Palestinian Food Carves Out Kansas City Niche

For close readers, this authentic urban cafe is worth a look and a very rare sign of local small biz succeeding without much help from local guv.

Here's a nice passage . . .

Before Baba’s Pantry, Kamal and his wife had been selling over 100 shawarma wraps a day to a loyal following from a counter inside of Cosentino’s Downtown Market. Once COVID-19 hit, the downtown lunch crowd dried up, and he knew it was time for him to find his own space . . .

The space gives guests a taste of the Middle East. The rich smell of coffee and spices in the air mixes with the smell of warm bread or pastry baking. The walls are an explosion of color with painted murals, art and family photos. Music plays, but you can barely hear it over the chatter at the counter as people point and order sides from the deli case. With only a few tables and chairs available to sit and enjoy your meal, folks do a good job of keeping it brief to make sure tables are always available. If not, you can simply place your order to-go.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . .

A Kansas City culinary veteran is now selling his signature Palestinian food at his own shop, Baba's Pantry

Chef Yahia Kamal has gone by a lot of nicknames in the almost 25 years he has been making Palestinian food for the people of Kansas City. But for his latest café and market, Baba's Pantry, he has chosen to go by the name his family calls him: Dad.