After seeing the favorable reviews, I thought I would give this place a try. It is in my neighborhood and I've been wanting to try new places that I haven't been to before. I went in with a friend on a Tuesday night. Upon entering, we both thought the place did not have any food smell, but smelled of cigarette smoke. After standing awkwardly for a moment, a woman came to ask what we wanted. Puzzled, we replied that we'd like to see a menu and have dinner. She said they were only offering lamb and rice. Being vegetarians, this was not an option. Sadly, we left and went to another nearby establishment.
(2)
Mo A.
i love the food here. i forget the name of the dish, but it is very similar to desi biryani (meat and yellow rice). i recommend this restaurant. alhamdulilah, the food and yemeni people in general, have always been great to me.
(5)
Hanan A.
Delicious food however it took a long time to arrive and we only ordered foul and shakshouka!
(4)
Mohammed M.
Had the lamb broth for appetizer along with okra, lamb mandi for the main course and mangoe shake for dessert. The food was flavorful and on point, best mandi.
(5)
Deanna R.
The lamb is phenomenal.
(4)
Lissa B.
The specialties of Yemen Restaurant are chicken mandi and lamb mandi. The lamb mandi was excellent. The kind Yemeni chef will take requests though and kindly made chicken ogda for me as that's one of my favorites. They didn't have the traditional black clay pots that ogda or salta are cooked in, but it was still good. Hopefully they will get the black pots soon. The maraq lamb broth soup, always served at the beginning of meals in Yemen, tasted just as it should. The sahawiq sauce was very spicy and the salad was simple as it should be. They do not have a bread oven so no fresh bread at this location and they just served bread that seemed to be the packaged kind. The portions were huge and it was a great meal. $25 for 3 people. For more information about Yemeni food, please visit here: yemenfood.blogspot.com/p… This is a great place with delicious food for a good price. The staff were very kind and everything was great. I definitely recommend this place for trying something new!
(5)
Christian A.
I went to Yemen for the first time with a friend from Ohio and his Arabian friend who recommended this place. This place is downright the worst experience I've had a restaurant in my life. DONT GO! When we sat down, the only person attending was the cook who spoke no English so our Arab friend interpreted for us. All he asked was if we liked Lamb, he gave us NO MENU WHATSOVER. We said yes, and then he brought us a salad, soup, and later the main dish. The salad was mediocre, the soup was ok but definitely not to die for. Then the main dish was some lamb with no seasoning and a huge portion of poorly made rice. It seemed as if he just boiled the lamb in water. No flavor whatsoever. It didnt even look appealing to eat. After the meal was over, the cook charged us each $16 (individually). Actually, about $18 after taxes! I'm a college student so if I'm paying $18, I better be eating a pretty good meal. Not so in this case. It pained me to throw away my money on this poorly made cuisine. I know I can eat a delicious steak at a Colombian restaurant for $15, so this definitely is NOT worth it. And just for kicks, I got stung by a wasp inside the restaurant!! I will never go back there again! Stay away or you'll be sorry!!!!
(1)
AB A.
I went two times to it. I like it. I ordered "Zerbian Lamb" Baryani. and Mandi chicken. which was the best.
(5)
H A.
I've eaten from there so many times, and I keep coming back for more. This place offers great ethnic Yemeni food. The food is always fresh and tasteful. The people there are always friendly. Highly recommended. If you like seafood, try their fish- call ahead because this dish takes 15 mins I think.
(5)
Wal M.
As "Christian A" mentioned, no menu, no receipt while checking out, a dishonest cashier......etc. The food was average. Getting charged thirty dollars for a big bowl of rice is no fun !!! I hope the people running this restaurant know this country has an efficient online rating system that determines their growth!
(1)
Ebrahim A.
finally i got good male in usa . it was very good . marag laham exellant . mandi laham was delicious.
(5)
Daniel H.
This is a fascinating little place. Until now, the vast majority of the Middle Eastern food I've had has been Levantine (look it up if you don't know what that means), I've had food from Iraq too, and it's really not all that much different from Levantine places. I have never had food from the lower Arabian peninsula, which is obviously where Yemen is. I found so many noticeable similarities between Somali and South Asian food, which makes sense given the historical trade routes between the regions, i.e. the Yemeni island Socotra is a Sanksrit name. Anyway, enough of the History and Anthropology... Food Their biryani reminded me of what you get at Somali and (surprisingly) Afghan places: delicately seasoned with a hint of sweetness along with a huge hunk of meat on top. Don't get me wrong - I love my desi brethren and sistren, but it's sometimes nice to have biryani that doesn't smack you upside the head with spice! The menu has little diversity, but what is there is cooked well. Though you'll have to eat around a fair amount of bone and gristle (don't be surprised - you're at an "ethnic" place), the lamb shanks are very tender and flavorful. They had a lamb and bean dish ( variation of ful medammis?) that I have never seen before, and was basically a red bean stew cooked with chunks of lamb. It was executed well. There were some more Levantine items on the menu, i.e. falafel, hummus, Jerusalem salad, etc. I couldn't tell whether these have become incorporated into Yemeni cuisine over time or are just offered because more folks in the US will be familiar with them. In any event, the hummus was top notch, and I'm a hummus snob to be sure. We also had this cucumber yogurt salad appetizer that was like a cross between raita and tzadziki; it was amazing and added a cool richness to everything on the table. They also had some interesting beverages, a spiced lemon-lime drink they called "lemonade," and a few unusual types of teas. All in all I was impressed by the food. Interestingly, this is the only Middle Eastern place in the area that I know of that's open for breakfast, so I might just have to hop over there to see how they serve up their eggs and falafel in the AM. Ambience The interior was surprisingly neat and clean; actually, it looks quite nice. They just opened and obviously spent a little time thinking about or at least painting the place up. It looks good. Black and white Arabic (Yemeni?) movies play on a TV and there are some nice pictures of Yemen on the walls. The only flaw was that the smoke detector needed a battery so we had to deal with regular chirping every minute or so. Meh, I've certainly eaten in more trying locations during my travels. Service The place was empty save for a group of Yemeni guys hanging outside. The one waitress was very nice; she explained what the menu items were, which was actually quite necessary given that the many of the English entree descriptions are "chicken and rice," "meat and rice," etc. She brought our food quickly, put pitchers of water on the tables and basically left us alone. No complaints.
(5)
Leyla A.
Straight from the heart of the Arabian Peninsula, to your Midwestern Chicago palate in Mayfair. This is not your typical Kedzie Avenue Kebab Shop. We are talking Mansif, slowly roasted lamb shank, served with delicious lamb broth soup, steamed basmati rice with exotic Arabian spices, tomato cucumber salad, and amazing hot sauce. You are encouraged to eat with your right hand, sans utensils, the way they do it in San'aa. Top all that fine dining off with Cardamom spiked tea, and Arabian TV!
(5)
Ala' E.
Amazing food . One of the best lamb with rice I have ever had in a looong time. I wish they open one here in Dallas... I am already in love with this restaurant...
(5)
Diana R.
I wouldn't go there again even if I were starving. Vegetarians can order rice and hummus. The hummus is watery and flavorless; the rice is very oily.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
Kimba M.
After seeing the favorable reviews, I thought I would give this place a try. It is in my neighborhood and I've been wanting to try new places that I haven't been to before. I went in with a friend on a Tuesday night. Upon entering, we both thought the place did not have any food smell, but smelled of cigarette smoke. After standing awkwardly for a moment, a woman came to ask what we wanted. Puzzled, we replied that we'd like to see a menu and have dinner. She said they were only offering lamb and rice. Being vegetarians, this was not an option. Sadly, we left and went to another nearby establishment.
(2)Mo A.
i love the food here. i forget the name of the dish, but it is very similar to desi biryani (meat and yellow rice). i recommend this restaurant. alhamdulilah, the food and yemeni people in general, have always been great to me.
(5)Hanan A.
Delicious food however it took a long time to arrive and we only ordered foul and shakshouka!
(4)Mohammed M.
Had the lamb broth for appetizer along with okra, lamb mandi for the main course and mangoe shake for dessert. The food was flavorful and on point, best mandi.
(5)Deanna R.
The lamb is phenomenal.
(4)Lissa B.
The specialties of Yemen Restaurant are chicken mandi and lamb mandi. The lamb mandi was excellent. The kind Yemeni chef will take requests though and kindly made chicken ogda for me as that's one of my favorites. They didn't have the traditional black clay pots that ogda or salta are cooked in, but it was still good. Hopefully they will get the black pots soon. The maraq lamb broth soup, always served at the beginning of meals in Yemen, tasted just as it should. The sahawiq sauce was very spicy and the salad was simple as it should be. They do not have a bread oven so no fresh bread at this location and they just served bread that seemed to be the packaged kind. The portions were huge and it was a great meal. $25 for 3 people. For more information about Yemeni food, please visit here: yemenfood.blogspot.com/p… This is a great place with delicious food for a good price. The staff were very kind and everything was great. I definitely recommend this place for trying something new!
(5)Christian A.
I went to Yemen for the first time with a friend from Ohio and his Arabian friend who recommended this place. This place is downright the worst experience I've had a restaurant in my life. DONT GO! When we sat down, the only person attending was the cook who spoke no English so our Arab friend interpreted for us. All he asked was if we liked Lamb, he gave us NO MENU WHATSOVER. We said yes, and then he brought us a salad, soup, and later the main dish. The salad was mediocre, the soup was ok but definitely not to die for. Then the main dish was some lamb with no seasoning and a huge portion of poorly made rice. It seemed as if he just boiled the lamb in water. No flavor whatsoever. It didnt even look appealing to eat. After the meal was over, the cook charged us each $16 (individually). Actually, about $18 after taxes! I'm a college student so if I'm paying $18, I better be eating a pretty good meal. Not so in this case. It pained me to throw away my money on this poorly made cuisine. I know I can eat a delicious steak at a Colombian restaurant for $15, so this definitely is NOT worth it. And just for kicks, I got stung by a wasp inside the restaurant!! I will never go back there again! Stay away or you'll be sorry!!!!
(1)AB A.
I went two times to it. I like it. I ordered "Zerbian Lamb" Baryani. and Mandi chicken. which was the best.
(5)H A.
I've eaten from there so many times, and I keep coming back for more. This place offers great ethnic Yemeni food. The food is always fresh and tasteful. The people there are always friendly. Highly recommended. If you like seafood, try their fish- call ahead because this dish takes 15 mins I think.
(5)Wal M.
As "Christian A" mentioned, no menu, no receipt while checking out, a dishonest cashier......etc. The food was average. Getting charged thirty dollars for a big bowl of rice is no fun !!! I hope the people running this restaurant know this country has an efficient online rating system that determines their growth!
(1)Ebrahim A.
finally i got good male in usa . it was very good . marag laham exellant . mandi laham was delicious.
(5)Daniel H.
This is a fascinating little place. Until now, the vast majority of the Middle Eastern food I've had has been Levantine (look it up if you don't know what that means), I've had food from Iraq too, and it's really not all that much different from Levantine places. I have never had food from the lower Arabian peninsula, which is obviously where Yemen is. I found so many noticeable similarities between Somali and South Asian food, which makes sense given the historical trade routes between the regions, i.e. the Yemeni island Socotra is a Sanksrit name. Anyway, enough of the History and Anthropology... Food Their biryani reminded me of what you get at Somali and (surprisingly) Afghan places: delicately seasoned with a hint of sweetness along with a huge hunk of meat on top. Don't get me wrong - I love my desi brethren and sistren, but it's sometimes nice to have biryani that doesn't smack you upside the head with spice! The menu has little diversity, but what is there is cooked well. Though you'll have to eat around a fair amount of bone and gristle (don't be surprised - you're at an "ethnic" place), the lamb shanks are very tender and flavorful. They had a lamb and bean dish ( variation of ful medammis?) that I have never seen before, and was basically a red bean stew cooked with chunks of lamb. It was executed well. There were some more Levantine items on the menu, i.e. falafel, hummus, Jerusalem salad, etc. I couldn't tell whether these have become incorporated into Yemeni cuisine over time or are just offered because more folks in the US will be familiar with them. In any event, the hummus was top notch, and I'm a hummus snob to be sure. We also had this cucumber yogurt salad appetizer that was like a cross between raita and tzadziki; it was amazing and added a cool richness to everything on the table. They also had some interesting beverages, a spiced lemon-lime drink they called "lemonade," and a few unusual types of teas. All in all I was impressed by the food. Interestingly, this is the only Middle Eastern place in the area that I know of that's open for breakfast, so I might just have to hop over there to see how they serve up their eggs and falafel in the AM. Ambience The interior was surprisingly neat and clean; actually, it looks quite nice. They just opened and obviously spent a little time thinking about or at least painting the place up. It looks good. Black and white Arabic (Yemeni?) movies play on a TV and there are some nice pictures of Yemen on the walls. The only flaw was that the smoke detector needed a battery so we had to deal with regular chirping every minute or so. Meh, I've certainly eaten in more trying locations during my travels. Service The place was empty save for a group of Yemeni guys hanging outside. The one waitress was very nice; she explained what the menu items were, which was actually quite necessary given that the many of the English entree descriptions are "chicken and rice," "meat and rice," etc. She brought our food quickly, put pitchers of water on the tables and basically left us alone. No complaints.
(5)Leyla A.
Straight from the heart of the Arabian Peninsula, to your Midwestern Chicago palate in Mayfair. This is not your typical Kedzie Avenue Kebab Shop. We are talking Mansif, slowly roasted lamb shank, served with delicious lamb broth soup, steamed basmati rice with exotic Arabian spices, tomato cucumber salad, and amazing hot sauce. You are encouraged to eat with your right hand, sans utensils, the way they do it in San'aa. Top all that fine dining off with Cardamom spiked tea, and Arabian TV!
(5)Ala' E.
Amazing food . One of the best lamb with rice I have ever had in a looong time. I wish they open one here in Dallas... I am already in love with this restaurant...
(5)Diana R.
I wouldn't go there again even if I were starving. Vegetarians can order rice and hummus. The hummus is watery and flavorless; the rice is very oily.
(1)