Yafa Cafe

I love yafa! The food is always amazing and big portions. The owners are super friendly, thats why I keep coming back

Pretty tasty mediterranean spot in the Theatre Square district. It seems like they do most of their business for lunch or with the hookah fans, but I went for a late dinner on Saturday night and found it to be just what I wanted.
I ordered the veggie plate and an unsweet iced tea. Their hummus is good. The pita was served warm, which I usually prefer. The rice was very flavorful. I was a bit underwhelmed by the grape leaves, as they were pretty dry and didn’t have much spice/​flavor to them. Their falafel was above average. Small, rounded pieces of a moist chickpea mixture that was nicely flavored. Oh, and the tzatziki sauce was the biggest hit for me. It appeared to be freshly made with chunks of cucumber in it. I think I added it to almost everything on my plate! I asked to have extra salad in place of the babaganoush so I can’t speak to that dish.
I will be going back for a second trip soon.

I’ve been to a lot of hookah bars around town and this one always seems to disappoint me. Every time we go there is always one girl working the patio area. She is super friendly but she always seems like she needs more help. The hookah is good but the food was very disappointing. I would go here a lot over the summer because it was close by my apartment and it was in walking distance. I don’t like how they don’t have a liquor license. So you cannot order or bring any drinks. It’s good for a younger crowd who is of age to smoke hookah but not drink.

Absolutely one of my favorite places to eat! I eat here at least twice a week and I usually get the lamb plate with rice & the hot sauce is perfect! Service is fast and very very friendly. Cost is roughly 10 bucks a plate.

This place is a great place for a quick downtown lunch. Their beef shawarma portions are enough that I usually can eat it for dinner too. I also recommend the gyro, it is large and so flavorful. I dont like hookah so i can’t say anything about that.

Its my first time in Louisville and everytime I visit a new city I check out the hookah spots. The food here is amazing especially the hummus! And the hookah is reasonably priced but average compared to actual hookah lounges in terms of selection. But the food and service pushed it to 5 stars for me!!!

There is not a pleasant atmosphere in this place at all. The cashier was friendly and the hookah and food was affordable but certainly not memorable nor would I recommend it. There was no music and the chairs were uncomfortable. When I smoke hookah I want to be able to relax a little.

Why has it taken me so long to dine here!!! It’s a good thing that I don’t work downtown because I’d eat here everyday!
So far I’ve only tried the shawarma meals but I’ve been so happy with the chicken that I keep getting it. The chicken is always juicy and seasoned well. The hummus is my favorite and whatever type of jalapeño concoction they put on top of it. Seriously, the first time I went here, I went back up and ordered hummus to go so I could enjoy it later. I have no shame because once I got home I nibbled on it throughout the day and might’ve only saved the boyfriend a couple bites by the time he got home from work. Don’t judge me until you try it! :)

What makes this restaurant worth visiting: the food and the portions! The food tastes authentic and well-​made. Plus, the meals (called plates) come with a generous helping of sides. The felafel plate that I ordered came with a heaping spoonful of hummus, pita bread, a salad, and rice. The quantity and quality of food well exceeded my expectations, based on how cheap the meal was. Plus, this restaurant is very conveniently located near Fourth Street Live, close to parking and other shops worth checking out.
Room for improvement: The interior decorating leaves something to be desired. If you’re not looking for fine dining, however, it should be fine.

Locally owned and operated. The folks here are friendly and courteous.
I am a little bit in love with the Gyro Sandwich. Okay, I’m a lot in love with it. It’s packed with goodness and a hefty meal by itself.
Sexy Beast always orders the Chicken Shawarma Plate. It’s a huge meal, loaded with chicken, rice, salad, hummus, pita. It costs like $ 7 or $ 8 and could probably feed two people.
They offer hookahs here, too, if you’re into that. I don’t partake so I can’t really say much to help you.
The dining room can get a little crowded at lunch time.

Yafa Café is always a good lunch option when downtown.
Pros:
Decently priced for what you get. A chicken shawarma plate also includes hummus, pita and rice or baba ghanoush for under $ 10.
They’re fast with the orders.
Good customer service.
They have an outdoor seating area on Fourth Street.
Cons:
Seating can be limited during the winter.
I wish their dishes came with tahini sauce, like in other Mediterranean restaurants.
They also offer hookahs. I’ve sat next to some strange young people smoking hookahs in the middle of a weekday before.
I can’t think of a person who has been to Yafa who hasn’t wanted to go back. Give it a try.

I stay at the Brown Hotel often and when I’m in the Louisville area I love to hit this place for lunch. The chicken shawarma plate is a favorite of mine. The chicken is always nicely cooked and the hummus is great with the fresh pita they give you. Can’t beat what you get for the price!

When this venue first opened, I went there once, thought the hummus was far inferior to that of Safier which is right across the street, and resolved to never betray my beloved Safier again.
I thought, «How dare they go head to head with Safier?» and assumed they wouldn’t stay open more than a few months at best.
Well, they’ve been around for some time now, so they must be doing something right. When a friend invited me to lunch there recently, I decided I owed it to them to give them a second shot. I ordered the falafel sandwich and baklava for dessert. It was delicious. While prepared differently than the same item at Safier, the sandwich was equally delightful (and cheaper). The baklava was great too.
You might catch me there again soon.