Garage-like doors open up to the smell of coffee wafting through the air. As you follow the scent you find yourself in the bright and airy cafe, Qahwah House. The cafe has over twenty locations and two in Illinois: one in Lombard and another in Skokie that opened up in 2023. The cafe is a family business spanning back eight generations, with the goal of sharing their Yemeni culture with the community.
Qahwah House wants its customers to feel comfortable at their cafe. Frequent customer Ayla Ademi is proof the establishment is achieving their goal.
“My favorite part about this place is the aura of it. It’s so warm and welcoming. I also love coffee so it feels like the perfect place for me and my friends to go,” Ademi said.
Many found their way to this cafe through social media.
“I learned about this place from social media. I liked that it was Muslim owned and every time I walk into it I feel a sense of community. It’s a nice place to sit down, study and hang out with your friends,” customer Asmaa Khan said.
A sense of community is a common sentiment many customers feel when going to Qahwah House.
“I think it was just the ambiance and the community. A lot of my friends were going and I like their menu too. They had a lot of cool flavors and coffees and teas, so I wanted to try it out. I see a lot of my community here, and people with their families, and so it just makes me feel like home,” customer Manal Amjad said.
The cafe is elegantly lit with tables to the left of the room. On the wall, there is a map titled “Historic Distribution of Coffee Arabica” that illustrates the trade of coffee from Yemen. The right of the shop holds the counter where customers order from a bevy of drinks and pastries.
I bought three items off of the menu. I tried to get items that would encapsulate all categories of the menu. I also tried to maintain the same price of $7.30 to see if all parts of the menu gave you a bang for your buck. The first was the adeni chai, which fulfilled their hot drinks section. Next, I got the iced mocha latte with strawberries for the cold section. Lastly, I got the chocolate secret cake for dessert.
Starting with the chai was a great idea since it warmed me right up. It was nice and hot with undertones of herbs. It was sweet yet so rich, and I would give it a 4.7 out of 5 stars. The mocha was smooth and refreshing. The strawberries at the end made for a nice and tasty snack. The combination of textures and contrasting tastes gives this a 4.5/5. Finally, for the cake, I was worried that it would be too thick and overwhelming since there were no other flavors listed in the cake. I was surprised at how light and buttery it was. There was a thin, crunchy layer to it, which I assume was the surprise. My rating is 4.7/5.
The prices at Qawah House are fair and worth it. The food felt heartfelt, as if whoever was making the items cared about the customer receiving it. Altogether I would give this cafe 4.7/5 stars. If you wish to try some great food visit 5238 W Touhy Ave, Skokie, 60077.
