This profile is in active compilation — some details are awaiting a cited source.

Jerusalem Cafe is a Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurant anchored at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Westport Road in Westport, serving gyros, falafel, hummus, and shawarma since 1989. Founded by the late Farid Alazzeh and now run by his sons, it is a 35-year Westport institution best known to night-owls for its weekend late-night food truck, which feeds the bar crowd outside until roughly 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Description

Jerusalem Cafe is a full-service Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurant in the heart of Kansas City’s Westport entertainment district, “on the corner of Pennsylvania and Westport Road.”1 The menu centers on Greek and Levantine staples — gyros, falafel, hummus, shawarma, kebabs, and baklava — and the original Westport location also operates a hookah bar.2

The restaurant’s most distinctive feature is its late-night food truck. On weekend nights the Alazzeh family stations a food truck/window outside the restaurant to serve the Westport bar crowd hummus, gyros, and falafel “after spending hours bar hopping,” with weekend service extending to roughly 3 a.m.34 The brand has since grown “from a humble 2 person kitchen” to multiple brick-and-mortar locations plus “a fleet of food trucks.”1

Ownership and history

Jerusalem Cafe was founded in 1989 by Farid Alazzeh. It originally opened as the “Westport Sizzler,” serving both American and Mediterranean dishes; about a year later, as the Mediterranean fare “was really taking off,” the family rebranded it Jerusalem Cafe and refocused on Middle Eastern cuisine.5 The official site describes it as a Westport “staple for 30 years,” consistent with a 1989 founding.1

Founder Farid Alazzeh passed away in August 2025, leaving the restaurant to his sons.56 The business remains family-owned and is now operated by the next generation of the Alazzeh family, including Adam and Dennis Alazzeh, who continue to run the original Westport flagship while expanding to additional metro locations (Independence and Mission, KS).5

Last verified: 2026-08-30 · Source: Jerusalem Cafe official HTML menu (page lastmod 2026-08-27) · URL(s): https://jerusalemkc.com/menu/ · Confidence: High (first-party)

Operator HTML is the current card. Hunt for a newer PDF found none; the still-hosted 2022 print PDF (InDesign 2022-08-09; uploaded 2025-03) matches the HTML on overlapping dollars. Items the 2022 PDF still prints that the 2026-08-27 HTML does not — Pastry Platter, Vegetarian Pastry Plate, Jerusalem Dinner Feast for Two, standalone Hummus appetizer, Flaming Cheese — are not imported as live items.78 Grubhub/Seamless and Yelp are retired as menu/price sources; no aggregator dollars remain.9 Descriptions below are copied from the operator HTML; items printed as name + price only stay that way. Operator marks many mezze, falafel sandwiches, and some salads vegetarian and asks servers for gluten-friendly options.

Appetizers

  • Famous Falafel & Pita — a mixture of chickpeas, parsley, garlic, onions and spices. Made into six patties then deep-fried. Garnished with tomatoes and onions and served with pita bread and a side of zesty tahini sauce ($7)7
  • Falafel & Hummus Combo — combination of hummus and three pieces of falafel. Garnished with sumac, parsley, olive oil and hot sauce. Served with our zesty tahini sauce and pita bread ($8)7
  • Baba Ghanouj — roasted eggplant puree with tahini, lemon juice, garlic and spices. Garnished with sumac, olive oil, parsley, and hot sauce. Served with pita bread ($7); add beef & lamb gyro, chicken gyro, beef or chicken shawarma +$47
  • Hummus & Baba Ghanouj Combo — “the only time it’s okay to double dip.” Both of our famous dips, side by side garnished with sumac, parsley, olive oil and hot sauce. Served with pita bread ($8); add beef & lamb gyro, chicken gyro, beef or chicken shawarma +$47
  • Spanakopita — two phyllo pastries filled with spinach, feta cheese and onions, baked to a golden crisp. Served with a wedge of lemon, and a side of tzatziki sauce ($7)7
  • Dolma — four stuffed grape leaves. Hand-rolled vine leaves stuffed with rice, tomatoes and herbs. Simmered in tomato sauce with a slice of fresh lemon. Served with pita bread ($7)7
  • Feta Cheese with Olives — fresh feta cheese and Kalamata olives, garnished with parsley, sumac, onions and tomatoes. Served with pita bread ($7)7
  • Grilled Shrimp and Feta — five fresh jumbo shrimp sauteed with lemon juice, garlic and olive oil. Plated with feta cheese and topped with fresh herbs ($13)7
  • Jerusalem Combo Appetizer — hummus, baba ganoush, three falafels, two stuffed grape leaves, tabouli salad, feta cheese and kalamata olives. Served with pita bread and our house zesty tahini sauce ($16)7
  • Tzatziki — our famous award-winning Greek yogurt with cucumber, mint, parsley and olive oil. A great refreshing dip served with pita ($7)7

Salads

Add gyros +$5 / +$7 · grilled chicken +$5 / +$7 · shrimp +$6 / +$8.7

  • Tabouli — fresh chopped parsley and tomatoes, mixed with cracked wheat, lemon juice and olive oil ($7)7
  • Fattoush — chopped tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber, parsley, feta cheese and olives. Mixed with lemon juice, olive oil and herb-toasted pita bread chips ($7)7
  • Caesar — romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese, croutons and Caesar dressing ($7); make it a large and add a lentil soup +$57
  • Greek — a mixture of fresh romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, red onions, feta cheese and kalamata olives topped with our house dressing. Garnished with shredded carrots and red cabbage ($7); make it a large and add a lentil soup +$57

Manakeesh

“Fresh Mediterranean flatbread made in our one-of-a-kind golden dome wood fire oven.” Add Classic Cheese, Haloumi Cheese or Feta Cheese +$1. Operator HTML prints names and prices only on the pies.7

  • Zattar ($7)7
  • Haloumi Cheese ($8)7
  • Sumaac Chicken ($9)7
  • Spinach & Feta ($8)7
  • Classic Cheese ($8)7
  • Garden Veggie ($8)7
  • Beef Kifta ($9)7
  • Classic Cheese Gyro ($10)7

Sandwiches

“All sandwiches wrapped in a pita and garnished with lettuce, tomato, onion and a sauce. Served with herb spiced rice or Cajun seasoned fries, and your choice of Greek salad or lentil soup. Make it Jerusalem Style with garlic sauce, pickles and fries wrapped in our saj bread and toasted to perfection, +$1.75.”7

  • Gyros — your choice of lamb and beef or chicken gyros meat wrapped in pita and topped in tzatziki sauce ($13)7
  • Combo Gyros — a trio of our delicious gyro meats (beef, lamb & chicken) wrapped in pita topped with tzatziki sauce ($14)7
  • Philly Gyros — your choice of lamb and beef or chicken gyros meat with green peppers, red peppers, onions and cheese. Served with tzatziki sauce ($13)7
  • Grilled Kabob — your choice of chicken, lamb, beef kifta or beef sirloin grilled in olive oil, lemon juice and herbs. Wrapped in pita and topped with choice of tzatziki or tahini sauce ($14)7
  • Dill Chicken — marinated and grilled chicken with a Mediterranean spice blend. Wrapped in pita and topped with dill sauce ($14)7
  • Falafel and Hummus — a mix of falafel and hummus stuffed in pita and topped with tahini sauce ($13)7
  • Falafel and Baba Ganoush — a mix of falafel and baba ganoush stuffed in pita and topped with tahini sauce ($13)7
  • Falafel with Grilled Vegetables — falafel patties and herb spiced grilled vegetables topped with tahini sauce ($13)7
  • Hummus or Baba Ghanoush — a generous portion of our hummus or baba ghanoush spread in a pita ($13)7
  • Grilled Veggie — grilled fresh vegetables mixed with feta cheese and herbs. Topped with a choice of tzatziki sauce or tahini sauce ($13)7
  • Falafel — delicious falafel patties stuffed in pita and topped with tahini sauce ($13)7
  • Shawarma — marinated chicken or beef in our Mediterranean spice blend and grilled to perfection. Your choice of tzatziki or tahini sauce wrapped in pita bread ($13)7

Entrees

“Served with sauteed vegetables and herb spiced rice or Cajun seasoned fries, and your choice of Greek salad or lentil soup.”7

  • Gyros Platter — grilled slices of gyros meat topped with swiss cheese. Served with tomatoes, onions, kalamata olives, feta cheese, spinach pastry (spanakopita), tzatziki sauce and pita bread ($21)7
  • Shawarma Dinner Platter — your choice of grilled chicken or beef marinated in our special sauce placed over hot pita topped with onions, parsley and tomato sauce. Served with tzatziki sauce ($21)7
  • Lemon Chicken — grilled chicken breast baked with potatoes and carrots in a delicious lemon sauce ($21)7
  • Curry Chicken — marinated chicken breast grilled then baked with potatoes and carrots in a delicious mild curry sauce ($21)7
  • Vegetarian Combination Feast — falafel, hummus, baba ganoush, spinach pastry, stuffed grape leaves, feta cheese and kalamata olives. Comes with your choice of baklava or halva for dessert. Served with fresh pita bread ($21)7
  • Falafels and Hummus Platter — a delicious combination of falafel patties and hummus dip. Served with fresh pita bread ($18)7
  • Lamb Kabob — marinated lamb skewer grilled to perfection with bell peppers and onions ($25)7
  • Kifta Kabob — three skewers of ground beef mixed with onions, parsley and Mediterranean spices then grilled to perfection ($24)7
  • Shrimp Kabob — shrimp marinated Mediterranean style then grilled to perfection ($25)7
  • Chicken Kabob — skewered chicken marinated in olive oil, lemon and ginger then grilled to perfection ($24)7
  • Beef Sirloin Kabob — marinated beef sirloin steak grilled on a skewer with bell peppers and onions ($25)7
  • Combination Kabob Plate — your choice of any combination of 2 of our kabobs ($25)7

Sides & extras

Sides $4 each: Rice, Fries, Grilled Veggies, Kalamata Olives, Feta Cheese. Extras: Pita Bread $1.50; Tzatziki Sauce $0.75; Hot Chili Sauce $0.75.7

Desserts

“Top any dessert with a scoop of ice cream, +$3.”7

  • Baklava — layers of freshly ground walnuts and phyllo dough, baked to a golden crisp and topped with sweet honey and pistachios ($3.50)7
  • Kunafa — shredded phyllo dough and sweet halloumi cheese baked to a crisp and topped with honey ($7)7
  • Rice Pudding — rice steamed with rose water and milk topped with cinnamon ($5)7
  • Halva — sweet, crushed sesame seeds with honey ($3.50)7
  • Chocolate Truffle Cake ($7.75)7

Drinks

Operator HTML names and prices; no further copy.7

  • Hot drinks: Coffee $2.75; Turkish Coffee $4.75; Green Tea $4.75; Hot Coco $4.75; Jerusalem Black Tea — mint or sage $4.75
  • Fresh Squeezed Lemonade $5 (up to 2 flavors): sweet lemon, strawberry, blueberry, cherry, mango, mint
  • Frozen Drinks $6 (up to 2 flavors): sweet lemon, strawberry, blueberry, cherry, mango, mint
  • Juice — mango, apple, orange, grape, cranberry $4.50
  • Soft drinks $3.75: Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Sierra Mist, Dr. Pepper, Diet Dr. Pepper, Mountain Dew, Brisk Raspberry Iced Tea, Fresh Brewed Tea, Unsweet Tea

“Tables of 6 or more will be charged an 18% gratuity.”7

Sources

Disputes

  • Address number variance. A third-party Westport directory lists “575 Westport Road,”3 while the official site and Yelp consistently list 515 Westport Rd. 515 is treated as the verified address; the 575 figure is likely a listing error. for definitive county/business-license confirmation if precision becomes load-bearing.
  • Exact rebrand date (“Westport Sizzler” → “Jerusalem Cafe”) is reported as “about a year” after the 1989 opening, i.e. ~1990; not pinned to an exact date.
  • Hours. Yelp prints Fri–Sat to 3 a.m. (used on this page). Operator homepage schema and the site footer accessibility note do not corroborate that late close.

Footnotes

  1. Jerusalem Cafe — official history page — asserts: founded 1989; located “on the corner of Pennsylvania and Westport Road”; “a staple for 30 years”; grew “from a humble 2 person kitchen” to multiple locations and “a fleet of food trucks.” ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  2. Jerusalem Cafe — official homepage — asserts: “Authentic Middle Eastern Cuisine”; gyros, falafel, hummus, baklava; Westport location; phone 816-442-8655. ↩

  3. Westport KCMO business directory — Jerusalem Cafe — asserts: Jerusalem Cafe is a Westport business operating “a fleet of Food trucks.” (Note: this listing’s stated street number (575) and hours differ from the official site and Yelp; 515 used as verified address — see Disputes.) ↩ ↩2

  4. Startland News — “Brothers bringing Jerusalem Cafe, Chick-In Waffle, sober bar mashup to Power & Light” (2025) — asserts: the Alazzeh family’s late-night Westport food truck serves the bar crowd hummus and gyros after hours; family expansion plans. ↩

  5. Johnson County Post — “Mediterranean eatery Jerusalem Cafe readying Mission location” (2025-03-12) — asserts: founded 1989 as “Westport Sizzler,” rebranded ~1 year later as Jerusalem Cafe; family-owned by the Alazzeh family; current operators include Adam Alazzeh; original Westport location remains a full-service restaurant. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  6. Jerusalem Cafe KC — official Facebook memorial post — asserts: “In Loving Memory — Farid Azzeh — Founder of Jerusalem Café, a Kansas City staple since 1989.” ↩

  7. Jerusalem Cafe — official HTML menu (page lastmod 2026-08-27T18:24:09+00:00; served 2026-08-30) — asserts the full priced dine-in card itemized above (appetizers, salads, manakeesh, sandwiches, entrees, sides/extras, desserts, drinks), including Gyros sandwich $13 / platter $21, Shawarma sandwich $13 / dinner platter $21, Falafels and Hummus Platter $18, kabobs $24–$25, baklava $3.50, and the sandwich Jerusalem-Style upgrade +$1.75. No newer PDF linked from /menu/. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16 ↩17 ↩18 ↩19 ↩20 ↩21 ↩22 ↩23 ↩24 ↩25 ↩26 ↩27 ↩28 ↩29 ↩30 ↩31 ↩32 ↩33 ↩34 ↩35 ↩36 ↩37 ↩38 ↩39 ↩40 ↩41 ↩42 ↩43 ↩44 ↩45 ↩46 ↩47 ↩48 ↩49 ↩50 ↩51 ↩52 ↩53 ↩54 ↩55 ↩56 ↩57 ↩58 ↩59 ↩60

  8. Jerusalem Cafe — official 2022 print PDF (“Jerusalem-Cafe-Main-Menu-2022” / US Foods Menu 2022, InDesign created 2022-08-09), still hosted on the official site (uploaded 2025-03; served 2026-08-30) — asserts (read directly from the PDF): overlapping platter/kabob/sandwich/appetizer dollars match 7; PDF-only items not on the 2026-08-27 HTML and not imported as live: Pastry Platter $21; Vegetarian Pastry Plate $21; Jerusalem Dinner Feast for Two $55; standalone Hummus appetizer $7; Flaming Cheese $10. Copyright line: “©US Foods Menu 2022 (1897708).” ↩

  9. RETIRED 2026-08-30 — aggregator discarded; do not cite as a live price source. Grubhub/Seamless and Yelp menu copy previously used to fill sandwich/appetizer descriptions without per-item prices · yelp.com — those aggregator dollars and unsourced sandwich/appetizer prices are retired. Live menu is 7. ↩

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On the record — ks.city/registry/jerusalem-cafe · record updated 2026-08-30