Aladdin's Eatery

Aladdin's Eatery is a U.S. fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in Lebanese cuisine adapted for American tastes. The business was founded in 1994 by Fady and Sally Chamoun and developed in the Cleveland, Ohio area before expanding across parts of the Midwest and Southeast. Its restaurants combine dine-in service with takeout and operate through a franchised restaurant model. The company behind the brand, Aladdin's Eatery Systems, Inc., is headquartered in Lakewood, a Cleveland suburb. The menu is built around Lebanese and broader Mediterranean-influenced food, with offerings that include soups, salads, sandwiches, hot entrées, smoothies, juices, desserts, and vegetarian options. The concept emphasizes accessible pricing and approachable flavors rather than presenting Lebanese food as a highly formal or specialized dining experience. This positioning allows the chain to serve both customers seeking meat-based meals and customers looking for plant-forward or lighter choices. Aladdin's Eatery began with the Chamouns' experience in the American restaurant industry and their interest in establishing a Lebanese-oriented concept. Fady Chamoun immigrated to the United States from Lebanon in 1972. Before launching Aladdin's Eatery, he worked for Little Caesars while studying at the University of Michigan and later operated numerous Little Caesars franchises. The proceeds remaining after the sale of those franchises helped fund the first Aladdin's Eatery location in Lakewood. The company expanded during the 1990s and early 2000s. By 2004, it reportedly had 17 restaurants. The business also established Jasmine's Bakery in Cleveland in 1997 to supply baked goods to its restaurants. By 2004, the bakery reportedly employed 40 people and generated $2 million in sales. In 2013, the chain was reported to operate 30 locations across five states. The documented footprint includes Ohio, Indiana, Virginia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. The brand's food identity is reinforced by its combination of traditional Lebanese items and familiar American restaurant formats. Reviewers have highlighted its soups, smoothies, juices, vegetarian selections, and desserts such as Lebanese baklava and pistachio cookies. These bakery products provide a connection between the restaurant chain and Jasmine's Bakery, while more American-style desserts have also appeared in the competitive menu environment. Available public information does not establish a current store count, detailed ownership structure, current executive roster, financial performance, or a complete chronology of later expansion. Accordingly, this entry describes the historical and operating information supported by the available reference material without extending those claims beyond the documented period.

Aladdin's Eatery was founded in 1994 by Fady and Sally Chamoun in the Cleveland, Ohio area. The concept focused on Lebanese food presented in a fast-casual format and adapted to American dining preferences. Restaurants offered both dine-in service and takeout, helping the brand occupy a position between conventional quick service and full-service ethnic dining. Fady Chamoun came to the United States from Lebanon in 1972. While studying at the University of Michigan, he worked full-time for Little Caesars. Over the following two decades, he advanced within that company and eventually operated 40 Little Caesars franchises. He later sold those franchises and, after settling outstanding debts, retained approximately $10,000 that helped fund the first Aladdin's Eatery location in Lakewood, Ohio. The brand expanded during its first decade. By 2004, it reportedly operated 17 outlets, and Fady Chamoun received the Northeast Ohio Ernst & Young Retail Entrepreneur of the Year award. The company also broadened its supporting food-production capabilities. In 1997, Chamoun established Jasmine's Bakery in Cleveland to supply the restaurants. By 2004, the bakery reportedly employed 40 people and recorded $2 million in sales. Aladdin's Eatery subsequently developed a multistate presence. The chain has been described as operating in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States, with locations in Ohio, Indiana, Virginia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. In 2013, it was reported to have 30 sites in five states. The restaurants remained centered on Lebanese cuisine while presenting it in a format intended for a broad U.S. audience. The menu has been associated with soups, smoothies, juices, salads, sandwiches, vegetarian dishes, and meals for meat eaters. Desserts have included Lebanese baklava and pistachio cookies supplied through Jasmine's Bakery, alongside more American-oriented dessert offerings. This combination reflects the brand's broader strategy of pairing recognizable casual-restaurant formats with Lebanese flavors and ingredients. Publicly available reference material does not provide a complete account of later openings or closures, current store numbers, corporate ownership, or present-day executive management. Those details remain unconfirmed in this dossier.

1. 2013The chain reaches 30 sites in five states

   The restaurant chain is reported to operate 30 locations across five U.S. states.

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2. 2004The chain reaches 17 outlets

   Aladdin's Eatery is reported to have 17 outlets, while founder Fady Chamoun receives a Northeast Ohio Ernst & Young retail entrepreneurship award.

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3. 1997Jasmine's Bakery is established

   Fady Chamoun establishes Jasmine's Bakery in Cleveland to supply baked goods to Aladdin's Eatery restaurants.

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4. 1994Aladdin's Eatery is founded

   Fady and Sally Chamoun establish Aladdin's Eatery in the Cleveland, Ohio area as a Lebanese-oriented fast-casual restaurant concept.

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An accessible fast-casual restaurant chain bringing Lebanese and Mediterranean-inspired food to mainstream U.S. diners through dine-in and takeout formats.

• Lebanese and Mediterranean-inspired entréesRestaurant dishes

  The central food offering consists of Lebanese dishes and broader Mediterranean-inspired meals adapted for American tastes. They are served in a casual restaurant setting and form the main basis of the brand's dine-in and takeout proposition.

• Soups and saladsRestaurant dishes

  Soups and salads are recurring parts of the menu and support the chain's emphasis on lighter, vegetable-forward Lebanese and Mediterranean food. Review coverage has identified the assortment of soups as one of the brand's recognizable menu features.

• SandwichesRestaurant dishes

  Sandwiches translate the brand's Lebanese flavor profile into a familiar fast-casual format. They are suited to takeout and everyday dining while remaining part of the broader menu of Middle Eastern-influenced food.

• Smoothies and juicesBeverages

  Smoothies and juices are beverage offerings associated with the chain and have been noted by reviewers alongside its soups and vegetarian selections. They extend the menu beyond entrées and support lighter meal occasions.

• Vegetarian dishesRestaurant dishes

  Vegetarian choices are an important part of the menu, reflecting the role of vegetables, grains, legumes, and other plant-based foods in Lebanese and Mediterranean cooking. The range is intended to serve both vegetarian diners and customers ordering mixed meals.

• Lebanese dessertsDesserts

  Dessert offerings include traditional Lebanese items such as baklava and pistachio cookies. These products are connected to Jasmine's Bakery, the Cleveland bakery established to supply the restaurant system.

• 1997Establishment of an in-house bakery supply operationStrategy

  The restaurant chain needed a dependable source for baked goods and Lebanese-style desserts as it expanded.

  What changed. Fady Chamoun established Jasmine's Bakery in Cleveland to supply Aladdin's Eatery restaurants.

  Aftermath. The bakery became a supporting operation for the restaurant network and supplied products including baklava and pistachio cookies.

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• 2013Aladdin's Eatery reported at 30 locations across five states

  A 2013 account reported that the restaurant chain had expanded to 30 sites in five U.S. states.

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• 2004Aladdin's Eatery reaches 17 outlets by 2004

  The chain was reported to have 17 locations by 2004. Founder Fady Chamoun also received the Northeast Ohio Ernst & Young Retail Entrepreneur of the Year award.

  OtherLeadership change
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1. Aladdin's Eatery
2. Official Aladdin's Eatery website