Good news to Jerusalem Cafe fans in Johnson County: Your days of having to drive to Westport for falafel are over.
The restaurant, which has a 36-year history in Kansas City, will celebrate the grand opening of its Mission location Sunday.
The new spot is at 6029 Metcalf Ave., in the former Tortilla Ranch spot. Adam Alazzeh, one of the owners, said he’s excited to bring his flavors to Johnson County.
“There’s nothing like it in the area,” Alazzeh said. “Really Mission doesn’t have much as far as (Mediterranean food). It’s all chicken or burgers around here, so it’s nice to have something different.”
One other Mediterranean restaurant in the city is Kinzi at 5329 Johnson Drive.
Rather than being a full-service location, customers order at the new Jerusalem Cafe’s register and opt to enjoy their food there or on-the-go.
Jerusalem Cafe is celebrating its grand opening in Mission this Sunday.
Inside, photos of Jerusalem fill the dining room. White-washed brick and faux greenery cover the walls.
Some of the restaurant’s specialties: gyro sandwiches, falafel sandwiches, hummus, baba ganoush, tabouli and more.
While it’s the only full-size location in Johnson County — Jerusalem Cafe has an on-the-go iteration inside World Fresh Market in Overland Park — this isn’t the first time it’s been in Johnson County.
Farid Azzeh opened Westport Sizzler in 1989. A few years later, the restaurant was rebranded to Jerusalem Cafe, 5151 Westport Road.
At one time, the chain had multiple locations in Johnson County, including one in the ‘90s at 10136 W. 119th St. in Overland Park.
It also had a location at 1610 W. 39th St., but that closed in 2010.
Jerusalem Cafe moved into the old Tortilla Ranch location.
Alazzeh said he’s excited to be back in the area and re-introduce some old fans to food they may remember and love from several years ago.
Tortilla Ranch — part of the Jose Pepper’s family of restaurants — closed in November.
The original Overland Park location will remain open at 8617 College Blvd. It debuted in 2014.
In late January, Darna Mediterranean opened in Olathe at 15962 S Mur-Len Road. A Lebanese restaurant opened on the Missouri side at 13135 State Line Road.
Jerusalem Cafe will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.