A Home Away From Home, Arabs and Middle Easterners Can Feel Among Family at Tayybeh

Leaving behind family, friends, plus familiar sights, sounds and a sense of community can be a daunting (if not completely frightening) experience for anyone departing their home country for any reason.

At Tayybeh, we always aim to bridge that gap, offering more than just a literal taste of home but also a safe space, a positive place, somewhere to connect. 

Founded in 2016, long before we opened the doors to our restaurant here in Kitsilano, Tayybeh began as a way to support, employ and empower Syrian refugee women who had been talented chefs back home. Through our launch in the form of popup dinners, we didn’t just provide employment, we helped to foster a sense of belonging in their new home.

Fast forwarding to February 2024, when we opened the doors to our brick-and-mortar location, we knew how we wanted our community to feel and connect with Tayybeh beyond it being another restaurant. We wanted walking into Tayybeh to feel like stepping into a warm embrace, a loving hug, a safe space, whether in the form of seeing familiar or relatable faces, or simply feeling at home upon smelling the aroma of freshly baked pita bread or sizzling kebabs.

Our wonderful all-women staff are always so excited each day to greet guests with a smile, and can easily connect with, comfort and relate to various guests.

Whether a recent arrival or a Vancouverite, Tayybeh welcomes everyone with open arms.

However, while our space is inclusive of any and all guests, from near and far, we can’t emphasize enough how our fellow Arabs won’t just feel among patrons in our establishment but among other Syrians and Arabs sharing stories, laughter, struggles, the comforting flavours of our homeland and a cup of Arabic coffee. 

Our small yet mighty establishment is more than a food-service location, it’s a testament to the resilience of human spirit and the power of community. Somewhere we can celebrate our longtime traditions while forming new friendships and feeling like we belong as soon as we step through the door.

We also just can’t deny that we love, love, love serving tastes of home in the process. 

Our authentic dishes are prepared with said love and we adore seeing them captivate locals, newcomers and tourists alike. From our flavourful kebabs to our ever-so-shareable mezze platters, we hope to make every visit unforgettable.

By enjoying Tayybeh in any way, you’re not just getting your favourite food, beverage or social break, you’re contributing to the empowerment of fellow Syrians while enriching our new home city’s diverse culture.

Whether you’ll be chatting with friends over our Middle Eastern High Tea, watching live musicians performing the sounds of home, celebrating holidays like Eid, Ramadan (and Canadian holiday traditions too) or simply treating yourself to delicious Knafeh, we’re excited for you to pop in here at 2836 W 4th Avenue so we can meet, greet and learn about you too. 

Can’t wait to see you,

- Nihal & Team Tayybeh