Knafeh Cafe had been Anaheim's best-kept secret for years, nestled in a small storefront on the outreaches of the city's west side. These days, the Middle Eastern bakery is enjoying more visibility with its new location on Brookhurst Street, the main thoroughfare of Little Arabia. Better yet, owner Asem Abusir hasn't lost a step in doing what he does best: serving up slices of knafeh.
The Palestinian pastry's origins trace back to the city of Nablus, where the Nabulsi cheese that fastens the dessert from the bottom takes its name from. Knafeh Cafe bakes the noodle dough fresh daily until it comes to a crispy, auburn exterior. The dessert is warmed up with the cheese melting until becoming soft and stretchy. Crushed pistachios frame the center of each slice of knafeh and a sweet syrup is drizzled atop.
Knafeh is lifted from the pan with all the gooey glory of a pizza slice. The dessert is much more sweeter than salty, a necessary imbalance between the two flavors that works in its favor. Turkish coffee makes for the perfect companion. The bakery also serves a softer dough version for those who prefer less crunch after lunch.
Now firmly a part of Little Arabia's main stretch of storefronts, Abusir reports that business is up. He's even added a small Thrifty's ice cream stand—YUM…
Knafeh Cafe, 866 S. Brookhurst St., Anaheim, (714) 442-0044
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Gabriel San Román is from Anacrime. He’s a journalist, subversive historian and the tallest Mexican in OC. He also once stood falsely accused of writing articles on Turkish politics in exchange for free food from DönerG’s!