The Ballard Egyptian and Lebanese vegetarian restaurant Koshari will open its doors on Nov. 11 at 5604 17th Ave NW.
Koshari, owned by married couple Ayman Almasri and Amani Abouammo, used to operate out of Salt & Sugar. Almasri and Abouammo left Salt & Sugar in August after two years, announcing they were looking for their own brick-and-mortar.
They found the old Kahlo & Loyal space and decided to jump on it. Kahlo & Loyal was only open for five months in 2025 before closing. And before it was Kahlo & Loyal, it was home to Little Prague Bakery for two years, Corner Spot for three years, and Crooked Nail Pub for one year.
Almasri and Abouammo have deep ties to Egypt and Lebanon: Almasri spent part of his youth in Egypt, and Abouammo is Lebanese. Almasri has a background in agriculture and horticulture before he moved to the U.S. and starting working in the food industry.
Koshari will host its soft opening on Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. To celebrate the opening, they’ll be giving away a free serving of koshari—a staple Egyptian street food consisting of rice, lentils, and pasta—for every customer while supplies last.
They’ll have shorter hours and a limited menu to start, but say they’ll expand their offerings after their grand opening later this year.
For now, Koshari will serve starters including lentil soup, maghmour (Lebanese vegan dish with eggplant, chickpeas, tomatoes, and onions), loubya bzeit (green beans slow-cooked in olive oil with garlic and onions), baba ghannouj, and hummus.
Mains will include their classic Cairo koshari bowl, a fattit-hummus bowl, and maghmour or loubya bzeit with rice. Desserts include Lebanese rice pudding and baklava, and drinks include sahlam, a warm milk-based drink with orange blossom, rose water, and mastic, topped with cinnamon, coconut, and nuts. They will also serve Lebanese coffee served with cardamom and orange blossom water.
Koshari’s hours will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with expanded hours expected soon.
Photo: Google Image Capture