Jersey Kebab is welcoming customers this week at its newly relocated (and beautiful) space in Collingswood! Currently operating in true soft-opening mode, they are offering they original menu (from Haddon Twp) and within the next week or two, an expanded menu will launch including new items and a full breakfast menu.
Located on Haddon Avenue at Washington Avenue, I stopped in today and caught up with Muhammad who with his parents Emine and Celal own the restaurant. Known for their incredible Mediterranean dishes, the family has done an equally amazing job bringing Mediterranean beauty and design to the space… which many will remember as previously being The Pop Shop.
The family traces their culinary roots back to Turkey more than 70 years ago. They’ve operated a variety of restaurants over the years, but fully shifted their focus to Mediterranean cuisine around 1987. In 2021, the family brought their Mediterranean menu to Haddon Township, where their incredible family recipes and fresh, high-quality ingredients quickly earned a loyal following in the South Jersey community.
For the relocation, it was reported that a significant rent increase at the prior location would’ve have been too costly for the family to maintain the “local, corner store pricing”, which eventually led them to take over the former Pop Shop space in Collingswood.
Which is important to understand up-front… the goal for the family with Jersey Kabab Collings wood is to provide an elevated dining room experience, but to still keep the “corner store prices” on the menu!
Inside the new Jersey Kebab location, customers will find a beautiful, open restaurant design upgraded with Mediterranean décor throughout. Large front windows open the space to the busy Haddon Avenue downtown, letting in light and energy. Jersey Kebab frames the windows perfectly with eye-catching pink potted trees.
The restaurant is spacious and offers a variety of seating options in the main dining room, including tables, booths, and counter seating. And yes, I said “main” dining room—because Jersey Kebab actually features two large dining spaces.
This setup with two large dining areas provides flexibility for private events such as bridal showers, special anniversaries, and more in a dedicated room. That said, considering how beloved Jersey Kebab is in the community, I wouldn’t be surprised if they need the extra space just for regular dining!
The SECOND dining room at Jersey Kabab in Collingswood. Available for private parties, I bet they will be using it also for regular dining customers!
When it came time to order lunch, I asked Muhammad for a recommendation that would let me sample a variety of items. I went with the Jersey Mix Grill, which includes four different meats, two types of rice, and grilled peppers and vegetables. It’s truly a meal for two.
I stayed to eat in the restaurant but brought a lot home to my wife, who was out shopping at when I arrived home. When she walked in the door, she immediately said, “Oh wow, what smells so good—did you cook dinner?” I didn’t lie when I said I had dinner covered… a delicious Jersey Kebab dinner!
Jersey Kabab – Soft Opening
To be honest, I didn’t even realize they were actively serving customers when I stopped by. I had several reasons to be on Haddon Avenue today, and Jersey Kebab was on my list to check on.
Muhammad has built a strong social media presence for the restaurant and recently posted that the grand opening was still about a week away. However, in the same video, he explained that during a private event a few days ago passersby saw the activity inside, walked in thinking they were open, and started placing orders—orders Muhammad was happy to take! And that’s how this soft opening came together. (Facebook Video)
I happened to walk in about half an hour before lunchtime service began at noon. By the time I left roughly an hour later, there was already a solid crowd in the restaurant, so word is definitely getting out.
In that same video, Muhammad also described a “good problem” they’re facing. Their previous Haddon Township location was more like a corner store setup with limited seating, while the new Collingswood space features a much larger dining area and kitchen. During my visit, everything was running smoothly, with orders moving quickly out of the kitchen, but he’s smartly trying to ramp-up their offerings as the staff becomes familiar with their new surroundings.
So to allow staff time to get comfortable with the new kitchen and service flow, the restaurant is initially sticking with the original Jersey Kebab menu, which I don’t think anyone is complaining about! All of the beloved customer favorites will remain on the full menu!
Customers can choose from a variety of shish kebabs, gyros, platters and more. I want to stop back and try their “Famous Cheesesteak Gyro!’
Once they’re ready (in a week?), Muhammad will announce the launch of the expanded menu which will also feature a full breakfast menu. Offerings will include a traditional Turkish breakfast spread, along with American favorites such as waffles, pancakes, French toast, and breakfast sandwiches.
As mentioned, I ordered the Jersey Mix Grill, and it delivered a full variety of Turkish and Mediterranean flavors including lamb, chicken and kafte.
I initially ordered it to go, but decided to stay and eat in. Just taking it out of the bag and holding it for a few seconds, the aromas poured out of the container—I couldn’t wait to dig in.
A variety of Jersey Kabab menu items (Image: Jersey Kabab)
While I’m no expert in Mediterranean cuisine, I was served a yogurt-based sauce and a Mediterranean-style tortilla. I started by tasting each item on its own. The lamb chop was incredibly tender, and the chicken was moist and flavorful. Then I started experimenting—adding vegetables and rice into the tortilla, layering in the meats, and topping it with that delicious yogurt sauce. The result was a wonderful combination of savory flavors balanced by the cool, crisp taste of the sauce. Absolutely delicious.
I stopped in around noon, which felt like the start of lunch service. Muhammad shared an early version of the menu with me, and it appears that once the are in full Grand Opening mode the plan to be open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. most nights. Everything should come together over the next few days as Jersey Kebab transitions out of soft-opening mode and toward its official grand opening.
Follow along on the Jersey Kabab social channels to keep up! Facebook
Links and Location
Jersey Kebab – New Location Coming Soon
150 Haddon Ave
NJ
Hours? It’s Soft-Opening mode so aspects are still being worked out. Expect them to be open for traditional lunch and dinner hours.
Dining and Cooking