Edmonton’s Yemeni coffee scene just got bigger.
Bon Arabica Cafe opened on Monday, Oct. 26, at Unit 2, 13750 50 Street NW in northeast Edmonton. It’s a family-run Yemeni coffee house serving qishr, spiced Adeni chai and shareable pots of coffee and tea, along with espresso drinks and sandwiches.
It’s arriving at a good time. Yemeni cafes have been catching on across North America, and Alberta has joined in.
Yemeni coffee is having a moment in Alberta
In Edmonton, Mokha Coffee House has been a north-side favourite in Griesbach since 2024, open until midnight most nights and later on weekends. It added a second location in Windermere so south-siders don’t have to cross the city.
In Calgary, Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co., the U.S. chain that has been opening cafes across America, chose Calgary for its first Canadian location and has since opened a second. It hasn’t come to Edmonton yet.
Part of the draw is the drinks. Part of it is the setting. Yemeni cafes have become popular alcohol-free places to sit for hours with friends, especially in the evening.
Bon Arabica gives northeast Edmonton a cafe like that of its own.
Edmonton’s cafe scene keeps growing
Edmonton’s coffee scene has been getting attention from beyond the city, too.
In September, John Cena stopped mid-Q&A at Edmonton Expo to praise two downtown cafes, Fawkes Café & Bakery and Credo Coffee on 104 Street, after both passed his famous flat white test.
Read more: John Cena Praises Two Edmonton Coffee Shops. Both Passed His Flat White Test
Bon Arabica serves a flat white too ($5.95), but it’s the Yemeni drinks that set it apart.
Bon Arabica’s Yemeni drinks
| Yemeni and traditional drinks | Price |
|---|---|
| Qishr | $5.50 |
| Yemeni London Fog | $6.50 |
| Turkish coffee, pot for two | $9.95 |
| Turkish coffee, pot for four | $16.95 |
| Yemeni tea, pot for four | $16.95 |
| Adeni chai, pot for four | $19.95 |
New to it? Here’s what you’re ordering:
Qishr is made from dried coffee cherry husks, not the beans, and is usually brewed with ginger and spices. It’s lighter and sweeter than regular coffee, without the bitter edge.
Yemeni qahwa is lightly roasted coffee spiced with cardamom, ginger and similar spices. It’s paler and more aromatic than a dark-roast drip.
Adeni chai, named for the port city of Aden, is strong black tea boiled with milk and warm spices like cardamom. It’s rich and sweet, and it’s made for sharing.
The pots are the move if you’re with friends or family. They’re meant to be poured out and passed around the table.
Espresso and cold drinks
| Coffee | Price |
|---|---|
| Americano | $4.95 |
| Cappuccino | $5.95 |
| Flat white | $5.95 |
| Latte | $6.50 |
| Mocha | $6.95 |
| Flavoured latte | $7.50 |
| Iced Spanish latte | $7.95 |
| Iced matcha latte | $8.95 |
| Iced tiramisu latte | $9.95 |
If you don’t want caffeine, try a hibiscus pomegranate or mango strawberry refresher ($6.50 each), a mango smoothie ($8.95), or an avocado cocktail ($16.50), the thick, sweet avocado drink popular across the Middle East.
Sandwiches and sides
Sandwiches are served daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in-store only.
| Sandwich | Price |
|---|---|
| Yemeni chicken sandwich | $16.95 |
| Guacamole and feta | $14.95 |
| Halloumi | $14.95 |
| Ciabatta labneh | $13.95 |
| Turkey melt | $13.95 |
There are also fries, potato wedges, onion rings and a house salad. For dessert, there’s a popcorn sandwich or a Ghazzli, both $10.
If you have allergies, check before ordering. Recipes can include nuts, dairy, gluten and spices.
Prices are from Bon Arabica’s online menu and may change.
Why Yemen and coffee go together
Every time you order a mocha, you’re naming a Yemeni port.
For centuries, the Red Sea port of Al-Makha, better known as Mocha, was the world’s main coffee market. Beans grown on terraced mountain farms in Yemen were shipped through Mocha to the Middle East, Europe and beyond, long before coffee was grown on a large scale in Latin America or Africa.
Bon Arabica leans into that history. Its website highlights Yemen’s mountain coffee farms and says the family behind the cafe has worked everywhere from a five-star kitchen in Beirut to a deli cafe in New York.
Where is Bon Arabica?
Bon Arabica Cafe
Unit 2, 13750 50 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5A 5J6
It’s in northeast Edmonton, near 137 Avenue and 50 Street.
Hours: During its soft opening, Bon Arabica is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Monday, Nov. 2. Regular hours haven’t been announced yet, so check before you go.
Phone: 587-453-4156
Website: bonarabicacafe.ca
Menu: bonarabicacafe.ca/menu
Instagram: @bonarabicacafe
Whether you want to try qishr for the first time or just need a good latte on the northeast side, Bon Arabica is worth a stop.
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