Yemen Cafe
8735 Joseph Campau St, Hamtramck, MI, 48212
Yemen Cafe Menu
-
Popular Items
Healthy Meal suggestions for Yemen Cafe
-
Popular Items
Visit below restaurant in Hamtramck for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
8735 Joseph Campau St
Hamtramck, MI, 48212 - Phone (313) 871-4349
- Website https://www.hamtramckstar.com/yemen-cafe/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :8:00 am - 12:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Sausan Z.
This place is your classic hole in the wall. The location is a bit sketchy and the restaurant itself is a extremely grungy but look past that. If you do, then you're in for a treat. The serving sizes at this restaurant are incredibly generous. The lamb Haneeth is ahhmazing. The chicken agaddah was dry for my taste but yummy nonetheless. I've been here a few times before and have ordered many things but I cannot remember the names of all of them but you will not be disappointed. Be curious. Try out this spot.
(5)Hussam B.
Best place u can find for those who like Arabic food, I recommend the (chicken okda) if u can handle a little spicy food.
(5)Jay K.
Flavorful and amazing! Great service and the gentleman working there was super duper friendly, especially with us newbies. Will definitely come again to try other foods.
(5)R S.
Amazing! Amazing! The food here is just simply exquisite! The lamb haneeth was a bit dry, but tasted amazing! Our favorite was the lamb faasooh (a stew) dipped with fresh bread. We also tried their eggs (shakshouka) which the kids loved. if you're a snob for decor then this place is not for you! But for the die-hard foodies this place is not to be missed as it will leave you with a memorable experience that's hard to let go of! Yes, the food is that great! oh, and dont forget to have the free tea!
(5)Ian S.
The best Yemeni food I have had in years! The shakshuka was a revelation, but was just one of many excellent dishes. A must eat for anyone in the Detroit metro area.
(5)Rajon M.
The best Yemeni Food you can eat in Metro Detroit! I have been going to Yemen Cafe for about 12 years now, and it gets better every time I go. If you havent gone there yet, and are craving something succulent and meaty, then this place should be your destination! The restaurant itself isnt fancy but it is very inviting and open. The wall is bare and it's never that busy, but the menu is a whole 'nother story! You walk in, grab a menu and tell the waiter what you would like. And if you need any extra plates or spoons, then let them know. You then have a seat in their tables. The tables are perfect for a group of three or four friends to sit down comfortably and eat. The tables have an extra menu, salt, pepper, and dressing oil. The waiter brings a glass of water to keep you waiting. They do offer other drinks, but it is a self serve sort of thing. After a few minutes, the waiter brings the food and leaves back into the kitchen. The kitchen is right behind the counter and is open, so you see them making everything right in front of you! Awesome! Almost every time I go there, I go with my friends or family. We always order the lamb "ghallaba", which is a pita bread wrapped sandwich with a decadent rich meaty filling that is smothered in a delicious sauce with many spices. It's the best Yemeni food there is out there. I also order the Fasooliya, which is a bean dish that is stewed. They serve it hot and fresh off the stove in a cast iron pot and bring it to your table. The Fasooliya is piping hot and is still bubbling as if it were still cooking. It tastes very nutty and you can taste the many spices that are put into this dish. We ordered Yemeni Bread to go with this dish. The Yemeni bread is baked in the oven and looks like a big Indian Naan. They bring it to you in a pizza pan and you may request as many as you need. They always have them baking in the oven! If you go for breakfast, make sure you get the Shakshooka, which is like the Arabian way of Scrambled eggs. The eggs are scrambled with spices and tomatoes and taste delicious with the Yemeni bread. I advise that you eat all these dishes with either bread, pita, or rice! Trust me. The prices are so reasonable, and the proportions are generous. You dont even need to tip the waiters. This cafe is surrounded by a Yemeni neighborhood, south of Joseph Campau Street. Make sure you take a bite out of there!
(5)Mark L.
Great choice for Arabic food in Hamtramk. As good as almost any in Dearborn and much more convenient for me. Also has long hours. Can't go wrong here.
(4)Amy K. S.
Went in for breakfast for Fassolia (white beans w eggs) and Foul (mashed fava beans w garlic tomato and onions. It was very good, it seemed very authentic, my friend from the arabian penninsula who took me there cannot stop raving about the place.
(5)Ben H.
Very interesting place. But delicious! My mom and I went there on my adventurous tastes and found it to be a winner. We were the only non Arab patrons there so it was kind of weird. I ordered Seltah which is the national dish of Yemen. Mom had a chicken galaba sandwich. All of which was great. The fattoush was excellent. The small was big enough for two big appetites.
(4)j i.
I don't think you can really go wrong here. very local. very little English. feels a bit like putting one foot outside America. five stars for atmosphere, people, and four stars for the food.
(4)Afiya K.
Good for a take out. Would suggest call in advance and place an order. Value for money. Do try the dollar soup. It goes really well with bread. I have tried couple of dishes and all good. Thumbs up for the place.
(5)Seyad C.
I'll just say the food is good forth right, but only if you can even let the older Yemeni men know what you want. Called for takeout but after babbling about God knows what the guy just tells me their closed when they're clearly not. It's dead in the middle of the day and it's a weekday. You're not closed. I drive over there and ignore the fact that he just told me the place was closed and point exactly at what I want and he tells me it's a 20 minute wait. I come back in 20 minutes to something that isn't what I paid for and all he's got to say is something along the lines of "sorry, I thought this would be a good substitute". What does that even mean? Disrespectful as hell, staff clearly doesn't give a shit about customers that aren't their own people.
(2)Bengt A.
Okay, I've gotta chuckle at the endearing naivete of some of the reviews here. If you've never wondered at the geography of the Middle East, do yourself a favor and check out the distance between, oh, say Lebanon, and Yemen on a map. Yemen is definitely not the Levant -- sure, it's technically "Arab," but the accent, dress, and especially the food are all different. Going to a Yemeni restaurant and expecting hummus and falafel is like going to a Japanese ramen stand and expecting Vietnamese pho, or going to a South African steakhouse and expecting a side of Ethiopian injera. It just ain't the way it works. I'm Lebanese, so I take a lot of pride in the food of the Levant; but I've also been fortunate enough to have both traveled to Yemen and to have lived in the Arabian Gulf, where Yemeni expats and restaurants are plentiful. It's one of my favorite cuisines, and I guess I've been a little spoiled in the past. When I saw the glowing reviews of Yemen Cafe, I knew I had to check it out and compare it to my prior experiences. In short, it's very good, but it still falls short of that special something that so many ethnic restaurants are missing outside of the homeland (think tom yum soup in Thailand or pizza in Naples). This was the case with everything I tried: the maraq (soup) tasted of lamb stock but was a bit too oily; the mandi dajaj (chicken and rice) was missing saffron and obviously not cooked in a tandoor oven; the bread was unbuttered and without sesame; the salta was the best thing we ordered, but was missing the smoke-bomb of the fenugreek; and there was no sahawiq (salsa) to douse all over everything. Again, don't get me wrong, everything was still really good -- I'm just trying to explain why I can't go 5-star fawning here. If this is your first time trying Yemeni food, or if more authentic regional opportunities aren't available, then you certainly can't go wrong with Yemen Cafe. The decor has that third-world charm that instantly transported me back to the Middle East, the tea was tasty, the prices were reasonable, and the service was friendly. Now, if I could only top off the meal with some khat...
(4)Justin K.
Absolutely amazing hidden gem. Don't be fooled by the modest interior - the quality and taste of the food is what really counts. It is hard not to be mesmerized by the tea and spice and charm of the staff, who all seem to be recent emigres from the Gulf of Aden.
(5)Abid K.
They are the best... They have the best fassah and galabah ... Highly recommended ...
(5)Khan H.
Best place to get lamb and rice. Their chicken, lamb and liver galaba is also very good. Actually everything is good from here.
(5)Neil Y.
I have to score this place in three categories: food, restaurant and service. Food: This is classic Yemeni cuisine, not Lebanese cuisine. Arabic food is Arabic food right? Not to them. Noticeably there are crossovers such as fattoush, hommous and shawarma. If you want those things, then go to your regular middle-eastern restaurant. If you're really coming here for actual Yemeni food, order the fassolia, shrimp gallaba, chicken agaddah but definitely order the lamb haneeth platter with the bread. You won't be disappointed. The food is very good but get it to go. An easy four stars. Restaurant: How this place hasn't been shut down for health code violations is beyond me. It truly is filthy. It's needs a thorough scrubbing from top to bottom. The counter is a cluttered mess and they can't find anything once they set it down. Booths are available to eat in but many times, people waiting for carryout are occupying them leaving little space to dine in. Menus and floors are dirty and sticky. Don't look back into the kitchen. It's a trust fall here. An easy one star. Service: If you're a woman or not Yemeni, you'll might quickly be introduced to a slice of the Yemeni culture that easily favors men; specifically Yemeni men. You'll get service, just not great service. Don't expect return trips from the server to see how your food is or if you want drink refills. Classically trained table professionals they are not. You get to order, receive food and pay--that's it. An easy two stars. This place does a huge business because the food is a homerun. The unfortunate part is that they could care less about a universal appeal and largely are there for the Yemeni community. Too bad because this place could easily 10x the business that it is today if it cared to reach beyond the Yemeni community. It would easily be a destination restaurant and one of Hamtramck's best. The sad part is, I'm organizing a Yelp event in Hamtramck that features the different cuisines of our community and Yemen Cafe should be on the tour but I refrained because of the lack of cleanliness.
(2)Michelle P.
I probably should return for something more inspiring than an egg sandwich and fattoush, but it was that odd brunch hour and I wasn't sure they'd have meat options available. They were just starting to roast chickens when I arrive. The sandwich was a bit bland, but good once I added salt, pepper and hot sauce and I enjoyed the salad. I have to admit that one of the cooks was a bit creepy. He kept checking on me at my table and doing this weird, suggestive thing with his tongue, which I tried to ignore. I tried to see if he was also doing it to the table of guys across the room in case it was involuntary. Thankfully, by the time I went to pay at the register (in close proximity to the other person working there) he had stopped.
(3)Sarah K.
I'm one of those few crazy Americans who's been to Yemen. Yemeni food is amazing, and these guys do it right for a great price! This place isn't fancy, and one bite will make it clear that isn't the point. Everything is good but never forget to have the tea at the end of your meal!!!
(5)Ubaid K.
Amazing food, the service it pretty chaos but the food is well worth the wait !!! Absolutely mind blowing good. Got the lamb rice gallaba and the lamb fasooh piping hot w bread.
(4)Lissa B.
I have lived in the Middle East for years in Qatar where I have had the opportunity to eat Yemeni food several times a week. Yemen Cafe is the first Yemeni restaurant outside of the Middle East that has been the most authentic and delicious. This is not surprising as the largest Yemeni community in the US is located in the Detroit area as per our research based on US census data. So we ordered the usual: Maraq soup - This always comes at the beginning of the meal. (It's supposed to be free but they charged us for it). Chicken ogda - Absolutely amazing here and much better than in Brooklyn, NY. It was made perfectly and tasted so good. This Yemeni dish tends to be the favorite of Western people so I recommend it if you've never tried it before. It's like a sort of chicken stew with veggies which you eat by dipping in the bread to scoop it up. Be sure to ask for it to be served in the traditional black pot. Lamb haneeth - This was good and decent but nothing too special. Salad - This ended up being Lebanese fattoush and not the simple Yemeni salad. Bread - Freshly made and excellent. Sahawiq - Yemeni salsa, very spicy but very good and freshly made. For more information about Yemeni food, please visit here: yemenfood.blogspot.com/p… It was $34 for four people, so cheap! If you've never tried Yemeni food before, be sure to check this place out! A fun adventure. :)
(5)Bruce K.
Can't go past 3 on this. I was very disappointed. The place smelled like great food. I got the lamb with rice and vegetables, which the guy at the counter told me is the best dish , hope he was wrong because it was nothing special. Also got a Yemeni special salad,also nothing special. Nothing appealing to drink. Its also a dump , which would be ok if the food a was better. The Fahsaah was popular so if it get there again I might try that,but really there are other places I'd try first.
(3)Razu C.
If you want quality Yemeni food this is the place, been coming to this place at least twice a week for about 15years... Highly recommend the galaba, fahsa saltah with bread and always get their tea which is official.... Place is not that great looking but food is awesome and that makes me go back all the time
(4)Kayla T.
I loved this food. So delicious. But I never want to go back...the restaurant is filthy. Wouldn't even use the bathroom. I want to give this restaurant a good review but I can't. I found 2 strands of hair in my food.
(3)Eric M.
Gosh darn it, this place is adorable. (And I REALLY don't mean that in a patronizing way--otherwise, why would I give it five stars?!) Like any immigrant establishment in a faded inner-suburb, Yemen Cafe makes little effort to reach out beyond its targeted ethnic demographic. No decorations on the walls. Arabic programming on the TV (and rarely--if ever--is it watered down cosmopolitan Al Jazeera). Servers who speak just enough English to take your order and recognize your compliments toward the food. A fully visible kitchen and additional food storage in ugly boxes right next to customer tables. Sure, Yemen Cafe isn't going to win a blue ribbon for its adherence to Michigan health codes, but these guys appreciate your business too much to cut corners in food preparation. The unacquainted will be surprised at how different Yemeni food is from conventional, stereotypical Middle Eastern. Gallaba is as close to comfort food as I've ever seen. Sure, it's oilier and probably more fattening than the usual kebab, but it warms the innards and has a slight hint of sweetness--closer to Afghan cuisine than what one might expect among the more prosperous Arab nations. And the desserts at Yemen Cafe have a vaguely Indo-Pak consistency, though still clearly something all their own. Don't forget to let the owner/server treat you to a free cup of hot spiced tea. And, somewhat surprisingly for this type of place, Yemen Cafe takes all credit cards. And it's also strangely open until midnight just about every night (though perhaps there's a reason that Detroit's Yemeni population understands better than I do.) I've seen (surprisingly) WASPs from Troy every time I go there or (not surprisingly) hipsters from The Ham. That should tell you everything. Rather than being "not for the faint of heart", Yemen Cafe is just a big-hearted "salaam alaikum" to everyone who walks in and leaves the aesthetic snobbery at the front door.
(5)Adela B.
I had the pleasure of coming to this restaurant with a friend today at lunch. I had the lamb aggadah..it was richly flavored and delicious. The meat was perfectly tender and so soft, you could break it up into pieces with your fingers or a piece of bread. The vegetables were soft and tender, but they were still recognizable, which was nice. It was garlicky, well seasoned and went perfectly with the piping hot Yemeni bread served with this tasty meal. My fried ordered the shrimp ghallaba and was pleasantly surprised by the slight spice in the dish and the tender, plump shrimp that were distributed thoroughly through the stew. The portions were very generous and the food arrived promptly and freshly prepared. The bread was steaming hot and the entrees were still sizzling as they were brought out. As two female diners, I kind of figured we would be out of place, but nobody gave us a second look. We received quick service and were given everything we asked for...although not with a lot of waitstaff finesse. That is ok, they were helpful and the food was amazing. The only reason this restaurant gets four instead of five stars is that the cups and tables were kind of sticky and greasy. This restaurant is a no-frills place, but the food is fresh, delicious and satisfying. I will definitely be back any time I have a craving for amazing Yemeni meals at a reasonable price!
(4)Stephanie M.
I just ate the chicken ghallba. It was awesome!! Definitely ordering from here again.
(5)Fai F.
I had Yemenese food in the Middle East earlier this year (not in Yemen!) and adored the combination of whole cooked tender chicken over rice with a side salad. Since Yelp doesn't allow me to check in in that part of the world, I have to find the next best thing - in Detroit! My first time here was with a group of 8 folks, getting ready to dig in before a show at Planet Ant. There were a steady stream of folks getting carryouts, helping themselves to spiced tea from the beat up carafe. I ordered my half chicken (forgot the name :/ ) and received very close to what I was familiar with - tender, bone in, flavorful chicken on rice flavored with cooking juices. This is the kind of food people dream of when their traveling backpack has been on the hook for awhile. The folks are friendly and helpful if you have questions on the what to get (try that chicken, tho!). If you are a fussy eater, find styrofoam cups and casual booths disdainful, you are going to be too uptight for this place. Better yet, just get carryout and not miss out on delicious.
(5)Sarang K.
DISCLAIMER: The only thing I had here was a diet coke and a sip of tea. With that said, the smell was wonderful and the place looks so neighborhood-y that you can't not love it! When you walk in it looks like a take out place with some tables and that's probably exactly what it is. And the people that walked in and out during the hour+ that we were there all looked like they knew what they were doing. The food that they brought out for my friends that were eating looked and smelled fantastic. One person said their chicken was a little dry but the other said that it was wonderfully moist and tender. So I guess it all depends. Maybe one of them had a stronger flame. Anyways, I think it's definitely worth a visit. Prices are great, portions are large. You can pay with credit. The only thing is that apparently there have been some car theft and breakins recently, so I would try to either park right in front of the store (there's almost always someone standing right out front... for whatever reason) or in a lot near by. If you go a little farther down Joseph Campau with Yemen Cafe on your right, there will be a parking lot at the end of that strip, not even 100 feet from the restaurant. Park in there? At least after hours, park in there. Not sure about during the day. G'luck! Cu there?
(4)Todd S.
Totally to die for and remember to get some bread!
(5)Moe C.
Best arabic food in Hamtramck been going their 8 years never got disappointed. Real good people and they make the best Galba I'm the city and even state,. Their tea hands down best tea ever. You will have to come check it out it is worth it.
(5)Jonny P.
I'm totally hooked... I've tried out foul and Fassolia (white beans w eggs) at a number of Arabic places in Dearborn and am happy to say none of them compare to Yemen Cafe's. It's a humble restaurant but the food has BIG flavour. They also have the greatest bread baked on the spot for a buck. The Chicken Galaba and lamb with rice are also very good. If you're looking for a bit of a different spin on the (sometimes bland) Arabic fare that you get from Lebanese places in the are this is a great choice...
(5)Nicci K.
The food was very tasty and amazing. The staff was great and totally helpful. I would definitely eat here again. I've had a lot of Middle Eastern food, but this was something different and very enjoyable. The inside looks like a cafeteria, but the food is completely worth going to this place for.
(4)