As of December 21, a new coffee shop has opened just south of Northside. Shibam, located at 5241 N. Kedzie, serves authentic Yemeni coffee along with pastries and teas. The newest store is the eleventh edition to the chain originating in Dearborn, Michigan in 2022. Over the past four years, Shibam has expanded across the US, opening locations in Ohio, Texas, and, most recently, Chicago.
Walking into the coffee house, the intricate light fixtures, wall art, and warm atmosphere immediately stand out. Emin Halilovic, a senior at Northside and an employee at Shibam, shared that the name of the restaurant, Shibam, is an ode to the city of Shibam in Yemen.
“That city in Yemen is known for their coffee, that’s where the name comes from. It’s known as the ‘Manhattan of Yemen,’” Emin says. The city is often referred to as the “birthplace of coffee” after the drink was first cultivated by Sufi monks in the 1400s. At Shibam, Emin says all coffee beans and tea bags are directly imported from Yemen in order to preserve the unique flavor profile and stay true to the ethnic roots of the beverages.
In addition to Yemeni coffee and tea, Shibam also sells a wide array of snacks and pastries. Emin says he “noticed that a lot of kids from the surrounding high schools, as well as North Park, tend to have the milk cake a lot, specifically the Lotus milk cake.” The Lotus milk cake is very similar to a cheesecake with a dense, thick body, caramel drizzle, and a Lotus cookie crust. Other favorites include the Brown Sugar Shaken Latte and the Pistachio San Sebastian.
As North Park University students make up a large portion of Shibam’s customer base, the coffee house gives a 10% student discount. If Shibam starts to attract more customers from surrounding high schools like Northside, Mather, and Von Stuben, it is likely that the discount will be expanded to students from surrounding high schools, says Emin.
Shibam Coffee can be found online at @shibamchicago on Instagram. Here, they post regular updates and seasonal items as well as humorous promotional content. Phone numbers and other contact information can be found on their website.
The next time you’re in the area or looking for a quick, yet authentic, bite to eat, consider visiting Shibam!
