Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 5:44 am Post subject: YEMEN DINING : Dining in Yemen Guide
YEMEN DINING:Dining in Yemen Guide
Food & Mealtime Etiquette
Generally speaking, the noontime meal is the largest and most important of the day. Breakfasts and dinners tend to be smaller and less elaborate than the typical lunch. In most major cities, you will find Yemeni, Arab, and “Western- style” restaurants at different levels of price and quality.
Restaurants tend to be most crowded during lunch, or from about 11:30 am to 1:30 pm Most establishments close for the afternoon, reopening at 5:00 and serving dinner until approximately 10:00 pm. All but the most expensive restaurants insist on cash payment, though even in hotels you will want to pay in cash as the exchange rate on credit cards is extremely unfavorable to foreigners.
Before sitting down to a table, it is customary in Yemen to first wash your hands, and sinks are provided for this purpose in every restaurant. One always eats with the right hand, as the left hand (reserved for washing oneself is considered unclean). This custom takes on added importance in Yemen, since in most restaurants food is taken without eating utensils, although they are generally available. The same table manners you would practice at home are generally applicable in Yemen as well: blowing one's nose, loud speech, or belching during a meal are all considered impolite. In Sana'a, there are several famous and popular dishes you will want to try. Salta is a meat or chicken broth with vegetables served in a superheated stone bowl, and eaten with a special flat, flaky bread. There are numerous types of Salta available, and some restaurants, as you will discover, are more popular than others for their particular recipe. Other typical dishes include fuul (a mixture of beans, uncooked vegetables, and oil), grilled or broiled chicken, grilled fresh fish, fried eggplant, rice, yogurt, various types of salads, okra, and ground chick pea paste, known as hummus.
Gastronomic
Restaurants: Although Sana’a is not the hotspot for restaurants there are a few nice places that could keep you happy.
Villa di Angelo:An Italian style restaurant (with cutlery) that also offers Chinese/Indian food. The Restaurant is towards the end of Hadda Road, in the direction of Hadda, at the left side of the street, just a few hundred meters before Sam Suites. They are willing to open your wine bottle and provide you with adequate glasses. Their food is generally good, but don’t expect your salad to come with the main course. You will have to finish the salad before the main meal is served. They also deliver food to your house upon request.
Waleema Restaurant:Next door to Villa di Angelo is Waleema, they offer good Lebanese food. Most people will use it as a take away throughout the year. In Ramadan a tent will be put up to receive guests for Iftar (breaking of the fast at sun set) and you might visit them more than once at that time. Ask for a sheisha (waterpipe) after your meal to complete the feeling of joy for being in Yemen.
Koreana Restaurant: Follow the signs on Iran street (previously 24th street). Not many foreigners visit this restaurant anymore as the food seems to be pretty bad these days. Ask around with other people on the current state of the food.
Beijing Restaurant: Situated in the area between Sixty Meter and Hadda Road. They offer Chinese food and no atmosphere. If you are sensitive to it you might fall ill afterwards due to the taste enhancer (MSG) used, but the food is surely tasty.
Al Shaibani: The Yemeni experience to go for with your guests and kids. A noisy and busy place, that does not require you to dress up. Just go there in your casual wear and dig your hands in the food as the Yemenis do. Super for the little kids because the food comes fast and you can eat with all tens. No menu available, just ask for the usual stuff: Marg (broth), samak (fish), fool (made of a special type of brown beans), fasoolia (baked white beans) sahawak (tomato/vegetable paste), lahm (boiled lamb) and tea. There are three Shaibanis on Hadda road. The first two have clear signs on their elevation, but the third, the old Shaibani is a little further North, after the intersection with Mogadishu Street, and is not so clearly visible. See which one you like best. If you don’t feel like sitting in the busy crowd it is best to go there at approx. 6 in the evening when business slows down a bit for prayer time or take a table in the family room, behind the separation. Take a look in the kitchen if you feel like and [spam word detected] about the huge fires.
The Ethiopian restaurant: A bit outside the Hadda area is the Ethiopian restaurant. The quality of the food is good, but the atmosphere you must bring yourself. No need to dress up. At the end of Hadda Road towards the city you will have to cross Zubairy and go opposite into Al Qaa, the former Jewish quarter. Continue the road until the road blocks tell you to turn right. Follow that road again and you will find the wall of the Chinese Embassy at your right and the small Ethiopian restaurant at the left. For recognition: You are close to the Teleyemen office. At the back of the restaurant (just before the kitchen, better not to look in there if you do not want your appetite to be spoilt) you can sit at the Ethiopian tables and small three-legged stools. Ask for the traditional food and order the coffee straight away. The coffee is prepared the traditional way and that takes a while. By the way, we never had any stomach complaints after eating there so enjoy!!
Al Mankal: A restaurant with al kinds of Arab/Lebanese food of good quality. A quiet place with separate tables. Situated just off Algiers street on Amman Street, at the right side in the direction of Zubairy.
Indonesian Restaurants: Recently a number of Indonesian restaurants opened their doors. One is on 24th (Iran) Street, another is opposite the Yemen German hospital (Formerly King Food). I never heard anything about them. The one on 24th Street allows you to take your own (alcoholic) drinks with you. The atmosphere seems to be good there.
Take away and fast food: In Sana’a a number of fast food chains have popped up in recent years.
Funny Bunny: A hamburger restaurant that was the place for children’s parties for a while. Their quality, within the range of fast food, is fairly good. It was said previously that they were seeking a licence from McDonalds, but nothing of the kind developed, or they got scared by the political situation. They are situated left of Hadda Road, in the direction of the city, between the 60 mtr Road and Djibouti Street.
Pizza Hut: On the corner of the old Airport Road and Djibouti street, close to the stadium. They offer the well-known pizza’s. Some gossip always goes round about the quality of the pizza’s and the ingredients used, but everybody continues going there so it might not be that bad.
Kentucky Fried Chicken: Another famous chain. Currently the place for children’s birthday parties. They have a separate room for parties, and an indoor and outdoor playground. The indoor playground is not well kept and thus dirty, as some children complained. You will find them off Hadda Road, on Djibouti Street in the direction of the Old Airport Road.
Catering: Catering is usually done by the hotels in Sana’a: Taj Sheba (tel: 272372) Sheraton (tel:237500) and Shahran (tel:418320/1/2), with the first one being the most professional and experienced. Each of them offers a different package of food and (soft) drinks for different prizes. Send them a mail or fax with the number of people you are expecting and ask them for their offer. Take care that they reach in time so chase them a bit. The Sheraton also does a good job, but we see them around less and less. The Shahran is the least of the three with the quality of their food not always what you expect. Too many deep-fried snacks and sometimes cold when served. Their personnel should get some more training.
The Villa di Angelo Restaurant (tel:412581) is also willing to cater for your parties via their YCS (Yemen Catering Services).
Some other restaurants will also cater upon request, so it is wise to ask them if you fancy their food.
Thank you for the article and information. It's very useful!! I'm planning to move to Yemen soon and I had little idea on entertainment, dining and shopping. Thanks!! _________________ Luckycat
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