Coming Full Circle with PK Deli

Coming Full Circle

Story by Natalie Caudle | Photos by Dakota Jacobi

There is something almost magical in a home-cooked meal. When living abroad, a bite of a traditional dish can somehow transport one back to the family table filled with timeless memories. Living within a neighborhood without similar ethnic roots can create a challenge when cooking up homemade favorites. But when a taste of home is found, it’s more than a delicious dinner--it’s finding a part of yourself that still lives in a land far away.

When Mohamad and Sahar Dada emigrated from Lebanon in 1975, Mohamad hoped to someday open a bakery full of the delicacies he made back home. Two decades later, his dream became a reality. In 1996, the Dada family opened a Mediterranean grocery store and bakery. Working side-by-side, Mohamad and Sahar brought a taste of the Middle East to South Visalia with the spices and staples essential to cooking Lebanese, Indian and Mediterranean dishes. With the assistance of their teenage sons, Chafic and Kareem, the market and bakery grew in popularity.

Known for her exquisite Lebanese cooking, Sahar cooked traditional food at home to sell at the deli on Fridays. Customers couldn’t get enough. In 1998, the Dadas added a kitchen and a handful of tables to the storefront, providing a space for Sahar to work her magic and bring daily dishes to patrons.

As the winds of change swept through the Dada family, the business shifted and created a new identity. In 2004, Pita Kabob, a Mediterranean restaurant, opened in the Kohl’s shopping center while their original grocery, deli and bakery closed its doors. Chafic had recently moved back home after attending college, and the family was ready for a new venture. Locals weren’t quite sure what to make of the Mediterranean-style food at first, but it didn’t take long for Pita Kabob to become a local favorite. The staff quickly grew from five to 15. Four years later, a second location opened on Akers and Walnut, while a third location, serving craft beer, opened on Court and Oak in 2014. Not only had the Dadas achieved a thriving family business, they were living the American dream.

“It’s nostalgic for me. The quality of food, freshness of ingredients and knowing the food has been created with integrity.”

Brett McClincy, customer since 2004

2020 hit many businesses with an unexpected blow and restaurants were no exception. Later that year, the Walnut and Akers location also hung up its apron. In January of 2021, the Dadas were down to one location. Kareem reflects on the challenging season: “The pandemic has taught all business owners how to run a business. It has been a roller coaster for restaurant owners. We’ve had a learning curve, but we are very fortunate and staying busy.”

Having a single location provided a unique opportunity for the Dada family. The family team decided to return to their roots and re-open the deli and market that was well-loved decades before. Attached to the downtown Pita Kabob Gastropub is the new and unique PK Deli & Bakery. Being under one roof has aided in managing staff and consolidating resources, but, more importantly, it has created a taste of home for many immigrants looking for specific staples and ingredients.

Not only does PK Deli & Bakery offer patrons comfortable seating and cultural music beneath an open ceiling, it offers Mediterranean food with a twist. Customers have quickly become regulars seeking traditional Middle Eastern favorites like soujuk and eggs and foul mudammas. Brett McClincy has been a customer since the early days at the Caldwell location. McClincy smiles as he remarks about what brings him back week after week: “It’s nostalgic for me. The quality of food, freshness of ingredients and knowing the food has been created with integrity.” A favorite of McClincy’s is the Greek Pie, a flatbread pizza with mozzarella, feta, kalamata olives, red onions, pepperoncinis, artichokes and a choice of meat. But, McClincy refuses to order the same dish each visit as the options are too good to settle on one item.

The restaurant’s inviting atmosphere has been fostered through the family dynamic present in every touch. The Dada family works seven days a week prepping, cleaning, stocking and cooking. Even Kareem’s nine-year-old son, Cade, helps his Teta (grandma) Sahar on the weekends as she teaches him the family secrets of making dough for the bakery. The staff is considered an extension of the Dada family. Many of the Pita Kabob employees have been with the company for years, moving locations as storefronts closed.

“Food is an art and a way people express themselves, so we’ve had to stay innovative. We have our own twist and Mediterranean touch on all of our foods. We’re always in the kitchen creating new items and bringing back old recipes with a fusion twist.”

Photo of Chafic Dada and Kareem Dada, owners of Pita Kabob.

Incredibly, during the pandemic, and unlike most businesses, Pita Kabob hasn’t lost a single employee--that speaks volumes about the attention and care each staff member receives.

Having solely worked for the family company, Kareem affirms he has an adventurous palate that has spilled into the kitchen. “Food is an art and a way people express themselves, so we’ve had to stay innovative. We have our own twist and Mediterranean touch on all of our foods, even a turkey sandwich. We’re always in the kitchen creating new items and bringing back old recipes with a fusion twist.”

What sets PK Deli & Bakery apart from other local restaurants is the market. Stocked with Middle Eastern staples such as fava beans, pita bread, rice, sour grape juice and a variety of olives, the market is a one-stop Mediterranean shop. “It is nice to have a taste of home for people,” Kareem remarks. “They look at the groceries and find items they haven’t had since they were a child.” Rajeev Vaidyanathan shops in the market regularly for ingredients necessary for Indian and Middle Eastern dishes. He is happy to find specific brands of lentils, tea and chocolate in the market and remarks that the available items are “stuff we used back home.” Finding familiar ingredients on the shelves of PK Deli not only lifts the spirits of loyal patrons, it aids in celebrating the diversity of culture and flavor within the neighborhood.

The Dada family is thankful for the support of the local community throughout the years. Plans of expansion are not on the horizon while the family focuses on growing the popularity of the new deli and deepening friendships with customers.

By adding flavor to downtown Visalia, as well as creating a new space where old roots can be found, PK Deli & Bakery is a distinctive destination for anyone who longs for a taste of home.