SAJJ Mediterranean, the rapidly expanding Mediterranean fast casual concept known for fresh and customizable eats, will celebrate the grand opening of its San Mateo location on Thursday, January 17. Festivities will begin at 11am, including a free entree for the first 50 people in line, 50% off orders all day long, and free tastings of SAJJ’s signature Chocolate Hummus & Cinnamon Chips. The San Mateo outpost, located in downtown at 251 East 3rd Avenue, is the ninth SAJJ store in California and seventh in the Bay Area.
“SAJJ Mediterranean began not too far from San Mateo. We’ve been looking to open a location there for a while, but have been waiting to find the perfect spot,” says Zaid Ayoub, founder & CEO of SAJJ Mediterranean. “When we came across the space in bustling downtown, with plenty of natural foot traffic, we knew it was the location we had been waiting for. We can’t wait to share our fresh, customizable offerings with the San Mateo community, at long last.”
The San Mateo store is conveniently located on the corner of 3rd Avenue and B Street, only a few blocks from the San Mateo Caltrain station. The 2700 square foot location houses live olive trees and showcases large windows that allow for plenty of natural light and warm atmosphere. The large space features earthy, neutral colors and decor, which is accented with a fabric banquette and a custom high table for communal dining.
“This store is a new look for SAJJ, and will become our new flagship location” adds Ayoub. “We’re calling it SAJJ 2.0.”
SAJJ currently has stores in development in the San Jose MarketCenter and the Shops at Bishop Ranch in San Ramon. The San Mateo opening comes on the heels of SAJJ’s location in Irvine, which opened to much fanfare in Orange County at the end of 2018. In the last year alone, the Mediterranean fast casual has opened three stores: one in San Francisco’s Financial District, and two in Southern California (Rancho Santa Margarita and Irvine).
SAJJ’s fully customizable menu offers traditional Mediterranean dishes made with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. Guests build their meal in an assembly line format, starting with the choice of signature sajj wrap, pita sandwich, turmeric rice bowl, or salad. Protein choices include chicken and steak shawarma, pomegranate chicken, shawafel (falafel & shawarma) or SAJJ’s famous falafel, dubbed the ‘best falafel in the Bay Area’ by Zagat SF. Unlimited spreads, sauces, and toppings can be added to further customize the meal to each guest’s liking. Complimentary lentil soup is served with each entree, and additional items like fries, pita chips, chocolate hummus, and traditional Mediterranean beverages can round out the meal.
SAJJ Mediterranean’s San Mateo outpost will be open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m.—9 p.m., and until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. In addition to their regular menu selection, the San Mateo location will offer catering services with choices of proteins, wide selection of sides, an appetizer menu, salad bar, and individual meal packages.
SAJJ Mediterranean currently operates two food trucks and nine brick-and-mortar locations across California: San Francisco (SOMA and FiDi), San Mateo, San Jose, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Rancho Santa Margarita, and Irvine, with additional stores slated to open in San Jose and San Ramon in early 2019.
