarity of texture combined with richness of flavor, while never overwhelming the palate. The sharp, earthy aromatics helped with that, producing the sort of contrast reminiscent of say, rosemary and steak. The lamb haneeth came with a large fall-off-the-bone tender lamb shank. Aromatics had soaked deep into the flesh, so no bite seemed bland. The rice pilaf also had lamb drippings and more aromatics. The lunch portion seems literally half the size of the dinner one. I think I'd rather order the dinner one and arrive with a ravenous appetite.

    Chicken Saltah
    Dipali G.

    Good food with great portions Food: before we even ordered apps, we were delighted with bread, and soup! All of it was so delicious! For our mains we shared the haneethchicken and chicken saltah! The saltah was amazing! The haneeth was good but not amazing! I had a whole plate as leftovers! The portions are really great! They had tea on tap which was amazing Service: good! I like that they don't rush us, but it does take time to order and to get the check, so be wary! Ambiance: no frill kinda place! But it gets packed

    Lamb Agada (Loubia)
    Rosemond S.

    This restaurant was on my list of places to go for quite a while and my best friend and I were finally able to visit on a Sunday afternoon around 5:30 PM. When we went the place had people, but thankfully there was no weight and the host was able to seat us quickly. We were pleasantly surprised at the full spread that was provided prior to us even ordering our dishes. The server brought soup, salad, pita bread, and water. We ordered two lamb dishes, pictured below, and both of them were simply amazing. The lamb was so tender for both dishes, and the stew was made to perfection. The food was so comforting. It made me start already planning future trips to return. The restaurant itself is very simple and is not recommended for people who can't climb steps or are in wheelchairs because there are a few steps that you have to climb up and they're pretty steep. The ambience was pretty lively and there was a family celebrating a birthday. The restaurant was nice enough to play happy birthday on their speaker system so that everybody could join in, which was really cool.

    Jason T.

    Ate here today after work as a paraprofessional at P.S. 12 Q and got my NYCPS ID as well. For the first time trying Yemeni food I had tried, brought, ordered and ate the lamb haneeth and it wasn't bad and it was pretty good but too gamey. The service there was also attentive and super fast. Finally, I would consider eating and coming back next time.

    bread
    Colleen L.

    love this spot they give you free soup, salad, and tea. service is so nice. lamb was extremely tender, the chicken stew was above my expectation so crazy flavorful. they always come by to refill your bread before it's even half done.

    Anna L.

    Came in around 7PM on a Wednesday and although the restaurant was pretty packed for dinner, was seated in less than 5 minutes. Service was great, with water, complimentary hot soup, salad, and bread being served almost immediately. You can refill water and get ginger hot tea with evaporated milk at a station in the back of the restaurant. The complimentary soup was hot and delicious dipped with the bread. The bread was huge, soft, and fluffy, although it was pretty salty. We ordered the lamb agada, which came out pretty quickly with rice. It was delicious, not spicy at all, and the lamb was extremely tender and falling off the bone. The portion was big enough for 3 people who weren't very hungry; would recommend getting maybe 2 dishes for 3 people since the portions are pretty alrge. Keep in mind there is a ~3% discount when paying with cash.

    shak shookah
    Morlene C.

    Middle Eastern food is some of my fave for being so fresh, healthy, and offering a diversity of flavors via spices, quality meats, and vegetables. While I'm familiar with several of the cuisines in the region (namely Lebanese, Palestinian, and Moroccan cuisine), I believe this is my first time having Yemeni food, save for Yemeni coffee at shops like Qahwah House. Many of the flavors were familiar but I was excited to see many new-to-me dishes. We ordered a dish that's called "shak shookah (egg)" on their menu, and I fully expected shakshuka, or eggs in purgatory. I thought they'd be eggs swimming in a tomato sauce, but this dish was more like scrambled eggs with chopped up tomato. It was nice and light but I felt it could've used salt. I felt similarly about their foul (pronounced fool), which is kind of like a curried bean soup. I also thought this was light on salt for my palate but it's good for those who don't like their food as salty as I do. The charcoal grilled chicken was excellent, made nice and smoky and served with curried potatoes over rice. My favorite dish of the meal had to be the sliced Yemen bread with honey, butter and cream. Pretty basic of me to love this dish because what's not to love about bread, butter, and honey? The sesame seeds made it nutty and fantastic. The place was packed at 3pm on a Saturday with families enjoying a late lunch, so it took a while to get our food and the attention of our server. As we were in no rush this wasn't an issue and gave us more time to enjoy our feast. We never felt rushed out and enjoyed refills of their amazing coffee, served extremely hot. Lovely spot for a light meal.

    Helene S.

    Soup, hot tea with milk and hot pita freshly baked in a brick oven. Count me in. Loved trying Yemeni food after a busy day exploring Manhattan and Staten Island. Took the MTA to Brooklyn. Watched the sunset from Brooklyn Bridge Park and then walked to the Yemen Cafe and Restaurant. No trouble finding a table for three on a Friday night. Hot tea and cold water are self-service. Menus are brought out followed by small bowls of steamy hot marag (soup), salad with a hot sauce dressing and pita. The homemade lamb broth with minced onions and mixed Yemeni spices is so warm and homey. The hot tea is so sweet and comforting. Started with hummus and foul as we waited for the entrees. The foul was addictively delicious....and I am not a fan of foul. Sauteed onions, tomatoes, and mashed fava beans. So good with the pita bread!! The lamb haneeth is their most popular dish for a reason. The slow-roasted lamb is seasoned to perfection. No knife needed to cut as the lamb is so tender that it just falls off the bone. Our daughter's mixed vegetable stew served over a bed of rice was also flavorful. A very comfy place for a family dinner. Food was delicious with lots of leftovers to go. Service for us was on point. Appreciated how our waiter kept refilling our bread and answered all of our questions about the Yemeni specials. Would definitely come again for dinner with family or friends.

    Lamb Haneeth

    Little mom and pop place, seems to be family owned. Food is super authentic and delicious. Highly recommend the Lamb Haneeth

    lamb
    Amy W.

    Don't overlook this spot in Downtown Brooklyn! They have an AMAZING meat broth soup that comes complimentary with the meal. I enjoyed it so much I paid for a second cup. I feel like this soup could heal any ailment and truly get so happy just thinking about it! We were a group of five that walked in for a late lunch on a Saturday, where there was plenty of seating available. We ordered the chicken and lamb specials with rice, which were divine. The meat was succulent and cooked such that it was fall-off-the-bone and super flavorful and delicious. It was comforting and the portions were pretty huge and shareable. The service was friendly and could accommodate large groups. It was a bit expensive for the specials, but they were large enough to be shared by two people so not as bad. I will definitely be back here again to explore more items on the menu!

    Fahsah Massloug Lamb
    Anna A.

    This is one of my favorite restaurants in all of NYC. - Food: the complimentary soup is everything I could ever want. The bubbling fahsah with their bread is one of my favorite dishes I've ever eaten. - Service: Very kind people working!! - Ambiance: No frills spot, you come for the food and you will 10000% enjoy the food

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    Page 1 of 18

    Ask the Community - Yemen Cafe

    May we bring our own wine?

    You can, but I would not. This restaurant is halal and alcohol may be frowned upon.

    Do they have camel meat on menu?

    No. It's not on the menu.

    MY we bring our wine?

    Best to call them a lot of traditional muslims dine there it might be offensive

    Is it halal?

    Yes as they said

    I don't eat meat. Is there anything for me to eat there?

    yes vegetarian options are on the menu

    View All 6 Questions

    Review Highlights - Yemen Cafe

    Great service, incredible authentic Yemeni food (tried the lamb Haneeth and fahsa), fresh bread, beef soup, everything was special.

    Mentioned in 115 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Bedouin Tent - Leg of Lamb Sandwich

    Bedouin Tent

    4.1(749 reviews)
    0.5 miBoerum Hill, Downtown Brooklyn
    $$

    I met a couple of friends here for dinner before a concert at Roulette. There's plenty of seating…read morein the back, plus an outdoor space that I'm sure is awesome in nice weather. Walking through, you get a nice view of the kitchen area, seeing where the magic happens: an exciting way to start the experience! My group decided to share a few things, all of which were delicious. The vegetable pizza (or "pitza" as they style it) was a huge hit: we loved the crust, with its resonant notes of olive oil, and the mozzarella cheese could not have been fresher. The olives and peppers delightfully balanced the cheese and tomatoes, making for an irresistible flavor profile and mouthfeel. Seriously, do not underestimate this formidable pie! The chicken platter came loaded with grilled chicken, hummus, and salad, along with warm, freshly baked pita. Perfect option for the person that wants to take their time sampling a variety of foods. The leg of lamb sandwich, meanwhile, is ready to be consumed at whatever pace you deem fit: indeed, one of our party devoured it voraciously, no crumbs left behind. And finally, we also worked our way through the large feta salad, which turns out to actually be an enormous platter of crumbled feta with some diced tomatoes on top. Don't order this expecting a leafy green salad, it's all cheese! BUT, do order it so that you can add some tangy feta to everything else on the table. It really makes the flavors pop. My first impression of Bedouin Tent was excellent. Service was great and the prices are very fair for the area. Whether you're seeking a more traditional Mediterranean meal or something with a fusion twist, this is an awesome spot to consider.

    Arrived here for dinner before a show at Barclays with a party of 3 at around 6:30, and it was…read morefairly empty, which was really surprising! The restaurant was pretty spacious with some outdoor seating as well. We were greeted and seated right away. We ordered the small babaganoush, hummus, and 3 sandwiches. The small dips were actually a fairly large portion, we didn't finish either. The sandwiches however were a bit on the smaller size, but they were still tasty! The pricing was fairly reasonable, and the ambiance made for a lovely dinner. I'd definitely come back here if I'm back in the area!

    Photos
    Bedouin Tent
    Bedouin Tent - Falafel Plate, Leg of Lamb Plate

    Falafel Plate, Leg of Lamb Plate

    Bedouin Tent

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    Darna Falafel

    Darna Falafel

    4.3(297 reviews)
    0.2 miCobble Hill
    $

    Food: freshly made with fresh ingredients, flavorful and well spiced…read more Service: friendly and competent. Ambiance: lovely little spot, cozy and inviting.

    Everything we've tried on this menu has been absolutely delicious! The place is super tiny, and…read morethere may or may not be seating available for you, but they also do takeout so you can take your food to-go if they don't have seating. The team here is so friendly and they're good at giving you a heads up of how long orders will take. The food is a fantastic deal as you get a lot of it for the price, and it's always perfectly seasoned. What I've tried so far: - the falafel platter - the lamb platter - the steak sandwich - a number of juices and smoothies The falafel platter - INCREDIBLE deal for the amount of food. Only $11 for falafel, a salad, hummus, and pita. The falafel aren't dry and overall they're well seasoned. The only thing this is missing is their rice (which is amazing on its own). The lamb platter - I like this included super flavorful rice. Generous portion of meat. Definitely heavier than the falafel platter. Steak sandwich - SO good. They have some kind of secret sauce that ties everything together. Portion was smaller than the platters (easier to get through in one sitting) and this was probably the best thing I tried on the menu. It does say it comes with a side salad but we never got one. Would be better with a salad to balance out the steak+bread. Smoothies and juices - very fresh and tasty. Overall, we're very happy we found this cute neighborhood falafel spot :)

    Photos
    Darna Falafel - Inside looking out.

    Inside looking out.

    Darna Falafel - Falafel platter

    Falafel platter

    Darna Falafel - Chicken Platter and Mint Tea.

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    Chicken Platter and Mint Tea.

    Barouk - Chicken marinating

    Barouk

    4.7(21 reviews)
    1.8 miSouth Slope

    Abdullah knows his business, and his business (as far as I can tell) is making delicious shawarma…read more We rolled in and quickly decided we needed some lamb shawarma with the works. Abdullah is super friendly, very helpful, and was only slightly confused that two men were about to share a lamb shawarma platter as opposed to getting their own separate meals. (What Abdullah did not know is that this was our second lunch of the afternoon - classic bang bang - and we're pretty comfortable with each other.) When it came out, the platter was everything I'd hoped for. A stunning, colorful array of intensely flavorful lamb slices carved off the spit and served over rice and salad, slathered in white and hot sauce, topped with pickled vegetables. To be sure, I regretted having a second lunch, but not because of anything amiss with the food. And I also regretted not getting any baklava, but I'll rectify that next time around.

    Looking for Lebanese and not in Bay Ridge? Hit up Barouk in Park Slope, Brooklyn…read more The owner / chef makes everything from scratch. Had Tamarind soda (not made there), vegan spinach pies, chicken and lamb pita, beef kofta pita, zinger chicken burger and baklava (no butter). Food came out relatively quickly and had a great conversation with the owner. Parking was easy on a Saturday. Priced inexpensively for the area where most entrees are $30 and up.

    Photos
    Barouk
    Barouk - Chicken on rice  Falafal Pita French Fries

    Chicken on rice Falafal Pita French Fries

    Barouk

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    Mazzat - Branzino

    Mazzat

    4.6(316 reviews)
    0.6 miColumbia Street Waterfront District
    $$

    My family has been going to Mazzat once a year for over 10 years. If we lived closer it would be a…read morelot more often. We live in Jersey and come to Brooklyn every year to get our taxes done. Its become a tradition to go to Mazzat after our tax appt. In all these years not only have we never had a bad meal, but the meal has always been exceptional! Today it was just my wife and I. Our two sons had other plans. Even though it was just us two, we ordered like there were four. We started off with drinks. My wife had the Mango Sunrise and I had a Mojito. Carlos, who does a little bit of everything at Mazzat recommended it and it was the best Mojito I've ever had! Well balanced, the mint stood out and the agave gave it just the right touch of sweetness. Mazzat is a place where food is meant to be shared so we ordered multiple apps and two entrees. We got hummus, merguez (lamb sausage), garlic shrimp and chicken cigars, which you can also order with lamb. All of it came with a basket of soft pita with crispy pita chips added. The hummus has the consistency of Gelato; smooth with the slightest of lemon flavor, drizzled with olive oil and paired perfectly with the pita. Chicken cigars come with an avocado crema that complements the smoky flavor of the chicken inside. Shrimp was fantastic and the merguez equally so. Both come bathed in olive oil and spices, perfect for dipping. My wife had shakshuka because she's a big tomato fan and was very happy with her choice. I got the half marinated chicken which comes with bulghur rice, a side salad and a garlic dipping sauce. The chicken had a deep smoky grilled taste that permeates the meat. It didnt need the dipping sauce but the dipping sauce was a great partner nonetheless. The bulghur rice deserves it's own paragraph to describe it but I'll keep it to buttery, soft and fluffy and unbelievably delicious! We also ordered a fattoush salad which is as good as it gets as far as salads go. We consider Mazzat our favorite restaurant pound for pound. When it comes to food quality, quantity, value, freshness, service and atmosphere, you'll be hard pressed to get any better than Mazzat. Apologies for the long read but I feel you have to give a restaurant like Mazzat it's kudos and that just won't happen thoroughly in a one paragraph review.

    Get the lamb cigars!!!…read more I went with my mom and cousin and we absolutely loved this place!! Our server was so friendly and helpful. Everything we ate was delicious. At the end we met the owner who is also the chef.

    Photos
    Mazzat
    Mazzat - Delicious dessert

    Delicious dessert

    Mazzat - Lemon Potatoes

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    Lemon Potatoes

    Tava Turkish and Mediterranean - Yogurtlu Chicken Shish Kebab I think

    Tava Turkish and Mediterranean

    4.5(307 reviews)
    1.3 miPark Slope
    $$

    This gem in Brooklyn shouldn't be hidden. We had a group of 8 where a third of the party were…read moretoddlers and we were treated with so much care. The service was impeccable, understanding and kind. Now to the food,...chefs kiss. The bread Bastien was warm and soft. The grilled calamari is definitely an appetizer must. But the biggest surprise was the fried liver bites. I couldn't get enough of it. The seasoning, the juiciness, the joy it brought me was unexpected and highly appreciated. Not a fan of the fried calamari but the rest of the adult at my table liked it...to each is own. I didn't get a chance to enjoy my main course because the kids started getting rowdy but the rest of my party ate their meals and couldn't stop raving about the food. Was a little disappointment the almond pudding wasn't one that menu anymore. I really wanted to try it, but the tiramisu was delicious and the whipped cream with pistachio was light and delightful. I didn't get to take any pictures but I would definitely go back the next time I'm in Brooklyn.

    We stopped into Tava around 3 in the afternoon for a late lunch. The restaurant was nearly empty at…read morethat hour and we received lots of great attention from the staff. The ambience is comfortable. The tables are a comfortable distance apart, something you don't often find in places in Brooklyn. We sat down and our server promptly offered us water and menus. It was one of the really cold day in early February and I ordered Lentil soup. It really hit the spot-both nice and warm and tasty. My wife and I shared the other dishes that included a superb mixed appetizer plate with really delicious baba ghanoush, humus, labneh and other middle eastern delights. The grilled calamari was a really nice surprise. We typically order fried calamari, our server suggested the grilled. The calamari was tender, sweet and truly delicious. Finally, we shared the Mediterranean sea bass that was also excellent. The fish was very good with a wonderful light sauce. All around a wonderful experience at a reasonable price.

    Photos
    Tava Turkish and Mediterranean
    Tava Turkish and Mediterranean - Penne alla Vodka Pasta

    Penne alla Vodka Pasta

    Tava Turkish and Mediterranean - Turkish Tea

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    Turkish Tea

    Yemen Cafe - mideastern - Updated June 2026

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