Yafa Cafe — Restaurant in New York

TLDR: Good but pricey food, spacious with lots of seating, slow service.

We (party of two) arrived on a weekday for lunch, around 1:30-2pm. We placed our order at the counter. The cashier was polite. We ordered the chicken wrap and lamb sandwich. The total came out to be about 35 dollars which was quite steep by first impressions, but I held judgement until I actually saw the portion sizes. We sat in the back where there were alot of tables but tables were taken. It was also quite cold there with the AC blasting full on in people's faces, so we moved to the front which ended up being too warm. Weird.

After maybe 15-20 minutes the food came out. Everything was served on real plates and with real silverware. Ketchup and salt and pepper were available for self service near the counter. The food was pretty good and fresh. The lamb sandwich came on toasted bread and had plenty of meat. The lamb flavor was prominent. However, the sandwich was slightly on the dry side; any sauce that may (or may not) have been put on was definitely not enough to be apparent. The chicken wrap was also good, with many vegetables including peppers inside, but the meat itself was slightly dry. I did need to add salt to both sandwiches, and I normally never do at any restaurant, so take that with a grain of salt (pun intended). The fries on the side were fresh and crispy. Overall, good food. But honestly, for the price, it wasn't mind blowing.

If you're looking for a space with ample seating to get work done in a cafe setting, this is the spot. Maybe we missed out by not trying the coffee, but the...

Loved this place! The atmosphere is lovely, clean, and includes Yemenese touches like the art, photography, language, and of course, the menu. The menu had some ethnic drinks, I tried 2 of them - the Adeni and the Qishr - both delicious. To eat, I had Shakshuka, which I've been wanting to try because its the sort of thing I like, and it was delicious.

The staff were very friendly and were open to a conversation with me about the food and coffee. There's plenty of space; in the back there was a room that was quieter where people were working. So they offer something for everyone it seems! And the bathroom is clean!

I spent some time in the middle east so this was a nice place to go if you're missing that culture, but it also feels very Brooklyn! Like the interior, the menu style, they offer copies of the Brooklyn Rail zine, and the shakshuka was served with sourdough bread (delicious) instead of Arabic bread. I did see someone else eating Arabic bread so it might be an option for some dishes! It's a nice mix; a coffee shop that offers something specific and different....

After attending the pop-up with Akram Cooks, we decided to come back the next morning for breakfast at Yafa Café—and I’m so glad we did! My sister is actually a regular here, but this was my first proper visit. I usually stick to the typical pancakes, but I wanted something different, and Yafa’s menu did not disappoint.

The variety was so impressive that we honestly had a hard time deciding what to order—we almost got everything! Every single dish that came out was perfect to the tee: fresh, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. You could really taste the love and quality put into the food. I enjoyed every bite from start to finish.

The atmosphere is warm and inviting, the staff are friendly and attentive, and the overall vibe makes it the kind of place you can happily linger in. If I lived in New York, I could absolutely see myself becoming a regular here. Since I only visit once a year, I’ll be looking forward to making Yafa Café one of my...