Qahwah House Coffee - Skokie

Beautiful cafe with lots of seating and excellent service. Drinks are phenomenal (purchased the pistachio latte and lemonade) and pastries (selected a lemon cake and rose cake) were amazing.

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5) Qahwah House is a true hidden gem and one of the most unique coffee experiences I’ve had. From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted by the warm aroma of freshly ground coffee beans and a cozy, welcoming atmosphere that makes you want to stay awhile. What sets Qahwah House apart from your average coffee shop is its dedication to authentic Yemeni coffee culture. You won’t find just your standard espresso drinks here—this place offers an incredible variety of traditional Yemeni brews, such as the qishr and mofawar, made with spices like ginger and cardamom that add a rich, aromatic depth you won’t find anywhere else. I tried the Mofawar, a smooth and slightly sweet coffee brewed with milk and cardamom—it was incredibly flavorful and comforting. I also paired it with one of their traditional pastries, the Sabaya, a flaky layered dessert drizzled with honey. Absolutely delicious! The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about what they do. They took the time to explain the different types of Yemeni coffee, the brewing process, and even shared a bit of the cultural background behind some of the drinks. You can really feel the care and authenticity in everything they serve. The interior is beautifully designed—elegant but homey, with traditional art and decor that reflects the rich heritage of Yemen. It’s a perfect spot whether you’re meeting a friend, working on your laptop, or just enjoying a quiet moment with a cup of something special. Prices are very reasonable considering the quality and the experience. And the best part? Everything is brewed fresh, with beans imported directly from Yemen, supporting local farmers and ensuring authenticity. If you’re a coffee lover—or just someone looking for a unique cultural experience—Qahwah House is a must-visit. It’s more than just coffee; it’s a warm, flavorful journey

Good Yemeni coffee house. Tried the Adeni Chai or tea, Honeycomb and Pistachio cake. All the items tasted really good. The combo of hot Adeni Chai and Honeycomb was the best.

Qahwa House is hands down one of the best coffee spots around! The moment you walk in, you’re hit with the warm aroma of freshly brewed Yemeni coffee and spices. it’s like a little trip to Yemen without leaving Illinois. The staff is incredibly kind and welcoming; they take the time to explain the different brews and make sure you get exactly what you like. I tried their Yemeni latte and Sabaya dessert, and both were outstanding, rich, smooth, and perfectly balanced with just the right amount of sweetness. The atmosphere is cozy and authentic, filled with cultural touches that make the experience feel special. It’s the kind of place where you can relax, meet friends, or even get work done while sipping something truly unique.

Plenty of parking, beautiful atmosphere, and a buzz of happy conversation. My Americano was perfect, the pistachio cookie was delicious, and the evening outdoor seating made it even better (though cushions would be nice!). A must-visit spot for great coffee and positive energy — I’ll be back!

Exceptional Yemeni Coffee House. The Turkish coffee and pastries were at a great price and were great. Felt like I had just saved myself a ton of money and time not to having to travel to Middle East to taste such great food, coffee, and atmosphere. Highly recommend it.

Best coffee! Amazing place. Service is always the best. Alan is the nicest guy ever. He is always smiling, helpful. Thank you so much!

Been wanting to try this place- finally did. The Honeycomb bread and the strawberry cake were so tasty! Pistachio Latte was so creamy and velvety. Service is what didnt do it for me. People were waiting for a long time for their orders, employees not calling out the orders, everyone is doing their own thing. Process and flow is lacking with their service. other wise it has good potential.

Love the decor, it's a comfortable space and very impressive wall decor. I could sit here all day doing my work and enjoying the great Yemeni style coffee all day. Had the Sana'ani today, and its a rich coffee with cardamon spice and served sweet. It's definitely better than a typical flavored coffee with artificial flavors. It's cardamon bomb flavor. Took a bit to get the coffee, but that's because there was a big queue of folks today. Usually they have it out rather quickly. Staff is friendly and helpful.

I had a good time attending meet up event at Qahwah House in Skokie. There is a huge parking lot so there is lots of ample parking in the private parking lot. The place inside was huge and had many chairs. Decor was warm and welcoming. I heard the place has extended hours and is even open late (until 1am) on Fridays and Saturdays Plenty of people waiting for their orders. My only advice would be to have a separate team member fulfill simple orders. I only ordered a coffee and waited same time as someone who ordered a speciality drink or breakfast item. Coffee, medium roast was flavorful. I drink coffee black to taste full essence of the beans. Cheers

We stopped by here for an afternoon pick me up. The place is really spacious and the decor is really cute. I lovedddd the big map they have. It's a good place to catch up with someone or working space. I ordered the new pistachio latte with almond milk (they ran out of soy milk). They have a good variety of dessert too, but I was too full to get one. The latte is actually not that bad, I feel like it's a little too much flavor aftertaste for me.

Qahwah House is a wonderful place to grab Yemeni coffee, tea, and pastries. On my visit here, I had a good experience with drinks, food, and service. The coffee shop is spacious, well-lit, and welcoming. As soon as you enter, you are greeted by the aroma of the tea or coffee drinks being prepared at the counter. I liked their menu and their pastry options. I ordered their Adeni Chai, a slice of pistachio cake, and a pastry called Khaliat Alnahi to go. I loved the aroma of the Adeni Chai being prepared. It smelled delicious. Adeni Chai is made with Yemeni black tea, cardamom, nutmeg, and milk. I got it with no added sugar. It had an awesome taste. It's perfect for cold weather days. The pistachio cake had a nice fondant layer topped with chopped pistachios, and the cake's layers also had some pistachios. The fondant made the cake a bit sweeter than I desired, but not having sugar in my tea helped. The Khaliat Alnahi pastry is a popular traditional Yemeni pastry, and it is enjoyed with a side of honey. It's a savory dessert with buttery cheese laden pullapart bread with some sesame seeds on it and either drizzled with or side of honey. It was yummy. I like Qahwah House a lot. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys good coffee, tea, and pastries, especially with traditional ethnic flavors.

To say I'm obsessed is an understatement! From the moment you enter the cafe, the smells sweep you away to a different place! The friendly staff, and the bright open space makes you feel right at home to either work, or meet with family and friends, or even a business meeting! Now on to my favorites, the food and beverage. My go to, the Chai, I ALWAYS get the pot which is great for 1-2 folks and it comes with a cute little glass for you to share should you choose. American made chai is usually powdery or syrupy. But here it's creamy and flavorful. My favorite pastry is the honeycomb pastry! It is light, airy, and pulls apart into smaller pieces and topped with Yemeni honey. The best way I can describe it is that it's like a Yemeni Cheesecake... where it's warm, but also the cream cheese isn't too cheesy and in a cream puff style bites. I've been here at least a dozen or so times in the last few weeks and am already looking forward to my next visit. :)

This place is huge! So much seating inside and the indoor decoration really brings the place together! We came here on a Tuesday evening and it's so nice to see so many people either studying or just chilling inside with their delicious tea/coffee. Great way to warm up from the really cold weather. I got a coffee with cardamom and just reminded me of the coffee my mom used to make me at home and it just warmed my inside. The sabaya was delicious, good thing they put the honey on the side because my husband only like a little bit while I slathered mine on! Definitely will be back!

My boyfriend and I visited this nice coffee shop on a Sunday afternoon and it was overall a great experience for both of us! This is a very spacious coffee shop that opens extended hours and has lots of seats. They have free wifi (password is available at the cashier) and outlets to charge your electronics. Also restrooms at the back. It shares a big parking lot with surrounding retails. It has everything that I was looking for/needed. We ordered iced adeni & iced pistachio latte (special). Both tasted very rich. Unlike watery coffee at many other places. My pistachio latte had a very mild pistachio flavor though. We studied at this place for several hours and liked it there. It wasn't too busy but the noise level got higher with more customers coming and the loud music that the shop played. But overall this place was not too bad for studying and working so I'd still be visiting!

Beautiful coffee spot that has excellent decor to make it feel cozy plus the wonderful aroma will make you wanting to stay for hours! There is plenty of seating inside and ample parking outside. Staff are pleasant and friendly in their interactions with everyone. I got to try the adeni chai with honey and the pistachio cake. Adeni chai is their Yemeni black tea with cardamom and nutmeg which was amazing and comforting on the cold day! They had a variety of other drinks and pastries that I would definitely return to try on another trip.

Frequented this place quite a bit when I had a stint living in Brooklyn and was surprised when I was told by someone I met from a Yelp Elite event yesterday (who I coincidentally ran into today as I write this review) that there's a location pretty close to where I live. Can safely say this definitely hits just as much as the the Williamsburg location. The space is pretty massive (especially compared to Williamsburg) and a great spot to study (yes they have WiFi)/catch up with friends/relax. I really like the open garage style window to let some fresh air in on a beautiful Fall day. Got myself the Adeni Chai with sugar ($5) and Khaliat Alnahi pasty ($6) and both were great. Definitely on the sweeter sides for both. Service was laidback and friendly. There weren't many people there so can't comment on how long service is when it is busy, but got my stuff pretty quickly. All-in-all, glad to hear about this place having a location in the Chicago area and will definitely be a go-to spot for me moving forward if I'm looking to get some work done outside of the house.

I love this place, it's super cozy and inviting. Their chai and pastries are the best. Service is awesome. Must try.

This coffee house is great! I've been here a couple of times now and each time the experience has been great. The staff is very attentive and accommodating. They do sometimes take a little longer to get your drinks out if they are busy but the wait is worthwhile. And they are more than happy to make the order right if it is incorrect.

I didn't know what to expect when I stopped for coffee at Qahwah House on Touhy Avenue in Skokie. Qahwah is Arabic for coffee, and the franchise, which started in Michigan serves organic coffee that was grown in Yemen. A little-known fact is that Yemen coffee beans are considered the origin of all coffee. Yemen coffee is known for its distinct flavor, a mix of spiciness and earthiness and drinks can be mixed with spices like ginger, cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg.  I smelled the spices when I entered the cafe through the wide open doors. There was music playing and there was a large coffee bar, display cases and a rustic map of the coffee trade on the wall as well as pictures of the production process. I asked the server what they recommended. They said to try khaliat al nahl (honeycomb buns) which are cloud like puffs of dough filled with cheese and covered in honey. It was served warm and it was light and cheesy, not too sweet. I ordered Sana'ani coffee which is finely ground roast coffee mixed with cardamom. I usually drink my coffee black but this was a little strong for me and very heavily mixed with cardamom. I should have listened to the recommendation of having evaporated milk with sugar in it. Several people stopped in and took their drinks to go. Qahwah House is open until 11 pm (and 1am on weekends) so I suspect that is when this place really comes alive as a gathering spot. This was a fun experience and next time I'll maybe try some chai and the buttery sabayah,

Great tea and coffee. Always friendly staff with beautiful sitting area. Love this place

One of my recent favorite cafes! During the day, its a great place to be productive. People come to get work done or socialize. By night, it turns into a fully social atmosphere! The workers are nice and keeps the place clean. Lots of different options to try and have been loving the new drinks I get to try each time! Absolutely LOVE the sabaya! It's the perfect combination of sweet and savory. SO ADDICTING! The only con is $1 extra charge on iced drinks.

Delicious Yemeni coffee and large adorable space. Great area to meet with friends or to sit and do some work. I don't remember which coffee we ordered but they were filled with delicious spices, have never had Yemeni coffee before and it was very lovely. I wish they had some menus closer to the front of the store and not just the one that's next to the cash register. Would allow for new customers to figure out what they want with ample time. Also I would urge the staff to ensure that coffee to go is given in a sleeve. The coffee is HOT, extremely hot. For this temperature to be given without a sleeve is incredibly dangerous. We did get one after asking but that's just a liability waiting to happen.

I loved the chai tea. The barista gave me some as a sample. I ordered mofawar coffee with croissants, I didnt like all the powder spices on the bottom, but loved the experience. It is definitely different from dunkin or starbucks. I wish they got mug option for dine in, maybe I have to request it next time. I am excited to to go back and try different coffee and pastries.

The smell that hits you when you walk in the door is just stunning, delicious coffee and cardamom. The coffee is wonderful, the pastry cabinet is gorgeous, and it's a lovely place to sit and chat with a friend.

I've been to the Qahwah House in Lombard several times and have always loved it. So happy they opened one in Skokie. I stopped by with some friends today, and was very happy with the experience as always. The ambience and lighting are really nice, and the staff is really friendly and kind. We got the adeni chai and the khaliat alnahl, which I definitely recommend trying. The chai is probably the best that I've tried in Chicago area so far, and it's worth going out of your way to get! I totally recommend this place to anyone. Wonderful coffee and tea, tasty sweets. Absolutely 5 stars!

The smells that consume this wonderful place are inviting you to stay. The staff is very knowledgeable about the drinks and helps you pick to what drinks is the best for your preferable options. I chose the Jubani which has great flavor and adds to the black coffee's I like to drink. My wife and I shared a honey glazed pastry and wow was it warm, soft and had a great crust from what is was baked in. I may have ordered a second pastry for the road. Great location and fast service makes for a great combination here and I will be back to enjoy the aroma here when I am in Skokie.

I came through for a Yelp! Event, but a foodie friend posted her visits here so I knew it was going to be worth coming to. The smell of freshly made coffee draws you in. It holds it's own, despite a Starbucks across the street and a Dunkin at the corner. Once you enter, you realize how spacious and clean this venue is. The flavor variety was unique and I was pleasantly surprised with cardamom in coffee and how it paired well. Their pizza slice shaped pastries were popular, one of which even had cheese. If you need a Java jolt with a twist, I highly recommend this place!

I really enjoyed my experience at Qahwah House. I was unsure of what to get and was appreciative that the cashier was willing to answer my questions. I tried the Adeni tea as well as a Talia and Raspberry chocolate cake. The tea was delicious and complimented both pastries. Not only were there opportunities for people to sit and enjoy their beverages and food casually, but there was also a space for people to come together and meet. It was such a treat and I am looking forward to going back and trying something new!

I enjoyed my drink which was the Yemeni tea with honey. It was so delicious and flavorful. The pastries were yummy too. Love the open atmosphere, especially when the doors are open. The cashier was helpful when I had questions ordering and my drink came out quickly. Highly recommend!

The ambiance is amazing! All the pastries are delicious and super fresh! The iced Yemeni coffee was way too sweet for me. The service was great and super helpful!

The ambiance and the service was good. The only down side I had was I wish the menu was more specific. I suggest maybe adding a list of your flavors and milks for those to find what exactly they're looking for.

Great place to chill and have coffee and chat with friends. Love ambiance and it has its own character.

I love this place ! Every time I'm in Skokie I make sure to come in ! It's very cute inside ! Love the chai! The chai can be very sweet, if you don't like it that way, you would have to say no sugar and do it yourself.

it was my first time trying yemeni anything. i got the adeni chai and it was pretty good! tastes very herbally. i also got this little cake, was dulce de leche flavor. the outer layer is a crunchy chocolate shell and the inside is nice and soft. super good. the friendly service and cute atmosphere gives them a 5 star in my book. also love supporting local coffee shops as opposed to giant chains. check this place out if you're in the area!

I've been here a couple times and have yet not o be disappointed. Whether it's a quick cup of coffee or having tea with friends, the staff is friendly and the interior is very welcoming. Will definitely be coming back

Came here on a Sunday late morning, ordered coffee and Adeni chai-- loved both. Worth the hype. Must try.

The teapot we ordered was medium and four to five people can easily have enough tea. The cakes we order were definitely stale. , it got wasted as it tasted old.. The service of fine.

A must try! I had the Yemeni Iced Latte which has a blend of cinnamon, cardamom and ginger. It was divine! Went back a few days later and it was just as good. Honey comb bread pastry is one of the best sweet and savory desserts you will find and the portion size is generous for the low price! The ambiance and late night hours cannot be beat. Service is excellent and fast despite being very busy during both of my recent visits. I cannot wait to go back and try the teas!

Super excited to see Qahwah House open up in my neck of the woods. The Chai here is definitely different level. Can't really compare to the commercially available chai you get at the store or most cafes. It's super rich and has so much depth. You walk into the place and the aroma just completely overtakes your sensory. I've also tried matcha iced latte and it exceeded my expectations. Highly recommended.

I really wanted to support local businesses so I decided to try this place. I was the only one in line, the guy was taking an order over the phone while he rang me up. He gave me the thumbs up to indicate that my order was complete and I waited an additional 5 minutes just to get a cup of mofawar ( coffee with cream and cardamom). For a coffee shop selling "premium" coffee and charging $5.05 for coffee, they have crappy service. I'd rather drop my coin at Complimentary Cafe, heck, Dunkin Donuts in a pinch. This will be my first and last time here. Must be an off day for them.

Had the Adeni Chai and the (cheesecake dish, sweets dish) to snack on. The chai was really good, the best Chai I be had in Chicagoland. Lots of seating, so we didn't have trouble finding a table. There were a lot of people so it took a while to get the order but it was very popular spot and for a very good reason. Highly recommend visiting!

Everything is awesome!! Service, Yemeni coffee, Adeni chai tea and other teas are great. Ambiance is beautiful! I wish they have gluten free desserts.

Wow I love love this place! I'm so glad I live 8 minutes away from this place! No more dirty evil Starbucks! The ambiance is beautiful! Super clean! I ordered the Adeni chai and the honey comb pastry it was so good I love the cups and teapot I ordered adeni chia the flavor and taste of spices was on point! It brought me back home as a child my mom would make this every morning before we go to school! What a lovely warm feeling it gave me! The female server was so lovely and nice her name is Bushra I hope I spelled it right thank you for your great service.

Great food, chai, hospitality! I've been here about 5 times and each of those three descriptions are met every time!!! Love the warmth of the workers, design of the place and the diverse customer base that frequent here. 5- STARS all the way!

Qahwah is a premium Yemeni coffee shop. Service was great. Ambiance was awesome Food was excellent Recommendations: Mowafar coffee Khaliat Al Nahl Adeni Tea Will be back for more.

Great looking place with coffee to match. Wish it was closer to me bc I'd be there all the time, especially since they close late!

Qahwah House is a somewhat new establishment in the area and has become very popular and from what I hear, can get very loud and hectic. The best way to avoid that if you're not interested in that vibe is to come in on a weekday afternoon. I went in on a Monday around 3pm and it was completely empty. I ordered an Adeni chai and a piece of a Yemeni pastry called Sabaya to go. Service was fast, and the cashier was friendly. Both the chai and the pastry were very good and I would go back to try more of the menu.

This is not your typical coffee place! But the service is great! The environment is fantastic there is no loud music! You can actually hear the person you're talking to! As well as taking time to study and think. The place is super cute and they're open until 1am! Perfect for college students that study in evening you can go get a caffeine boost and stay past 10pm! The pastries are very good! I got a chocolate croissant and chi tea latte! The only difference the chi tea is made with water and not milk, so be sure to add extra coffee creamer!

Great service and Lattes. I feel like I'm visiting another country when I walk in. Love it! Skip the Starbucks across the street. Try Qahwah House in Skokie!

Tried once. Smells great, very polite owner but a Yamani coffee and a peace of cheese bread $20?!!! I went to so many different coffee shops. Definitely not worth the price.

Go in the day because its busy at night. Adeni chai and pretty much any pastry should do it.

I really liked my coffee here today! The service was great and the ambiance was excellent too! I was greeted immediately upon arriving and all my questions regarding their coffee of the day were answered! The gentleman serving my coffee seemed genuinely happy to walk me through their coffee of the day! And I sat there and enjoyed sipping my coffee and reading my book! I noticed that there was a big family there also enjoying their drinks and orders... it was nice to witness! And a few other people sat in the back, working/or just chilling! I'm quite happy to have tried this location!!!

I wanted to try these unique items on the menu. I had a Chai coffee, which was quite gingery and spicy, which was unexpected but delicious. I had the Khaliat... so delicious. reminded me of Bantam bagels (bagel balls with cream cheese inside), but more like a roll than a bagel. often times when I go into shops, I ask about their allergens, because I have a family member with a tree nut allergy. they said the croissants were made in house, and other baked goods were made elsewhere. They indicated there should be almonds on the premises because of the croissants, but everything else would not be here, such as the pistachios and other nuts. I thought that was good, because we are not allergic to almonds. As I was leaving, I noticed there was a sign about a coffee drink, called maple walnut.... that had actual walnuts pictured on top of the whipping cream. So, no, they do have nuts on the premises that are more than just almonds. I would advise that they pay more attention to their allergy plan and what they have in house. I will not be taking my allergy family member to this location. The environment was really cute and warm. If I wasn't by myself, I would've loved to stay longer.

Great staff and service. Coffee is delicious every time! Make sure to try one of the pastries

The coffees and drinks here are so full of flavor and spices. Don't forget to make it a little less sweet. We tried some of their pastries, and they were also very delicious. Nice place to stop by to hangout after dinner since they are open very late and very family friendly. Recommend very much to try at least once!

Downgraded from 2 stars to 1 star. They sell old honeycomb bread in the morning -- without any mention or discount. Pretty abysmal service. Orders take on average 15-20mins. I made the mistake of "stopping" in here on my way to a meeting, placed the order, and ended up waiting 20mins. Learned my lesson. That is of course when someone bothers to notice you standing at the register and takes your order. The girl at the register didn't even look up while I stood there bc she was too busy solving math equations in her notebook. Please do your homework at home, on your own time. Don't bother making any special requests either bc they are apparently incapable of remembering simple requests like only one of two bakery items warmed and then roll their eyes when they have to actually fix their own mistake. Lastly the bathrooms. They were out of toilet paper. Enough said.

Delicious coffee blended with spices. The staff was friendly and helpful. It reminds me of my favorite coffee shop in Portland Oregon. I had the Jubani Rich, flavorful. The aroma when you enter the shop is warm and enticing. Will definitely be back.