A new Mediterranean restaurant named Aladdin Café opened on October 6th at 938 Embarcadero del Norte in Isla Vista, the former longtime home of Javan’s. Owner Sako Abdulhai tells me the restaurant is run by a family who were raised out here with parents from Syria. “We are serving Mediterranean, blending the regional cuisines into one,” says Abdulhai. “We are using the best of the Lebanese, the best of the Jordanian, the best of all that whole culture and making a menu around that.”

The sandwich menu includes Beef Shawarma (beef, parsley, tahini, pickes), Chicken Shawarma (chicken, lettuce, garlic sauce, pickles), Falafel (falafel, lettuce, tomato, mint, pickles, tahini), Ground Beef Sandwich, Chicken Sandwich and Hamburger/Cheeseburger.

The plate menu includes Shish Taouk (chicken breast, rice, salad, hummus, pita), Shish Kabob (beef, rice, salad, hummus, pita), Kaffa (ground beef, rice, salad, hummus, pita), Mansaf (chicken breast, rice, yogurt, cucumber), Kabsi (lamb, rice, yogurt, cucumber), Combo Plate “Vegetarian” (falafel, malfoof, French fries, salad, baba ghanoush).

Hours are 8 a.m. – midnight weekdays and 8 a.m. – 1 a.m. on weekends. For more information call 770-7288

Aladdin Café staff (l – r): Scott Abdulhai, Steven Abdulhai, Georgia Tahan, Wanda Abdulhai, Fred Abdulhai, Maan Najjar, Owner/Manager Sako Abdulhai, Chef Hathim Aziz



The Restaurant Gal ordered the Shish Taouk plate at Aladdin Café with chicken breast, rice, salad, hummus, served with pita bread. The Restaurant Kid is not old enough for solid food so he missed out on quite a treat.