Bab Al-Yemen Boston مطعم باب اليمن بوسطن

Generally I think this place has been overhyped. We got their lamb hummus, fahsa, and maasoob. Food is slightly under seasoned compared to Yemeni dishes I’ve had; and I expected the maasoob to be more aromatic. The flat bread is good and the hummus is creamy and balanced. The staff are friendly and the restaurant is well maintained.

Bab Al-Yemen in Boston is a gem. My husband took me there for my birthday dinner, and we loved it so much that we went back again with family and friends. We tried the chicken mandi, mathbi chicken, falafel over rice, chicken and veggie stews, and finished with the dessert Fattah Tamr—everything was flavorful and delicious. I especially loved the traditional floor seating, which made the experience feel warm and authentic. Highly recommend!

My dad and I came here for an early afternoon lunch. We enjoyed the Yemeni Cocktail with a delicious sweet accompaniment to our meal. We started with the Mutabal with pita and Veggie Samboosa. For our main dish we enjoy the Lamb Haneeth. I recommend getting a side of Marak and Sahawek to have along side any started or entree. All delicious and flavorful. Our darling waitress offered us both Mint and Adani tea to finish off our meals. We really enjoyed our time here and would come again.

Overall over hyped. The hummus & chicken was a disappointment. Super liquidy hummus. The pita was nice and soft. The beef sambosa was good but seemed like it came from a processed packaged food - not as fresh. The chicken on spicy rice was very nice, well cooked and would eat that for sure. Overall it was super over hyped as a place and does not deserve the high Google rating. High expectations but was let down.

Excellent food, every dish we ate was really good. The chicken with spicy rice was cooked so tender it would slide off the bone. Even the lamb stew and bread were really good. Strongly recommend trying this place out.

Baba Al Yemen was so delicious! From the moment we walked in, the ambience and vibes were top-notch — warm, inviting, and beautifully put together. Every single dish we ordered was full of flavor and felt authentically made with love. The prices were very reasonable for the quality and portions, which made the whole experience even better. And the sweetest touch? They surprised us with complimentary masala tea at the end of our meal — such a thoughtful gesture and a perfect way to end the night. Highly recommend! I’ll definitely be back.

Bab Al-Yemen Boston is an excellent spot for authentic Yemeni food! The dishes are rich in flavor, fresh, and generously portioned. The mandi was perfectly cooked, and the rice was delicious. Arika with team is must try after a good meal. Friendly service and a welcoming atmosphere make it a must-visit for anyone craving real Yemeni cuisine.”

Food is very tasty, and it’s nice that they have authentic cushions on the floor. I would say the lights could be dimmed a bit, which would be nice and I wish they had wine!

The waiters were so sweet, the food was AMAZING, and the ambiance was lovely. I would really like to come back and sit at the traditional floor seating. Note to make reservations ahead of time! The food speaks for itself. The lamb was soft tender, it fell apart as soon as I touched it with my fork. Even better, the rice beneath the lamb was seasoned so well, I honestly would've also been happy if it came out on its own! Same for the chicken and rice. The chicken was super tender and the rice was packed with flavor. The hummus was also amazing. Super earthy and flavorful dip. Honestly, no critiques, I would happily revisit this place.

First, the restaurant was very accommodating. We arrived without a reservation and they were able to seat us with the stipulation that we would need to finish by a certain time due to reservations. We were happy to take the deal, especially since the meal turned out to be delicious! With that being said, the service was lacking at times. It took a while to order and get the check, as well as to get water and drink refills. The food was outstanding and portions were generous. We ordered roasted eggplant, yogurt cucumber dip, and hummus for starters. The hummus was some of the best I've ever had. It was creamy and smooth and you could taste the tahini but it wasn't too overpowering. I had the chicken and vegetables in a piping hot broth and it was out of this world. The best part was that every bite had a different veggie - peas, carrots, green beans. The chicken was moist and flavorful, and the naan dipped in the broth was unforgettable. My friend got the lamb shank on basmati rice and she really enjoyed it! I tried the lamb, although not a lamb fan, and it was tender and flavorful but not pungent as lamb can be. We also ordered the desserts. These were probably the least favorite part of the meal, we tried one date and one banana flavored, but neither warranted a second bite. They were really dense and just lacked the wow factor of most other Middle Eastern desserts I've tried.

This place is amazing. Very welcoming. Very accommodating. While we didn't have a reservation, we were lucky to get seated on the floor which the child has never experienced. Was nice to have an even more authentic experience. The smells & decorations & hospitality really made everything feel so comforting then the food came and it blew us away! We wish we could have stayed all night which, actually, they didn't mind that we stayed longer than we do at most restaurants soaking it in. We even met a lovely couple next to us and talked to them for a bit. Couldn't recommend this place more! And while I appreciate they do take out, I think staying in and experiencing the staff's hospitality makes this place top notch. Also, they had a birthday celebration while we were there and was lovely to cheer on the table celebrating. Great place for families, dates, every night, and definitely celebrations!

Dining at Bab Al-Yemen is always a great experience! The interior is very cozy, it's always packed with customers, and staff are very welcoming and accommodating. I do highly recommend making reservations, especially if you're visiting on the weekend. I ordered the lamb fahsah, which came served with a huge portion of bread. The fahsah was so fresh and packed with meat, almost too much for a single serving! It was absolutely delicious and the perfect dish to warm you up on a cold winter day.

I was a fan of the service and the ambiance. The wait staff was attentive and offered us free tea. I, however, was unimpressed by the food. My main qualm was that the food was quite bland and the price of $30 per lamb entree couldn't be justified. We had the lamb with spicy rice as our entree. The rice wasn't spicy and the lamb haneeth, while fork tender, was rather bland. The amount of meat in the entree wasn't enough either.

This place is pretty good, though on the pricier side. The hummus was super good and lamb haneeth rice, though I wish the pita bread was less dry and lamb was a touch more flavorful (it was super soft and tender though). They were fast and kind with service, so overall pretty good experience.

Very happy to finally come here! We are very fortunate to try the Lamb Haneeth and the falafel, grape leaves and all was absolutely delicious! They have an upstairs and downstairs to the restaurant and I also ordered the bread. For dessert, I had the chocolate syrup baklava. Honestly, I could've done without the chocolate sauce because I like my baklava the way it is, but I give them credit for trying. They have a lot of Indian influences on the menu. I would highly recommend coming here at least once to try Yemen's food.

No one in our party has ever had Yemeni food before, but we were curious to try as a friend in Boston recommended Bab Al-Yemen. It is the first ever Yemeni restaurant in Boston with really good ratings. We were immediately transported to a whole different world once we stepped in. You can choose between traditional Arabic floor seating and table seating. It was overall a memorable experience to eat something outside our comfort zone. The food tasted homey and the servers were kind. ＊Meat Samboosa $11.95 ** MUST ORDER. It was a triangular shaped pastry stuffed with ground beef. It was like samosa but less spicy than the ones I had before. The filo dough was thin and cripsy. ＊Hummus $11.95 * The hummus was served with a basket of pita bread. It was nothing mind-blowing but I couldn't stop dipping into it. The complimentary pita bread wasn't bad, but the tanoor bread was an even better match with the hummus. ＊Aqdah Dajaj $24.95 ** It was a chicken stew served in a hot stone pot. There were shredded chicken and assorted veggies in the pot. It tasted a bit like tomato soup. The dish also came with their signature freshly baked bread (tanoor bread). We could taste the smoky aroma as it was baked in a clay oven. It was so crispy on the edges and puffy on the dough. ＊Chicken Babsa $22.95 The chicken kabsa was a hearty dish for sharing. It came with a huge bed of basmati rice and loads of chicken. It did have a kick of heat because of the chili and spices.

To satisfy a craving for Yemeni cuisine, I went to Bab Al-Yemen on a Sunday evening. Arriving at 7, the establishment had reached complete occupancy; I failed to realize this day coincided with the end of Ramadan and would have extra business. Nonetheless, I received a table for my friend and I, though the server mentioned the table had a reservation at 830. An hour an a half seemed plenty. I ordered for myself the Lamb Haneeth ($29.95) and Meat Samboosa ($12.95) to share. The 4 pieces of samboosa (carb stuffed with meat) seemed tender. The accompanying sauce tasted like salsa (tomato, onions, spices) but much better and more herbal. The lamb broth soup accompanying the lamb haneeth, the maraq, tasted rich and cinnamon-y, perfect for a cold day like today and generally addictive. The lamb haneeth itself had tender, fall-off-the bone lamb. The lamb seemed simply seasoned, but in a subtle way that cut most of its gaminess. The rice also received a decent amount of seasoning. The general atmosphere seems homely and communal. The owner walks arounds and makes small talk, and local youths help out with the establishment.

I came here around 2p in the afternoon and did not have to wait in line. This cute and unassuming restaurant is tucked away from the busy street of Mass Ave. Ramya, my server, was attentive, friendly, and fast. I ordered the Lamb Habneeth and it was very tender and flavorful. What really stood out to me was the rice. The flavors were complex and deep. I would definitely like to come back and try new things.

Great vibe, especially during weekend peak hours. Food was okay, and this place is consistent with other overhyped restaurants in Boston - value for food was not that good My favorite dishes was the hummus with shredded lamb (the other plan hummus was okay); lamb haneeth was tender but the flavor was kinda blend; chicken Mandi was okay, nothing to note My biggest disappointment came from the freshly baked bread - it was not fluffy, not aromatic, and kinda hard to chew

Suggested by a friend , we decided to give this place a visit on a sunny Saturday afternoon . We really enjoy Middle eastern and Mediterranean food and hence the menu online seemed appetizing for me as a vegetarian. We walked in around 2pm Saturday and it had quite a few spots open for floor seating that we thought was cool-something common in India as well. Very quickly it started to get crowded so we were lucky to get in without a reservation. Cute little place with friendly vibes and cozy atmosphere . We started with an appetizer of Falafel over hummus and it was delicious. We got a spicy freshly made chutney/sauce as well and together with hummus and falafel it was amazing ! My husband is a huge fan of lamb dishes so he ordered the Lamb kabsa which is also a bit spicy . It came piping hot with saffron rice over it . I ordered the vegetable stew and tandoor bread and thought the stew lacked in flavor. I didn't enjoy my entrée but hubby s entrée was a hit ! Overall still a lovely experience and that's why I am giving it four stars .

I really wanted to like this restaurant more, mainly because Yemeni food isn't that easy to come by in the US, and we are better off with more diverse food in our lives. First off, the service was sub par right from when we entered. We had made reservations, got their on time, and the restaurant seemed pretty empty at that point. We stood to be seated. The young lady at the entrance saw us, completely ignored us, and went away. I would have been okay with that if they were super busy, but as I said the restaurant was pretty empty. She came back and we were seated. Second, and this is a hygiene issue! The bottle of water on our table was left without a cap. So, yeah, you are basically left with an open glass bottle, which has been open for God knows how long. We had to ask two servers multiple times, to change the bottle, which they did eventually, but seemed quite surprised by the request. The food was definitely better than the service. The yogurt drink was refreshing. The mango juice though tasted like canned juice. We ordered the eggplant dip (Mutabal). It was good, but nothing that blew my mind. We ordered the lamb haneeth which was quite delicious! The lamb was perfectly cooked, so tender, and the portion was perfect for two people. Next part, again related with service, was getting our check. Again asked multiple times, and waited quite a while for the check to show up. Again, while the restaurant was busier now than when we had entered, it wasn't as busy to warrant that wait. In conclusion, I do like the fact that there is a restaurant that serves Yemeni food. I thought the food was good, even if.not mind-blowing. However, I'd recommend improving their service if they want customers to come back.

Food: 4/5 I had an appetizer of meat sambusa, which was lovely but I think could use more interesting spices. It was pretty large, so that was a plus. For my entree, I had the Fahsah -- lamb stew presented in a traditional stone bowl -- with house made Yemeni flatbread. The stew was wonderful; it came out steaming hot and was large in portion. The Yemeni flatbread was clearly fresh, and it was a large size to accommodate the large Fahsah portion. Something different about the food here is that while everything tastes delicious, it lacks a hot-spicy profile. It would be great if the owners could make a hot-spicy sauce/salsa available. Those of us who are familiar with the regional cuisine know that hot spices really upgrade the lamb and chicken proteins along with the rice. Service: 5/5 The folks at Bab Al-Yemen welcome you with a kind and genuine smile! From the moment my friend and I walked in, I felt the employees wanted us there and were kindly attentive to our needs. We even spoke to one of the owners after our meal, who took the time to tell us the story of how Bab Al-Yemen came to be. This establishment is run by people who have worked hard to bring Yemeni food/culture to New England palette, which is no easy feat! Ambiance: 5/5 The photos I have taken speak for themselves. The restaurant has beautifully curated walls, appropriately cultural background music, and a traditional seating area that really immerses you into a Yemeni dining experience. Probably one of the best things about Bab Al-Yemen is that it's not too casual or too formal -- you can come here for a sit-down meal with a special friend or family and still have that restaurant dining/service experience.

Bab Al-Yemen has been on my list of restaurants to try in Boston for awhile, and I'm so glad I finally did ! I went early evening on a weekday without a reservation. I ordered two appetizers, the grape leaves and meat samboosa, a main dish of lamb haneeth, and desert of walnut baklava. The lamb was fall off the bone tender. I didn't need a fork to cut into it. Everything was well seasoned but mild in temp. For those that prefer more heat, they do have spicier dish options. The only thing I didn't like was desert. The baklava was too sweet for my preference and not enough filling. Service was quick and friendly. And I thought the price of the food was more than fair for the quality. I would definitely recommend and I will be back !

Ordered the chicken Mandi with a side salad and Maraq soup via Uber eats. I appreciate the fact that it came with utensils! The chicken mandi was nice and flavorful, a little sweet with the fried onions. I could have used a green chilli based sauce on the side for some heat. The salad was super sad - just some lettuce leaves and a few pieces of cucumber and tomato, probably from a salad mix bag. I typically love the salads that Arab places give with cucumber, onion, and tomato. The soup was nice and simple, I appreciated it on a cold night. Overall, solid option!

I got the falafel plate and it was delicious! The restaurant was clean and the waiter was nice.

Very accommodating service, nice interior, really tasty, tender meat. Great experience overall

Yemeni cuisine is my favorite cuisine of the entire of world. Followed by Middle Eastern then Thai then Italian then egg and cheese sandwich. Trying Yemeni food in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Texas, Chicago and many others made me so picky about it unfortunately. In the US, Chicago, Detroit and New York have the top best Yemeni restaurants. Of course there are good ones here in there in other cities. The menu, location, atmosphere and photos were all so promising prior to coming. The food was the major disappointment. It lacks Yemeni flavors. I doubt the chef is a legit Yemeni one.

came here on a friday evening for a cozy date night! highly recommend getting a reservation, as this place can get busy. also street parking only. you have the option of sitting on the floor (traditional, no shoes) or at the tables. service is warm and kind. food was alright but not sure if it's worth the value- we got the lamb mandi, fahsa, and mint tea. the lamb mandi came with a spicy sauce and your choice of broth or salad. the lamb was tender, the rice had great flavor, and we really liked the sauce (mild, refreshing)! we got the broth and it was just okay. we didn't enjoy the fahsa as much since it was watery and a bit bland. it came with bread that we really liked and enjoyed - soft and chewy!

This was my second attempt trying to eat here - the first being on a weekend night but it was packed. This second time I learned and made reservations. When we got there, the only seating they had on the ground level was on the carpets. But, they opened up the basement tables for us and not too long after that, the basement was packed too. Needless to say, this is a popular spot in Boston. The first thing I liked about this place was the length and organization of their menu. It is a digital menu which I was not thrilled about but it is easy to navigate and each section only has 5-8 items so it was not overwhelming. For an appetizer, we ended up ordering hummus. It looked and was delicious. For entrees, my friend and I shared the chicken kabsa (specifically asked to have lots of fried onions on top) and the fahsah. At first I thought they forgot the chicken in the chicken kabsa but it was buried under the rice. That chicken must have been the most tender chicken I have had in my life and it was very tasty. I ate a lot more than I thought I would have. I did not realize the fahsah was going to be packed with lamb meat only, I thought there would be more broth and some herbs/veggies. I did not particularly love it, but it was still flavorful. I took it home and made tacos with it the next day. I would absolutely love to go back and try other dishes. The staff here was super friendly. They made sure we were comfortable the entire time, including making sure it was not too cold since we were on the lower level. Additionally, they did have a prayer room which I appreciated.

Overall: what a cool find in the middle of Fenway! Such a random type of restaurant but once you try the food it all makes sense. Food: we got the Fafsa (lamb stew effectively) which is served in a stone pot. The flavors are wildly intense but scoop some up with your bread and you'll feel the rich hearty stew soak into the soft bread for quite the yummy sensation. We also got the Chicken Kabsa which initially doesn't look like there's anything there but once you uncover the chicken you realize how fragrant it is. The spicy sauce on the side also adds so much as it's a refreshing type of spicy that allows you to keep chowing down on the creamy rice. Ambience/Decor/Service: it's a really small space but they decorate it in such a way with the floor seating and the wall art to make it feel like a cultural experience. The service is such quick and helpful!

Delicious food, good music and comfortable seating.. Service was excellent as well Would recommend this place anytime

Ambiance: Totally chill. Wooden tables to dine more typical American style. Then, they have a separate area which requires you to remove your shoes before sitting on comfy looking cushions at floor level. Service: Kind and quick. Brings your food then leaves you to enjoy your lovely meal. Food: I had the Fashah (lamb stew). Spices just right. Not spicy hot and not overwhelming. Be warned that temperature wise, holy cow!!, it takes a bit to cool off to where you can eat it without scalding your mouth. My advice is to dip the included flat bread (think soft naan) in it to enjoy while the temperature improves. You will not be sorry! Go, nay, run to Bab Al-Yemen for your first, but likely not last, helping of Yemeni food! I am already actively planning what dish I will have next.

This place is legit! We got the Mutabal, the Chicken Mandi, the Lamb with Spicy Rice, and the Yemeni Cocktail. The Mutabal tasted smoky and tasty--very similar to Baba Ganoush. The lamb plate had tender pieces of flavorful meat and was easily the star of the show, albeit having slightly overcooked rice. The chicken plate had tender leg meat. But, the meat became increasingly tough as you moved up to the breast meat. Also, the many small bones present made eating it quite cumbersome. The portion size for both mains was very appropriate and we left perfectly full. We got the side broth with the lamb plate and it was very unique--strongly spiced, like a savory potpourri soup. The house spicy sauce (Sahawek) they gave along with the mains complemented them well. It tasted like a cumin-rich pico/salsa with a nice kick. We were also a fan of the Yemeni cocktail, similar to a mango lassi. Definitely worth stopping by!

I had a positive experience at Bab Al-Yemen. I went for an Iftar, and the food was good. I got the Chicken Aqdah, and it initially came out cold, but when I told the servers, they were very accommodating and they heated it for me. The bread was fresh and the portions of the food were generous. As mentioned, the servers were friendly and accommodating. As for the ambience, I think it is the best aspect of this place. Since moving to Boston, I have not found a restaurant that has a truly authentic Arab interior - but here, the decor was all authentic and I felt like I was truly in an Arab country. I also really loved how they made it perfect for Ramadan. It was decorated with lanterns and Ramadan decor, and it made my Iftar meal so much better - I have not had a proper Ramadan Iftar since I've moved here, so this made me feel at home. Overall, it was an enjoyable meal. The food was good, but the experience and ambience were what made it great.

Thought it was overhyped - definitely authentic Yemeni menu (and clearly very popular), but have had better yemeni food elsewhere, and the service/ value for money was average. Good ambience.

We went on a Monday night (without reservations) and were surprised to find that we had to wait to get a table, which was definitely a very promising sign! They got us a table within 10-15 mins and the service was lovely and everyone was very kind. We loved the hummus with shredded lamb, which tasted deliciously Smokey. The meat samboosa was also delicious, especially with a little bit of lemon juice on the top. The Yemeni cocktail was refreshing. We weren't fans of the chicken kabsa, and didn't think it eas flavorful enough and kept reaching for limes and the spicy sauce they brought at the start for it. The Massoob was delicious, very subtly sweet and the cream on the top was great. Overall a great place to checkout in Boston!

What a hidden gem! Made a mistake coming in without reservation during brunch time. Staff didn't turn us away but we got seated almost immediately. Scan QR code on the table for menu. Many awesome choices to choose from. Settled on hummus (smooth and creamy texture) , Mandi chicken (slow cooked, fall of the bone meat goodness and not dried at all), chicken aqdah (shredded white meat with a lot of veggies stew). Leave room for the walnut baklava (warm and doused with honey. Fresh and not dense like the packaged stuff). Meter spots right in front of the restaurant or get off Kenmore station (green line). Restaurant is in the basement level. The first floor you see a traditional low set tables and cushions plus seven tables. Continue to another lower level there are more tables and looks like you can book a private party! I heard they have buffets during Ramadan. Sweet and friendly staff. He heard I tried Yemeni food for the first time and gave us complimentary tea (cinnamon, clove, milk tea) Yums!

I arrived here around 5pm on Memorial Day (party of 3) and was told I would have to wait around 20 minutes before we could be sat. They explained that this was due to only one person being available to wait tables, and there were 6 tables in need of service. Despite this, my party was sat in less than 10 minutes and we received quality service and care. We had the option of sitting at a table or dining traditionally, and we chose the traditional style-- low, close to the floor seating, shoes off. Nobody in my party had ever done this before, and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. We ordered the hummus, meat samboosa, Fahsah, and Aqdah Dajaj. The hummus was amazing, but I do think they could have served more pita to come with it. I'm not a huge fan of samboosas, but I thought they were cooked well. The Fahsah and the Aqdah Dajaj came out in stone bowls, they were both still steaming and boiling when served to us. The lamb in the Fahsah was the best lamb I've ever had. It was so tender and buttery, it melted right in my mouth. If there is one dish I recommend ordering, it is this. Overall, regardless of being busy, the staff was extremely accommodating and attentive. I would definitely suggest coming here!

Beautifully decorated restaurant with a rustic and authentic charm. The food is excellently prepared and tastes like you're having a home cooked meal. Everything is well seasoned and stands alone in its own. Can't wait to come back to try the desserts!

Food: We got the lamb kabsa and chicken mandi for our mains and meat samboosa and and the yemeni cocktail. The lamb was extremely soft and literally fell apart and the spices were balanced well. The rice was flavorful too. 8.5/10. Chicken was also very tender but just not as flavorful as the lamb and the rice was on the blander side 7.75/10. The samboosa had so much flavor and the filo dough made it crispy. It was full of ground beef but I wish there were little pieces of veggie for more variety in texture 7.5/10. The drink was delectable and sweet, almost reminded me of a mango lassi drink but fruitier 7.5/10. Ambiance: This restaurant holds such an authentic Yemeni feel. There are options to sit on the floor too so you can create a more intimate environment! 8/10. Price: Each entree is a little pricey but has huge portions with each main dish being around $25-$30. Overall, I would definitely go again. Great place for authentic Yemeni food in Boston!

A pleasant experience, highly recommend others to give this restaurant a try. Reserved easily through OpenTable, reservation is recommended. Ordered the Lamb Haneeth and veggie stew which comes with a large bread. My friend and I were impressed with the lamb dish as it was very moist, soft, and cooked well. It didn't have a strong odor from the lamb, yet we still enjoyed the unique flavor of the spiced lamb. I wasn't particularly excited about the veggie stew but the large bread. The unique, nice decor and floor seating inside was nice plus to complement the experience. I recommend others to order a dish with Lamb and another that serves tanoor bread. I was satisfied with the food which was not overtly salty. They also have salt and pepper on the side. Great place for a date!

I've passed this place several times but finally went in after several signs of people randomly mentioning Yemen. Upon entering, my friends and I got a cute and cozy seat on their floor space with the intricate designs and pillows which was super comfy! We tried their lamb stew which was a little salty but still absolutely delicious! Also tried their chicken rice dish! The chicken was a little dry and I think next time I would get a beef or lamb instead but the rice balanced out well with the stew! The labnah was a beautiful whipped almost hummus like texture that was really good but the smoothie really took the cake here with their mango date blend!! So good, so yem! Would recomyemen!

Definitely recommend this restaurant. I found good reviews online so decided to try it. We tried the Veggie Samboosa, Lamb haneeth, Chicken Kabsa, yogurt, cucumber garlic yogurt salad, and adani tea. The chicken and lamb dishes were very flavorful and well spiced. The veggie Samosa was exactly what I wanted and spicy. The meats were very tender. Portions were very filling and we had leftovers. The service was perfect and extremely hospitable, even though it was on a busy Saturday night and they were able to squeeze us in without a reservation. We sat on the traditional seating tables with cute pillows on the ground and it was definitely a vibe!

Loved our time there. The fahsah lamb stew with fresh Nan bread was excellent.. chicken kabsa was good too, curious to try the mandi or lamb shank next time ( we will be back!). The servers were really sweet. Felt like they really cared for us, not just superficially, and I really appreciate the human connection. They were so shocked when they realized we hadn't gotten one of our dishes that they gave it to us for free and refused to accept payment for it. It was very sweet of them.

Bab Al Yemen is a welcome addition to the Boston food scene. I've visited when they first opened up (roughly two years ago), a few months after, and once more recently. There isn't another Yemeni restaurant in the entire Boston area (as of this post!). They provide large portions, tasty halal options, and a warm ambiance. I've only dined in once, more recently, and the service was fine. I highly recommend the lamb haneeth, chicken mandhi, and the samboosa. In terms of the food, I have to say that I've had an inconsistent experience every time I've tried them. This is an area I would really love for them to improve. For example, initially their dishes had more grilled/seasoned onions that really elevated the flavor. More recently, the onions are much more scarce, aren't seasoned the same way, and sometimes are not even there. I want to be generous, given that they had just opened the first two times I tried it, but a more consistent dining experience is needed. All this being said, I would definitely give them a try. They provide a unique dining experience in the Boston area!

Found this place on Instagram and it did not disappoint! Food here was very flavorful! The portion size was pretty big as well. I came with my partner and ordered one appetizer and two entrees which was plenty of food. I think this would be enough for 4 people. We ended up taking leftovers home. We ordered the hummus with shredded lamb, chicken mandi, and the Fahsa (lamb stew). All the food was very good! The chicken and lamb were all very tender! The fresh bread was great to have in the side. The hummus comes with pita bread which was good, but would definitely recommend getting the fresh bread! The fahsa comes with fresh bread, but does take a while to prepare. The service and ambiance here was great as well! Would recommend trying this place out!

I read an Eater article about restaurants near Fenway Park and this one sounded good. It was a great choice. The Haneeth lamb was plentiful and so very tender. The flavor was excellent but not overly spicy. My husband enjoyed the Lamb Mandi and likewise, it was delicious. The salad was light and refreshing and complemented the lamb really well. The restaurant is decorated beautifully. There are some low tables near the front, and the higher tables are towards the back. The menu is obtained through a QR code and the bill can be paid by scanning a QR code. It's convenient since there's no need to wait for the server to return the change or the credit card slip. Definitely would return!

Food was delicious and portion sizes are ginormous had a whole meals worth leftover! The yemeni cocktail was very good, fresh fruit and sweet from the dates. Chicken and lamb both just melted off the bone and was sooo soft and tasty :D The rice is flavorful and the soup and salad are good as well. The kabsa has a tiny kick, and you can add more spicy sauce if needed. The service was fantastic, the staff are super sweet and gave us a little post dinner hot tea on the house :) Would love to come back and try the Fahsa and naan

Came on a Thursday night around 7pm with a reservation for a table. By the time we left, the upstairs was full, so I would recommend making a reservation if you can. We were seated downstairs. They have large tables, which would suit both small and large groups. We ordered the Fahsah lamb stew, which came with a side of bread, and the Chicken Mandi. The stew was my favorite of the two. The lamb was tender and wonderfully flavored. These two dishes were more than enough for the both of us. I would definitely come back to try out more of the menu.

Walked in (no reservations) on a Sat evening. Got seated downstairs within 10 minutes. The ambiance downstairs is casual and homey. It's a decent sized space but felt a bit cramped with a few too many tables. The service was pretty slow. We had to get the staff's attention for everything - to order, to ask for missing items that they forgot, to get the check. But the food came out pretty quickly once we got the order in. The food: my favorite was the lamb haneeth - very tender and flavorful. The lamb Mandi was very tender also. The chicken Mandi was my least favorite. It was half tender, half kind of dry and was surprisingly bland. The rice that it came with saved it a bit but it definitely tasted like something was missing. The mango/strawberry drink was nice - similar to a mango lasi. Prices were fair for the portion sizes, which are generous compared to the average restaurant. $28 for the lamb dishes and $21 for the chicken. It's more expensive if you're ordering on delivery apps. We lucked out with street parking. Found one very close by as soon as we arrived. That area is typically a nightmare to park in.

Really beautiful restaurant and kind waiters! Everything we tried was very delicious: Yemeni cocktail: very mango forward and like a thick smoothie or lassi Laziza: alcohol free, very refreshing and has a nice raspberry flavor Mutabul: very smoky and rich eggplant which went well with the bread and salad Fahsah: super flavorful and tender lamb stew (falling apart) with a beautifully crisp and chewy oven baked bread. Highly recommend! Lamb Haneeth: very tender pieces of lamb with caramelized onions and rice I also recommend asking for Yemeni hot sauce on the side since everything could use a bit more salt/acid- it's fresh and tomato forward and has a spiciness that builds up. All of the food was enough for four people and we would love to come back!

The food and service at Bab Al-Yemen are exceptional! The staff is welcoming and made great recommendations. The food arrived quickly and was so delicious.

I had a wonderful dining experience here. The floor seating added a cozy and intimate touch, making the ambiance perfect for a date (but they also had seating appropriate for kids, though we did not come with our kids on this occasion!). The food was excellent--especially the meat, which was perfectly cooked. Service was attentive without being overbearing, striking just the right balance. I'd definitely recommend this place and will be coming back!

Cool interior design, very colorful and lots of patterns! We got to sit in a section on cushions on the ground and with a fun round table low to the ground (you take your shoes off to enter so going to the bathroom is slightly extra work) Waitress was also very kind and gave us menu recommendations! Food was very yummy! I got the lamb mandi which came with soup. The lamb was pretty soft and came off the bone easily, and there was a lot a lot of rice. I think after awhile the meal felt sorta homogenous and the rice was good but didn't have that much flavor (but there was a spicy sauce on the side I just couldn't handle it). Still it was a solid hearty meal and I felt pretty comfortably full. It looks HUGE when it comes out but somehow managed to finished it all! My friend got the fahsah and it came with the giant beautiful bread. The bread was nice and soft but had a crackly outside :) Was a decent meal overall but was slightly on the pricier side

We came without a reservation, which was definitely risky--would recommend making a reservation before coming! We started off with the Yemeni cocktail--which was a sweeter version of a mango lassi--and an order of labne, which was incredible. We then each got a stew, and with large portions, had enough to take home. The service was quite slow.

SO GOOD. came here after my sisters graduation and the vibes were great and the food was so authentic and halal!! we ordered the hummus which was just avg hummus, my dad ordered the lamb mandi which he still talks about, my brother ordered the chicken kabsa (as saudis we so approve) and i ordered the fahsah. it was all super yummy.

One of my friends kept telling me to go here, and he was right. This cozy restaurant hit the spot for a cold rainy day, with their family style menu and kind service. While we were waiting for an Uber, we were offered a seat and tea, which made me fall in love with the restaurant even more. Will definitely be coming back!