Starting a Middle Eastern Restaurant Business

If you are interested in starting your own Middle Eastern Restaurant Business, be it Persian, Turkish, Lebanese or Mediterranean, we are here to give you a few tips in making that restaurant dream come true.

Compiled from customer reviews and expert restaurant owner’s experience, these tips can sure help you in opening that Middle Eastern Restaurant.

Starting any business is difficult. Workloads of planning, budgeting, consulting along with tears and frustration often plague a hopeful restaurateur. Research and adequate preparation is the key. Starting a Middle Eastern restaurant is the same as starting any restaurant business, however, to succeed, one should make some alterations. I therefore present some helpful tips in preparing for that Middle Eastern restaurant.

Location and Market for the Middle Eastern Restaurant Business

Like any restaurant, good location and market research is a vital starting point. This includes marking the competition and the usual people that could possibly be your customers. This also includes surveys and interviews of your prospective consumers. Also consider other Middle Eastern restaurants around the area. Is it really necessary to have two Turkish Restaurants? Why not try a combination of Turkish and Persian dishes? Also consider the ambiance of the other restaurants. If there are more intimate restaurants around, why not try a livelier, outdoorsy type of restaurant? You may also try a different kind of entertainment to set you apart from other Middle Eastern restaurants. Why not have belly dancers or fortune tellers for a change?

Themes and Menu for Middle Eastern Restaurant Business

Setting a theme is also crucial in making your Middle Eastern restaurant stand-out from the rest. This includes the decorations, the menu and even the specials your restaurant may offer. If you choose a combination of various cultures as a theme, you may want to think of decorations depicting the cultures you have chosen, such as setting up some cultural artifacts. The dishes you offer may also include a combination of the specialties from your chosen culture. In choosing a single culture, it might be a good idea to choose a particular era or period in that culture’s history. You can build your restaurant’s image and food on that era. Like a typical 60s or 70s setting in Iran. Specialties have also been found to be effective among the customers. Mezzes or small dishes for sharing proved to be quite unforgettable for a Middle Eastern restaurant in Canada. Customers also like promos or discounts for each day of the week. An example of this would be if the customer buys one main dish, the second one would be offered at half the price. Some Middle Eastern restaurants offer a good authentic coffee or tea collection. Others have a marvelous wine collection. Some customers really appreciate tasty and delicious vegetarian dishes or organic dishes for the health conscious. Other than these, a friendly and respectful crew of service personnel also makes the customers come back.

Though it is not easy opening a Middle Eastern restaurant, the demand is particularly high. Many consumers appreciate a good Middle Eastern restaurant. With some hard work and good advice, it is not impossible to make that dream Middle Eastern restaurant a reality.

19 Comments

  • Dhurjoti said on April 30, 2009
    hi i am planning to open up a middle eastern cuisine restaurant. i have sorted out a place and have done all the financial planning. it would be very helpful for me if you could email me the details of the legal formalities involved in establishing the business. thank you
  • Youmna said on October 10, 2009
    Good luck with your venture. You are going to do very well with your new business.
  • Mohamed Bashir Atabani said on March 6, 2010
    We are interested in starting a chain of fast food restaurants in Sudan, first Khartoum then other cities
  • sara said on December 15, 2010
    I'M LOOKING FOR OPEN Middle Eastern Cuisine , I NEED PARTNER
  • ismail canlı said on February 12, 2011
    ı am turkish person openıng restaurant khartoum. my experience since 35 years turkish cuisine. if any person interested to open turkish restaurant khartoum pls contact with me. best regards ısmail canlı
  • Dilan Perera said on November 16, 2011
    I'm from Sri Lanka, and I'm interested in starting a turkish ( middle eastern) food restaurant in Sri Lanka. I'm looking for a partner. Preferably somebody who is familiar with the cuisine. I would appreciate if I could get assistance regarding the matter. I see that ismail canli is interested in partnering. Please give me his contact details. best regards, dilan
  • maryam said on November 25, 2011
    I am interested to open a iranian restaurant or take away shop in hong kong. please let me know if anyone else is interested to do something similar in hong kong. Thanks, Maryam
  • suhair said on January 20, 2012
    I'd like to open arabic restaurant in turky or Emirate i need a partner to share the cost .
  • Mohamad said on November 22, 2012
    I live in kansas, usa and I am looking to open a fast food Arabic food subway/Quiznos style but having totally different menus. I just need to know if anybody have an experience doing so who can give me an advice or getting into it with me. I have the investment but mainly looking for somebody who worked in preferably Syrian/Lebanese cuisine environment or familiar with it. Thank you
  • Hamid skili said on December 21, 2012
    Hello, my name is hamid 31 years old, and i'm trying to start a new fast food business , any help, email me at hamidskili@hotmail.com
  • muhammad said on February 24, 2013
    I am interested in opening an arabic or middle eastern restaurant in hetian city china, if anybody interested and have plans please e-mail me
  • faisal javaid said on March 19, 2013
    Hi my name is faisal I am interested in opening a authentic style arabic restaurant in forth worth usa if any one interested msg me as soon as possible.
  • abdukrahman said on June 25, 2013
    hi i am abdulrahman i am interested in opening a saudi traditional restaurant in california . whoever is interested please contact me
  • mohammad reza darrigan said on October 7, 2013
    I am 65 year old retired doctor(podiatrist) trying to open a middle eastern testurany serving mainly gyrus and kabab with arabic salad like tabula in Arlington ,dallas/fort worth area. I am looking for someone that has middle eastern restaurant business experience to help me to set it up or even if desire become a partner. Please e-mail me at robertddarrigan@gmail.com thank you
  • Joseph Sammour said on November 29, 2013
    Dear Sir, My name is Joseph Sammour, i am Lebanese, i am 48 year old, i am a lebanese Chef by profession, I have more than 20 years of experience in Lebanese Restaurants and all catering services. I have been working in Dubai, Qata, Oman, Iraq, Sudan , Nigeria, Eritrea and now i am in Angola. I am very interested to be in contact with you to discuss further as to be part of this business. I am looking forward to hear from you. Best regards, Joseph Sammour 00244921664488
  • Hassan said on December 30, 2013
    We are preparing, with my friend, to open an Arabic Restaurant in prime area in Dubai. I would like to see if someone has the experience in gourmet Lebanese and other Arabic foods to be our consultant and help us with the menus prior to opening the show. This could be done remotely, if one is not in UAE. Warm regards, Hassan
  • sarah said on May 17, 2014
    Hi, I am planning to open an Iranian/Greek restaurant in Vancouver Canada and looking for somebody who has a long term experience in the cuisines. Thanks, Sarah
  • steven said on August 20, 2014
    HI, I'm from Malaysia. Looking forward to set up middle eastern food at my place. looking for someone has the experience in gourmet Lebanese and other Arabic food. Many thanks
  • Jehad AbdelRahman said on December 29, 2014
    Alsalamoalaikom, I am from Jordan and working in Bintlu - Malaysia till this moment kindly I need a partner to open an ARABIC restaurant in west malaysia and importing all traditional products from middle east. Thanks Jehad 0060128700354

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