Ayat, the self-proclaimed Palestinian soul food restaurant with roots in Brooklyn, New York, quietly opened its first Texas location in Richardson recently. This is one of many restaurants moving to Dallas as of late.

Ayat has moved into a diverse neighborhood with a fast-growing population of Arab-owned businesses. 

Owner Abdul Elenani was at the restaurant during our visit, though we dropped in unannounced. Elenani has enjoyed opening his ninth location and adapting to the new environment. He anticipates opening more locations throughout Dallas, Austin and Houston within the next two years. 

“We’re learning, and we’re amending every day, every minute,” Elenani says. “We’re changing because it’s very different than New York, so we have to amend to the community and their needs.”

The Restaurant Space

The first thing we noticed upon stepping inside was an olive tree that reached the ceiling, with long branches extending over wooden tables below. An open kitchen dominates nearly half the restaurant space.

We opted to sit underneath the olive tree. The shaded patio is definitely our second choice, and it will soon become a wraparound patio once they eliminate the drive-thru area. The extensive menu is the same across all locations; it features a map of Palestine and cultural concepts. 

Cold and Hot Appetizers

Ayat anchors its menu with mezze appetizer platters; the cold section features hummus, baba ghanoush, and labneh; the hot side is a mix of falafel, kibbeh, and fried halloumi, to name a few. We ordered the classic combo of falafel ($8) and hummus ($11). 

Our server brought us complimentary pita bread with za’atar (Middle Eastern spice blend), olive oil and olives for the table. The pillowy-soft pita came baked fresh from their wood-fired oven, which added to the flavor when dipped in olive oil and za’atar – the traditional way to eat this staple Middle Eastern breakfast or snack. 

For the main dish, our waiter vehemently suggested we order the popular Pizzawarma ($26) and the mixed grill ($37).

Elenani says the main complaint he’s received is that the plates are too expensive. When comparing prices to portion sizes, which are massive enough to share (one plate is enough for two, and the family platters easily feed four), the prices seem pretty reasonable. At least here we got five falafel pieces for $8, not half that for double the price. 

The Star of the Menu

The Pizzawarma arrived filled with beef shawarma, halloumi, pickles, olives, pomegranate molasses, sumac onions and tahini sauce. This was our favorite; the tangy, creamy halloumi paired exquisitely with the tender beef shawarma and the garlic sauce elevated it further. 

The mixed grill came with chicken kebab, beef kebab, kefta and lamb chop on a bed of yellow rice with a side of salad. Overall, the grilled meats hit the mark, though the lamb was a bit tough and the flavor was still enjoyable. The rice was simple and complemented the meal.

We finished with a piece of baklava, which was one of the best we’ve had in a while. The pastry was the perfect balance of rich, sweet and flaky. By the end of our meal, the restaurant was filling up.

Elenani acknowledges that opening in a conservative state could come with difficulties, a reality reinforced after a spate of racist online reviews for his New York restaurant during the Israel-Hamas war. Despite this, he remains committed to developing Ayat and sharing its mission.

“I love challenges, especially out of my comfort zone, because you learn a lot when you go through that,” Elenani says. “We’re doing our best to please everyone. At the end of the day, this wasn’t built just as a business; it was built to communicate the occupation of Palestine through food and culture.”

Ayat, 200 W Spring Valley Road (Richardson); Sunday – Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday – Saturday, 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.