I’m sharing my review of Qahwah House on Long Island.
It’s a Yemeni coffeehouse with over twenty locations in the USA. I have visited their Westbury, New York location several times.
Qahwah is the word for coffee in Arabic. I know, I know. You might be wondering why I am I reviewing a coffeehouse on a tea blog! It’s because they have several Yemeni tea offerings–and a surprisingly wide selection of other teas–that keep me coming back! There are other reasons as well.
Yemeni-Style Teas at Qahwah House
Every tea-lover’s review of Qahwah House must start with their delicious Yemeni-style teas. On their menu, they have “Adeni Chai” and “Yemeni Tea.” Both have Yemeni black tea as their base. The Adeni Chai also includes cardamon, nutmeg, and milk. The Yemeni Tea is made with cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves–no milk. The spices and tea really shine in both drinks. To my great pleasure, you can get them unsweetened and then customize to your preference.
I would caution caffeine-sensitive people–both of these Yemeni-style teas are STRONG. If I had to guess, I’d say they use more tea leaves and steep it longer than I typically do. (It could also be the tea cultivar they use. I have to investigate that.) The teas are delicious, yet I can’t even drink a whole (rather generous) serving. Well, I could if I wanted to levitate home! But, I am more caffeine-sensitive than most tea drinkers. So, after I enjoy some tea in the cafe there, I get a to-go cup and bring the rest home. I chill it for the next day. It really packs (a very delicious) caffeine punch!
Qahwah House also serves Yemini (and other) desserts. I can’t eat most of them due to some unfortunate dietary restrictions, but they look delicious and others have given me very positive feedback on them!
The coffeehouse also carries seasonal tea drinks that aren’t of Yemeni origin. For example, in Summer 2025, they offered Iced Matcha, including different seasonal flavors like Iced Strawberry or Mango Matcha. I tried the Iced Strawberry Matcha and it was delicious!
Other Teas and Herbal Teas
My review of Qahwah House wouldn’t be complete without mentioning that they have a very respectable selection of other teas, especially for a coffeehouse! In fact, there’s a whole category of “organic teas” on the menu. English Breakfast, Matcha, Cloud and Mist (green tea…I assume this is Yun Wu), Moroccan Mint (contains green tea), Ginger tea, and others! I haven’t tried these yet, but I’m so tempted by other teas on the menu.
The Space and Ordering at Qahwah House
Maybe I’m used to tiny NYC tea- and coffeehouses. But, to my mind, Qahwah House in Westbury is so spacious! There are lots of tables. The ceilings are high. And, the decor is rich brown (giving those coffee vibes) with pops of greenery. The vibe is casual, comforting, and very pleasant.
You order at one counter. They give you a pager that buzzes when your order is ready, and then you pick it up your tea at another counter.
Before I wrote this review of Qahwah House, I visited three times. (I already have plans to return.) I am not 100% sure how they decide whether to serve you in teaware or a to-go cup, but my current theory is that if you order a cup, the default is served to-go (although you can enjoy it at the cafe).
If you order a pot of tea, however, I believe you automatically get a teapot and teaware. The first time, I ordered a pot of tea, so teaware came with it.
Another time, I ordered tea for one and was surprised it came in a to-go cup. When I have asked, they were very gracious about providing me teaware. I’ll try to clarify this issue on feature visits and update the post.
Address and Parking
Long Island Address: 541 Old Country Rd, Westbury, NY 11590
Parking: There is free parking behind Qahwah House in Westbury. But, make sure to park in section for their business.