The internationally-inspired delights of Hitham Hiyajneh’s downtown State College eateries are starting to branch out of their cozy, reliable spots where they are peppered amongst the easy to walk to boutiques.
For those who do not often venture into downtown often, Hiyajneh will be bringing his flavors closer to you.
“I wanted to expand to a different territory and get to people who don’t go downtown,” Hiyajneh said.
Yallah Chicken and Taco will open soon at 1669 North Atherton Street, which formerly housed Bradley’s Cheesesteaks until this summer. This will be the third Yallah location for Hiyajneh in State College. He opened Yallah Taco at 217 McAllister Alley in 2018 and another Yallah Taco at 310 E. College Ave. in 2020.
Yallah Chicken and Taco however, will see his menu take a slight detour from the usual taco and burrito fare.
“It will have more variety,” Hiyajneh said. “Like cheesesteaks, burgers and wings.”
While he is excited to get to know the people in his new North Atherton spot, he wasn’t satisfied with just one restaurant outside of downtown.
Hiyajneh and a partner are going in equally on not one but two units in the Westerly Parkway Plaza. And the two concepts couldn’t be more different.
The first, named Cluck and Catch, will offer up Southern fried chicken and fish, rotisserie chicken and sides. Cluck and Catch is expected to have more of a grab-and-go vibe.
But what Hiyajneh is most looking forward to is what experiences, flavors and customs he can showcase to diners, “if I can give them 45 minutes to an hour,” he said.
Silk Road will be an escape from the fast casual normally seen at Hiyahneh’s restaurants to a more relaxed atmosphere featuring an international buffet.
“It will serve food from Silk Road countries like Indian, Chinese, Persian and Mediterranean food,” he said. “Maybe Vietnamese.”
Hiyajneh is mindful of the community around Westerly Parkway and doesn’t want to disappoint diners.
“You go around to different buffets and half of people’s food is in the garbage,” he said.
He plans on quality over quantity and adding little unique spins on old standards. For example swapping out dinner or sourdough rolls for Indian naan. Or having a Mediterranean breakfast buffet.
But you will be sure to find the Chinese restaurant staple fortune cookie closing out your meal.
Hiyajneh is excited about branching out of downtown and maybe even more.
“We are looking forward to any chance outside State College,” he said.
But back on his more familiar turf of downtown, Hiyajneh is still taking the community on a world tour.
He just recently opened Shokupan, 317 E. Calder Way, a new food truck located behind his Yallah Taco location on College Avenue. It offers a wide variety of breakfast sandwiches served on Japanese milk bread.
And if that wasn’t enough Hiyajneh, who also owns Underground Burger, is adding an express food cart in front of his Lebanese-inspired Pita Cabana Grill, 334 E. College Ave. He plans on having customers bring their own bag of chips or a plate and have it filled with ingredients for one flat price.
Dulce Luca Cafe, owned by Eman Ahmed and Hiyajneh, is now featuring new items such as pistachio konafa chocolate croissant, cake cans in flavors like banana pudding and pineapple and rice pudding where you can add your own topping. Dulce Luca is located at 216 E. Calder Way.
