“I moved to the area in 2007 and one of the earliest memories I have is when my dad brought me here and said, ‘This is Little Arabia,’” says Omar Kurdi. “This is where I got my first haircut, my first Arabic meal outside of home. This is definitely the spot I come to whenever I am missing the homeland.”

Kurdi wears many hats professionally, but it’s his role as co-founder and president of Arab Americans of Cleveland Young Professionals Network that inspired me to reach out. Selfishly, I was eager to try a new Yemeni restaurant, and I was looking for an enthusiastic dining partner. Kurdi, who was born in San Francisco but spent most of his formative years in Oman and Jordan, more than fit the bill.

Reef al Yemen opened last summer in the heart of Cleveland’s Little Arabia neighborhood. Li

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