Yaba’s Mediterranean Grill & Market | Our Story
Rooted in Logan Square. Built by Family.
Yaba’s story begins with family, a neighborhood corner store, and the man whose name became a familiar greeting in Logan Square. Ghaleb Masoud, known to his children and customers as Yaba, built the business through dedication, personal relationships, and a simple commitment to making neighbors feel welcome.
Long before the grill opened, our family’s Plaza Food corner store at 3011 W. Armitage Avenue was part of neighborhood life. In 2019, we opened Yaba’s Middle Eastern Grill in the back of the store, bringing our family’s cooking traditions to the community we already called home.
Today, Yaba’s remains an established family-owned business. As we renovate and look ahead, we’re building on that history, not starting over.
The Father Behind the Name
“Yaba” means father in Arabic. It’s what Ghaleb’s children called him, and what customers heard as they visited the family store. Before long, neighbors began calling him Yaba too. A family nickname became a neighborhood name, and eventually the name above our grill.
His connection with customers has always been at the heart of the business: remembering familiar faces, knowing what regulars liked, and taking the time to ask how they were doing. Even customers who moved away returned to visit the man they knew as Yaba, Papa, or Pops.
His name, recipes, dedication, and relationships helped build more than a business. They built a place where people felt like family. That is the tradition we carry forward.
Family Recipes. Fresh Ingredients. Lasting Recognition.
Our food is rooted in Palestinian cooking traditions and the authentic Middle Eastern recipes our family is proud to share. From falafel made with chickpeas, fresh herbs, garlic, and onions to comforting lentil soup, fresh ingredients and careful preparation are central to what we serve.
Yaba’s has always been a family effort. Yaba, his wife, and their children helped shape a business where cooking and hospitality go hand in hand, bringing the warmth of a family table to Logan Square.
That story has reached beyond the neighborhood. Block Club Chicago covered our family-run grill’s beginnings in 2019, and ABC7 Chicago’s Hungry Hound highlighted our Palestinian dishes, falafel, and lentil soup in 2020. We’re proud of that recognition, and just as proud of the neighbors who keep coming back.
A New Chapter, the Same Family Story
Our ongoing renovations mark the next chapter of Yaba’s, not the beginning of an entirely new restaurant. We’re improving the space while honoring the name, recipes, dedication, and customer relationships that built this family business.
Our Logan Square roots remain at the heart of everything we do. As we move forward, our commitment is the same: authentic food, fresh ingredients, and a warm welcome from a family that cares.
From Yaba and our entire family, thank you for being part of our story. We look forward to sharing this next chapter with you.