Yemeni coffee shop Sana’a Cafe, based in San Francisco, is targeting multiple areas of Los Angeles County for growth this year. The brand, which currently has one local spot in Hollywood, will be unveiling its Westwood location by the end of the month, partner Sadeq Alaqel told What Now Los Angeles in a message.
The brand is also planning a spot at 1302 Pico Blvd in Santa Monica. Alaqel said that the Pico location is currently under construction with a targeted opening between late August and mid-September.
What Now Los Angeles recently reported that locations are planned in Long Beach and along Wilshire Boulevard, as well. Alaqel shared that the Long Beach location is in the permitting stages with construction still to come. The team is hoping to open that spot by the end of 2026. The Wilshire Boulevard location, which is a second-generation coffee shop space, will likely open sooner because it will require less buildout.
Alaqel said that the brand is seeking to continue to expand across Southern California. A location is currently open in Lake Forest, but more are in development in Orange County in Garden Grove and Corona.
“Our vision is to continue building Sana’a Café into the leading destination for premium Yemeni coffee, desserts and hospitality throughout Southern California,” Alaqel said. “Our strategy is to establish a strong network of locations across Los Angeles and Orange County while maintaining consistent quality, service and customer experience. We are focused on sustainable growth rather than rapid expansion, ensuring each new location is positioned for long-term success.”
Each new store will maintain the same central aesthetic seen across Sana’a locations, but Alaqel said that each location is designed with the specific neighborhood in mind.
Sana’a Cafe specializes in Yemeni coffee and aims to celebrate the long tradition of coffee in Yemeni culture. Menu offerings include classic espresso beverages, specialty offerings such as biscoff lattes and cinnamon dolce lattes and drinks such as qishr (a Yemeni coffee husk tea) and strawberry acai. Food items include pastries such as baklava, biscoff milk cake and turnovers.
The brand has most of its locations in Northern California, along with one out-of-state location open in Washington. The Sana’a Cafe team has plans to continue to expand across the state and is looking to start franchising Florida, Michigan, Texas and California in 2027, according to the San Francisco Business Times.
