Shababi Pop-Up Brings Palestinian Diner Food to DC

Shababi is Shaw’s hottest new pop-up, serving up spectacular, Palestinian-inspired breakfasts by chef Marcelle Afram and baker Jill Nguyen (of Capitol Jill Baking). Check it out before it’s gone!

The Nitty-Gritty:

The pop-up is open 8:30 a.m.- 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays and Fridays through Sept. 29. It runs out of the kitchen at Right Proper in Shaw and is available for pick-up and delivery.

The Menu:

The small menu packs a punch with traditional baked goods, hearty egg dishes, and unique drinks. Afram says his three must-try dishes are:

Don’t Tell Mama – a seared halal beef Arabic-style mortadella is pressed in pita with American cheese, soft-boiled eggs, olive spread, and sumac caramelized onions. “There’s no better item on the menu that showcases my upbringing as a Palestinian American,” says Afram.

The Ka’ak Al-Quds – a sourdough sesame “not-a-bagel” by Jill Nguyen, served with fresh tomatoes in a herb-y marinade and a side of olive oil & za’atar.

The Qatayef – pinched pancakes stuffed with house-made ricotta and rose water, topped with berries and orange blossom syrup.

What’s Next For Shababi?

Afram is working on more pop-ups and neighborhood drops with more breakfast-focused items. “Wanting to do a breakfast pop-up was always on the backburner. After a successful dinner pop-up in March, I really got the itch to bring my breakfast menu idea to life,” said Afram. He also hopes to bring both the Shababi Diner and his other concept, Shababi Chicken, to a brick-and-mortar in the near future.

Where else can I find Palestinian food in D.C.?

The city has seen a surge of Palestinian food concepts in the last few years. Afram shared a few of his other favorites:

“Jinan Deena has a great concept called Bayti by Jinan. Z&Z is a must; their manoushe is incredible. Of course, Michael Rafidi is painting this town with Palestinian flavors. The success of Albi and Yellow is so meaningful for the community. And one can’t talk about local Palestinian cuisine without shouting out Mama Ayesha’s, who has been proudly serving Palestinian food in Adams Morgan since the 1960’s."