Often hailed as the best Mediterranean food in the US, Motek, the famous Florida chain, is set to expand its presence nationwide. They are starting this journey in New York City, America’s food melting pot.
Whether it is authentic Asian food or Mexican tapas, NYC is known to house the best. Now, the city is welcoming the specialty Mediterranean restaurant chain, with its first outlet opening in 2025.
Highlights
- Miami’s famous Mediterranean chain, Motek, is to open up new outlets in New York over the next five years.
- The first outlet will be on Broadway in the Flatiron district, followed by four more locations.
- The restaurant chain is known for serving some of the best shakshoukas, kebabs, and falafels, among a selection of other Mediterranean foods.
The Arrival of a Culinary Favorite
Motek will be serving its infamous Mediterranean food to the New York crowd (Source: Google Reviews)
There aren’t many restaurants that New Yorkers visiting Miami rave about, given the Big A’s affinity for having some of the best eating establishments in the world. But Motek has been an outlier. It has a long history of being an absolute fan favorite amongst the Floridian crowd. In fact, many consider their falafels, shakshouka, and kebabs to be some of the best available outside the Mediterranean region.
Planned Locations and Concepts
Motek is expected to open five new locations in New York, with the first opening in the Flatiron district in Fall 2026, as reported by Time Out Magazine. This outlet is going to be right on Broadway – one of the most bustling areas in New York that is close to high-rise office spaces and the iconic Madison Square Park.
Following the outlet on Broadway, Motek will be rolling out a second location in the winter of 2026, when they will be opening up Yalla Motek, a street food stall version serving only kosher food.
Establishing Roots in New York
Motek is expected to become a top lunch destination for tourists and locals alike, with a footfall of thousands each week. Details of the remaining New York City locations are still under wraps. The timeline has also not been confirmed by any representatives. However, all of them are expected to open over the next few years.
These locations are going to be reminiscent of Motek outlets in Miami. They will feature the colorful and warm vibe that the chain is known for. Moreover, the New York food scene is known for being faithful to authenticity, and Motek is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that it is for its patrons.
The Growth Story of Motek
Charlie Levy founded Motek in 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic. From there, the brand took off within Florida, establishing six bustling locations that serve top-quality Mediterranean food. For Levy, New York only seemed like the right place to start its expansions.
In an official statement to Time Out New York, founder Charlie Levy said, “I spent 20 years in New York before Miami became home. Miami is often called the sixth borough of New York, so it’s a natural next step for our brand to expand here. We’ve built a loyal clientele in Florida, and with so many requests to bring Motek to New York, it just made sense to take this leap now.”
The first Motek outlet will be opening on Broadway in the Flatiron District of New York in Fall 2025.
