FOOD & WINE
Popular dishes at De Babel include falafel vegan; chicken tawook, grilled chicken cubes, pickles, fries and garlic olio; falafel and fries. (Photos by Pablo Robles)
Worth the Find
Jordan native brings flavors of the Middle East to Scottsdale
W
Fresh potatoes are used in myriad dishes at Marwan Kandeel’s De Babel.
By Jordan Houston
ith more than 25 years of experience in the food and beverage industry under his belt, including stints with some of the industry’s biggest names like Cinnabon and Five Guys, Marwan Kandeel wanted to test his expertise. Recently, the Jordan native founded De Babel, an authentic Middle Eastern fast-casual restaurant located near the Scottsdale Airpark, and he hasn’t looked back since. But what makes the already wildly successful eatery unique is its discreet location, Kandeel explains. The first-time restaurant owner says he chose the hidden spot, located at 14884 N. Pima Road, to test out a theory. “Because I’m so passionate about
food, I have a lot of recipes in my mind. I felt that I had a product to sell; I have a product to serve,” Kandeel says. “I wanted to know if people can put in an effort to find me. “I chose a location that is some kind of hidden — not a bad location, but some people need to put effort in to find it. So, if people put the effort to find me, then I’m 100% certain that I have a product. This proves my point that I do have a product and the concept is complete.” Kandeel’s theory appears to be paying off, as customers from around the Valley are visiting De Babel Monday to Sunday at all hours. De Babel specializes in Middle Eastern fare with fan-favorite dishes such as crispy falafel, hand-carved shawarma, lamb kafta, appetizers and hummus. The kitchen is scratch
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