A Middle Eastern restaurant in Philadelphia will open a take-out-only spot in Cherry Hill. Alamodak Restaurant & Lounge, which opened in 2017, specializes in Jordanian food in the Kensington neighborhood. It is the only restaurant in Philadelphia specifically serving the food of Jordan.
Now the owners, who live in South Jersey, are opening Alamodak Restaurant Express at the Woodcrest Shopping Center, 1400 Berlin Road Unit 138, in Cherry Hill sometime in early Spring.
“Many customers come from South Jersey to taste and enjoy our food,” owner Francisco Ayoub told South Jersey Food Scene. “We decided to expand our operation in South Jersey to serve our guests better.”
It will be a take-out-only location and serve as a pilot to see if Jordanian food will work in South Jersey. If it does well, they may consider opening a restaurant with indoor dining at some point.
Jordanian food is very similar to other Middle Eastern foods, with minor differences. The most popular dish of Jordan is Mansaf, a lamb and yogurt stew assembled on top of a thin bread (called Markook) with layers of saffron-infused rice, toasted pine nuts, and herbs.
Ayoub will open this location with a partner, Mehdi Belghiti, of Voorhees.
Stay tuned for more information, including the opening date, menu, and operating hours, as it becomes available.
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Marilyn is a freelance writer covering the food and drink scene of South Jersey. You can find more of her writing on Philly Grub and NewsBreak.