Back in 2015, Abdallah Qawadri, who owns another restaurant, Kabab City in Fowler, decided to open up Zaytoona Mediterranean Cuisine restaurant in Hanford, California.
Qawadri has looked in smaller cities for restaurant possibilities and the city of Hanford is no doubt in need of a Mediterranean restaurant and Zaytoona is no doubt a well-loved place by locals.
Zaytoona (or Zaytun) is Arabic for olive and Kabab (chicken, bee, shish, lula, shrimp, etc.) are part of the specialty entrees, as is the Mediterranean offerings of gyro, shawerma, falafel, lula lavash, garlic chicken wrap, peda burger and more.
I have eaten at this restaurant once before (back when it opened), as a friend took me out for fatoush salad.
But this time, I wanted to explore the restaurant even further.
Having eaten at Mediterranean restaurants throughout the country, I was in the mood of trying Zaytoona.
Photos of the late Hussein bin Talal, King of Jordan and his wife, Queen Noor of Jordan can be seen in a cabinet, alongside photos of current King, Abdulla II of Jordan and his wife Queen Rania or Jordan.
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a sovereign Arab state in western Asia and considered Eastern Mediterranean (which also consists of Cyprus, Greece, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Israel, Turkey and Egypt).
I have read about Mansaf being a national dish of Jordan, which is made of lamb, cooked in a sauce made of fermented dried yogurt and served with rice or bulgur. Hummus and falafel are popular snacks in Jordan.
But I wasn’t sure what was offered at Zaytoona Mediterranean Cuisine, so I wanted to get a mix. I often order Kabab, hummus, baklava and fatoush salad, so I knew for this recent lunch, I wanted to try something different.
I wanted us to try Zaytoona’s Falafel (spiced chickpeas and deep fried, served with lettuce, tomato, onion with tahini sauce and wrapped in pocket bread) and the Burak (fried cheese-filled pastries made of a thick flaky dough).
Both were delicious. Especially the Burak which had a garlic-sauce which brought out the flavor of the pastry.
Angela ordered the Peda Burger which is fresh ground beef and lamb mixed with parsley and onion, jack cheese and served on peda bread.
I am familiar with Armenian peda bread which one can find in Fresno at Geroge’s Shish Kebab and special stores in the city, but in Hanford, I’m not sure if peda bread (not pita bread) can be purchased anywhere. But glad to see a Peda Burger being offered.
Angela felt the beef and lamb burger was nice and tender, the bread fluffy and crisp. She found her dish fulfilling and delicious.
I ordered the garlic chicken wrap featuring grilled cuts of chicken breast wrapped in pocket bread with garlic sauce, tomato, lettuce and onion.
The wrap was good especially with the garlic taste, that I enjoy. Rice pilaf was what I was curious about. I know Persian rice and certain places where I have eaten, they prefer rice al dente. So, I was pleased to find the rice al dente as well.
While perusing the location, the restaurant is clean and well-taken care of. Customer service was good, while we had a new employee who just started, I decided to forego the questions of recommendations but for the most part, the restaurant was clean, had great customer service, ample seating and food was well-done.
I’ll definitely make a return visit to Zaytoona Mediterranean Cuisine in Hanford. Recommended!
