The doors have opened to a new cafe in the centre of a Sunshine Coast town, and locals are relishing the unique offerings.
Owners Joseph and Alicia Shaich Yusuf launched Hakoora Foods Cafe at 6 Stevens Street in Yandina in January, after a decade of serving Middle Eastern cuisine at local markets and festivals.
Ms Yusuf said they were thrilled to take the next step with their business.
“Joseph has been looking for a place to share his food with customers more regularly for the past few years, and when this space became available, it felt right. We love Yandina,” she said.
“We also wanted to create a welcoming space where people could gather. We hope the cafe can be that kind of meeting place, as face-to-face connection is so needed in the world right now.”
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Ms Yusuf said customers had provided positive feedback since opening.
“The response has been wonderful. People love the food and coffee, and many have asked for dinner service too, so one night a week is coming soon.”
Locals also expressed their opinions on social media.
“Loved your falafel bowl special for lunch,” Leon Granzien said.
“Awesome food and prices,” Jamie Dalton said. “Really yummy food,” Swarana Jayanti added.
“Had lunch (there). It won’t be the last time. It was absolutely delicious,” Karen Be said.
Meanwhile, Mr Yusuf said he was delighted to open the cafe.
“We’ve been at the Yandina Markets and doing local festivals for 10 years now, so opening our first shop is exciting,” he said.
“Where I’m from in Jerusalem, everyone is always welcoming strangers and sharing food, so I hope to bring that to Yandina and the hinterland.”
Ms Yusuf said the dishes were “quite rare” on the Sunshine Coast.
“Our food features the unique flavours of the Middle East, with a strong focus on vegetarian and plant-based dishes.”
But she said that “meat lovers can’t resist” the venue, because of the beef koftas.
“The home-baked pita bread alone is worth the trip, and so are Joseph’s sweet treats,” she added.
Ms Yusuf said her husband was passionate about sharing Middle Eastern cuisine.
“Joseph’s recipes are in his blood, and the love he pours into them adds a flavour that can’t be matched,” she said.
“He grew up watching his mother prepare the falafel mix for his father to the cook and sell from a cart in the streets. Joseph’s mother is known in her hometown for her sweet treats, and has passed these cherished, generations-old recipes down to Joseph.”
Mr Yusuf’s falafels are renowned across the Sunshine Coast.
“He sources fresh herbs from local hinterland farmers (and) dry roasts his spices and blends chickpeas, herbs and vegetables in just the right way so the falafels are never tough or dry,” Ms Yusuf said.
“They’re fried in rice bran oil for a healthier option and can be enjoyed in a wrap, salad bowl, or shared brunch plate with tabbouleh, hummus, olives and baklawa.”
She said his shakshuka eggs were another highlight.
“They are made with dry roasted spices and perfectly paired with olives and soft, home-baked pita bread.”
“(And) his pastries are mostly plant-based and proving very popular. The cinnamon scrolls and baklawa are definite crowd pleasers, while the halva and pistachio scrolls are a Middle Eastern delight for the more adventurous.”
The cafe also has beverages from Slide Coffee.
Mr and Ms Yusuf moved to Australia in 2005, before embarking on their business journey.
“Joseph noticed the lack of authentic Middle Eastern food in Australia, and our friends all encouraged him to start something whenever they tasted his food,” Ms Yusuf said.
A move to the Sunshine Coast in 2016 provided the ideal platform.
“It was the perfect opportunity for a career transformation, from builder into food magician,” she said.
The enterprise started as Falafel Baraka at the Yandina Markets and it built a loyal following, before it was rebranded Hakoora Foods in 2019.
The cafe was the next big step.
“Hakoora is an ancient Arabic name for a small plot of land beside a family home where food is lovingly tended and used to prepare simple, nourishing dishes,” Ms Yusuf said.
“The hakoora is also a gathering place, one of laughter, joy, and celebration, always centred around a table full of food from the hakoora itself.”
The cafe, supported by five staff members, is open Wednesday to Saturday from 6am to 2pm.
Hakoora Foods still trades at the Yandina Markets most Saturdays and also appears at festivals across the Sunshine Coast.
