Ed U.
Yelp
It's great to see new businesses popping up in western SoMa, a somewhat hardscrabble area that hasn't been susceptible to gentrification. Just as well because the rough edges are what make SoMa unique. That and a wider sense of diversity as evidenced by this spacious new late-night Yemeni cafe. Jamie W and I came upon it as we were making our way down a rather barren stretch of 9th Street.
We were immediately taken in by the modern lines of the Middle Eastern decor which included a fountain that wasn't turned on during our visit. Staring at the menu (Photo 12), we were overwhelmed by all the beverage options they offer whether they be espressos, specialty coffees or cold drinks. Jamie ordered the $5.99 Spanish Latte, a delicious iced mix of milk, espresso, condensed milk, and cinnamon.
I went for the $6.99 Iced Pistachio, a similarly satisfying mix but with pistachio sauce offsetting the sweetened milk (Photo 7). We couldn't help but share one of their unique Yemeni pastries, the $6.99 Kunafa, which was sweetly tasty though the shredded phyllo kept landing on our clothes (Photo 9). We sat at one of the stylish alcoved tables where we enjoyed the chill vibe that evening.
I happened to be in the area a few nights later after participating in an early evening zoom call. I knew they were open until 11:30PM. This time I tried the distinctive $6.99 Dubai Latte which was comprised of espresso, pistachio, dark chocolate, and kunafa (Photo 8). Quite decadent but probably no more than the $6.99 slice of housemade Baklava (Photo 10). I'm sure I'll be back again soon.
PASTRIES - 4.5 stars...uniquely tasty bites, a bit on the sweet side
DRINKS - 5 stars...compelling espresso-based libations
AMBIANCE - 5 stars...distinctively Yemeni and comfortably laid out
SERVICE - 4 stars...nice and focused
TOTAL - 5 stars...a welcome addition to SoMa
RELATED - Exploring western SoMa? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/6LlEiqyZgy