Visit to Abu Naji
As a group, we decided to visit Abu Naji. It is a family-owned Yemeni restaurant located off Busch Blvd. in Tampa. — Joshua P.
First Steps
We decided to check out the restaurant in the afternoon, not knowing what would be in store for us. Because it was our first time going to a new cultural restaurant we were excited! However, when we got to the place we were confused... At first, we struggled to find the entrance, but we found a propped door that led to a dimly lit lobby. For a second, we thought,
"Are they closed?" (There was no one in the restaurant except for us at that moment)
"We are at the right place, right?"
Then, lo and behold, a man from the kitchen doors appeared and welcomed us in. Turns out, they were preparing for the big evening feast for Ramadan, which made sense to us after he told us...Like the empty restaurant during lunchtime couldn't be more obvious...
As we walked to our table, we saw a traditional Yemeni dining area nearby—patted carpet and cushioned seating. It reminded us of the same traditional seating that was in one of the food shows we watched. We noticed that the open wall was covered in greenery and two festive banners saying "RAMADAN MUBARAK" were hung. Our seating was more modern, but the overall vibe at the restaurant made it feel like we stepped into Yemen.
Now, we were ready to experience Yemeni cuisine for ourselves.
The Best Part…The Food!
Their menu had two sides: Traditional Yemeni dishes & American dishes.
I ordered the Whole Chicken Mandi, which was steaming and tender. Kody and Veda ordered the Lamb Haneeth, which they commented as being delicious.
Both dishes were served with buttered jasmine rice, cucumber salad, and sahawiq.
Before receiving our food, our waiter gave us spoons, forks, and knives that sat on a tray. Each of our dishes was brought out on square-shaped plates. Each plate had the steaming entrée sitting on top of a mountain of rice. We were all in shock at how much rice was on the plate.
Our orders became leftovers because of how much food we were served!
Sidenote: The Chicken Mandi and Lamb Haneeth are must-tries!
Staff Etiquette
One thing that stood out during our visit, apart from the food of course, was the service. Even though our waiter was busy preparing for the evening feast, he still checked on us continuously. Since we visited during Ramadan, we were the only customers there. We got to enjoy our food in peace and even had the chance to chat one-on-one with our waiter, which made our visit feel more intimate.
Q&A with Our Waiter
We had the opportunity of asking our waiter, Abdul, a few questions to get a feel of how his team presents culture through their food. His responses are in "quotes."
What unique spices and flavors define their cuisine?
“We cook our chicken on the rocks. So it gives a rocky-smoky flavor in our dishes, and then we get our seasoning from Saudi.”
Cooking over rocks and charcoal is a traditional cooking method in Yemeni cuisine. The smoky flavor really stood out in the Chicken Mendi.
What is the story behind their food—its origins and inspiration?
“It has been my dad’s dream to open a restaurant.”
From the moment we walked in, we could tell that this place was family-owned! The small space simply had the "family-owned" vibe. The menu—filled with Yemeni dishes—reflected his dad's dream of sharing Yemeni cuisine.
How does their food transcend borders and adapt to new cultures?
“We try to have Americans, non-Americans, Arabs, everyone try our food. It’s different, unique and they like it.”
Their menu does exactly that: it features traditional Yemeni dishes and American classics with a Yemeni-twist. This is perfect for people who might want something close to home but with a different taste.
Our Takeaways
Our restaurant visit felt like a trip to Yemen without physically visiting the country. The food didn't just nourish us, instead, it transported us.
We'd rate this restaurant a 10/10 and recommend it to anyone interested in trying Yemeni cuisine!
