This post was updated Oct. 13 at 11:48 a.m.
With cardamom-infused coffee and Biscoff lattes, Sana’a Cafe gives Westwood’s coffee scene a welcome dose of variety.
Sana’a Cafe, a Yemeni coffee chain with 19 locations across California and Washington, welcomed customers for its highly anticipated Westwood soft opening Oct. 5. Located at 939 Broxton Ave., the shop serves Yemeni coffee and other specialty drinks, such as Adeni chai and housemade Middle Eastern pastries. Sana’a Cafe is a much-needed addition to Westwood, where potent, high-quality coffee and comfortable study spots can be surprisingly hard to find. Although its drinks aren’t cheap, they’re priced competitively with nearby spots like Alfred Coffee, and Sana’a Cafe’s vast menu ensures that coffee adventurers and traditionalists alike can find something tasty.
Despite its understated recent soft opening, the cafe was already full of patrons working on laptops and socializing over lattes and shawarmas. Still, the space didn’t feel crowded, and its volume remained at a comfortable level for both relaxation and productivity.
Sana’a Cafe had two self-order kiosks and a fully staffed register with several baristas behind the counter. An order placed at 6:24 p.m. was ready within five minutes.
In the middle of a Los Angeles heat wave, the iced Sanaani offered a refreshing way to try the traditional Yemeni brew, which is typically served hot. Made with medium-roast coffee and cardamom, the drink had a slight bitterness that gave it a similar impression to a darker roast. The drink was ordered at the lowest sweetness level, a welcome, equally flavorful option for anyone who prefers their coffee less sugary.
[Related: Sana’a Cafe brings Yemeni-inspired drinks, pastries to Westwood]
Potent but crisp and cooling, the Sanaani tasted like a more complex version of an Americano, with a subtle punch of cardamom rounding out its clean, full-bodied coffee flavor. While $5.99 would have felt steep for a standard iced coffee, the price seemed reasonable for a specialty beverage.
The iced Adeni chai provided a different take on a familiar drink. Unlike the sweet, cinnamon- and ginger-forward masala chai lattes at Westwood cafes like Starbucks and Alfred Coffee, Sana’a Cafe’s chai let the black tea shine, with the cardamom lending a subtle warmth. A splash of cream gave the drink a warm caramel color and opacity while still keeping it light and refreshing. The chai was ordered at the lowest sweetness level, though the $5.99 drink could have used an extra pump of syrup to balance the tea’s peppery dryness.
Sana’a Cafe also sells milk cakes – soft sponge soaked in sweet milk and topped with creamy frosting similar to Latin American tres leches – for $8.59 in a variety of common Middle Eastern flavors, including saffron, pistachio and rose. The rose cake was fluffy and tender, and the fragrant milk added a velvety, decadent texture. However, the rose flavor was muted and felt more like a whisper of floral notes, disappointing given its bright pink color.
While the milk cake left something to be desired, the Square Pistachio Baklava delivered sweet satisfaction. The pastry was only an inch wide but just as rich as a Double Chocolate cookie from Diddy Riese. Chilled from the refrigerated case and sticky at the bottom with sugary syrup, the small square was pleasantly sweet and crunchy from the nuts and flaky pastry on top. Its pistachio flavor paired nicely with coffee. Priced at $3.49, the baklava was a tiny but effective solution to a studying student’s inevitable sweet treat craving.
Sana’a Cafe’s website emphasized its “Levantine Hospitality,” a promise that felt reflected in the cafe’s laid-back atmosphere and kind service. The spacious and comfortable seating made the space inviting for both studying and socializing, while the staff was friendly and efficient. Although drinks were available in paper and plastic takeout cups, customers could also order mugs or entire pots of coffee and tea to enjoy at their table, encouraging a more leisurely sipping experience. Sana’a Cafe felt like a place to unwind and stay awhile, crafting a setting Westwood’s coffee scene lacks – especially with the cafe’s large seating capacity.
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With its grand opening set for Oct. 15 and a seasonal fall menu currently available, Sana’a Cafe brings something distinct to Westwood’s coffee scene through its Yemeni brews, specialty drinks and serene atmosphere conducive to productivity.
Fair prices and a convenient location to campus make Sana’a Cafe an appealing spot for Bruins to enjoy rich Middle Eastern flavors and settle in for a study session.
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