April 19, 2021

A Middle Eastern food truck that started in Sioux Falls three years ago has grown into a restaurant and a market.

Kabab King opened today in the former Taco John’s at 1609 E. 10th St.

Owner Moe Fares brought a partner, Yasin Alderani, into the new venture, which has expanded with a market offering Mediterranean groceries.

With the restaurant, customers order their food at the counter, and there’s seating for about 40 people. There’s a drive-thru, but it’s closed for now.

The menu features favorites from the food truck such as kababs, shawarma, gyros, falafel and chislic.

A mixed grill platter with lamb, chicken and beef offers kebabs, shish tawook and shawarma with salad and rice or French fries. “It’s going to be a huge platter for $15.99,” Fares said.

While the market stocks frozen falafel, Fares points out that restaurant’s offering is made fresh. It’s a good choice for vegetarians, he said, but notes that it’s the “perfect food” for everyone.

The menu also features a couple of hamburgers.

“This is for the people that come and look at the menu, they don’t know anything or they’re afraid to try something new,” he said. “So they can go to another place, we don’t want them to go to another place. We want to have something for them.”

The market offers shelves stocked with a variety of products from Turkish coffee to dried lentils to olives and dried fruits. Coolers are stocked with beverages, cheese, yogurt and meat. Freezers have more meat, falafel and other products. Some of the market and restaurant items are halal, meaning they are prepared according to Islamic dietary laws, Fares said.

With the opening of the restaurant, Fares sold the food truck.

“I cannot manage two at one time,” he said. “If you manage two at one time, you’re going to lose one.”

His sons, who used to work with him on the food truck, have moved on to other jobs.

Kabab King continues to offer catering, but customers will have to pick up the food at the restaurant.

Cooking is a second career for Fares, who was born in Lebanon. He worked for 27 years as a senior systems analyst for Qatar National Bank, one of the largest banks in the Middle East. His wife’s parents live in Sioux Falls, so the family eventually moved here. Fares decided he was ready for a career that was “completely different,” so he started the food truck.

“I went from enhance the product to enhance the food,” he said. “I like it. I found myself here in the kitchen.”

Now, the restaurant will allow him to share his food with people year-round.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Editor’s note: The hours for the restaurant have been corrected since the article was first published.