Looking to uncover all that Dearborn has to offer? Get to know the city's northeast side by browsing its most popular local businesses, from a Yemeni coffee shop to Middle Eastern bakeries.
Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in northeast Dearborn, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of neighborhood businesses. Read on for the results.
1. Qahwah House
Topping the list is Qahwah House, a shop that specializes in high-quality coffee imported from Yemen. Located at 6655 Schaefer Road, it's the highest-rated business in northeast Dearborn, boasting five stars out of 60 reviews on Yelp.
Qahwah House was established last year by Ibrahim Alhasbani, who was born on a coffee farm in Yemen, NPR reports. The shop serves up caffeinated beverages like qishr made with coffee husk, ginger and cinnamon; Yemeni tea with cardamom and cloves; pour-over coffee; lattes and more. Pair your drink with a freshly baked chocolate croissant or sabaya — a flaky, layered Yemeni pastry drizzled in honey.
Take it from Yelper John Z., who reviewed the shop on July 17: "The place is clean and welcoming, and your senses are tantalized with the smell of coffee beans that are whole and being brewed. The owner's brother was very friendly and offered many suggestions ... This coffee is from Yemen (the birthplace of coffee), and the story behind it, as well as the Alhasbani family, are well worth the trip."
2. Masri Sweets
Next up is bakery Masri Sweets, situated at 5755 Schaefer Road. With 4.5 stars out of 98 reviews on Yelp, it's proven to be a local favorite.
At the bakery, you can find Middle Eastern treats like kanafeh (a warm cheese pastry in a sweet syrup), maamoul, barazik (sesame snaps) and baklava with walnuts or pistachios, along with European delicacies like macarons and petit fours.
Yelper Malissa M. wrote, "The best kanafeh in Dearborn! Love this place. The staff is the nicest and the shop itself is really clean. They have a large collection of sweets and a few bigger cakes if you're celebrating a birthday or something!"
3. Lebon Sweets
Lebon Sweets is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the business five stars out of 25 reviews. Located at 13743 W. Warren Ave., the Lebanese bakery also has outposts in Sterling Heights and Dearborn Heights.
An array of freshly baked items are on offer, including baloureye (shredded phyllo dough lightly baked and stuffed with whole pistachios then soaked in syrup) and shibeyat (ashta cream wrapped in phyllo). But a visit wouldn't be complete without trying the CheeseDome — a sesame roll filled with layers of sweet melted cheese.
Yelper Jonathan M. wrote, "Do you want to feel like you're in Lebanon? Not in the mood to take that long ride from the United States to the motherland, but you still want to eat good? Well this is the place to be. Lebanese sweets all over and they're so flavorful and delicious."
4. Rafic's Falafel
Lebanese eatery Rafic's Falafel has developed a local fan base with Yelpers praising its Middle Eastern fare and its crispy fried chicken.
The popular falafel is cooked to order and served with vegetables and tahini, as part of a platter or in a pita sandwich. Shish kebab, shawarma, shish kafta, wraps and more are also on offer. Located at 6905 Schaefer Road, it has four stars out of 74 reviews on Yelp.
Silvia C., who reviewed it on Yelp earlier this year, had high praise for the restaurant: "Really yummy falafel. So fresh and delicious, made to order, you will definitely become a fan when you try it. I love the fact that the falafel is made to order to ensure it's always fresh and crispy."
5. Al Saha
And then there's Al Saha, a local favorite with four stars out of 43 reviews on Yelp. Stop by 14246 W. Warren to hit up the Middle Eastern restaurant next time you're in the neighborhood. It features an extensive menu with traditional favorites, vegetarian dishes and seafood.
Standout offerings include the stuffed lamb, whole white fish with tomato sauce, shrimp sayadieh and the Al Saha platter with tawook, kebab, kafta, meat and chicken shawarma, boneless chicken, falafel and salad. Fresh raw juices and breakfast fare are also available.
"My favorite Middle Eastern restaurant in east Dearborn and probably all of America. Not only are they very clean but their food is great!" wrote Yelper Fadia S.
