Bab Al-Yemen Cafe — Restaurant in Fresno

I typically never write reviews, but for the first time, I felt called to do so because of my unsatisfactory experience. I was excited to try this coffee shop because I saw a TikTok raving about the food. When I arrived there was a sign that indicated the employee was not available and would be back soon—no problem for me as I wanted to look over the menu to decide what to get. When the employee arrived he was an older man who was dismissive and cold towards me. Again not an issue I know everyone has bad days. I decided to get a coffee and a chocolate bar and was honestly kinda shocked that the total came out to $22?! However, I wanted to have a nice day with some friends so I paid and moved out of the way for my friends to order. To my surprise, the man started rudely calling out to me “Excuse me!” “Excuse me!”? I was confused because I knew I had paid so I was not sure why he was calling out to me that way. Then he asked me to look at the screen to answer a question about a tip and the receipt. So of course that was my bad, but the transaction being uncomfortable and the fact that the coffee and chocolate cost $22 I did not feel a tip was necessary. After that, I felt the man started treating me even more coldly. I didn’t ask my friends if they tipped. Knowing them I could surmise they did because usually we all do! This was just one of the moments I could not justify tipping. When the coffees were ready the man brought them on a tray to where we were sitting. He handed out our drinks which made perfect sense as one of my friends got something different, but my other friend got the same drink as me, so I thought. However, I didn’t realize there WAS a difference in our drinks (I got a 20oz and she got a 16oz). The part that felt hostile was when he gave the different flavored drink to my friend then he tried to give the 20oz to my other friend. She handed it back saying the other one was hers and she didn’t get a 20oz. He then put the 20oz back on the tray and handed her the 16oz while being kind to all my friends. So at this point, I assumed everything earlier must have been a misunderstanding until he put the tray on the table without looking or speaking to me and walked away?! After that, the man sat at the table on his phone and he would pace around the store back and forth. He even left the building a few times leaving me and my friends alone which I thought was odd. It just made the experience awkward because my friends and I got coffee with the intention of catching up with each other. I know it’s not a big deal but I am an anxious person and the whole experience made me sad and uncomfortable. I felt unwelcome and disappointed for spending my money and time to come to a place I suggested my friends and I go for it to be a bad experience. The service ruined my mood so I didn’t enjoy the moment with my friends and the man’s odd behavior as we were drinking our coffees and talking made us want to leave and cut our plans short. If it wasn’t for the other people sharing their similar experiences I would have chalked it up to a bad day, but reading these reviews made me realize it wasn’t just me. It always comes down to tipping(mind you it’s $10 for ONE COFFEE!!) and another reviewer described the man’s disrespectful and homophobic behavior, which was extremely unnecessary. Overall, as much as I wanted to like this establishment it is run by a rude, unwelcoming, and greedy man and people deserve to know that! I hope this and the other reviews written deter people from wasting their money on overpriced mediocre coffee from a man with a bad attitude! But at the very least I will make sure everyone I know does not waste their time at this unprofessional...

A SOLID 5 STAR! I don't know whether I should start talking about the exceptional customer service, what I ordered, or the relaxing atmosphere.

Perfect spot to study. Chairs are comfortable, and it wasn't busy when I came in! Everything flows together, from the honeycomb shelves to the paintings on the wall to the brown furniture and gold accents.

Customer service was PHENOMENAL. I asked for suggestions as this was my first time being here and ended up getting two of the most popular items. The man working here checks up on customers every once in a while, which I didn't expect--- safe to say I was impressed. When I ordered, he let me know just how many drinks he had to make before mine and gave me a time estimate. It's small things like that that make a great impression!

Anyway... here's what I got and here's what I thought!

Bab Al-Yemen Latte (iced) (5/5): Normally, I'm not a fan of coffee. But this coffee I am a huge fan of! It has that subtle sweetness that makes you want to KEEP drinking it.

Honeycomb bread (5/5): Another bestseller (and I totally get why)! The inside is filled with cream cheese and the top is drizzled with honey. The bread was surprisingly filling!

*The man working here when I came is named Bassam and he was...

I was among the first patrons when this establishment opened, so I'm well acquainted with the quality of its offerings. While not everything is consistently fresh and delicious, their drinks are unparalleled. However, I've recently been disappointed with the customer service, particularly the ladies at the register, who consistently try to close an hour early and insist on takeout only, undermining the appeal of dining in. Tonight, for instance, my family and I arrived at 9:05, nearly an hour before closing, only to be met by a lady absorbed in a phone call. After finally acknowledging us, she informed us it was takeout only, citing the need to clean and close despite visible empty, tidy seating. This isn't an isolated incident; it's the third time we've encountered such behavior from different servers. Friends have shared similar experiences, compounding the frustration. These ladies, without exception, lack basic courtesy and customer service skills, even when in a seemingly good mood. Given our acquaintance with the owner from the opening days, we're confident this isn't a practice he condones. We sincerely hope he addresses this issue promptly, replacing these unprofessional employees who are tarnishing the reputation of this...