Bab Alyemen Restaurant — Restaurant in Utrecht

It's a short story of a Yemeni disaster. Written by a Yemeni, that's me.

My Dutch language teacher and my classmate wanted to try Yemeni cuisine because I told them a lot about it. So, we decided to give it a try and go to a Yemeni restaurant near our school. That is Bab Alyemen restaurant.

Food: Three Yemeni signature dishes and a famous hot drink were ordered by me because, as I mentioned above, I am Yemeni, and I am supposed to know better, right? The dishes were Mandi (a chunk of lamb with rice), Fahsah (shredded beef in a hot pot with bread), and A'rekah (a heavy dessert). The hot drink was Adani Tea (tea with milk and aromatic spice). Why did I give it one star? In general, the food lacks flavours and freshness. The lamb chunk was not tender and not soft! And it simply didn't taste or look as Mandi. How about Fahsah? Fahsah missed the most crucial ingredients that gave that name. It had no green bell pepper and the fenugreek cream with herbs (helbah)! Not to mention the tiny amount of meat in it. It was catastrophic and embarrassing. The sweet (A'rekah) was better than the main dishes, but that doesn't mean it was good. Let's say barely acceptable. The tea was fine.

Atmosphere: The decoration has nothing to do with yemen except the painting of the old city of Sana'a. It was warm inside the restaurant. I was expecting a more Yemeni vibe.

Service: The guys working there are so nice and friendly.

Price: The cost does not match the quality and the quantity.

I hope that they improve and do better to represent Yemen in a good manner because that wasn't even close.

Eventually, if you live in the Netherlands and want to eat real Yemeni food, you can just visit a Yemeni family. There are many of them there, and they will be happy...

I have never seen such terrible service in my life. We reserved a table three days in advance, and when we arrived, they said they couldn’t find our reservation. No apology, no empathy—nothing. The guy just shrugged and continued working like we were invisible. We even showed him the call log proving we made the reservation, and he admitted it was their number, yet still did nothing to fix the situation.

This wasn’t just a small inconvenience. We came from different cities to break our fast in Ramadan, expecting a decent meal, only to be treated with total disrespect. If they had at least tried to help, we might have understood. But the way they acted—ignoring us, refusing to take responsibility—was beyond rude. Avoid this place unless you want to be treated like you...

It's understandable to crave familiar flavors from home. Navigating a new culinary landscape can certainly have its challenges. Finding the right dish amongst unfamiliar descriptions can feel like a treasure hunt. And bustling restaurants, while vibrant, can sometimes feel overwhelming. Hopefully, you'll discover a place that feels like a haven. A place where the menu speaks to your heart, and the atmosphere brings comfort. Until then, remember that every culinary adventure brings you closer to finding those special places. Keep exploring, and your taste buds will...