When Tariq Alkafaween moved from Dubai to Plano in 2018, he quickly realized something was missing from his mornings: a strong, spiced cup of karak tea.
A staple across the Middle East, karak is a black tea simmered with cardamom, cinnamon and saffron, then enriched with evaporated milk until it thickens into a creamy, aromatic brew. It’s a drink often shared at gatherings and sipped during morning rituals – far more than just a caffeine fix.
“Dallas has become one of the biggest cities for expats coming overseas,” Alkafaween says. “Middle Eastern, Indian, Pakistani people … their cuisine was not as available as it is right now. It’s the top tea in the Middle East. There was a demand but no supply.”
Though his background was in IT and finance – he worked as a licensed trader back in Dubai – Alkafaween saw a gap in the local food scene and felt inspired to fill it. In 2024, he opened Karak Tea Bakery and Cafe in Plano’s West Park Village.
The cafe centers around karak, made from loose-leaf tea imported from Dubai and brewed in-house – no shortcuts, no tea bags. But it’s more than just a tea stop.
Handmade flatbreads called manakeesh (also spelled manakish) are baked fresh each morning in a custom-built brick oven. They come topped with classic Middle Eastern flavors or fused with other culinary traditions – think margherita-style or chicken tikka twists ($4.99-$9.99). The menu also includes flaky samosas, paratha rolls ($5.99-9.99), syrup-soaked knafeh and fresh-squeezed juices ($6.99 for a regular or $8.99 for a large).
Though Alkafaween adjusts traditional menu items to fit the tastes of the diverse community, he stays true to his Dubai roots by keeping up with the trends. Mango knafeh has been all the rage, he says, so it was added to the menu. Dubai chocolate is on the way as well.
“We make everything from scratch here. We’re trying to make it natural and clean as much as we can,” he says. “We don’t add any chemicals. We don’t add any enhancements. We don’t add any softener. We use just the basics [for our dough] which is flour, milk, water and sugar. That’s it.”
Even the cafe’s atmosphere was carefully considered. Designed to feel like a modern hotel lobby, the space features cozy seating nooks and vibrant decor – perfect for snapping a photo or settling in for a long chat. While tea is the main attraction, espresso drinks are also on the menu for those who prefer coffee.
For Alkafaween, the goal was simple: to bring a taste of home to a new place, and to create a space where people – expats and locals alike – could connect over something warm, familiar and comforting.
Karak Tea Bakery and Cafe, 469.931.2040, 1820 Coit Road, karakteadallas.com
