Grab your Zhoug sauce: Lawrence-built eatery launching brand across KC (starting with this famous food spot)

Shuttered for three years, the former d’Bronx pizzeria space — the now-defunct hometown brand’s original location along 39th Street’s famed “Restaurant Row” — is reopening Wednesday with a fresh look and flavors from the other side of the globe (via a Kansas college town).

Zhoug Mediterranean is expected to debut its fare at 3904 Bell St. after a renovation that saw the Midtown space gutted and remodeled with a sleek modern look featuring murals in muted primary colors on bright white walls by an African artist.

Its focus: “Healthy food served fast,” said Jeremy Saunders, director of operations.

Zhoug Mediterranean along Kansas City famed 39th Street Restaurant Row; photo by Joyce Smith

Owner Hanif Lakhani first operated The Fresh Mediterranean Company as a humble mom-and-pop operation (well mostly pop) in a Lawrence, Kansas, convenience store/gas station for nearly a decade.

But when Lakhani decided to expand, he created a fast-casual concept — a “brand recognized company” — that he could roll out across the Kansas City metro and elsewhere.

“We make amazing falafels, very popular at our Lawrence location and we think it will be a top hit for the launch of this new brand,” Saunders said.

Another Zhoug Mediterranean location is scheduled to open in June within another restaurant-dense district — at 16728 City Center Drive in the bustling Lenexa City Center.

The Chipotle-style ordering counter at Zhoug Mediterranean restaurant in Kansas City’s Midtown; photo by Joyce Smith

The 39th Street space features a Chipotle-style ordering system wherein customers move down the line to select their ingredients — salad, rice or hummus; meat or falafel; vegetables; and made-from-scratch sauces (especially its popular Zhoug sauce with cilantro and garlic).

Or customers can pick one of its specialty bowls, pita wraps or platters: Sesame falafel, chicken shawarma, gyro beef and lamb, or beef kabobs. 

Drinks will include yogurt milk, mango juice, lemonade, coconut water, strawberry dragonfruit pomegranate, and sweet or unsweetened tea. It will have baklava for dessert.

Other menu items include french fries, lentil soup, salad, hummus, basmati rice, and stuffed grape leaves.

Zhoug Mediterranean along Kansas City famed 39th Street Restaurant Row; photo by Joyce Smith

The company plans to hire 25 to 30 employees for the Lenexa location next week and still needs a few workers for the Midtown spot, which closed as a d’Bronx Authentic Deli and Pizzeria in May 2022.

ICYMI: Longtime Kansas City pizza shop has closed its last restaurant; Is it gone for good?

Lakhani-led parent company Ethnic Food Concepts LLC is expected to remodel its Lawrence location in the next year, turning his original convenience store/gas station into another Zhoug Mediterranean restaurant.

The operation also boasts an Olathe commissary, and plans to expand its Mexican concept, The Stuffed Burrito Co., inside area convenience stores.

Startland News contributor Joyce Smith covered local restaurants and retail for nearly 40 years with The Kansas City Star. Click here to follow her on Bluesky, here for X (formerly Twitter), here for Facebook, here for Instagram, and by following #joyceinkc on Threads.