An incredibly unique spot worth visiting in the Tenderloin. I had some amazing lamb as well as a unique Middle Eastern cola. The food was exceptionally delicious. Service was quick and solid. Ambiance is more cosy and homey, although it's located in a not so great part of the city read more

Yemeni - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

I'm delighted to have another Yemeni restaurant in San Francisco. Delightful food and good service. Had the lamb Mandi and a beef breakfast dish and homemade baklava. Will come back again. Note, they only accept tips in cash. read more

Came for lunch about 15 minutes after they opened, since we were headed to a show next door at the Golden Gate, and were surprised to find many tables already occupied and incredible smells coming from the very smoky kitchen. Beware if you're wearing a nice outfit or care about food smells being embedded in your clothes before an event - you will most definitely leave this place smelling of food and it will stick with you until you launder whatever you're wearing. We ordered the mezza platter, lamb saltah and Yemeni kebobs. Mezza platter came with hummus, baba ganoush, 2 falafel balls, 2 dolmas, and a bit of salad in the middle. FH really liked the hummus and I really enjoyed the baba ganoush, which was much chunkier than I'm used to, but still super smoky and delicious. I appreciated the larger chunks of eggplant because it made it feel more substantial. The falafel were maybe the best I've ever had, and I've eaten a LOT of falafel. They were really tender and moist and lighter/starchier than I'm used to, but in the best way. Also super, super crispy and flavorful. The dolmas had a little extra kick of dried mint and were nice and tart, which is my preference. I really enjoyed FH's Yemeni kebobs, quite possibly even more than I liked my saltah, which is saying a lot because the lamb saltah was absolutely delicious! It was really hearty and comforting, also HOT AS HECK (temperature, not spice) which was maybe a bit of an unusual choice on an unseasonably warm SF afternoon, but it was worth burning my mouth for. If I had one criticism, it would be that there was very little meat in my bowl. Kebobs were juicy, flavorful, and had the best crust of a kebab I've ever seen. They were craggy and brown - just a sight to behold. I would get these again in a heartbeat. FH got the hot mint tea, which was sweetened to perfection. Only I asked for water, but we were both given plastic bottles of Arrowhead, which we were then later charged $2 each for. I wish they'd specified that this was the case, but maybe it was somewhere on the menu that all water was bottled, and I just missed it. All food came out in a timely manner and service was very friendly and efficient. We made our show next door with plenty of time to spare, even though we'd only left ourselves about an hour to park, walk, and eat. Would happily come here and try new things on the menu next time we're in the city. read more

This casual restaurant is clean and comfortable. No parking lot, but a little street parking. The employees are friendly, and they do their best to make you feel at home. There is a TV there so you can watch the game with other customers. The food smells and tastes good. They use good recipes and fresh ingredients. read more

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Wow, this cozy little spot serves up delicious Yemeni food! Highly recommend if you're in the area and like trying new cuisines. I ordered a traditional Yemeni soup that was delicious and quite filling. The portion size was substantial and could easily be shared. My boyfriend ordered a meat dish that was delicious as well. I appreciated the vegetarian options on the menu. Service was friendly and helpful! read more

Stepping away from the gritty Tenderloin and into Yemeni Kabab is like stepping into an oasis after walking through a desert. The first thing you notice is the décor. It's appointed with beautiful artifacts, framed photos of the region, and stylish arabic script you would typically find throughout the Middle East. I found the woman who worked the cashier and took my order, as well as the person who presented my to-go order (a man who I assume is the manager) warm and inviting. I had the Yemeni Kabab with basmati rice. You have a choice of rice or salad. I highly recommend the basmati rice. One of the best kababs I've had in the city. A great dinner choice on nights when you are attending the Golden Gate Theater just a half a block away. read more

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Went here last minute before a show at the Golden Gate theater as it is literally next door and we wanted to be able to have gluten free for one of us and vegetarian/pescatarian for another and this met those needs. Loved the food here and would certainly visit again. Service was great and relaxed. We had the Tuna Saltah - Tuna cooked with vegetables, spices topped with fenugreek, served with home-made breed and it was delicious. For a drink we had the Egyptian Lemon Mint which was excellent. Also had the Yemeni Kabab which was again excellent. The neighborhood is a little sketchy but harmless, the food is worth the visit. read more

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Great new Yemeni place in the TL! I tried their "mixed grill" kebab, which is off-menu ($27 at time of write up), with sides of baba ghanoush ($7.49), and house-made (!) bread ($3). The kebabs were cooked and seasoned well, and I felt the portion was ample. The price was a bit steep, but I do feel like good kebab options are lacking in the city, and the quality alone is very good. The bread believe it or not was a standout! They weren't kidding about fresh. Like the waitress said "let me go and make it for you" when I inquired. That's what I call service! Came out piping hot, fluffy, like an Indian naan, but a bit more doughy. Really a great complement for the baba ghanoush. They have complimentary tea as well, which is brewed fresh. I will definitely return when I am craving kebabs! read more

Yemeni - Mixed grill kebabs. The steak and beef were extremely tender standouts. Be sure to ask for the fresh hot sauce! $27 - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The Haneeth chicken is excellent. Very moist and seasoned perfectly. I'd get this for myself and my kids regularly. If you remember Good Frickin Chicken (now closed), this is BETTER. In fact, I tried the highest rated roast chicken spots in San Francisco and this was better. Love the vegetable stew it comes with as well. The side that looks like salsa is awesome too but very garlicky. Very nice staff, chill vibes, and clean interior. Looking forward to trying other entrees. Will increase rating once I have had more than one dish. read more

Yemeni - Half Roasted Chicken with vegetable stew - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

Such a hidden gem, that's just off Market Street and barely in the Tenderloin. So many interesting Yemini dishes instead of just generic "Middle Eastern". Too bad it wasn't more packed, since it deserves a crowd. Maraq: Wow, this was really delicious for just broth. No solids really, except maybe some small specks of veggies. Umami and rich and lots of slow cooked lamb bone taste. A great way to get your appetite going for the meal ahead. Lamb Salta: Such a delicious lunch and wonderful treat. It comes out quite impressively, bubbly with a nice foam on top. You also get a massive amount of freshly made bread on the side. The obvious way to eat this is by breaking the bread into pieces and scooping off some of the magically delicious stew on it. The first few bites will be quite hot, so be careful. Afterward it cools a bit, it gets a pasty texture that's much easier to scoop. Loved all the shredded lamb against the veggie stuff. Nice fresh salsa on the side to kick up the spice level a little. Haneeth: Apparently the three lamb and rice dishes on the menu are all very similar. I opted for the one that wasn't mixed together. Got three pieces of tender roasted lamb, two of which some bones. Very strong delicious lamb flavor. A really tasty side of stewed carrots and potatoes, just the right soft texture with some nice flavor. And lots of fluffy basmati rice. Not as audacious as the salta, but yummy. Yemeni Kabab: Little crispy meatballs that seem like they're more deep fried than grilled. Served with a nice chopped veggie mix, with some fresh herbs, to eat with ripped off bits of big pita. I kinda like the thick bread served with the salta more than this pita bread. The hot salsa on the side was nice too. Bent al-Sahn: They made the Honey Cake fresh to order, so it came to me warm. Felt kinda as if some made a crêpe from baklava dough. Lots of nice honey drizzled on top take make it moist. Really enjoyed it. Adani Tea: Reminds me of masala chai with the cardamom spices in milk tea. Very creamy. Egyptian Lemon Mint: An interesting and refreshing drink. It's blended to order so it's foamy and the mint is mixed all throughout the lemonade. Ended up with a nice tang. read more

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Came here to try their traditional Yemeni saltah and found it yummy and interesting. The restaurant was small but cozy with interesting decorations on the walls. The staff was friendly and the service was fast. read more

Yemeni - saltah - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The TL, The Loin, The Tendergroin...isn't the hottest neighborhood in the city that people venture to. But, what it lacks in curb appeal, makes up in their food scene. The TL has a great selection of mom-and-pop shops with affordable ethnic eats that you can't get elsewhere in the city. And, the newest arrival is Yemeni Kabab (opened two weeks ago in the former Dispensa Italian Charcoal). This new Yemeni resto is from the owner of nearby Yemen Kitchen which will be transitioning to a fast-food concept soon. Yemeni Kebab is open for all day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Takeout and indoor dining only. Catering available. M E N U Yemeni and Mediterranean Cuisine: Apps, salads, pita wraps, kebabs, and rice plates. Complimentary Yemeni black tea. No alkie. Lunch specials 11 am - 3 pm: Five rotating dishes that's discounted from their dinner menu (inquire selection with staff). FYI, if you're interested in their mandi (roasted lamb over rice), visit after 12 pm noon. F O O D * Tawa: Yemeni Bread ($3) Large layered flatbread with a nice crispy and chewy texture. Think a hybrid of naan and paratha. * Kabsa: Bone-in Roasted Lamb w/ basmati rice, sahawiq (Lunch-$18/Dinner-$23.99): https://tinyurl.com/y2tdw494 - Lamb close-up: https://tinyurl.com/4hnket4j This rustic Yemeni dish hits! Liked a tamed biryani, the fluffy, aromatic basmati rice had warming notes of cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves with flavorful meaty chunks of lamb. The lamb was fork tender so no knife was needed. The kabsa was such a delicious and comforting dish that lasted for two meals. The side of sahawig (zhug), a spicy condiment made of cilantro, chili peppers, garlic, etc. added herbaceous heat. S E R V I C E Warm hospitality with prompt food service (only customer at the time). Their POS wasn't working and the owner, Adbul said, I could just pay next time. I wasn't going to leave without paying but his offer spoke volumes (paid through zelle). A M B I A N C E Cozy and warm with an exposed brick wall, rich red, orange, and golds. There's about 8 tables. This space is such a huge upgrade from their micro hole-in-the-wall sister resto that only has three tables. P A R K I N G Metered street parking. Overall, Yemeni Kebab (and their sister resto, Yemen Kitchen) is the only Yemeni restos in the city so it's worth seeking out if you're looking for a hearty, comfort meal that's easy on the wallet. If you're in the area for a show/event at The Warfield (next door), Golden Gate Theatre (1/2 block away), or Orpheum Theatre (2 blocks away), I highly recommend checking them out! read more

Yemeni - Kabsa: Bone-in Roasted Lamb w/ basmati rice, sahawiq | Lunch-$18/Dinner-$23.99 (Tawa-$3) - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Really love this place. It's your typical hole in the wall, but the food is the best! The service wad also superb. Would recommemd asking them their favorites. read more

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Their Yelp hours say they open at 10am, but their Google Maps hours say they open at 11:30am. I called for a pickup order at 11am on a weekday and they seemed like they hadn't opened yet (the chef confirmed this - but he was very cheerful and happy to be cooking my dish). So I guess their Google Maps hours are the correct one! The Chicken kabsa was very flavorful, but the chicken itself was a little dry. High 3 stars. read more

I got excited to see Yemeni got bigger, more inviting with nice decor against the brick wall. Most importantly, the dishes were still, downright, delicious!! I've tried diff lamb dishes, diff appetizers, fish, &Egyptian beans. So far, all great!! The service is always very pleasant and warm. I don't care if the location can be a little sketch sometimes, because there's nothing like Yemeni anywhere else. I simply love this very yummy place for sure! read more

Great Yemeni Mjnt Red Tea to start and very delicious meals with great portions. The chicken was well seasoned and super flavorful. The service was amazing, super nice people. The overall atmosphere was warm and inviting, great space. read more

Yemeni - Chicken Shawarma & Chicken Shish Kabab - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I would give this restaurant 10 stars. It's a must try place!!! Very authentic, very good ambiance. Amazing staff. The food is fresh. They prepare it for you at your liking. Highly recommended read more

I really wanted to like this place but it really disappointed on flavor. We tried the main staple dishes but they just not deliver on flavor. Meat was cooked fine. Portions were on the smaller side. Mint lemonade was not sweet enough and when we asked them to make it more sweet, he brought us another lemonade made the same way. So overall it was just okay read more

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best takeout. truly delicious finger lickin food. vegetarian options - northern beans. fava beans, and falafel. you can get them in a wrap and they REALLY fill it up. i got the northern beans wrapped in a pita and they were very flavorful! that being said i would also get a mezze platter or a side salad for a balanced meal! i put my salad into my wrap and it was perfect meat options - friend said the chicken shawarma wrap was amaaaazing mezze platter - some of the best hummus, falafel, and dolma i've had. the hummus was reallyyyy delish and tasted almost like feta. one of the best falafels i've tried, super soft on the inside, moist not dry. usually not a fan of dolma but this was full of flavor. would recommend for takeout, don't dine in, the area isn't great. and if you're getting takeout double check the address because i think they're at a new location. read more

Too good to go order: plenty of tasty food. What more could you want? Got spiced beef, peas, and potatoes and carrots over rice with hot salsa. Would definitely try again! read more

Yemeni - Too good to go order: Spiced beef, peas, carrot, potato and hot salsa over rice. - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

I got the roast chicken with rice / veggies special for $12.99 and it was really delicious the skin was crispy on the chicken and the meat was tender. All the flavors were mild but delicious. The staff was super friendly too - made me feel welcomed and even gave me a free small side of soup which was perfect because it had just been raining! I definitely want to come back here and try one of their main dishes, the lamb looked so good when the person next to me was eating it. And it was such a cute restaurant with relaxing music playing. read more

Yemeni - Roast chicken special - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

Amazing, you can tell how good it is before even going inside from the smell!!! The service was so nice and helpful, the fresh hot sauce was great, the tea paired wonderfully with the food. Incredible wish I lived closer so I could go back again! read more

Delicious food! Very nice staff and great place to have a meal before or after going to the Golden Gate Theater. The green mint Egyptian lemonade drink was INCREDIBLE! I really loved the falafel too! read more

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The food and ambience in this cafe is excellent! I had heard a lot about the cafe and my daughter and I were not disappointed with the pastries, snacks and tea! We will be back for sure. read more

The new bigger location next to the GG theater across from the Warfield is SOO nice. The place has been on the DL for most and has come out. The old location was pretty much take out only with 2 small tables, this is a proper restaurant with a lot of seating. All the same GREAT menu items, only different is a different bread than the Tawa, just as good. Lentil soups, the stews (chicken or lamb) and the Kartalah (fave beans or great northern with ground beef) are all excellent and transcendent. I have been raving for years and miss them whenever we are away in New Orleans. Nothing like them. read more

Complete spur of the moment dinner. We were headed to Warfield and were starving and saw this place and tucked into a little table and since the place is called Yemeni Kabab, that's what we ordered. The place is small and warm, had a busy but comfy vibe. Server was friendly and efficient and met the chef who was very welcoming. Looking forward to working my way through their menu. read more

Most people cheering for the underdogs. I for most of the time also cheer for the underdogs too, unless those underdogs is not worth rooting for. Roasted lamb was succulent and tender, but flavor was lacking and for the price it was not of a good value. And hole in the wall can be overrated too. read more

Yemeni - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

Amazing food and a wonderful owner. We had attentive service. It was like eating a home cooked meal.

The place doesn't look like much from the outside, but the delicious whif of smoke draws you right in. This little shop offers a delightful escape into the comforting flavors of Yemen. The start dish here caught my eye, and I knew I had to get that lamb kabsah to satisfy my inner cravings. The pieces of lamb tasted tender and soft. Fresh off from the oven, it's infused with aromatic spices. The best part is all that is served alongside basmati rice and just a touch of saffron. The place screams busy take-out orders from locals and friends, and that means you're going to be in for a treat! Just take a look at the kitchen, and you can see your dish all prepared and cooked right from the grill for you. read more

Yemeni - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This soccer-themed Yemeni restaurant is the best place to get roast lamb in this city. The okra with lamb, & the roast lamb dinner are so good I could cry. You just can't go wrong, everything is made with love. Great, caring service too. read more

A true local gem; an unassuming hole in the wall with heartfelt service and flavorful cuisine in generous portions. The chef here takes pride in his food, and it shows. If you are a tourist, this place is a diamond in the rough. Required eating if you desire to call yourself a SF foodie; a game changer and an institution of a dining establishment in a dynamic neighborhood. The service and quality of food here has changed the way I gauge restaurants in this city. Highly recommend visiting and taking the chef's recommendations seriously. read more

Really good food and very kind wait staff. The Yemeni tea is a must try, so amazing!!

Because I'm Egyptian I can tell the best mediterranean food ever Good customer service Fresh food Good taste read more

First time trying Yemeni Kabab & Mediterranean Restaurant, but I'm sure it won't be the last. The food was delicious with large portions. Normally, I love having more than enough to be able to have leftovers for the next day (especially if the prices are reasonable), but with this venue it's difficult to take leftovers because it would be the venue of choice before going to the Golden Gate Theater for a performance (and you know they're not going to allow you through the door with leftovers!). Anyhow, I had read that the portions are large, so my dining companion and I shared a chicken kebab plate and an order of babaganoush with pita bread. The chicken was tender and moist and the rice and okra (?) that came with it complemented the chicken perfectly. The portion was a good size for both of us to enjoy. The babaganoush was a bit under-seasoned, in my opinion, but was still good. We asked if the babaganoush came with pita bread and was told no, so we ordered some, but it wasn't listed on the bill, so maybe it *was* included... which would make sense. While the food was great, the service definitely needs work. Everyone working was very nice, but when we asked for water, they brought bottles ($2 each) instead of glasses of regular tap water. Also, we had to ask for utensils after our food was put on the table as well as for the menus initially, a plate to share our food, for them to take our order, and any other thing we needed; in other words, it seemed we would have sat at an empty table the whole time if we didn't ask for what we needed every step of the way. I'm hoping this is just because the workers are new and haven't gotten it together yet. I will definitely return because the staff was very nice and polite and the food was good, but I hope they can get it together before the next time! read more

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We ordered chicken shish kebab and lamb with okra. Also ordered the Yemeni mezza appetizer platter. The chicken and lamb were flavorful and juicy. The mezza platter was delicious- loved the baba ganoush and the stuffed grape leaves. We'll definitely return to try other dishes. read more

Upon entering this place, I didn't have high expectations but I was blown away by how tasty the food was, how kind the servers were and how large the portion sizes were. It can be quite smoky from the outside but when you enter and sit down, you can't really tell. The chicken Kabsa was delicious and the moussaka absolutely amazing. Will definitely come again. read more

Yemeni - Chicken Kabsa - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

I want to first thank the staff for being so accommodating to our large group of 12 friends that wanted dinner before a comedy show around 7:30 pm Friday night. We were served three platters of beef and chicken with rice and veggies. The meat was very tender and flavorful. The places is a small, intimate mom and pop shop style of place . I loved the decor and Arabian music. This place was great! I'll definitely be back. read more

This place is wonderful. I am half Yemeni and I can say that this place is authentic Yemeni food. Taste just like my mom's cooking. The waitress is very friendly and the restaurant is lovely. Most of all the food is so good!!!! read more

Popped in here with my GF after skating around the city all day. It's a small spot, but they were super nice and gave us some place mats and we were able to dine in, which was great because we wanted to be able to sit for a minute to eat. I got the lunch special lamb plate and it was incredible. The quality of the lamb was amazing, and their rice is really good. I had to skip the side salad (can't do tomatoes anymore) but the stewed veggies were delicious and tender. The lamb though was the obvious star. Perfectly cooked and seasoned and delicious. My gf got the falafel wrap on yemeni bread and she said the falafel was perfectly crispy and all the other ingredients in the wrap paired well. She also loved the bread. I highly recommend dropping into this place for lunch if you can! A must visit for anyone who loves mediterranean style food for sure. Will visit again. read more

Yemeni - storefront - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We came from Sacramento, California and found this cozy Yemen Restaurant and decided to try their Lamb Rice, Beef Cabab, Baba Ghanoun, Lentil Soup, Yemen bread, and Salad everything was fresh and Delicious, portions are more than enough, atmosphere and customer service is great, prices affordable. I recommend this Great Restaurant it's almost at the corner of Market and Taylor Streets in San Francisco, CA. read more

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