Maqlubeh means “upside down,” and that is exactly how it arrives: a pot of spiced rice, roasted cauliflower and eggplant and tender halal meat, inverted so the layers hold their shape. It is Palestinian Sunday-dinner cooking, made in the same order our grandmothers used.
Maqlubeh (also spelled Makloubeh or maqluba) is built in layers inside a single pot — vegetables roasted until sweet, halal meat, then rice seasoned with our house-ground blend of allspice, cinnamon, cardamom and turmeric. Everything steams together so the rice takes on the flavour of what sits beneath it, then the pot is flipped to serve.
Because the dish is slow-cooked in batches, it tastes the way homestyle Palestinian food is supposed to: gentle, aromatic and generous. We serve it with yogurt and fresh salad on the side, and it is one of the plates our guests order when they want a full meal rather than street food.
Nothing is assembled on the plate. The rice, vegetables and meat cook together and the pot is turned out so the layers stay intact — the part that makes Maqlubeh special.
Allspice, cinnamon and cardamom are dried and ground in our kitchen, which keeps the aroma fresh and the seasoning even through the rice.
Cauliflower and eggplant are roasted before layering so they add sweetness and depth instead of water.
Order Maqlubeh as a single plate or family-style for a group. Start with falafel or spinach and cheese bread, add Msakhan for the table, and finish with Knafeh Nabulsi.
Yafa Café has served homestyle Palestinian street food from 1785 Portage Ave since November 2017. We are open every day from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM for dine-in, takeout, delivery and catering, and we regularly serve guests from Polo Park, the West End, Wolseley, St. James, Silver Heights, Woodhaven, Sargent Park, Daniel McIntyre, Minto, Weston, Brooklands, Deer Lodge and Sturgeon Creek. Order Maqlubeh online, call (204) 221-1636, or see the full Yafa Café menu.
Verified diner review
“Every time I have eaten food from Yafa Café, I've been blown away by how fresh, delicious, and well portioned the food is. 10/10 restaurant.”
Visiting from Belleville, ON
“Having lived in the Middle East for many years, eating here was like being transported back to the Middle East! The lemon mint juice was PERFECT!”
Regular guest, Winnipeg
“The staff and owners are super friendly and wonderful, the place is super clean and you will always get the best quality of food.”
Maqlubeh is a Palestinian one-pot dish of spiced rice layered with roasted vegetables such as cauliflower and eggplant plus halal meat. The pot is flipped upside down when served, which is what the name means.
No. It is warmly spiced with allspice, cinnamon and cardamom rather than chilli heat, which makes it a good choice for families and children.
Yes. Maqlubeh is well suited to family-style ordering and catering. Call (204) 221-1636 or order online for pickup and delivery.
Yafa Café, 1785 Portage Ave, Winnipeg — between Polo Park and Assiniboine Park, open daily from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
Order online for pickup or delivery anywhere in Winnipeg
Order Online View MenuYafa Café sits on Portage Avenue between Polo Park and Assiniboine Park, with easy parking and quick access from the West End, Wolseley, St. James, Silver Heights, Woodhaven, Deer Lodge and Sturgeon Creek.