Abu Omar Halal has opened a Mediterranean street food restaurant at Bay Area Plaza in Webster. The new storefront is at 105 W. Bay Area Blvd.
The opening, announced through a city of Webster social media post and reported by Community Impact, marks the chain's move from food truck operations to a permanent location. The Webster restaurant is open daily from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. and until 3 a.m. on weekends, according to Hoodline.
The menu includes chicken and beef shawarma, lamb gyros, falafel, kabob platters, rice bowls, loaded fries, shawarma quesadillas and arabi meals, per the city's post as cited by Community Impact.
Founder Mohammad Altawaha, known as Abu Omar, launched the brand in Houston in June 2011 as the city's first dedicated halal food truck. It originally operated under the name "Abu Omar Taco" before pivoting entirely to Middle Eastern street food and shawarma, according to QSR Magazine as cited by Hoodline. Altawaha had immigrated to Houston in 2008 for graduate studies before entering the restaurant industry.
The chain has grown since then. Hoodline reported the Webster shop brings the Texas count to 19 locations, while the company's own website lists more than 25 food truck and storefront locations across Texas, Florida, California and Oklahoma. The discrepancy may reflect different counting methods or timing.
Webster, a city of about 12,500 residents spanning just under 7 square miles, is roughly 80% commercial, according to a separate Community Impact report on Webster development. Webster Marketing and Tourism Specialist Katie Vela told Community Impact that the city has made strides to support regional destination development. The Bay Area Boulevard corridor sees heavy traffic, with about 250,000 vehicles traveling the nearby I-45 Gulf Freeway corridor daily, according to city documents cited in that report.
The late-night hours set Abu Omar Halal apart from many Bay Area Boulevard dining options. Menu details are available at abuomarhalal.com.
