11 June 5 -11, 2025 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Arabian Nights Out Thanks to collaboration from small business owners, the Arabian Village in Richardson has become a destination for Middle Eastern food, community and love. by simon pruitt W hen you walk into the courtyard of the Arabian Vil- lage shopping cen- ter, the first thing you notice is the hum. It’s a warm wall of sound made up of clattering plates, a trick- ling fountain, and the playful clamoring of children mixed with laughter and convers- ing adults. And then you notice the smell, hot tea steaming into the air, lamb and chicken fresh off the grill, pastries being bitten into and a potpourri of savory Middle Eastern spices underscoring it all. Most nights, it’s hard to find a seat, inside or outside, at this vibrant hideaway. Nestled on a corner in Richardson between Green- ville Avenue and Centennial Boulevard, the Arabian Village shopping center houses six Middle Eastern small businesses that stay open and busy well into the night. Arwa Yemeni Coffee is at its nucleus, both physically and metaphorically. The popular coffee and tea outpost opened when the shopping center was desolate and be- came the catalyst for revitalizing the area and creating an organic cultural haven. “You see a lot of Yemeni coffee shops in the area,” says Arwa owner Yazan Soofi. “But when we opened, we were the only ones.” He’s one of the shop’s four owners, along with his wife, Susan Shihab, his sister Nora, and her husband, Faris Almatrahi, who opened the shop in December 2022. Ethnically, all four are Yemeni, although Shihab was born in the U.S. The shop’s name is a tribute to Queen Arwa, the region’s first Islamic queen, who ruled between the 11th and 12th centuries. “We have your traditional coffee that you’ll find in any coffee shop,” Soofi says. “But then I also want you to experience some of Yemen. A huge thing about Yemen is that our hospitality is key. Your reputation in the community is how you welcome your guests.” Big shareable pots, inviting couches and a bustling social environment are as emblem- atic of the shop as the uniquely crafted drinks. Arwa’s signatures include the traditional Adeni tea, a perfected concoction of black tea, milk and spices named for Aden, a small port city in Yemen between the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. The shop’s most popular drink is served in individual cups or a pot for four. The traditional Jubani coffee is also a standout, a light black blend often subtly fla- vored with ginger, cinnamon and carda- mom. The Mofawar is a similar Yemeni coffee blend mixed with cardamom and cream. Keeping to tradition, whether in flavor or aesthetic, was a priority since the first time they opened Arwa’s doors. Part of | CITY OF ATE | t Dish In the patio space behindths six Middle Eastern businesses, landlords, restaurateurs and cafe workers enjoy a lovely evening in Richardson. Alison McLean >> p12
