Owner Chef Mohammad Abutaha of Uptown Oakland’s Teta Nahla Jordanian-Palestinian restaurant has closed the location. The restaurant will serve its last meals on May 9, having been open since fall 2024. Although the physical location is closing, Teta Nahla remains in business as a catering company and may potentially reopen in the future.
Highlights
- Teta Nahla in Uptown Oakland will shut down on May 9, 2025, after operating for about a year and a half.
- In the meantime, the company will switch to providing catering services.
- Despite shutting down, Abutaha is hopeful for Teta Nahla, insisting that “We’re really excited about Teta Nahla, and so is the community.”
A Culinary Homage Ceasing Operations
The restaurant has served as a loving tribute to Abutaha’s Jordanian grandmother and the family-style meals she served. Teta Nahla debuted as Abutaha’s second restaurant venture in the fall of 2024, quickly becoming an Oakland go-to destination for authentic Jordanian-Palestinian cuisine.
Abutaha’s grandmother resided in Jordan’s Amman and the Palestinian city of Yaffa, supplying the authentic culinary inspiration that fueled the restaurant’s unique menu options.
The menu included traditional favorites such as mansaf (a Jordanian-Palestinian lamb dish), lentil and rice mujadara, and Jordanian coffees, some of which evolved from Abutaha’s 2019 pop-up Arab dinner series called Azoumeh.
Transition to Catering Services
While the restaurant did shut its doors, Teta Nahla will continue its culinary mission through catering services, so lovers of what Abutaha calls “Arab soul food” will still be able to enjoy these wonderful dishes. The decision reflects Abutaha’s commitment to preserving his grandmother’s culinary heritage in the face of the challenges confronting the physical location of the restaurant.
Continuing The Teta Nahla Experience
The catering service will maintain the restaurant’s commitment to genuine Jordanian-Palestinian cuisine while allowing the chef to guide resources better.
Chef Abutaha’s Culinary Journey
Mohammad Abutaha has become a Bay Area dining sensation, and his skills as a chef extend far beyond Teta Nahla. He has started many successful businesses, including two Shawarmaji restaurants and introducing items such as his popular toum (garlic sauce), which is sold by the jug.
The chef’s experience is one of advocating for Middle Eastern food in the Bay Area since his 2019 pop-up Arab dinner series, Azoumeh, which was an inspiration for some of the menu items at Teta Nahla. His initial Shawarmaji location was followed by a second outpost in Santa Clara, further solidifying his influence in the regional culinary scene.
Community Response and Future Plans
Abutaha is confident about the prospects of Teta Nahla despite the current closure, indicating via Instagram that his staff and the community are still keen on the idea. Nevertheless, the immediate attention remains on keeping the present Shawarmaji outlets functional and setting up the catering service.
Vision For Teta Nahla’s Return
As Teta Nahla evolves from a restaurant to a catering business, Chef Abutaha’s dedication to respecting his grandmother’s tradition of cooking is unwavering. Oakland diners may miss the storefront ambiance, but the continuity through catering services and potential future reopening provides hope that this celebration of Jordanian-Palestinian cuisine will endure.
