Travel Muse Magazine

Are you tired of your usual spots around Ann Arbor and looking for a new place to enjoy? I’m constantly on the lookout for new cafes within walking distance of UMich’s campus, especially if coffee, tea, or sweet treat is involved. Enter, Bun Chai Yemeni Coffee and Tea, which opened this fall on State Street. 

I felt a sense of calmness wash over me as I walked in thanks to the serene setting– hues of gold, cream, and peacock blue filled the space, and everything felt pristinely clean, to the point that the granite counter and tabletops appeared to sparkle. Along the walls, carvings of mountain ranges reminiscent of Middle Eastern terrain were backlit with a warm glow. An instrumental cover of “You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt played quietly from the speakers, and a faint, flowery scent hung in the air around me. The interior was spot-on for a sophisticated, yet relaxed atmosphere. 

Bun Chai specializes in Yemeni items, with many of their ingredients imported from Yemen, a feature that differentiates it from other Ann Arbor cafes. As someone who was unfamiliar with traditional Yemeni cuisine, I was excited to try something new and expose my taste buds to new flavors. The owner, Ghazi Alsafari (who is frequently seen manning the register), assisted me with a smile and two recommendations. I told him I wanted their most traditional Yemeni food and drink, and in exchange, I was recommended the mafawar latte and honeycomb bread. 

As I waited for my order, I ventured down to the lower level, and let me tell you- there is no shortage of seating, which I very much appreciated as someone who LOVES to hang out at cafes and HATES when every seat is taken. After my personal buzzer notified me that my order was ready, I grabbed my coffee and bread, which were plated beautifully on a wooden tray, engraved with the Bun Chai name and logo. 

With my first sip of the mafawar, I noticed a slight sweetness coming from what I guessed to be the evaporated milk that Alsafari had told me about. The flavor was smooth and not too intense, considering I asked for half the usual amount of sweetness. This coffee’s taste was very different from the traditional American coffee you’d think of, like Starbucks. The warm liquid had a subtle heat that I attributed to the cardamom, a traditional Yemeni spice, and the drink had almost no bitterness, which makes sense, considering the sweeter flavor Yemeni coffee is known to have. 

Beyond its flavor profile, Yemeni coffee also has a distinct meaning and cultural significance. I was surprised to discover that Yemen is actually the birthplace of coffee as a drink, not Ethiopia, Brazil, or Colombia, despite popular belief. In Yemen, coffee is seen as “a symbol of hospitality, generosity, and community. Preparing and serving coffee carefully shows respect for guests and tradition. It is more than a drink—it is a way to connect people and celebrate culture,” says Al-Aqeeq, a Yemeni coffee company. Furthermore, according to an article in The New York Times, entrepreneurs have recently been “riding a wave of demand nationwide for ‘third spaces’ — gathering places outside of the home and work — that are open late and don’t involve alcohol. Yemeni cafes are helping bring back an evening cafe culture not seen much in the United States.” Bun Chai is a perfect example of this. With hours of 7am to 10pm through the week and 8am to 10pm on the weekends, it is a welcoming third space with an emphasis on hospitality and community. 

If Yemeni coffee isn’t your thing, don’t worry, because Bun Chai has lots more to offer. If you’re looking for a sweet treat, that honeycomb bread I tried, is a traditional Middle Eastern treat known as khaliat nahal in Arabic, is a great option. It has an unexpected tangy cream cheese center, with a sweet, fluffy surround of honey-dunked bread, and a savory aftertaste from the nigella seeds scattered on its surface. The flavors are a unique experience. Or if you’re a matcha lover, Bun Chai will not disappoint. According to my roommate, their strawberry matcha is the best she’s had in Ann Arbor, mostly due to the freshness of the homemade strawberry puree and how well it complements the earthiness of matcha’s flavor profile. 

Bun Chai truly has it all– coffee, tea, pastries, and an environment you can relax in, meet new people, or work. With its signature Middle Eastern flavors, luxurious atmosphere, and emphasis on community and tradition, I can say with confidence that Bun Chai deserves a spot in your Ann Arbor cafe rotation.