Taziki's Mediterranean Café

Overview

Taziki’s Mediterranean Café is an American fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in Greek and Mediterranean cuisine, including gyros, sandwiches, salads, and soups. The company is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, and operates more than 100 locations across 18 U.S. states through a mix of corporate and franchise-owned restaurants.

History

In 1997, Keith and Amy Richards took a trip to Greece.[1]

While they were there, they stumbled across a small cafe run by a Greek couple. Keith and Amy fell in love with the small-table feel, the fresh food and the culture of hospitality.

Keith would later reflect, "This is what I want to do. This is what I want to be, this is how I want to get there."[2]

Upon their return, Keith began plans to open his own Mediterranean café in the Richards' hometown of

Taziki's Mediterranean Café emphasizes fresh, minimally processed, Mediterranean-inspired cuisine prepared fresh daily. Most proteins are grilled over an open flame, vegetables are chopped daily and served fresh or roasted, and the majority of sauces, dressings, and sides are made from scratch in house. The company promotes its cooking method as "crafted, not processed" and highlights the absence of fryers and microwaves as a core operational distinction.

Central to the brand identity is a food philosophy built on "ingredients you can trust".[5] Dishes are designed to showcase simple, high-quality components, extra-virgin olive oil, fresh herbs, lemon juice, and seasonal produce, with minimal complexity. All proteins are prepared fresh for the customer, vegetables are sourced from regional farmers when possible and prepared daily.

Signature Mediterranean ingredients, including Greek olive oil, Kalamata olives, roasted red peppers, and select spices are imported from the regions where they are traditionally grown.[6]

Key imported ingredients include:[7]

The chain maintains long-standing partnerships with American family farmers for produce and lamb, Hellas Bakery for traditional baklava, and Mediterranean Bread Company for pita bread.[8]

Greek olive oil

lemon juice

sea salt

Kalamata olives from Greece

Roasted red peppers from Turkey

Basmati rice from India

Salads

Signature options include the Greek Salad, Mediterranean Salad and Caesar Salad. The Caesar is prepared in a traditional style, while the Mediterranean salad features garbanzo beans, roasted red peppers, onions, and pecans. The Greek salad includes olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, and pepperoncinis.

Feasts

Customizable grilled-protein plates served with a choice of salad and one side. Protein choices include grilled chicken, grilled beef tenderloin, grilled lamb, grilled salmon, grilled shrimp, grilled chicken kebabs, and griddled falafel. Sides include basmati rice, roasted new potatoes, grilled vegetables, fresh-cut fruit, and tomato-cucumber salad.[9]

Gyros

Grilled proteins wrapped in warm pita. Notable items include the classic grilled lamb gyro and the chicken basil-pesto gyro. Returning to the menu in 2026 is the traditional Street Gyro made with shaved beef & lamb.[10]

Kypelos

References

<https://www.tazikisfranchising.com/story>^

Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe. The Story of Taziki's 2025-05-05, retrieved 2025-11-14^

<https://alabamanewscenter.com/2016/11/15/richards-relishes-healthy-growth-of-birmingham-based-tazikis-mediterranean-cafe/>^

<https://www.williamsonherald.com/features/business/new-tazikis-mediterranean-caf-to-open-in-nolensville/article_d6626680-53ad-11ec-83e5-0b564174e446.html>^

<https://www.tazikis.com/foodphilosophy>^

<https://www.sacurrent.com/food-drink/greek-food-chain-tazikis-opening-location-in-northeast-san-antonio-36979112/>^

<https://communityimpact.com/austin/san-marcos-buda-kyle/dining/2025/08/19/mediterranean-cafe-in-san-marcos-offers-family-feasts/>^

<https://williamsonsource.com/taziki-s-brings-bold-mediterranean-flair-with-limited-time-street-gyro/>^

<https://aymag.com/tazikis-kypelos/>^

<https://www.tazikis.com/kypelos>^

<https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/entertainment/dining/2016/04/28/tazikis-mediterranean-caf-rolling-fresh-food/83598390/>^

<tazikisfranchising.com>^

Taziki's brings mouth-watering Mediterranean to Panama City newsherald.com, 2016-06-30, retrieved 2025-11-16^

<https://www.expressnews.com/food/restaurants/article/tazikis-mediterranean-cafe-san-antonio-21110030.php>^

Taziki’s Mediterranean Café Taps Dan Simpson as CEO qsrmagazine.com, 2018-04-05, retrieved 2025-11-16^

Availability tazikisfranchising.com, retrieved 2025-11-16^

<https://www.franchise.org/franchising-overview/what-is-a-franchise/>^

SavvyFran – Taziki’s franchise details^

<https://www.tazikisfranchising.com/faq>^

Taziki’s Franchising – Investment^

Taziki’s Franchising – Qualifications^

<https://www.tazikisfranchising.com/food>^

<https://www.tazikis.com/meddiet>^

<https://www.tazikisfranchising.com/technology>^

<https://www.tazikisfranchising.com/process>^

<https://www.wegrowhope.org/home>^

<https://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/tazikis-celebrates-leadership-growth-and-innovation-at-annual-tazcon/>^

Cullman Tribune – Taziki’s partners with and donates $1K^

type	Private
industry	Fast casual restaurant chain
founded	1998
founders	Keith and Amy Richards
hq location city	Birmingham, Alabama
hq location country	United States
area served	United States
products	Greek cuisine and Mediterranean cuisine
locations	109 (November 2025)
owners	Keith and Amy Richards
website	https://www.tazikis.com/

Taziki's Mediterranean Café

Overview

History

Menu

Salads

Feasts

Gyros

Kypelos

Franchising and Expansion

Business model

Operations

Community involvement

See also

External links

References

Appetizers

Desserts