Yafa Bakery & Market — Local services in Louisville

Yafa is a terrific place. I enjoy trying different food from all over the world, so when I saw a new Middle Eastern market I knew I had to check it out. It's always a bit uncertain how you'll be received when you walk into the space of a different ethic group, but I was made feel genuinely welcome from the first minute. The staff have been unfailingly kind and generous to me on multiple visits, explaining foods that were unfamiliar to me and recommending things for me to try.

There is an extensive selection of items in the market section and the butcher case looks to have excellent meat available, but I haven't really explored either of them yet. I've been spending my time in the back where the bakery and hot food are, and let me tell you these folks are turning out solid gold back there.

I love baklava, and since it's quite diffoto make, most of what you can find is awful. Yafa must have some kind of genie in the back because they make by far the best baklava I've ever had in my life. Not too sweet, lovely crumbly filo pastry, and crunchy nuts. Perfection. Just yesterday I picked up some baklava and a lovely little cheesecake to take to my parents' place for dinner and everybody just raved about it all. That's a tough crowd to impress with decades of baking experience, and it was five stars all the way.

They also do a rotating hot food special everyday that is not to be missed. A lot of it is dishes I hadn't previously tried, but everything I've tried has been so flavorful and delicious. I wouldn't hesitate to just walk in and grab whatever there is on any given day, confident that I'd enjoy it.

Everybody should definitely check out Yafa right away for terrific food and...

I went in for Tahini and left a loyal patron. Yafa’s interior was so clean and well organized which made it so easy to find what I was looking for and even some items I had no idea I would want (but immediately needed upon learning of it’s existence). Then their bakery was such a pleasant experience. I tried their Dubai Chocolate brownie and for $2.99 they are being robbed because I could see a bakery charging 3x that and people would pay it without batting an eye. Lastly , the falafel. Trust me when I say just go for it. Hands down the most tender but crispy and delicious falafel balls I’ve ever tasted and they were room temperature by the time I got home and dug in them. I think I would cry from happiness if I had them fresh out of the fryer. Please please show this place some love because I want it to...

Ethnic groceries can feel overwhelming at first, but Yafa made the experience so much easier with its clean, well-organized space and fully stocked shelves. Husband and I picked up the Dubai cookies, hummus, and banana pudding. Everything was delicious and very reasonably priced. We also tried the grilled chicken with fries and a cola combo, which was a great deal. The chicken was perfectly seasoned, juicy, and so delicious!!

I’m excited to come back and try more of their specials and pastries. It’s wonderful to have a local, family-owned Palestinian business like this in the community. The staff were incredibly friendly and took the time to explain the food, which made the visit even better....