New York: Queen Sheeba

I've been to Queen Sheeba in Harlem twice now, once for breakfast and once for dinner.  It's the only Yemeni restaurant in Harlem and pretty decent.  However, they do not make fresh bread here and you have to come around 6pm or call ahead to make sure there will be lamb dishes available.  We went around 8pm on a Friday and all the lamb was finished.  We tried lamb sughar, which are lamb chunks, and it wasn't bad.  We also got salta and it was good here.  The sahawiq is particularly spicy.

When I came for breakfast last year, it was good with fasolia, eggs, and meat.  No fresh bread but it hit the spot.

Queen Sheeba

317 W 141st St

(between Edgecombe Ave & 8th Ave)

New York, NY 10030

Neighborhood: Harlem

+1 (212) 862-6149

Home-cooked Yemeni Lunch

Not in a restaurant, but at the home of some of my Yemeni friends.  It was my first time to try the chicken version of salta.  We also had traditional chicken and rice.  Delicious!  

New York: Yemen Cafe (Matam Al Yemen Al Saeed) on Atlantic Avenue

It's the consensus among my Yemeni friends that Yemen Cafe (Matam Al Yemen Al Saeed) on Atlantic Avenue is the best Yemeni restaurant in NYC.  The food was good, but still not as good as in the Middle East.  In addition, the staff were a bit rude and the prices are very high.

We tried their maraq soup, ogda, salta, and lamb haneeth.  The first time we ordered the chicken ogda, it just came out on a plate and not in the traditional Yemeni black pot.  Thus, it got cold very quickly and it wasn't much of a stew.  The next time we were more specific and it came out right.

I think you really need to be with a Yemeni friend at this place to get the good food and service.  I won't be back for a while since there are so many other Yemeni restaurants in NYC to check out.

Source: TripAdvisor

Yemen Cafe

176 Atlantic Ave

(between Court St & Clinton St)

Brooklyn, NY 11201

Neighborhood: Cobble Hill

(718) 834-9533

yemencafe.com