Sana’a Cafe

**4.4/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨ Sana's Cafe Lake Forest: Cozy Chai & Honeycomb Cake Stop** Tucked in a quiet Lake Forest plaza off Bake Parkway, **Sana's Cafe** is the perfect fast-casual spot when you need a quick caffeine or sweet fix without the corporate feel ☕🍰. The **convenient location** has plenty of parking, making it an easy grab-and-go or linger-with-a-book destination near the 5 freeway and shopping centers. **Service was friendly**—the staff behind the counter greeted me with warm smiles, took my order quickly, and even offered suggestions for pairings. Everything came out fast, even during the mid-morning rush. Ordered their **chai** and a slice of **honeycomb cake**. The chai was fragrant with classic spices—cardamom, cinnamon, and clove shining through in a creamy milk base. It’s comforting and not overly sweetened, just how I like it. The honeycomb cake had that signature bouncy, chewy texture with nice aroma and a subtle caramelized top. That said, minor deductions keep it from a full 5. I wished for **more flavors** overall—the chai could use a bolder spice kick or optional add-ins like fresh ginger. It arrived **too hot** (had to wait a few minutes to avoid burning my tongue), and the **cake was average**—pleasant and authentic, but lacked that deep honey intensity or extra moistness that makes the best versions memorable. Still, Sana's earns a solid 4.4 for delivering reliable chai and honeycomb cake in a friendly, convenient spot. It’s a great little neighborhood cafe for Vietnamese-inspired drinks and treats when you’re in Lake Forest. I’ll be back for the chai on cooler days—just might ask for it a touch cooler next time.

Cozy Yemeni Cafe with excellent tea and coffee plus lots of yummy bakery items. Located in a large strip mall with a great corner location. The restaurant has plenty of indoor seating. Additionally, there's patio seating area. Unfortunately, it was raining the day we visited. There's plenty of free self parking in private lot. Luckily, we were able to find an indoor table. The super friendly staff were warm and welcoming. We placed our order and everything was prepared freshly and brought out. The hot tea was very flavorful. All the pastry items were top notch and very yummy.

Hands down one of the BEST coffee spots in Lake Forest! Sanaa Cafe absolutely kills it every single time. The baristas are beyond amazing, insanely friendly, welcoming, and genuinely some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. They remember customers, take their time with each order, and make you feel valued from the moment you walk in. The service is flawless, fast, and full of positive energy. You can tell the team truly cares about quality and customer experience. The drinks are always perfect, and the atmosphere is warm, cozy, and inviting. This place sets the standard for what great service should look like. If you’re anywhere near Lake Forest and NOT coming here, you’re seriously missing out. 10/10 across the board highly, highly recommend!

Came on Christmas Day without knowing anything about Yemeni coffee or any of their pastries. Their Yemeni latte contains Cardamom and cinnamon and is very good. I love how it’s organic. I also ordered their Kaak and pistachio baklava pastries. Both pastries were really flavorful.

We initially found the pistachio latte too sweet, but the café's excellent customer service offered to remake it, and the revised cup was one of the best we'd had. The rose milk cake was moist, creamy, and tasty, although it could've used a stronger rose flavor. Despite that, we'd love to return and try more of their delightful treats!

Sana Cafe is absolutely amazing! The food is always fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. You can really taste the quality in every bite. The staff is friendly, welcoming, and make you feel right at home. The atmosphere is cozy and relaxing — perfect for enjoying a great meal or coffee with friends. Whether you’re stopping by for breakfast, lunch, or just a drink, Sana Cafe never disappoints. Definitely one of my favorite spots — highly recommend!

We stopped by this new Sanaa coffee spot today and were so impressed! We tried the pistachio coffee and the cardamom-cinnamon latte, both were absolutely delicious, rich, and full of flavor. The staff was kind, polite, and genuinely welcoming, which made the experience even better. You can tell they care about quality and customers. We’ll definitely be coming back soon!

Went here this morning for breakfast and it was absolutely amazing!!!! The service is so nice and the staff made great suggestions for us first timers! Our drinks were the mango dragonfruit refresher and an iced white mocha. The white mocha really was phenomenal as I usually have a hard time drinking coffee but it was soooo tasty!! The refresher was perfect and not too sweet either. The food was top notch ❤️

You know those places you accidentally wander into and then suddenly start planning your whole week around? Yeah. That's Sana'a Café in Lake Forest. First up: the honeycomb. It's basically what would happen if bread and sunshine had a baby, then soaked it in liquid gold. Fluffy, warm, and unapologetically sweet -- like a grandma who slips you $20 and says "don't tell your mom." Then there's the pistachio iced latte. If coffee could flirt, this one would wink at you from across the room and somehow already know your Spotify playlist. Smooth, nutty, and the exact right amount of sweet -- I swear it made me sit up straighter. Oh, and the beef sabaya? Layers of savory pastry with a tiny wink of spice. Not "my-mouth-is-on-fire" spice -- more like "just enough to keep things interesting," kind of like that one friend who always has a mildly scandalous story. The vibes? Cozy. Friendly. Zero pretense. You're not just a customer here -- you're part of the family. The really well-fed part of the family. If I could give it 6 stars, I would. But Yelp is stingy, so here's your perfect 5, Sana'a Café. You earned it.

This will be short and sweet. Things i liked: - They have a nice, large outdoor seating area. - Adheni Chai was solid -Biscoff milk cake was spectacular! Things i did not like; just one, inside is kind of crampy but it's an odd shaped retail footprint so they're making lemonade. Lots of parking, decent location and open late. Great establishment!

Stopped by for some breakfast and coffee... Worth the stop. The fresh baked goods were tasty but the fresh squeezed orange juice is amazing. Good job guys!

Sigh... I still dream about their milk cakes. I tried the pistachio cake, rose cake, and saffron cake-- all in one sitting. I mean, being an adult means you can use your money to do whatever you want, right? And I wanted 3 cakes, so I had 3 cakes. That being said, it's a beautiful cafe, the service is prompt, the coffee is delicious and so are the milk cakes. Sana'a cafe-- you have my whole heart.

The person helping us behind the counter was so kind and helpful. He seemed genuinely happy to walk us through the menu, and even gave me some fresh cardamom to smell, so I would know how the spiced coffees would taste. I got one of the traditional Turkish coffees, iced, and we shared a delicious kunefe. This place is a wonderful find, and had a lovely cushioned seating area, as well.

I can't believe I only found this gem recently after driving by so many times. They have a great selection of teas and exotic and beautiful teapots and cups. Their decor is not anything out of the ordinary except for this one corner that is inspired by Middle Eastern style. I am guessing Yemeni. I like how they have a variety of iced matcha options as well as exotic drinks like Arabic coffee. Their baklava is my favorite. My go to is the pistachio flavor and they have many other delicious looking desserts I want to try. The staff are friendly and I will definitely add this place to my coffee shop roster.

Best cafe with a variety of amazing food, Desserts and drinks :) but the best part is the customer service:) will be able again!

Ooh, the desserts here are sooo good. Didn't get to try the coffee but it looked delicious. And they're open late!! There was a bit of a line and service was pretty slow, but it was worth it. It was pretty crowded but there's both inside and outside seating so it's very possible to find seating.

Hospitality just like back home. Honestly nothing tastes better than Yemeni coffee...the originators of coffee While fisting Lake Forest I knew I had to come here. Everything was top tier, I the Yemeni latte, mofawar coffee, biscoff milk cake, and honeycomb were all made to perfection. The inside is your standard coffee shop with tables and chairs but what makes it extra special is the Arabic music playing . 10/10 recommend

WoW this place is something different in a good way! Gorgeous decoration, beautiful and yummy baked goodies and also a great cultural trip while you sipping your coffee. The service was beyond expectation! The person who was serving was very warm and welcoming! I ordered chicken muskhan and it was one of the best that I are in recent years and i had same feeling about meat fatayer! Very fresh! The smell of coffee was very strong that shows the high quality of coffee that they served! Price wise, they are not cheap with %30 tip i ended up to pay $15! But it's worth every bite of it! They have a giant parking lot and also you can dine in and enjoy their patio in shade! It's all your choice...

Tastefully decorated Yemeni cafe in Lake Forest. Tons of parking available, although there's a supermarket that's set to open in the same plaza soon, so not sure how that will affect the cafe. You pay first and they'll call you when your orders ready. They had a lot of pastry options, from milk cake, baklavas, cheesecakes and knafeh. I tried out the pistachio baklava and really loved how you could really taste the pistachio. The piece was also a lot bigger than other baklavas I've had. I also had an iced Adeni Chai, which was a bit sweet for my liking, but still tasty overall. The cardamom was just right, and not too overwhelming. There are a few tables inside, and a ton of seating outside. However, they only have one bathroom. Overall, a decent spot to meet friends at.

Yemen coffee shop so I wanted to try to get out of my comfort zone. I didn't try any latte but they don't use house made syrups. This review is for the desserts. Love the pistachio milk cake. Not too sweet. So moist. So good. Excellent. Biscoff cheesecake. A bit sweet but the texture and flavor was very good. Definitely both worth getting. Service was good. Plenty of parking. Definitely be back

Still new to Yemeni coffees and Middle Eastern desserts, Sadeq (according to my receipt) was greatly appreciated for her customer service; she was appreciatively welcoming, patient, helpful, and approachable. Having ordered their Sana'Ani (dark, rich, full of flavors) on a previous visit, their Qisher was quite different (much lighter like tea -- as I learned is due to using only the coffee husks; however, I still enjoyed its subtle flavors); hubby enjoyed his (labeled as popular) Mofawar (which is more of what I was expecting). Being a fan of pistachios and pistachio-flavored items, I was delighted by their selections, ordering their Pistachio Baklava (flavorful layers of thin, crisp, flaky phyllo dough with a nice amount of sweetness and plenty of chopped pistachios). On a previous visit, I experienced and enjoyed a slice of their Honeycomb, which was served heated with a drizzle of honey. I appreciate that when dining there, beverages and food are served in attractive cups and plates, elevating my experience. In addition, there's a good amount of seating inside (although I miss their previous cushy-&-comfy chair I'd sat in) and outside of their attractive corner location; parking is easy, as well. Fun find!

I've been to this cafe twice --- both times with my mother and wife --- and it's a wonderful find. This time we ordered the baklava again, which was really delcious! We also ordered the Saffron Milkcake, which is the first time I've tried this dessert. It was light, not so sweet, indulgent, but not too rich. Definitely something I would like to try again. My mother had the spinach fatayer, which she loved. My wife and I shared a Jubani coffee, which is a medium roast coffee with coffee husks, ginger, cinnamon and cardamon. An unusual taste and not sweet (although I was asked if I wanted sugar in it and I said no). The woman behind the counter who took my order was very nice. The ambiance within the cafe is chilled and friendly. It's a really nice place to hang out.

Abdurahman is the Greatest of All Time. Takes care of us every time and gives the best suggestions. We know when he's there we're gonna have good chai and coffee

Sana'a Cafe immediately struck me with the ambience as soon as I walked in. The seating is cozy and comfortable and there are quite a few tables both inside and outside of the cafe. I went on a Sunday afternoon and while busy, it wasn't packed and the volume was low enough to be easy to hold a conversation. I tried the Qisher which is made of shell beans and the barista warned me that it is a very light drink in terms of flavor. The drink was very light in both color and taste and while a very unique drink, I think I'd like to try their other drinks next time. I tried the pistachio cheesecake, oreo cheesecake, and tiramisu milk cake. The tiramisu milk cake was the standout, and while not traditional, it The pistachio cheesecake had a nice mild flavor and was nice and rich and dense. The oreo cheesecake was a little overly sweet for my taste, but still quite good. The shop is proud of their organic coffee and I'm looking forward to returning to try more drinks and food options.

OMG! First time trying pistachio matcha and pistachio tiramisu -- both were absolutely delicious! Pistachio is my favorite, and these did not disappoint. The flavors were rich, creamy, and perfectly balanced. Next time I'm craving something sweet and need a cozy spot to hang out, this place will definitely be my first choice!

The pistachio milk cake is so freakin GOOD!!! Kinda regret not getting a second slice...Staff were friendly and funny too!

Firstly, Very positive energy, Yemeni coffeehouse & desserts - so many wonderful Middle Eastern, choices. People are enjoying Turkish coffee, (could be something else ) Lots of people playing board games outside under heated gas lights. What a wonderful addition to Lake Forest, and especially the shopping center! In addition, Seems to be excellent as well is service, waiters bring the coffee, Turkish cups to the table and all right to the table patrons told me that Yemen is right next to Saudi Arabia. My daughter told me that the desert, she also chose tastes excellent too.

The chai is amazing!!! I think this is my new favorite place for chai. The girl who helped me out this morning was kind and informative. She recommended the honeycomb bread and hot adeni chai. The chai is rich and fragrant, just how I like it. It reminds me of the one my mom's friend used to make for me growing up. Both items were delicious and I will be back. I saw that they have a variety of drinks and desserts - I can't wait to try everything else they have.

Sana'a Cafe is a Yemeni cafe known for its flavorful drinks and pastries. There's plenty of free parking in the complex in front of the store. There's also plenty of aesthetic indoor and outdoor seating. The service was okay and our food took a while to come. The honeycombs were a bit dry and weren't as good as the one's from Qamaria. The chicken fatayer tasted flavorful and was crispy. The pistachio cake just tasted like an average tres leches, but the tiramisu cheesecake was decadent and flavorful. The prices were also a bit expensive as well but they have a promotional offer with coupons in the mail. I'd recommend this place to a friend who wanted to go to a cute middle eastern cafe and take nice pictures.

Absolutely delicious! We ordered the Adeni Chai (warm and iced) as well as the Saffron Milk cake. Service was very kind. Everything was very tasty. Looks like there's a lot of outdoor patio seating as well as indoor tables.

Found these guys randomly and I knew I had to give them a try to satisfy my never ending Yemeni coffee craving I got the jubani flavour and it was wonderful - large portion , very spicy . Everything you need in a Yemeni coffee ! Service was cordial and nice . Very recommended!

I hate when this happens... I go to a place with super high expectations and end up being so let down. I love dessert, I eat a lot of it. And I'm not talking boxes of store bought hohos and ding dongs. I like the good stuff, the quality stuff. The things that delicious dreams are made of. For the service, I'll give it a solid 4. Nothing crazy here. Basic interaction at the counter. The cafe itself is pretty large for being a cafe, and offers plenty of seating. On to what I ordered... a simple piece of the pistachio tiramisu. At first sight, it looked good. Nice layers. I was excited for my first bite, especially since I paid $9 for it (I figured, for this price, it has to be amazing). But man, I was so disappointed. It had the taste of something that had been sitting in the fridge. That was my first reaction - "why does this taste like fridge?". Once I got past that, and took my second bite, I realized that the top layer tasted, artificial. That's all I could come up with it to describe it. Not light, not fresh, but, almost plastic-y. And I don't know why. Needless to say, not my favorite experience. And just so very disappointed. Especially since it was $9. How are they able to charge $9 for this? What is the saying, "daylight robbery". In your face, no qualms about it. It just doesn't seem... right. I wouldn't recommend this place if you're looking for a delicious, quality sweet treat. I would look elsewhere.

Wide selection of cakes, muffins, and savory items. They also have a couple honeycomb options. Regular cheese and jalapeño cheese. They can heat up the savory items so it's warm when you consume them. I got a few: potato, cheese, and spinach. I tried the earl grey tea and saffron muffin. Very good. Employees are friendly and plenty of parking. There's a lot of seating too. Eight tables inside and about ten outside.

Sana'a Cafe is such in a gem in this area. Not only do they open very late but they have one of the best drinks and desserts. I met with some friends here on a late Friday night to hang out. It was all our first time and we were surprised how busy it was. As we stood in line waiting to place our order, we were in awe of all the different speciality desserts they had. They had cakes, brownies, cookies, and many other pastries. We came very late that night and I was surprised how many dessert items were still available. There were lots of pistachio items which I loved. I ended up getting a hot chocolate and shared a pistachio baklava and pistachio milk cake with one other person. The hot chocolate was well done. The two desserts were both good. I liked that the milk cake wasn't too sweet and was really good. The baklava was also good and everyone enjoyed it. I also got a sip of their pistachio latte which was also really good. There is a lots of seating inside and outside of this cafe. It's such a great place to hang out at. However it does get really busy so grabbing a seat can be difficult. We were able to grab a table outside. You order at the register and they bring out the item to you. I wouldn't definitely recommend this place to friends and family.

*****Amazing Arabic Style Coffee!***** A very lovely cafe with a fresh open vibe. They have the best coffee i have had in a long time. High quality, fragrant, flavorful. They have dessert style coffee which my daughter had (white chocolate latte). She loved it. I had the Sena Coffee with Ginger, Cinnamon, cardamom,...wow! What an amazing drink. It's hot and refreshing at the same time. This is an amazing drink! Parking is easy. Customer Service is great I would love to hav e coffee here again!

I had the pleasure of stopping by for a quick visit and tried the Adeni Chai and some honeycomb bread stuffed with cheese and drizzled with some syrup. Both were pretty good! The cheese in the honeycomb was a little tangy for me, but with the piping hot cup of chai, it was delicious. I loved the spices of the chai along with the touch of evaporated milk. It was such a treat for the taste buds - I'll be back for more of that drink! I also like how the place sells beans and a wide assortment of pastries (both sweet and savory). Friendly service and very relaxing environment makes this a great place to stop by!

Their Saffron Milk cake was my wife's favorite in the whole world. We came for her birthday and were so disappointed. It was no longer milky, the taste changed, tasted like some dry pound cake, etc. Asked the owner and they said the cake chef left or something. Please go learn how he made it and make it exactly like the old way... this was such a special place for us before. I'll update this to 5 stars if you fix this.

Lovely Syrian teas and coffees with delicious snacks to pair with them. I try to stop by every time I am in the area. I love that all the teas and coffees are made to order and come piping hot.

We were looking for a coffee spot and stumbled into this place. And it was such a delicious and delightful surprise! It was a new experience for us. The standard and authentically exotic coffee options are delicious! Along with the sweets and savory pastries. And to top it off, the beautiful, welcoming barista who provided great service! We will definitely come back!

I love trying out new coffee shops near Irvine. Their Karak tea was good as usual, and had lots of options for desserts which is nice. They're tasty! The vibes are so nice to just chitchat, play board games, and enjoy each other's company. I definitely will be back!

Really great cafe! The only problem is where it's located. But really nice service and the food was good! The chocolate baklava was so good! And my hibiscus tea was so so nice! Loved the vibe too.

I ordered the pistachio iced latte and because I love Qamaria I wanted to compare the two places. I thought the pistachio cream on the top of the cup was delicious but the coffee was a bit bland and not as strong. I had my friend pick it up for me so I was unable to see the inside of the cafe. A little pricey but that was what I expected of Yemen coffee.

I came back here 3x in one weekend just trying their different coffee and pastries! It's less than a block away from a comfy bookstore and located on a street with plenty of tasty places to eat, walk, and get some fresh air. But between it all Sana'a's was a fun treat. There were two folks at the counter when I had came in, a man and a woman-- both were patient with my questions and very kind. Their Yemeni and Sana'a lattes were cozy and spicy with its cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger, and a few classics like an Americano and a latte were wonderfully pleasant. I purchased one of every fatayer too-- each as delicious as the last.

Located in a semi busy shopping plaza. Plenty of parking. The Cafe is super clean. Nice decor and yields a positive vibe. The goldfish accent of white background is rather soothing. What was more soothing, the dessert. I ordered a tiramisu. It was probably number 1 or number 2 best tiramisu I have ever had. It was moist and scrumptious! I am not a big sweet eater but I almost wanted to order a second one. I also tried their Yemeni and Sana coffee. Two have similar but different tastes. The ginger taste was unusual in a good way. The service was great and the wait time was fairly short. I was definitely impressed by everything. Overall, this place gets a 4.9 out of 5. Will come again!

Wow! I bookmarked "Sana'a cafe" in SF just this morning and randomly driving past Irvine, I saw this place on Yelp and immediately told my husband to make a u-turn 5 miles back to try the pistachio iced latte. Little did I know it was the grand opening, and they had a massive selection of desserts. Being 6 months pregnant, I was in heaven and we kept letting all the customers pass us because I could decide! The strategy I used ended up being based on employee recommendations, the desserts that looked like they were about to sell out, and eavesdropping on people in line. I ended up getting the following: chocolate pistachio baklava (what?) Didn't know this existed and had to get. It is very very good. Price ~$2.75 Caramel milk cake - similar to a tres leche, super soft, moist and the caramel is the perfect rich smooth texture. Price ~ $8.75 Biscoff cheesecake - yes yes yes. The crunch at the bottom is biscoff. Perfect consistency. Price ~$8.75 Then after paying, I spotted the viral Dubai chocolate on the counter and had to make another purchase $10. I haven't tried this yet. So no review available. Pistachio latte - presentation is beautiful and yummy! Not too sweet and not bitter Everything was soo amazing! So glad we drove by this spot and circled back! I want to try all the pastries and will be back even tho we live ~30 min away. Everything was pretty expensive considering it was also 15% off for grand opening. But I would still come back because it's very worth it (once in awhile thing)

Happy that a Yemen style cafe opens in Lake Forest, I can get to favorite Yemen specialty coffee and milk bread without long trudge to Fullerton, where the other one started couple years ago. one suggestion, in early morning play quiet folk music to offer a peaceful breakfast experience.

So pleasantly surprised by this spot. I'm picky about my coffee and I would definitely come back here. The pistachio flavor was not artificial or syrup-y tasting at all. And the coffee itself didn't taste sour. I want to try some of their baked goods next time because they looked heavenly.

A wonderful and cozy cafe to relax and enjoy coffee, tea, and sweets. The baklava that I shared with my family were yummy. Soft at same time flaky on the top. I had the Yemeni Latte with cardamom. It was rich and subtle just the way I like it! A wide variety of very interesting Yemeni coffees and teas to choose from. Savory sandwiches are available too. Service is fast and friendly.

Sana's cafe was just ok for us. Pretty pricey and the quality was just average. Maybe it's better on the weekends? We went during the week after lunch and the place was empty so you would think the service would be better but that was not the case. The guy behind the counter didn't seem happy to have customers. There are so many better options in the area when it comes to coffee and pastries.

I LOVE Sana'a Cafe!!! There location has great parking, their restroom is clean and the ambiance and vibes are beautiful, welcoming and warm. I've ordered their pistachio latte and spanish latte. I've never been disappointed. Customer service has always been on point - super friendly, great smile, very approachable. I would definitely recommend.

Yesterday my husband and I visited for the first time- we recently moved to the area from NorCal and we've been exploring the area and trying new places! We absolutely loved it. I ordered a strawberry matcha and a cherry danish, my husband ordered the most delicious iced mocha and we both shared a jalepeno honeycomb bread which was absolutely incredible and I can't stop thinking about it The two young women working there were so kind and knowledgeable and made us feel so welcome. We will definitely be back-many more times!

Clean place with nice service. We got the pistachio milk cake, biscoff milk cake, and cold milky baklava with pistachio. Server was really nice and recommended some items. This place is amazing!! I'll definitely be coming back to try the other items!

This is a coffee shop where I have passed by before and I was wondering about. Finally was able to go in and try their drinks and a pastry. I got tea, drink, and a cake. This place has something for everyone. There is seating inside and outside. The people are kind and helpful. Would definitely come back and recommend this place.

I came to try this place after all the great things I've heard about it. And let me tell you: the hype is real. My parents ordered the pistachio latte and it was the best tasting coffee they've ever had. I had the Adeni Chai and it was great but tasted more like a black tea to me. Still delicious. The pastries were absolutely delicious. The best baklava we've ever had. And I highly recommend the date ka'ak. The service was amazing. The man behind the register was super helpful and nice, and helped us out when we realized the potato pastry was a bit spicy (my dad can't have anything spicy due to a stomach problem). He brought us a different pastry, no questions asked. The ambiance is super cool too. The decorations and music were on point and there's a section for large parties with Middle-Eastern upholstered banquettes. Charming all around. This is a gem of a coffee shop and I hope it stays around forever.

Hi guys! I came back here and tried the Rose Milk Cake and the Adeni Chai. And oh my gosh, I love the way they do the pots here. Their trays are cute and golden and have a little candle holder to keep the drink warm. It's so nice. And actually, I even like the rose cake more than the pistachio one since it is less sweet. Absolutely fantastic. Also, things have definitely picked up since I last came here! I really do wish this cafe all the best. The staff is very kind and super helpful in explaining their menu. We were recommended by the nice guy taking our order to get the small pot instead of just getting two separate drinks of chai and that was a great suggestion! Once school starts back up, I'll definitely be visiting regularly!

I've never had Yemeni coffee or food before but this was a great experience. I like ginger flavored things so the cardamom in the coffee was a novel experience. The pistachio tiramisu wasn't too sweet and had a good light flavor.

At night, Sana'a Cafe is a hub of energy in a corner of Lake Forest that's mostly quiet. This place is one of the only few that's open as late as it is, so it gets quite busy later into the night. My friends and I got here at around 9:30 PM and we could see how busy and bustling it was inside at 10 PM when we were parking. There is plenty of parking available as this is a shopping center. The store is quite busy at night, and it stayed that way even when my group and I were on our way out around 11 PM. I've also come here before during the day, both earlier for morning tea and later into the day for a pick-me-up and it was less crowded. It's really at night when this place becomes super busy, at least in my experience. There are quite a few tables but seating still feels a bit limited, especially since it's so popular. However, I've never had an issue, often finding a spot after waiting a bit, even when my group was larger. The best seating is on the right when you first enter with the plush seats and bigger tables but they are sometimes reserved for groups of four or more depending on how busy they get. There's also outside seating and they have those heating lamps to help stay warm. The highlight here, and what you should really order, is the Adeni Chai. I recommend buying a teapot (they have a medium and large). The teapot comes with a little candle and warmer and the drink truly stays hot until the end (it's actually really hot at the very end since it's closer to the flame!). You can adjust the sweetness when ordering, and they provide you with cute little teacups. The large kettle is good enough for a group of 4 (obviously, adjust as needed and how much tea you want to drink!). I'm not even a hot drink person and this just hits REALLY hits the spot. It's spiced and brewed to perfection. I've been to a similar Yemeni cafe and I really do think this location steeps their tea in such a way where it's even more flavorful and just... it's SO good. I'm also usually a coffee drinker but the Adeni Chai is still what I order every time. I've gotten their pistachio latte and, while it was really delicious, it was quite pricey for how much you get so I'm sticking to the teas. Their Yemeni Black Tea is also really good. It has cloves and mint but, while both were in the tea we ordered, neither of those flavors were really there or overpowering. It was just a really good, strong black tea. This was a great second choice since we ordered two teapots. I've tried the pistachio, caramel, and biscoff milk cake. They really just taste like tres leches (in the best way) with their respective flavoring. I would recommend picking whichever flavor sounds better to you. I love biscoff and so of the three, that one is my favorite. Their sweets are a bit pricey and not really what I come for. Service was wonderful, everyone is super kind and welcoming, and the vibes are just right. They also have a few sets of cards, dominoes, and a chess board available for patrons. My friends and I had a great time and I'm so glad they're open as late as they are because it's a place we keep coming back to.