Moroccan & Turkish Dishes Distinguish
Yalla’s Fast Casual Debut –
Nine More to Open This Year
Fresh on the scene and led by a veteran team, Yalla Mediterranean is poised for growth. After two successful openings in Northern California, the new fast casual restaurants that serve fresh, healthy Mediterranean fare are scheduled to open nine more locations throughout California this year, with several openings coming up soon in LA.
The team is led by Dave Wolfgram, CEO of Mediterranean Cuisine Operating Company, LLC, who has an impressive pedigree as former Vice President and Managing Partner of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises. During his 35-year career, Dave also led the fast casual sector as CEO of Boudin with the successful launch and expansion of the popular Boudin SF fast casual restaurants.
Yalla has several elements that distinguish it from other fast casual restaurants – and other Mediterranean restaurants:
- Yalla Mediterranean is the only “polished fast-casual” restaurant offering an open-flame grill, rotisserie-style cooking, traditional Mediterranean spices, fresh ingredients and food cooked to order. Most other fast casual restaurants serve their proteins from a steamed table, but Yalla Mediterranean has a unique rotisserie conveyer grill that was made especially for them – enabling them to cook meat, fish and poultry to order in three minutes or less.
- Yalla Mediterranean is committed to responsibly sourced meat, fish and produce. Their Wild Keta Salmon, for example, comes from a non-profit in Alaska that is dedicated to the sustainability of small fishing villages and protecting the environment. Yalla also purchases its beef from Meyers Beef, one of the leaders in responsibly raised, antibiotic-free beef.
- Rather than focusing solely on Greek food, Yalla draws inspiration from several Eastern Mediterranean countries, including Egypt, Israel, Morocco, Lebanon and Turkey. The menu is wildly diverse, especially for fast casual, and features dishes such as Turkish Spiced Ground Lamb, Moroccan Carrot Salad, a spicy Harissa sauce from North Africa, and a dessert that’s sure to be on everyone’s “best of” list soon – Greek Yogurt with Baklava and Honey.
Catering to popular dietary needs, Yalla’s menu is designed for custom ordering with several vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free options. With two locations up and running in Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek California, Yalla has been a big hit in the fast-casual arena as the below articles demonstrate:
- http://firstwefeast.com/eat/the-next-big-food-chains/
- http://redtri.com/san-francisco/just-opened-yalla-mediterranean/
- http://www.diablomag.com/D-blog/Diablo-Dish/March-2015/Weekly-Dish-All-Fired-Up/
About Yalla:
Yalla — which means “Let’s go!” — is a new fast-casual restaurant that offers fresh, healthy and flavorful Mediterranean fare served in a warm and inviting atmosphere. Incorporating traditional Mediterranean spices and flavors along with classic grilling techniques, Yalla offers an authentic and wholesome dining experience sure to delight all five senses.
The restaurant showcases a lively and interactive culinary experience from the moment you step inside, with fresh ingredients, rotisserie-style grilling and food cooked to order. Yalla brings enticing, exciting flavors to each plate through made-to-order skewers, wraps, salads, sides and desserts, plus house crafted lemonade, local wines on tap and craft beers. Yalla is also a place for friends and family to gather to enjoy wholesome Mediterranean cuisine that’s not only delicious and good for you, but also served fast and affordably priced.
Yalla showcases an open-flame rotisserie grill and a welcoming, vibrant decor of blues and yellows, clean lines and rustic design touches. Focused on sustainability, Yalla serves responsibly raised meat and fish, uses locally-sourced products wherever possible, and utilizes 100 percent certified compostable disposable packaging. Yalla’s Catering Menu is ideal for meetings and corporate lunches while the Family Style Carry-Out Meal is the perfect solution for families seeking healthy and affordable carry-out dinner options.
For more information, please visit www.yallamedi.com.
