Remember the delightfully eccentric Jazz Coffee Bar on Xixi Road, just a smidge west of Yugu Road? No? You’ve got a lot of nerve. Well, it’s irrelevant, because although the sign may still be there at the time of this goes to press, it is, no longer, the Jazz Coffee Bar; where magicians interrupted you with slight-of-hand tricks while you tried to explain to your girlfriend, Rolanda, that it wasn’t her, but you. Oh, Rolanda, I made a mistake, baby. Take me back, baby. Just meet me at the place where it all went wrong and let me make it right.
The place formerly known for cosplay waitresses and card tricks is now the M-2 Tiba Café, and it’s something Hangzhou has been sorely lacking; a reasonably-priced, authentic, Middle Eastern restaurant. Finally, hummus! Good hummus, and a shawarma I’d chop slap my mom for. Seriously. The M-2 Tiba Café is bringing deliciousness to the west side like it’s never been brought before. Hyperbole? Not at these prices.
A cup of, “Arabic,” tea starts at 5 RMB, and they’ve an array of juices (15 RMB), fountain drinks (5 RMB), and coffees (10 RMB). If you’re feeling sluggish, the Arabic coffee will do the trick. The star of the menu, in our opinion, is the shawarma, had in either chicken or beef, for 15 RMB. They’ve two types of hummus (we prefer the Beirut-style as it has a little more zing) both costing a scant 15 RMB with pita, but that’s really a side note, because the pleasure of hummus comes from what you dip in it, and everything on the menu tastes good when it’s dunked in that chickpea and tahini ambrosia. Case in point: the kebabs, at 35RMB, are a delight, but slathered in hummus, they’re taken to another level. Ditto the falafel (15 RMB), Zenger Chicken Sandwich (25 RMB), and onion rings (15 RMB), to name a few.
The décor is clean, warm, and inviting. There are hookahs available for those who partake, and the rest of the menu is chock-a-block with delectable, Halal, dishes, and not one is priced higher than 40 RMB. If you’re a student at the Zheda Yuquan campus, this should be a regular stop. For everyone it should be, except Rolanda. I may never get her back, but as long as I have this comfort food, all is well with the world. Be sure to ask about any daily specials they may have as well. English/Chinese/Arabic menu. Leave the car at home.
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