Hatem Askar, chef and business owner of Middle Eats, recalls when he first moved to Hawaiʻi from Egypt about seven years ago.
“I was struggling to find the food that I was raised eating,” he says. “Shawarmas, falafels and kebabs have been my favorites. I had to cook this kind of food for myself every day, and also share with my coworkers at my old job.”
After the positive feedback he received, Askar decided to start his own business — called Middle Eats — and popped up weekly at the Honolulu Farmers Market in June 2020.
“(I wanted to) share my food and culture with the local community,” he says. “Even though I was stressed and scared that I wouldn’t do well and wasn’t really expecting much, I surprisingly sold out in 90 minutes on my first day. This was the moment when I found my new purpose — feeding people healthy food and flavors straight from the Middle East. They (these flavors) can’t be found anywhere else on this island.
“The goal was to pick different flavors from different parts of that region in one bite; that’s why I called the business ‘Middle Eats,’” he adds.
Since 2020, Middle Eats has popped up at farmers markets in Mililani, Kailua and Kapiʻolani Community College, according to Askar. Around two years ago, the eatery opened its first location on Merchant Street.
“It’s a new restaurant concept called a virtual kitchen,” he explains. “People can place their order from our website, and come pick it up as a curbside option or via delivery.”
Toward the end of January, the business opened its physical location within the Midtown Eats food hall at The Park on Keʻeaumoku.
The business features a variety of wraps, rice bowls, dips, salads and side dishes.
“Our falafel, lamb kofta and shawarma brisket are definitely musts to start with, if you’re visiting us for the first time,” Askar says. “They all come with our housemade sauces like hummus, green tahini and baba ghanoush, which take our flavors to the next level.”
He adds that everything is made to order to ensure maximum freshness.
The business’s lamb kofta are made from 100% Halal ground lamb patties with house kofta seasoning. Meanwhile, the shawarma brisket features USDA Prime braised beef brisket with the eatery’s special shawarma seasoning.
Wraps are made with footlong toasted lavosh bread, while rice bowls include cardamom basmati rice.
The business’s chicken kebabs and housemade falafel are especially flavorful when paired with its creamy, roasted garlic hummus and green tahini dip.
If you want something unique, opt for Middle Eats’ Egyptian Koshary ($16). This dish features an authentic taste of Egypt’s popular vegan street food. It’s loaded with basmati rice, brown lentils, macaroni spaghetti, vermicelli, seasoned chickpeas and salsa. It’s finished with crispy onions on top.
Askar says he’s excited for the business’s new spot, and encourages first-time customers to give them a try.
“It’s (this new location) part of our expansion plan in Hawaiʻi (to have) six stores across the Islands in the next three years,” he says. “We hope to get the support we need from the local community to come and try our food that is healthy and authentic, filling and delicious.”
CONTACT
Middle Eats
Midtown Eats at The Park on Keʻeaumoku
1515 Liona St, Honolulu
middleeats808.com
Instagram: @middleeats808
Open daily, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
