ANAHEIM, Calif. — In a major milestone for the Arabic community, the Anaheim City Council officially designated a stretch of Brookhurst Street as “Little Arabia.”

The new name pays homage to a cultural hub for Arabs in the City of Anaheim.

Arabic restaurants, clothing and jewelry stores line the street, showcasing the cuisine and lifestyle of many Middle Eastern cultures.

Among those shops is House of Mandi, the only Yemeni restaurant in all of Orange County. They offer traditional Mandi dishes, which are meats slow cooked in an underground mud-built oven.

For Anaheim’s Yemeni residents, it brings the flavors of home to their new city. For Omar Alsameeai, this part of town transports him to Yemen.

“You feel yourself, like you are back home,” Alsameeai said.

He immigrated to the United States two years ago and has been living in Anaheim’s “Little Arabia” district since his arrival. His uncle has spent over 10 years in Anaheim, and Alsameeai knew this is where he would feel most comfortable.

The designation was a hard fought battle for the Arabic community. For decades, Arabs have advocated for this stretch of Brookhurst to be named. The City Council finally answered their calls earlier this month, voting in favor of the designation.

All of the City Council members voted for the area to be named, except for one. Mayor Pro Tem Trevor O’Neil abstained from the vote.

The council still has to decide on what type of designation the “Little Arabia” district will get.

That will determine what type of funding and signage the area will receive.