For my first time trying @yellowthecafe in @unionmarketdc I am so so impressed! Popped in specifically for their collab with @dolcezzagelato creating the creamiest and nutty pistachio gelato, topped with crispy and lemony phyllo pieces Their gelato is a special right now, so be sure to stop in before October 5! While I was there, I was intrigued by their s'cookie (sweet little shortbread cookie) and a fruity strawberry apricot ma'amoul read more

Yellow - Cookies - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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4.5 out of 5! Love the aesthetic in Yellow, open kitchen, nice pastry display, get to watch the baristas at work as well. Solid lattes and cappuccinos, interesting levantine inspired espresso drinks available too - just not really up my alley as I prefer a regular latte/cappuccino or black coffee. The egg pita is delicious. Such a nice sauce. Really tasty wood fired pita. Orange blossom croissant was delightful, just a super light glaze on a fluffy croissant. Great vibes, gets really busy, but service is always on point. Get there early or be ready for a line out the door! read more

This is a review for Yellow's dinner service, All the Kebabs. The food was great but I wish it was a little cheaper, given it's fairly basic and the atmosphere is basically a cafe. We had two kebabs -- Lamb Kefta ($26) and Rockfish ($32) -- with flatbread below it ($8), the Charred Corn w/ Labne dip and pita ($15), and Pistachio Sundae ($12). Plus the Levantine G&T ($14) and Hamama ($15) cocktails. The kebabs were delicious and nicely cooked. I loved the spicy red spread on the flatbread. They came with some whipped tahini, herbs, sumac onions, and grilled peppers and tomatoes. I liked the Labne dip less; I wanted more corn and spice flavors, and I wanted a thinner pita. But those are personal preferences; the quality seemed good. I loved the sundae and the hamama cocktail; excellent flavors in both. The food was enough for two people to be comfortably full without leftovers. The service and atmosphere don't really go with the prices. I like how the place looks, but it's still a cafe, with lots of exposed wood, stools, industrial ceiling, etc. All the hard surfaces plus loud music made it pretty loud inside. Some food is served on plastic trays and the napkins are paper. Service was fine, basic. They include a 3% employee wellness charge. read more

Yellow - All the Kebabs menu, Sept 2025 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Stopped in last night for a quick treat to help me power through packing for my flight. I ordered the turmeric & honey latte with coconut cold foam, and my girly got the tamarind tea -- both were good. Not too sweet, just right. I really appreciate when I can actually taste the coffee without it being drowned in sugar. Service was solid, especially considering how packed it was. Only downside was the layout -- the cashier is right next to the entrance, which led to a bit of a traffic jam at the door. The ambiance was cozy, but the space definitely feels tight for how popular this place is. A larger location (or better flow) would make a huge difference. It was very loud and attracts the younger crowd. read more

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This place is packed! It was a nice bright day and decided to go try Yellow cafe as people have been raving about it. I ordered the BBQ lamb pita sandwich. Unfortunately, it took almost an hour to come out. They initially told me it would take about 20 mins but when I went to the cashier, they said another 5, then another 5 again! In total I waited about 45-50 mins for 1 pita sandwich (,: Once it did arrive, it tasted amazing! The lamb was super flavorful, the feta added a nice salty component, and the veggies freshened it up. My only note would be to stuff the lettuce and tomato inside the pita so it's not all at the top. When we got to the end of the sandwich, it became too meat heavy. read more

Yellow - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Let me preface this by saying that we live in NYC, so we are used to amazing coffee shops. This is also limited to their coffee. A friend mentioned their pita sandwiches are great, but we didn't try it. Overall, OK. We even went twice to try different drinks; nothing out of the ordinary. On a positive note, the place is fairly spacious. Considering the other options in terms of coffee shops around the area, though, this is probably one of the most decent ones. read more

Yellow - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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My husband didn't want to leave DC without trying this restaurant. I'm glad we were able to go because everything was wonderful. I loved the habibi butter rice. We asked for it crispy for an extra $2. It was probably my favorite dish. The butcher's steak kebab was picanha. Perfectly cooked. I also recommend the lamb hummus. read more

Yellow - Levantine G&T - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Pretty busy area, wanted to get the breakfast menu but came wayyyy too late. Great drinks so will be back there soon! read more

Yellow - Latte and cappuccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Was actually on my way to get ice cream somewhere else and decided to stop into Yellow Union Market instead. So glad I did! I got the jammy egg croissant, the coconut cardamom latte, the strawberry rose croissant, and the baklava latte, and everything was incredible. Such a cute spot with great food and drinks. I'll definitely be back! read more

Yellow - Jammy Egg - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I wanted to try this location after visiting the location in George Town. I stopped in on a Friday evening around 5:30p and it was very busy. The service was fast. I ordered the Lamb Kefta. It was delicious. It was very fresh & flavorful. I also ordered the Baklava which comes in the cute little tin. This was delicious as well. I would highly suggest making a reservation as this space isn't that big either. read more

Michelin Bib Gourmand, and the chef-owner has a restaurant in D.C. called Albi that has a star. My cousin brought me here when I was visiting her in Georgetown for a couple of days. I haven't lived in this area for almost an eternity, so I had never heard of Yellow. Everything was amazing! I was only there for a couple of days, so there was no time to dine at Albi. I would have loved to try the a la carte menu at Michelin star Albi. read more

Hip crowded spot with limited hours. Yummy items and creative offerings! Hope to be back to try every item \:)

Came for the lamb pita and it was great. Just wish it gave more meat (my friend's one looked like it had more than mine) and cost a little less. The bbq taste was understated which is good. Not tangy, just a hint of it. And it came with garlic sauce (toum) which was awesome. Pricey but def worth having once or twice if you're in the area. The cookies and baklawa mocha were also solid (oat orange blossom toffee and halawa chocolate chip for the cookies, and roasted walnut + rose + orange blossom for the coffee). Cookies could be slightly bigger for the price but tasty nonetheless. The people working were nice and the place had great energy. You gotta get lucky to find seating which we did, thankfully, since it's first come, first serve. I wish I could've tried their other pastries but it was mostly sold out (came at 11:30am on a Saturday). read more

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My first time trying the yellow in union market and loved it! This location had a more extensive dinner menu compared to Georgetown. We went with a party of 5 and were able to sample a lot of their menu and loved everything! Their fresh pita is so warm and perfectly seasoned with zataar and olive oil. Fattoush salad was fresh and tart! All kebabs were moist and delicious but particularly enjoyed the lamb and swordfish. Whole roasted cauliflower has great texture with pepitas on the outside. Definitely in my favorite DC restaurants and I would absolutely come back. read more

Yellow - Fresh pita - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Ordered: Baklawa Mocha Latte (~$6): roasted walnut, rose, and orange blossom Ras El Hanout Butterscotch Cruffin (~$7): muffin shaped croissant filled with butterscotch pastry cream and dipped in ras el hanout sugar Za'atar Croissant (~$7): filled with labne Breakfast Egg Pita (~$10) + Kefta (+$3): soft scramble, kashkaval, labne, tahini chopped salad Breakfast Batata (~$7): spicy hash brown tots, shawarma spice, with toum Aya's take: Yellow is my new favorite color! I was unexpectedly in DC for 12 hours and decided that my only meal here would be at Yellow Cafe. It's 10:30am on a Monday and why was it packed! I knew I was in for a treat. Yellow being a Levantine-inspired cafe and me being Lebanese, I was curious to see if they would actually execute the pastries and sandwiches well or if I would be disappointed as I've been with other cafes before. I'm glad to say it exceeded my expectations! The Baklawa Mocha Latte was a strong start. It was warm & soothing, nutty & floral, and sweet & creamy. The Ras El Hanout Butterscotch Cruffin had a perfect texture and the butterscotch pastry cream was delicate yet rich. The Za'atar Croissant was a pleasant surprise. This is the first time I've seen this beautiful creation and I'm SO glad that 1) they used good quality za'atar and 2) the amount of labne filling was actually balanced! The only thing this needed was a side of olive oil to dip into. The Breakfast Egg Pita + Kefta was such a great take on a Middle Eastern breakfast sandwich. The pita was fresh, the soft egg scramble with the added kefta was incredible, and the veggie toppings added some brightness and more nutrition to each bite. And please do not miss out on the Breakfast Batata. These will live rent-free in my head for the foreseeable future. They had the perfect crunch on the outside with a pillowy and layered inside. Not to mention, they were deliciously seasoned to the point where the toum on the side wasn't even needed (although always appreciated). I love everything about this place. Shout out to Chef Michael Rafidi for executing on this idea and hope they make their way to NYC! read more

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We wound up at Union Market and decided to stop at Yellow for an easy lunch. We started with a Moroccan Mint Iced Tea with Coco Cold Foam on top and a Mish Mish Soda (a light apricot & honey mix). We sipped and watched the people (it was hopping at weekend lunchtime) as the food arrived. I got a crispy falafel pita - perfectly cooked and balanced with bright veggies and a warm, crunchy falafel. It was the perfect size for lunch. We also split a Fattoush - a nice blend of apple, cucumber, feta, crunchy pita chips, and harissa vinagrette. Finally, we also got an order of hummus - the best, creamy hummus I've had in a long while, with HUGE fried crispy pita chips that were crunchy and lightly chewy. These things were awesome! When we stopped into Yellow, I didn't think it would be this good. But now I have a reason to purposely get out to Union Market. You should get out to Yellow, too! read more

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KenScale: 8.0/10 Visits: November 2025 Back in October, my wife Jun and I visited YELLOW café/restaurant in Georgetown from acclaimed Middle Eastern chef Michael Rafidi who made his name in the DC dining scene with Albi. We really liked our dinner experience there so we decided to check out the other YELLOW location in Union Market. Unlike the Georgetown branch which focuses on the "(not) pizza" sourdough pies, the kebabs are the centerpiece of the menu at the Union Market location. We also enjoyed a dining experience at this location as well during our visit last month. At this point, I already knew that Jun was going to order the lamb awarma hummus which she so enjoyed at the Georgetown location. Dip some pita breads on this delicious hummus and you already have a very promising start to the meal. Jun was also interested in ordering another hummus dish this time, but the red shatta hummus (with feta cheese), based on Middle Eastern chili paste, didn't quite have the same impact. We also tried the little gem lettuce salad with pickled peppers and tahini ranch and it was quite solid, too. On the main kebabs section (all kebabs are served with whipped tahini, herbs and sumac onions), we settled on lamb kefta and butcher's steak. Jun remarked how she always finds very satisfying lamb dishes at Albi and its sister restaurants, and her observation was true in this case too, as the ground lamb was outstanding with its smoky flavor and moist texture, somewhat outshining the steak (which was not bad on its own, by the way). We ran of room for desserts this time but I would've loved to try a different soft serve on the dessert menu this time (at the Georgetown location, we tried one with Concord grape flavor). Getting a reservation at this location of YELLOW also requires some advance planning, although the dining space was bigger than the Georgetown branch so you might have a better luck with walk-ins. The beverage menu seemed more or less the same as the Georgetown location, too, with some hard-to-find wines from the Middle East. So, do we have a favorite between the two locations of YELLOW? It's a bit of an apples to oranges comparison given the different focus on the principal dishes between the two, but both are equally compelling in my view. I certainly would come back to the Union Market location for some more lamb kefta kebabs. read more

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Yellow is always a highlight of my DC trips. Outstanding food with wonderful flavors and freshness, creative menu, and wonderful ambiance. Love everything here, can't go wrong with any choice! read more

Yellow - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I have been to this place around 5 times for the All the Kebabs dinner transformation. Each time, the freshness, service, and overall experience has exceeded my expectations. After trying all of the kebabs on the menu, the chicken is the best. It is cooked to perfection and packed with immense flavor. Do yourself a favor and get the bread add on since it really elevates the experience. My one suggestion is to bring back the ribeye please. The ribeye was even better than the chicken. The new steak option is fine but it isn't the same as the ribeye. A couple of tips are to make a reservation ahead of time because like most Yellow locations it gets full very fast. I would also skip out on appetizers and just order 2 kebabs per person. You'll thank me later! read more

LOVE YELLOW!! Excellent food and coffee. This time, I got the halawa honey latte and the jammy egg shakshuka croissant. Both were delicious, a perfect and quick on-the-go breakfast. My only qualm with the Union market location is that it's small and chaotic. I would love if they found a bigger venue that can handle more customers and is more enjoyable to eat at. read more

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Greet immediately on entry and I was able to get a seat even though I didn't have a reservation and it was decently busy inside. Tables are close to each other in some areas and there is a communal table in the center so just expect to be close to other patrons. I had the mish mish soda which definitely had an interesting flavor and the lamb kefta which was delicious. The pita is an extra cost- which if I'm paying for the kefta I feel like they should give you some pita but it's still quite filling without it. The waitress was attentive and they check in often. read more

Yellow - Lamb kefta - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I love the food at Yellow, but it is very disappointing that they don't leave a phone number anywhere for customers to call. I have food allergies and wanted to call with a question before making an order, and there was no number to call, only an email that I'm sure would have taken hours or days to get a response. There is also no ability to note an allergy when placing an order online or for delivery which is very rude to customers. It is very depressing that the service industry has become so impersonal. Between things like this and AI, it is clear most companies no longer care about their customers. I would encourage Yellow, if they think of themselves as different, to put a phone number on their website and leave an area to note allergies on their online order. read more

Came to Yellow on a whim while visiting the Union market district with a friend. We didn't have a reservation but were able to snag a seat at a bar table as soon as we walked in. It's definitely a little bit pricey so my friend and I decided we would split a couple of things. We started with the pita and smoked onion labneh dip, which was by far my favorite thing we ate. In fact, if I come back, I'll probably want to order every single one of the dips and we seriously debated ordering a second round of the labneh. For a main, we got the lamb kefta kebab (which came with onions, charred veggies, and tahini sauce.) it was super yummy and I would definitely get this again. We also got a side of the buttered rice and the potatoes. The rice was amazing... A really cool blend of savory and sweet and paired perfectly with the lamb kebab. The potatoes were good but a little bit over fried for my preference however, it was fun to eat them like potato chips dipping into the garlic Sauce. For the dessert we could not resist getting one of the soft serves. We opted for the twist which comes with sesame brittle as well. It was absolutely delicious and I can see why people are such fans. Service was friendly but sparse and the bar chairs are definitely not made for big girls like me. The bar table was also a bit tight and I kept getting accidentally elbowed by my neighbor throughout the meal. read more

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Good food, but that's where the positive experience ends. Service is a mess, some people getting numbers, others getting names called out. It's very chaotic, and this was at 2 pm on a weekday. There's only 1 single bathroom with massive line ups. Prices are standard for the area. read more

So happy this spot is in my neighborhood! Yellow has become my go to lunch spot! The BBQ lamb pita is m favorite item on the menu following by the brisket hummus. Whoever thought of that combination... genius! The smoked amba chicken pita and batata tots are also worth trying! The restaurant itself is well lit and nicely decorated. It's good for solo dates, couples, or groups. Pro tip: expect a line if you go on weekends but it moves quickly in terms of placing orders. However, finding a table may be hard. read more

Yellow - Batata tots, brisket hummus, bbq lamb pita - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Very tasty spot for a fun and unique dinner in DC. The vibes are great for casual, but can be upped a bit, though the service doesn't quite make it unfortunately. Friendly and forward, but not thoughtful or practiced. Cocktails could be better, and they didn't even bring out the Raki before putting it on ice, which was a trajesty if I ever saw one! But that goes to the service portion - it lacks thoughtfulness. The food however makes up for all of it with quite the feast going on here - the hummus is out of this world, especially the burnt ends one, the carrots were so good, I couldn't believe I was eating vegetables, and the kebabs are great. Fair Warning though, it's not cheap for the amount of food you get, but it's worth it. read more

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The BBQ Lamb Shoulder pita is the best thing $20 will buy you. I've never even had one fresh- it's always had travel time from the time I've ordered to the time I get to eat it. The batata tots are amazing and the ras al hanout aioli is such a good dipping sauce for them. Go ASAP! read more

I think I've found my favorite coffee shop/cafe in DC! This way habibis indeed! The signs were so cute and I love the color yelllow! I went right when they opened to ensure I could get the zaatar croissant. It was a weekday so very quick. Weekends I heard get pretty crazy and once the baked items are sold out, that's it! They serve their coffee menu all day. Evenings there are more food items available for dinner. The inside is open concept with high top seats or traditional tables and an open kitchen style so you can see meal preparation. It was very busy at dinner time. The zaatar croissant is a must! Flakey, flavorful, and the added layer of labne inside is chefs kiss! Large enough to share but I ate all of it alone! $7.50 was worth it! Upon recommendation I got the halwa honey latte. Very good & strong! Sweet with hints of honey. Finally as an extra treat tried the labne soft serve. Was a bit surprised at how expensive it was for a cup. $12 but so worth it! The brown butter ice cream is well balanced with the crunch of baklava and topped with a dusting of pistachio flecks. Outstanding! I also tried the twist soft serve. Found it to be overly sweet with the caramel. Stick with the labne. Way better! really wish they opened at 7-7:30am instead of 8am on weekdays so could grab coffee & baked items on the way to work. Cant wait to visit again and try more items on the menu! read more

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Freaking delish...everything and more that you expect from visiting an ethnic spot. Love the middle eastern fusion of caffeinated drinks and pita sandwiches. I had the halawa honey latte (double espresso) and bbq shouldered lamb was soooo flavorful. I can taste the bbq but also loved the creamy feta and red onions. I'm definitely planning on returning with friends and family! read more

Yellow - Bbq lamb shoulder pita - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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One of my friends was visiting from Oklahoma and she was dying to try this place. I loved how fresh the falafel was and the carrot hummus was delicious. My friends loved the lamb hummus and the lamb kebab. Apparently the chicken thigh kebab is the best one so next time I go I'll be sure to try that. The service was outstanding. They were SO FAST. They gave us a time limit for the table but it didn't even feel rushed because they food came out in a timely fashion. The pita with the hummus was very hot and literally melted in my mouth. Apparently this place has a Michelin Star and you wouldn't really get that vibe because it feels a bit casual but the decor is beautiful and the tables were comfortable. Highly recommend! read more

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today was my first time at Yellow (union market) I realized today was not a traditional day but a collab x pop up with comedian Mo Amer who i do not believe was there, I waited a little over an hour in line to get in, the featured items today were Palestinian inspired tacos , so i decided to get a taco and a hot baklawa mocha! I decided to try the Falafel Con Queso though I was not able to eat it right away as I would have liked I have to say I still enjoyed the taco though eating it about 4 ish hours later, the falafel was full fluffy and flavorful and played nicely with the tahini pali salad and spicy pickled cabbage which was not overpowering and provided nuance to the dish, the tortilla was soft yet firm and had a nice chew and held while eating! the mocha hit the spot with the roasted walnut notes shining through as the weather went back and forth deciding to be hot or cold cloudy and rainy or dry and sunny, I had browsed the menu recently and definitely want to try some other items on a regular day! The staff was warm as well and the space though crowded was clean and a nice size ! overall a good experience and a good first impression read more

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Deserves all the stars . I just wish there were more locations nearby me. Everything is fresh, from the pastries and desserts. I always come for breakfast. For the Jammy Egg. It's a pizza wrapped up in a tiny crossiant. Halfa Honey for coffee 10/10. The date labin for dessert is Delicious. Highly recommend coming in before 9am to avoid lines. read more

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They literally took 1/4 of the baklava away and said it's because people were complaining that the box was too full.... For $13 give me the full amount. read more

Yellow - Baklava shrinkflation - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Very impressed with my Iced Latter from Yellow! The Halawa honey latte was the perfect amount of sweetness, and tasted fantastic with oat milk. Their pastry case here also looked amazing. Very kind staff, it was busy on a Friday morning, but it moved pretty quick! read more

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Awesome menu--I can't wait to visit again and try more stuff. I got the coconut cardamom cold brew and a z'atar croissant filled with labneh. Service was friendly. Weird set up where everyone squishes up at the door waiting to order. Lots of seating. The space is well designed overall except for when you walk in the door. read more

I haven't written a review in years. And typically I skip writing about places that have a lot of hype. However, Yellow is worth coming out of hiding. This location is fairly busy but the crowd comes and goes in a timely manner. The BBQ lamb sandwich was so tender, the bread soft, and the little gem lettuce perfectly fresh and crisp. As a lover of olive oil cake and pistachios I was drawn to the basbousa. The texture was moist and it was not too sweet. The rose milk tea was warm and cozy. I would definitely return again before 11 to try out the breakfast. read more

This meal really blew me away. My falafel was so crispy and crunchy while the pita was still warm and soft. The other picked veggies were crunchy and everything was tied together with delicious sauce. My iced coffee was good, but nothing stand out. I'm usually a cold brew person, so that might have been it. The za'atar croissant was also delicious and unique. We ordered food to go and it didn't take too long to come out, even on a busy Saturday morning. In my opinion, take out is the way to go. Not a ton of seating inside and pretty loud. I definitely would love to return! read more

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Good food and good service. Food and drinks are a bit pricey but worth the quality and the novelty. - Octopus + soujek kebabs (added with wood-baked shatta flatbread) - very flavorful and HUGE portion. I underestimated the portion size and could've split this up with 1-2 other people easily. The octopus and soujek pieces were juicy and cooked to absolute perfection (so maybe you want to order this kebab for yourself only), but the shatta flatbread was really huge. It definitely would've been good to split that flatbread among multiple people (just not the kebab meat itself because it's too good to share). Lots and lots of flavor in every bite. - Halloumi kebab - I'm not a huge fan of halloumi cheese, but my wife enjoyed it. It seemed a bit salty to me and could've been enhanced with some sweetness, maybe a sweet sauce. - Labne soft serve (baklawa + brown butter pistachio) - amazing!!!! Very novel, creative, and deliciousssss. It was thick, creamy, sweet but not overly so, and delightful on your taste buds. Absolutely perfection, and I can't think of anything to improve on it. read more

This place was delicious! We came in for an early dinner and it was already quite busy. The inside is simple and modern. There were no available seating for dine in without a long wait so we placed our order to go. The friendly staff provided us water while we waited. Once our food was ready, we walked back to the market area and found a picnic table outside to eat at. We had gotten their Duck Breast, Crispy Brussels Sprouts, Charred Cabbage, and Burnt Ends pita to share. Everything was so packed with flavor and so good! I can't wait to go back and check out more of their other items. read more

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The buzz around YELLOW is well-deserved. I was part of a group of four who stopped in for breakfast on a Saturday morning. We arrived shortly after they opened, knowing they can sometimes sell out of pastries. I had the Date Labne (coffee cake) and Za'atar Egg Croissant. The coffee cake was dense, moist, and delicious -- a perfect pairing with their house coffee. The breakfast sandwich was packed with smoky flavor. It was refreshing to enjoy a filling and tasty breakfast at a reasonable price. The space is bright and inviting. I'd definitely return to try more of the baked goods and explore the lunch menu. read more

Yellow - Date Labne and Za'atar Egg Croissant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia