New flavors and more

A friend texted me the other day and asked, “Have you tried the Yemeni place on 196th? I don’t think I have ever had Yemeni food.” That is a pretty typical exchange with folks in the area who have noticed the new restaurant that opened next to Pho 84, near Edmonds College.

The spot also attracted a bit more attention after the Seattle Times reviewed it in April. I, too, was determined to learn more about the cuisine and check out what all the buzz was about.

The Yemeni House in Lynnwood is the second location from owner Emad Quaifam, who began offering Yemeni dishes from a small café in Kent. This restaurant is open and casual, with logoed tablecloths and colorful lighting, and the service is kind and focused on the food.

The menu was somewhat familiar, with a Middle Eastern base, but sauces and styles that I had never seen before, with some Indian and Indonesian influences. You likely have already tried at least one Yemeni dish that has become quite popular across the country, shakshuka, the breakfast of eggs poached in a spicy tomato sauce.

I love shakshokah (the Yemeni spelling), and I was not disappointed by my first Yemeni dinner, as every dish was hearty, satisfying, and delicious.

Perusing the menu, we felt we had to try lamb dishes, since it is a traditional ingredient in the cuisine.  We tasted both the haneeth lamb ($28.99) and the lamb fahsah ($26.99), of course. These are very large dishes to share, and we went back and forth trying to decide which one we liked better.

The texture of the haneeth lamb was so delicate, but the sauce on the fahsah was out of this world. The dishes come with a set of condiments that pair perfectly with the haneeth preparation, from spicy to savory.

The saltah vegetables ($18.99) rounded out the table, but we realized we had ordered too much, especially when the cheese sahwek sauce ($8.99) arrived. Oh, and you can choose from rice or bread to accompany each meal, so we tried both. I loved the bread, but that rice was just perfect, and, well, good rice is really important.

We look forward to going back and trying more of the fish and vegetarian dishes, and I especially want to try the mandi, a very typical Yemeni dish of spiced chicken and rice, and the Yemeni Foul with fava beans.

This is a restaurant that cares about its food and, more importantly, about how you enjoy it. There is a pride that comes through how each dish is presented and served, with very generous portions and a desire for patrons to experience new flavors.

The Yemeni House Restaurant is at 6815 196th St., Lynnwood. More information.