A Yemeni restaurant bringing signature dishes to the Renton area is set to open next month.
Cafe Yemen is scheduled to open in May at 2705 NE Sunset Boulevard in Renton. This is going in place of the old Pizza Hut and is right in the middle of the busy Renton suburb. It was started by Tawfik Maudah who is from Yemen and has owned restaurants in the past.
On the business’ Instagram, a post describes the food as “authentic Yemeni cuisine.” Tawfik wanted to start a restaurant serving food he grew up having in Yemen. It is mainly run by Tawfik and his family, including his wife who will make the signature bread, as well as his sister-in-law, brother-in-law and son.
“It’s like a second kitchen, second home,” Tawfik told What Now Seattle.
Cafe Yemen, previously called Marhaba, was originally going to open in April, per a report from Eater Seattle. The business posted two weeks ago that they are still in the inspection process. Once opened, it will be a full service restaurant with indoor dining.
Dishes that will be served include fresh bread made daily, fish, and arika, containing mashed and crumbled bread, honey and ghee. There will also be khubz mulawah, which is flatbread with a fava bean, tomato, onion, and chopped green chili soup.
According to Tawfik, this is one of the first Yemeni restaurants in the Seattle area. There is also Taste of Yemen which recently opened in Kent. Once Cafe Yemen received the permit, Tawfik and his staff went right to work on their family restaurant.
“Now we are almost done,” Tawfik said.
