Shouk, a fast-casual concept that serves plant-based kosher food, plans to expand from Washington, D.C., into Bethesda and Rockville this fall.
Shouk, which opened its first D.C. location in 2016, serves a variety of pitas and bowls such as the Shouk burger (veggie burger with tahina, roasted tomato, charred onion), eggplant burger, falafel and mushroom shawarma, according to the website.
Most pitas and bowls cost $10 to $12. Shouk also offers various types of hummus to go with the pita, along with salads and sides.
According to a press release, Shouk will open a restaurant at 5568 Randolph Road in Rockville that will offer indoor and outdoor dining, as well as carryout and delivery. The space will be 2,000 square feet.
The Bethesda location will be at 5436 Westbard Ave. It will initially be carryout only while the Westwood Shopping Center is redeveloped, the press release stated. A permanent location will later be built.
Shouk CEO Ran Nussbacher said in an interview with Bethesda Beat that shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic started in March 2020, Shouk launched its “Hood Drop” operation, in which customers order food online and the restaurant delivers it to a central pickup location in the greater Washington area.
Nussbacher said Shouk does about 30 Hood Drops a week, and more than half have been in Montgomery County.
“They’ve been some of our best performing [Hood Drops],” he said.
Nussbacher said the success of the Hood Drops in Montgomery County made it a natural location for the restaurant to expand its brick-and-mortar operation.
An exact date for the opening of the two eateries has not yet been set.
Dan Schere can be reached at daniel.schere@moco360.media