Alhambra Cafe

by Caitlin C.

The guy who owns this place is awesome. He is known to share stories of the many women he has overseas, but more known for always winning Scrabble.Challenge him to a game of Scrabble and he will be your friend forever. And don't miss their home-made Chai and baklava while you hang with them. Oh, and the reason he always wins? Watch his hand sneak into the letter bag to grab the high-point numbers. I totally called him out and now I can never go back.

by Lauren R.

I enjoy Chai tea. And I must say that this is the best Chai tea that I have ever had. If you have a dairy allergy or don't drink milk. just tell the owner Mohammad and he can still make a fantastic cup of Chai. That is not something that I have found at many other places since they use a mix instead of making it fresh themselves. Here it is fresh and fresh is good.I also enjoy Scrabble. I have been to Alhambra twice and played Mohammad, both times losing by quite a bit. He knows his stuff and was so bold to offer to let us have our hummus for free if we won, knowing that there was no way in hell that we could.I, however, do not enjoy the overly touchy-feely tendancies of the owner. It was fine the first time I went there, when I had a male with me. But the second time it was just a female friend and I alone in the place and we both noticed the creepiness. Although I love the Chai, I think I'll hold off coming back to Alhambra until I am in the company of males again.

by Chase P.

Stopped by in the afternoon with friends as I showed them the city.  I expected to come in a enjoy some sort of espresso-based beverage (I'm usually not too big on Chai tea), but Mohammad had different plans for me.  After some witty banter and high-fiving, I decided I'd get the country's best chai tea, made from all natural ingredients and ginger that he freshly grated in front of us.  It's the best I've ever had and one of the tastiest hot beverages, also.The inside of the place is a little crowded, and as other reviewers have said, it's kind of like entering Mohammad's family room.  He's got a complete setup in there: TV, computer, desk chair, scrabble board.  He's also a good salesman, trying to get you to buy other items in the shop and throwing that into normal conversation.Overall, we all had great drinks, the owner's a great guy, but just be prepared with an excuse if you need to get out of there in less than an hour.

by kiehl c.Matt P.jen w.Jared S.

The coffee here is excellent and the owner is friendly. I didn't get to try the hookah, but given the quality of the coffee and the are that the owner put into it, I would imagine that it is quite good.He's real friendly and will chat your ear off, while he makes you a fantastic espresso.I ended up here again last night after leaving my home in South Jersey for a road trip to Shocktoberfest near Reading.  Anyway, we got to Alhambra past midnight and it was clear Mohammed(the owner) had a long, busy day, but he was still an excellent host(as usual).  He had a couple of groups finishing up and we ended up being his last customers.  We were staarving so asked what he could whip up.  I'm a pescetarian and my friend is vegetarian.  He made me an EXCELLENT tuna salad and not that terrible canned tuna w/ Hellman's mayo and some celery, but fresh tuna and a salad that was nicely prepared and tasted delicious.  My friend had a grilled cheese wrap that she loved.  Both were simple, but made w/ love and subtle touches that made only Mo could do.We also ordered a hookah and some chai tea.  The hookah was tasty and smooth.  He steam cleans his hookah's which makes them immaculate.  The chai was top-notch.  He gets his teas and coffees from Kuwait and the high quality is very noticeable.Go and you will NOT be disappointed.  Also, if you plan on going ahead of time, give him a call and let him know if you would like anything special(fish, meat, etc.) and he will get it fresh and prepare it to your liking. After a long day we stopped in and felt so relaxed.  THe owner was great and very friendly. Loved… I was feeling anxious all day and stumbled upon Alhambra's-- as soon as I walked in I felt relaxed and at home.  The owner made my friend and I feel comfortable while we drank the AMAZING Chai Tea--- i will defin go back for that.  The Hookah was very good and smooth.  Also you have to try the Baklava (sorry if i spelled it wrong) but it was so0o0o yummy!!!Just like everyone says, this dude is the real deal. My friends and I walked in, expecting a counter that we could order some drinks and take with us as we walked down South Street, but the owner asked if we wanted to stay for awhile. "Sure," one of us said (how can you deny a man who asks you to hang out in his coffee shop like it's his living room?).We walked in the small shop that can fit about 12 people max. There is a booth against the window, about 4 round tables against the back wall, and a few single tables closer to the coffee bar. Lots of woods and warm colors and a tv for those who want something to watch. The place feels very cozy and the exact opposite of formulaic. The owner was super friendly and joked around with us. He insisted everyone get the chai as it was the best in Philly. My three friends each ordered this magical chai, but I went with the coffee. When I said "coffee," he said he didn't understand me and asked if I wanted "caw-fee" instead. "Yes, caw-fee please." "This I understand! 3 chais and 1 coffee."We didn't get our drinks for about 5-10 minutes, but it was okay because the room was warm and I preached about my love for Arrested Development. Our drinks were good. I tried the chai and it was WAY too sweet for my taste. I could never order it, but I'm sure plenty of people may like it. The coffee was pretty good too. A little on the bitter side, but he added some foam and cinnamon on the top which gave it a nice touch. And the cups were all beautiful and different for each type of drink. Although the drinks weren't the best in all of Philly (as promised), the ambiance and owner boost this place up to 4 stars. Alhambra is an experience and one everyone should enjoy.

by kiehl c.

The coffee here is excellent and the owner is friendly. I didn't get to try the hookah, but given the quality of the coffee and the are that the owner put into it, I would imagine that it is quite good.He's real friendly and will chat your ear off, while he makes you a fantastic espresso.

by kiehl c.Matt P.

The coffee here is excellent and the owner is friendly. I didn't get to try the hookah, but given the quality of the coffee and the are that the owner put into it, I would imagine that it is quite good.He's real friendly and will chat your ear off, while he makes you a fantastic espresso.I ended up here again last night after leaving my home in South Jersey for a road trip to Shocktoberfest near Reading.  Anyway, we got to Alhambra past midnight and it was clear Mohammed(the owner) had a long, busy day, but he was still an excellent host(as usual).  He had a couple of groups finishing up and we ended up being his last customers.  We were staarving so asked what he could whip up.  I'm a pescetarian and my friend is vegetarian.  He made me an EXCELLENT tuna salad and not that terrible canned tuna w/ Hellman's mayo and some celery, but fresh tuna and a salad that was nicely prepared and tasted delicious.  My friend had a grilled cheese wrap that she loved.  Both were simple, but made w/ love and subtle touches that made only Mo could do.We also ordered a hookah and some chai tea.  The hookah was tasty and smooth.  He steam cleans his hookah's which makes them immaculate.  The chai was top-notch.  He gets his teas and coffees from Kuwait and the high quality is very noticeable.Go and you will NOT be disappointed.  Also, if you plan on going ahead of time, give him a call and let him know if you would like anything special(fish, meat, etc.) and he will get it fresh and prepare it to your liking. After a long day we stopped in and felt so relaxed.  THe owner was great and very friendly. Loved…

by april b.

The owner is very friendly.  If you order something else, he will try to talk you out of it - towards a Chai.  Listen to him.  If he says he makes the best Chai in Philly: he is NOT lying.  He literally makes it from scratch (skipping the sugary powdery standby that most places fall back on).  I highly recommend this place, even if only for the experience.

by Matt P.

I ended up here again last night after leaving my home in South Jersey for a road trip to Shocktoberfest near Reading.  Anyway, we got to Alhambra past midnight and it was clear Mohammed(the owner) had a long, busy day, but he was still an excellent host(as usual).  He had a couple of groups finishing up and we ended up being his last customers.  We were staarving so asked what he could whip up.  I'm a pescetarian and my friend is vegetarian.  He made me an EXCELLENT tuna salad and not that terrible canned tuna w/ Hellman's mayo and some celery, but fresh tuna and a salad that was nicely prepared and tasted delicious.  My friend had a grilled cheese wrap that she loved.  Both were simple, but made w/ love and subtle touches that made only Mo could do.We also ordered a hookah and some chai tea.  The hookah was tasty and smooth.  He steam cleans his hookah's which makes them immaculate.  The chai was top-notch.  He gets his teas and coffees from Kuwait and the high quality is very noticeable.Go and you will NOT be disappointed.  Also, if you plan on going ahead of time, give him a call and let him know if you would like anything special(fish, meat, etc.) and he will get it fresh and prepare it to your liking. After a long day we stopped in and felt so relaxed.  THe owner was great and very friendly. Loved…

by Leah G.

Great place. This was my first time going at night, and we smoked a hookah and had some of Philly's finest chai. Nice place to chill out if you want a relaxing evening experience. Went there for the first time for lunch. The owner is such a great guy....he made us excellent chai…

by Joseph A.

Stopped in at the recommendation of the owner of Lovash, an Indian restaurant just around the corner.  My friend and I could not have been happier.  It was cozy and welcoming - the owner, Mohammed, was very affable.  I ordered a cappuccino that was the best I've ever had; I could tell the beans were roasted just right.  My friend had the Chai which was amazing as well... and, I experienced my first Hookah smoking!  Yes, you can order the Hookah with a variety of flavored tobacco to choose from - I had the Jasmine-flavored and it was incredible.  Also, he cleaned and steamed the Hookah and its pipes meticulously in front of us before preparing it.  Beautiful artwork on the walls as well.