Shawarma on the Move: Kismet Cafe Is Leaving Campus

Kismet Cafe, which has built its reputation on reasonably-priced halal Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fare, is relocating this fall to the Hancock Center, as reported by The Daily Texan. After 22 years on the corner of West 24th and Guadalupe streets, the family-owned and operated casual cafe is shuttering the original campus location the weekend before Thanksgiving and aims to open its new location on 41st and Red River Streets by mid-December.

The relocation will more than double the restaurant's footprint from 1,200-square feet to 2,500-square feet and will offer better parking for customers and employees.

In addition, The Daily Texan reported:

"Owner Rami Bataineh [...said] the reason behind the move is so the restaurant will be able to cater to its growing business [...] ‘It’s actually for the sake of an upgrade,’ Bataineh said. ‘We’ve been sitting there for a long time, and the building is getting so old. We were looking for a new place to continue our good service.’"

The menu will remain the same from its gyro meat platter to falafel and hummus plate to spicy chicken wrap, which means diners can expect the same wide variety of offerings for vegetarians too.

The hours will also go untouched — 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Wednesdays, and 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. Thursdays through Saturdays.

Bataineh also shared with The Daily Texan that "he plans to bring Kismet Cafe back to a location closer to campus, but there is no timeline for when that will be."

• Kismet Cafe to relocate away from campus [The Daily Texan]