This month, we would like to give our praises to loyal Chamber member Pita Pita!
Fans of Mediterranean food rejoiced when the restaurant chose Aliso Viejo to open their second location, and for good reason! Pita Pita prides themselves on serving up fresh food made from quality ingredients and their passion is undeniable. They bring new meaning to the word “handmade,” embracing authentic recipes handed down from past generations and sharing them with the community. Their motto isn’t “We Speak Mediterranean” for nothing! We spoke with Pita Pita owner Haitham Hammad to find out how he turned his love of cooking and passion for food into the career of his dreams.
Haitham credits his passion for food to his mother. His childhood was filled with Mediterranean flavor as far back as he can remember. He dreamed of one day owning a restaurant and in 2010, he made that dream a reality when he left his corporate career to open Pita Pita. He opened his doors in a small shopping center in Lake Forest before relocating to a bigger space in Laguna Hills. With all the success of the Laguna Hills location, he knew it was time to grow. Aliso Viejo was the obvious choice, as it is home to his wife and children. Haitham shared, “We love how safe and clean the city is. The schools are outstanding, and we’ve had nothing but good experiences living here.” And we couldn’t have been more excited to welcome Pita Pita into the community!
So what makes Pita Pita so unique? From the lemonades to the pita bread, everything they serve is made from scratch each day in their in-house kitchen. Their bakers get to work in the early morning, preparing the hand-made pita dough that they will bake in their woodstone oven throughout the day.
Guests know they aren’t just getting flavorful food; they’re getting a healthy meal. This is Haitham’s favorite thing about Pita Pita. “As a society, we eat out a lot more than in the past, and I am proud that we are able to offer a healthy option. It’s about being nutritious without the additives. We use simple ingredients like olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic to fill our foods with flavor – things that are available in most homes. I am committed to making sure everything we serve is good for you.” The most popular menu item among guests is their bowls. However, their chicken pitas are a close second. When asked what his favorite menu item was, he had trouble choosing just one. He ultimately decided on the mahi kabobs, but says it changes every week. With so many delicious options, we’d have a hard time picking a favorite too!
We are honored to have Pita Pita as a member of this wonderful community, and if you haven’t experienced the delectable flavors yet, we highly recommend a visit! Pita Pita not only speaks Mediterranean, they live Mediterranean.
To learn more about Pita Pita, check out their website or connect with them on Facebook.