By Cathy Diep
It was Friday night, so what better place to be than somewhere with good food and camaraderie? Our first late-night stop: Nubia Café.
Located in Anaheim, Nubia Café is an Arabic hookah lounge that at first glimpse might make you uneasy about entering. The clientele is mostly middle-age men, sitting around playing cards and smoking hookah.
So what if it’s not your typical X and Y generation hookah bar? My friends and I, all juniors in college, definitely felt out of place. But after a few minutes, Nubia Cafe really grew on us and we were glued to our table not wanting to go home.
This late night spot opens at 4:30 p.m. and closes around 3 a.m. on most nights.
The staff was extremely welcoming, asking us where we wanted to be seated: the main room, outdoors or in a semi-private spot. The main room was very crowded and it was too cold that night to sit outside, so we chose the semi-private room. It was equipped with a TV (we watched “The Matrix,” lol), artistic Middle Eastern mural paintings and comfortable, spacious seats for our table.
Our guy who waited on us was supposed to be on his break, but whenever he suspected that we needed something, he assisted us. At the end of the night, you can bet your hard-earned money that he got tipped!
My friend and I ordered the Kufta (Ground Beef) Kabob for $11, and the Lamb Kabob for $12. These two main dishes came with jasmine rice, salad, hummus, sour cream, pickles and pita bread. My other two friends wanted something small to share, so they ordered the hummus and pita bread alone for $5.99.
Both the Kufta and Lamb Kabob came out in generous portions. My first thought was to wrap all the side stuff in the pita bread, but my friends’ laughter indicated that wasn’t the “correct” way to eat it. I guess you’re supposed to dip the pita bread in the hummus and the other sides.
The Kufta and lamb were slightly dry but packed with natural beef and lamb flavor. The salad of cucumber, white onion, tomatoes and cilantro complimented the whole plate with crunch and lightly salted taste. The hummus was smooth in texture and garlic-y, with a touch of olive oil and cumin for a little spice.
If you’re feeling parched, order an actual drink. I made the mistake of asking for water thinking it was going to be free. So, save the $2 and order tea or some kind of hot beverage. They have a variety of drinks - from smoothies (strawberry, mango, lemon) and juice (banana milk, lemon, cocktail) to frappes (mocha, latte) and hot beverages (yansoon, tea mint, tea cinnamon, coffee) costing no more than $4.
Even though the water wasn’t free, a big bonus was the free refill on pita bread!
It’s not the most attractive hookah lounge, nor is it in the most attractive location. But if you’re looking for good comfort food, a place to relax and carry on conversations with unpretentious people, stop by Nubia Café with your friends!
Nubia Café
1785 W. Lincoln Ave.
Anaheim, CA 92801
(714) 999-1199
