An Israeli restaurant is set to open this summer in West Ashley, taking over the former Crab Shack location.
Mazal, owned by brothers Gal and Tal Alhadef, will open at 1901 Ashley River Road.
Gal told What Now Charleston the restaurant is named after their grandmother. The brothers, who were born in Israel, come from a long line of chefs and bakers—including their grandmother, who ran a bakery for 65 years.
They once operated a restaurant in Israel, where they discovered just how much visitors enjoyed the cuisine.
“When we owned a restaurant over there, 99% of the tourists from all over the world loved this food, so I hope over here in Charleston does too,” Gal said.
Hoping to bring something new to the area for those who haven’t traveled to Israel, Mazal will serve traditional Israeli dishes prepared by Tal, who has been a chef for 20 years. The menu will also feature family favorites.
One dish Gal is especially excited to introduce to Charleston is the shawarma—a combination of turkey leg and lamb—which he describes as juicy and unique. The menu will also include homemade staples like hummus and falafel, with all meats prepared in-house for dishes like kebabs.
In addition to the main dining area, the brothers plan to open a second-floor space for private events, which will accommodate up to 60 guests. That space is expected to open shortly after the restaurant’s debut.
“We care about what we do and to do it perfect,” Gal said. “The food, love, experience—we like to see people enjoy, we like to do better every day.”
While an exact opening date hasn’t been announced, Mazal plans to open its doors in July.
