Abu yemen

Arab restaurant · Civic Center

Abu yemen

Arab restaurant · Civic Center

1

160 14th St, Oakland, CA 94612

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Highlights

Nestled at Lake Merritt, Abu Yemen serves up a modern twist on Yemeni cuisine with build-your-own options and friendly vibes, all at wallet-friendly prices.  

Featured in The Infatuation
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160 14th St, Oakland, CA 94612 Get directions

$10–20 · Menu

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160 14th St, Oakland, CA 94612 Get directions

+1 510 844 4183

$10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Mar 8, 2025

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"Abu Yemen, a fast-casual Yemeni spot at Lake Merritt, serves build-your-own bowls, wraps, pitas, and salads until midnight daily. Take your pick of chicken, lamb, beef, and falafel with sambusas or fries on the side. " - ricky rodriguez

San Francisco’s New Restaurant Openings
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Mostafa Abuzaid

Google
It's a new Yemeni restaurant in Oakland. Prices are amazing. They just opened today at June 17 2024 at 11am. I hope this places get busy and get more attention. I got the family meal for $40 bucks. It’s 2 Large sides 2 Large protein, and 1 large salad. ( place doesn’t sell like actual Yemeni traditional food ) it’s like if chipotle and Arab food had a baby

Belal

Google
Came in today me and my kids food was very delicious and amazing flavors ! Staff were very friendly i will definitely come back and recommend this restaurant

Lisa Mckay

Google
The first time I got falafel here it was great. Now something is really off, and I can't even eat it. Did someone spill the cumin into the falafel mix? I'll try another day, but please do a taste test on your falafel. It was mushy and it tasted baaaaaad. :(

Fork My Eyes

Google
I spend <$15 every time I come here. Good wraps, good price, fair bit of options. Happy hour deal 2-6pm is also really good, and $10. I come here whenever I'm in the area. No pictures because I ate it all as soon as it was handed to me.

Obsaa Abdalhalim

Google
Amazing food, great staff and my daily go to during work! You have to try the Sautéed chicken bowl with hummus and pita on the side (tell them to add extra sauce from the chicken into the bowl). Out of this world!

Jenna GARZA

Google
Fairly certain the reviews are fake. Barely any tomato, cucumber, feta or hummus. Food was bland, and the falafel was salty. Avoid, avoid, avoid.

Adam

Google
Went to the grand opening amazing customer service. The food is fresh very flavorful and delicious. Also good prices I would’ve paid double for another place.

Moaud Ghazi

Google
My new go to restaurant! The staff was hard working and very friendly. This was the chicken wrap

ARIeL P.

Yelp
Heard about this spot from a few people, had to stop by today for lunch. Friendly lady who greeted me and explained their menu. I decided to get the diced lamb over rice. Flavorful and tender. Asked for some hot sauce and it was a compliment. Next time, I will try the lamb shank and perhaps a wrap. They also have deserts that aren't too sweet. Yum! Over all, clean, good service and tasty food. #SOLitFood

Jie L.

Yelp
Came on a week end night, and ordered a bowl to go. I am going to write and unpopular opinion, but I though Halal Guys are better. I showed up and order lamb over rice, it took them a 15+ minutes to actually cook my food. This could be a good sign, means fresh, but I wanted it spicy, and well, I did not get spicy. I also ordered 2 baklavas, I will say those were the saving grace. If you are here for a quick lunch, don't skip out on the desserts.

Francois T.

Yelp
This is probably my new favorite spot in this area of the lake. I recommend passing by if youre in the area. Ive been here a handful of times but from what I got today, I was compelled to let the Yelposphere know how great of a deal you get. I ordered their Rice Bowl with Lamb Shank as the protein. A whole lamb shank, still on the bone. The shank is tender and my to go box was so full the lid wasnt able to be closed all the way. The food is delicious and they have a variety of desserts to choose from. For what you pay, this is one of the best deals around. The staff is friendly and theres inside seating if you have time to sit and eat. If you work in the area, let them know.

Jose Manuel C.

Yelp
Driven by the place a good amount, place has a build your own menu, a bit confusing the first time but after that one time you get the hang of it. I ordered a chicken wrap, For the price the wrap is huge. Service is cool, if you on a budget this place is very reasonable. The wrap is good! Definitely worth another visit

KoalaFornia P.

Yelp
You'lo got to try their food (delicious) and I also got myself some treat "BASBOUSA"

Victor G.

Yelp
Abu Yemen Kitchen opened in Mo' Joes Cafe's vacated space. Indoor seating only. Sparse decor. Serving counter in corner. Offerings: "Build Ur Own Meal": Base: rice bowl, wraps, pitas, salads. Protein: chicken, falafel, steak +2, lamb +4. Toppings (choice of any or all): tomato, onion, lettuce, feta cheese, hummus, pickle, laben (yogurt) Also: sambusas, sides, fam. Meals, kids' meal, drinks, sauces.. Bites: Rice bowl with lamb (14) with all toppings. -between meat from shank or sauteed lamb, shank chosen. Surprised to get whole lamb shank. *very tender, moist, juicy, pared well with seasoned rice. -toppings all fresh, looked/tasted like a salad. Sips: comped drink with "Meal": tea, soft drink or house made lemonade. -sugar free tea had nice aromatics. Not Lipton tea. 5 stars! Quick, courteous service. Food traveled well. Metered pArking nearby. Plenty of seating. rea$onable pricing. Worthy!

Ahmed H.

Yelp
New Middle Eastern spot in Oakland. Very nice and friendly staff, very clean and fast service. The food is very tasty with all the sauces and condiments you can get on the side to add to taste. You can tell the freshness of the food even though it comes out fast. Also first time I've had middle eastern food in a bowl style. They are very creative with the baklava and other desserts you have to try out the desserts The prices also are amazing for what you get.

Amina G.

Yelp
Second time coming in & loved it once again! The fries were yummy, the lamb was juicy & flavorful and the veggies were fresh! The workers were super friendly, happy to advise on what toppings to get & let us sample some desserts. Make sure to check this place out!!!

Judith D.

Yelp
Great new spot! This restaurant is Cava/Chipotle style of ordering which I really liked! The food was flavorful, the portions were good, and the service/ambiance was awesome. Since this place just opened last week, they have a free drink with my order. I had a lot of questions and the works were super kind and explained what each of the food/desserts were. Speaking of desserts, I cannot stop thinking of how delicious they were! Definitely check this place out if you are in the area.

Munir A.

Yelp
New quick serve restaurant for dine in and take out. Food was delicious, flavorful and the portions are very generous for the price. Service was very friendly and attentive. Same concept as Chipotle for reference but with Middle Eastern cuisine and family run not big corporate. Lots of options for main meals, sides, and desserts.

Charlie B.

Yelp
Delicious wraps that are fairly priced and generously portioned! We tried the steak wrap and falafel wrap and are pretty thrilled. The steak is flavorful and differs from other halal or shawarma offerings in the area. The crinkle cut fries smelled amazing, were seasoned just about perfectly and made fresh to order. Everything is authentic tasting and honestly pretty healthy feeling going down. The service was fast, helpful and very kind. They have a whole host of desserts to try. I am very happy to have this new option in the area, especially considering they are open til Midnight and 7 days a week!

Ashley W.

Yelp
The lamb!!! So good, tried it in a wrap with sauce, next time I want to try it with pita & hummus. The wrap was a very generous portion, could've made two meals out of it. The desserts also looked good, but I didn't try any. I took mine to go but there was plenty of open seating, lots of open space, very clean. Will definitely be back, love having a local spot to get well made lamb and fresh, flavorful veggies.

Sian Y.

Yelp
I ordered a lunch order through doordash (pick up) from this restaurant. When it was time for my pick up, my order wasnt ready yet. No fault to the restaurant because their app wasnt working. I appreciated their fast solution to the issue. They got my order fixed immediately and gave me a little treat of baklava for the slight inconvenience. I got a lamb rice bowl, knafeh, sambusa, and falafel. The seasoning on the lamb is spot on. The rice was nice and fluffy. Their sauce got some kick to it, so be careful for those who are weak to spicy food. The sambusa was crispy and unexpectedly (in a good way) light. The flavor of the sambusa was lighter compared to the other variations of sambusa that I have tried in other establishments. Nevertheless, it was delicious. The falafel was not piping hot, hence it wasnt that crispy anymore. However, the taste is good - it was herby and not too salty. The baklava is excellent. The knafeh fell a little flat for me. The cheese wasnt warm enough for it to become stringy/no cheese pull. Overall, it was a pretty good experience and meal. I would go here again for a quick lunch break.

Ngatuvai V.

Yelp
Taste old. Ruined my craving for baklava ugh. Cant believe I have to keep typing just to post my review. But i wont be ordering from here ever. Should've just ordered from where I normally order my baklava on telegraph from the Middle Eastern place.

C L.

Yelp
Wow--really delicious halal food and for a reasonable price. We had a nice lamb shank with rice and salad, a spiced braised chicken with rice and salad, sambusas, baklava, and kunefa. We took it to go, but they have an open, clean, and airy dining area. The sambusas were tasty, but too oily. I think if they were freshly made like most fried foods they'd be better. The service was sweet and friendly. People, check this place out. We'll definitely be back. A great addition to the neighborhood. أكل لذيذ

Sara G.

Yelp
Delicious food! Kind staff. I've loved the falafel and rice plated, and the different desserts I've had.

Kashaf K.

Yelp
I had their chicken bowl over pita bread. Taste was good. Sauce was nice and tangy. Only thing that bothered me was the portion size. It's very small. It's not enough for one person. You'll still be hungry after eating this (it's more like a snack) but yea can't complain because it's around $10 dollars.

Mohammed A.

Yelp
Abu Yemen was the highlight of my day. I ordered the lamb bowl, and the lamb was incredibly tender and cooked really good. The portion size and price are unbeatable in the area, especially considering the quality and quick service. If you're busy and need a delicious, filling meal on the go, this is the spot for you. You can customize your bowl however you like, whether vegan, vegetarian, or with meat. Omar and his brother, who run the shop, along with the rest of the staff, were extremely hospitable, making you feel right at home. I highly recommend checking it out. You'll definitely be seeing me here again. ~ For catering needs, from small to big events or even for your office or company, inquire with them. ~

Magatron P.

Yelp
Amazing food and even better service with a smile. Great prices, and the food was muy delicioso The brother who rung us up showed so much love and it was just a pleasant experience all around that ended with a smile and full tummy

Tien N.

Yelp
Ordered a wrap. When i ate it the wrap was breaking apart and real messy to eat. I ended up having to just eat everything with a spoon. Not the greatest experience.

Tiger P.

Yelp
We really enjoyed the "build your own bowl"s delivered from Abu Yemen and tried a number of variations. The steak has a pleasant taste and texture. We both enjoyed the salad bowl style! I recommend the feta and leben, definitely always include pickle! Also recommend including tomato and onion but not as wild about the addition of cucumber just because of the texture. We have high standards for hummas, this was fine, the taste is nice but the texture a bit gritty, but it was a fun addition to the salad bowl and I ended up glad to have a side order as well. 'chicken' is stewed chicken thighs, very nice, we liked it better than 'grilled chicken ' which is a tad dry. Lamb -- we thought it was good and would get again. The rice was good for a hungry day, more fun to eat rice than salad for my spouse. Falafel -- tasty but nothing special, might not order again. Veggie bowl is cooked carrots, potatoes , broccoli, tomatoes, etc , not as low carb as the salad but pleasant. We will definitely order again!

Kimberly G.

Yelp
Fantastic service lovely workers , very clean and easy parking access, the best part the food was wonderful will be going back again !

Rebecca R.

Yelp
I work nearby and stopped in here for lunch today. It was super easy to order, everyone was super nice. I got a wrap with lamb and took it back to my office. It was delicious. I am excited they are here.

maggie l.

Yelp
I was walking to Maya Halal but saw an older woman go into this place I had never seen before, so I decided to check it out. You choose a base and tell them what you want to add, but nothing is labeled so it takes some time to sort out, for instance there seem to be multiple types of chicken but she didn't tell me there were any options she just gave me a specific one. No big deal since it's halal I don't have to worry about accidentally getting pork in anything, but it was a little confusing. The cucumbers came in a sauce, it was good but since I couldn't see them I did not know what I was getting. The price was right, the food was good, and it's near my office, so I will definitely be back but I hope that as they settle in they will make some labels (ideally with main ingredients if not just one) and maybe explain the options when you are ordering - then it will be five stars.

Dante H.

Yelp
Delicious food, reasonably priced, and excellent service. I had the amazing lamb shank, and now I want to go back and try everything else, including the wide array of desserts.

Om A.

Yelp
Very friendly staff quick food and cool thing they male it in front of your face the place is so good open 7 days a week I love eating here

Laura M.

Yelp
This place is so good! It's fast casual Yemeni food. We stopped in for a quick meal on the way to an event nearby and ordered a steak pita, beef sambusas, fries, and baklava. The steak was tender and the fries and sambusas were hot and fresh out of the fryer. We tried two of the flavored baklava: peanut butter + jelly and peanut butter + chocolate, and both were delicious. I would eat here all the time if I lived closer.

Ali H.

Yelp
The food is Amazing!!! I love coming to this place with my family and friends. They have fresh food that gets delivered to you quick. The customer service is like a 5 star restaurant. Their French Frys are my daughter favorite. Everything on the meal is yummy.

Yusef G.

Yelp
Tried Abu Yemen today for the first time and it was scrumptious. I had a lamb shawarma wrap and buddy had the chicken wrap. Amazingly delicious. Also had baklava and kunafa. Very fast service didn't have to wait long. We had 7 wraps made in 5 min. I'll be back. Super friendly staff.

Kyle B.

Yelp
Delicious Lamb Rice Bowl at a very affordable price! Very convenient and good service. I will definitely be back!

El Q.

Yelp
This place is delicious! I highly recommend you go before it starts to get packed at lunchtime. The staff there is so friendly and the food is fresh and delicious. Right now there are plenty of seats available to enjoy your food but I guarantee that soon enough you'll have to take your food to go. Please give this new business a try, you won't regret it! #eatlocal

Abril P.

Yelp
the service was wonderful and the food was amazing last night, going back soon!!! very nice spot very welcoming

O A.

Yelp
This place destroys Halal guys. Being an arab native i have high expectations for arabic food and spices. Abu Yemen delivers every time, not only does the food taste more authentic than an average arabic restaurant. but they're also very fast and affordable. you can get 2 meals and 2 drinks for under $30. which by todays standards is great value. God bless abu yemen.

Berenice C.

Yelp
Great flavorful food and everything is fresh. I love the costumer services they are very friendly making you feel welcomed and make sure you are satisfied with your purchase. It's also a very clean environment.