Mediterranean Dhaba | Zait & Za'atar: Mediterranean Dhaba

Custom Mediterranean Food in St. Paul — Made from Scratch on Selby Ave

We're Zait & Za'atar: Mediterranean Dhaba, and we've been serving bold, from-scratch Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food right here at 1626 Selby Ave in St. Paul. Our name says it all — zait (olive oil) and za'atar (our signature herb blend) are at the heart of everything we make. This isn't fast food dressed up in pita. It's real cooking, real spices, and real flavor.

What Makes Our Mediterranean Food Different

We blend Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and select Indian influences — a combination you won't find anywhere else in the Twin Cities. Every dish is halal, made to order, and built around ingredients that actually taste like something. Come hungry.

Our Menu Is Built Around Bold Flavors

Our Viral Crispy Shawarma is golden and crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside — it earns its name. The Msakhan Chicken is slow-cooked with olive oil, sumac, and caramelized onions, then wrapped in warm pita. And our Kushari — an Egyptian comfort food staple — keeps people coming back for more. Every item on our menu is intentional.

Halal Mediterranean Food in the Heart of St. Paul

We're fully halal, every day, no exceptions. Whether you're in the Summit-University neighborhood, cutting through on Snelling, or crossing over from Hamline-Midway — we're easy to find and worth the stop. Our doors are open seven days a week, from 10am to 11pm on weekends.

A Local Spot That Feels Like Home

We've been featured in Sahan Journal, Eater, and Neighborhood Star because we cook food that matters to this community. Guests walk in not knowing what za'atar is and walk out craving the Tamarind Lemonade. We have games, books, and a corner nook that makes you want to stay awhile. That's the Dhaba experience.

Find Us on Selby Avenue in St. Paul

We're at 1626 Selby Ave, right in the Union Park neighborhood — walkable from Whole Foods, steps from Mississippi Market Co-op at Dale Street, and just down the road from Allianz Field. Street parking is available. Come in, order big, and taste something real.

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