Mohamed Shawa opened his first restaurant, Falafel Hut, in 2006 with this father in San Rafael. Since then, he’s been serving up authentic Middle Eastern cuisine reminiscent of his Palestinian heritage — shawarma, kebabs, gyros, and, of course, falafel.
His recipes, inspired by his mother’s cooking, come straight from Palestine, a place he’s visited for long stretches of time over the years (he even got married there) and where his cousin has been a chef for thirty years. And now, he’s going into business with his cousin, Asem Alshawwa, to open Falafel Hut’s sister restaurant, Falafel Hut 2 in Santa Rosa.
“I love the area,” says Shawa. “There are tons of restaurants on the street, and the whole neighborhood just feels alive.” Falafel Hut 2 will be at 701 4th Street, on the corner of 4th and D streets, down the block from Russian River Brewing Company and Tudor Rose English Tea Room.
The space is fully built-out, with a stucco exterior and awnings, and a large window suited for indoor-outdoor dining. Like the original restaurant, Falafel Hut 2 will offer counter service, with indoor and outdoor seating. Shawa plans to open his new spot in about a month, so stay tuned on Facebook for updates.
