Aventura To Get A Taste Of Happea's This November - Beloved Brickell-Born Mediterranean Concept To Bring Its Signature Food, Hospitality And Social Media-Fueled Energy To Miami-Dade County’s Northernmost City

“Brickell built Happea’s, and our guests there made this possible. Opening in the city our families call home is a dream come true,” explains Omari, who is no stranger to the restaurant world. His experience stretches back decades and features everything from bakeries and restaurants to nightclubs. Both savvy businessmen, the Brickell location (with the concept retrofitted to fit a smaller space) was a fabulous opportunity for them to make a move and begin building the Happea’s brand while they sought out the optimum Aventura location for Happea’s flagship. Adds Omari, “For years we’ve watched Aventura grow and evolve and waited for the right opportunity to bring Happea’s here and we couldn’t be more excited it’s finally happening.” Adds Wainberg, who is the engineering and technological yin to Omari’s hospitality yang, “In the new location we could build Happea’s as we designed it, with the space and infrastructure we think it requires to be exactly what we want it to be: certainly a great destination for delicious and honest-ingredient food but also a place of comfort, community and conversation.” Happea’s might be a fast-casual concept in its DNA but it is a neighborhood hub at heart, as much a spot to linger over lunch (and a good book) as it is perfect for a family dinner or freshly-made meal to-go. “A great deal of our success is our hummus that’s made fresh-to-order,” quips Omari, “but I believe it’s our core principles (Values, Integrity in all things and Hospitality) that has struck a chord and keeps folks coming back.”

In fact, the name “Happea’s” is a play on words in two manners of speaking: the good feeling the duo want guests to have after visiting and the blessed chickpea, the golden ingredient at the heart of their unbeatable hummus, made from scratch just like nearly every item on the menu. Having set the table, let’s dig in! The Mediterranean-inspired menu features approachable, flavor-forward dishes designed to deliver the quality of a full-service dining experience within an elevated setting but with a price that never hurts and encourages repetition. Though not a “health food restaurant,” as it were, Happea’s was created to deliver deliciousness with a side of freshness and health-consciousness. “Better ingredients, Kosher meats, made-to-order hummus, seed-oil-free food and freshly prepared dishes that make you feel good after you eat them are the key to not just fine flavor but fine living,” notes Omari, who hails from a food-obsessed family, has worked in kitchens and operations and created all the recipes himself, from the protein prep to the killer sauces.

The menu is multitudinous, divided into mezze, pita pockets, bowls, salads, desserts and beverages, offering everything from a quick bite to a grazing menu of shareables or a meal to-go. Standout mezze include the must-try made-to-order Hummus, Labneh, Tzatziki, Turkish Salad and Roasted Eggplant with Lemon Tahini, all served with pita. Also, Cilantro Falafel & Lemon Tahini, Marinated Roasted Beets with Feta and Pickled Red Cabbage, among others.

Across all other categories the signature best sellers include: the Chicken Shawarma pocket, stuffed with hummus, pickled red cabbage, lemon tahini, mango aioli, a touch of spicy relish, Mediterranean pickles, caramelized plantain and roasted red pepper sauce; Chicken Schnitzel (be it in a pocket or a bowl); the Shakshuka Brunch bowl; the Grilled Chicken Power Bowl, which combines a quinoa and hummus base with grilled chicken, roasted mushrooms, caramelized onions, roasted sweet potato, pickled red cabbage and pita wedges; Salmon Mediterranean Bowl– six ounces of Norwegian Salmon atop organic quinoa, lemon cabbage salad and a chickpea base with fermented red cabbage, English cucumber, fried plantain, Moroccan red pepper sauce and pita wedges and The Kale salad, made with kale, quinoa, English cucumbers, za'atar, toasted sliced almonds, marinated beets, roasted sweet potato, pickled red cabbage and lemon vinaigrette. But, most would argue, the definitive dish at Happea’s is the Carnivoreishh Bowl, a glorious 81 grams of protein with Ribeye Shawarma, Beef Kebab, Chicken Shawarma, lemon tahini, hummus and mango aioli, served with caramelized onions, fermented red cabbage, Mediterranean pickles and sweet plantains. Pro tip for carb lovers, adding rice to this bowl makes it the most glorious flavor bomb around!

Sweets from Happea’s are all sweetened with organic date sugar including the signature freshly-baked Dark Chocolate Cookie (consisting of Purishh chocolate protein powder and Conscious Bar Dark smooth chocolate), Tahini ice cream, and Dark Chocolate Mousse. To drink, the homemade Moroccan iced tea with dried and fresh mint leaves and Mint Lemonade are not-to-be-missed. The Aventura location will also introduce a beer and wine selection alongside a curated cocktail list, adding a new dimension to Happea’s beverage offerings

From the food and equipment to the team and service, Danny and Eduardo have built the elevated concept around intention, attention and what they describe as the “energy of love,” creating an experience where hospitality and personal connection are just as important as what comes out of the kitchen. That philosophy extends into every visual detail of Happea’s, shaped by Creative Director Melanie Omari, Eduardo’s sister and Danny’s wife, whose background in film informs the brand’s distinctive approach to storytelling, composition and design. From the restaurant’s physical environment and visual elements to its digital presence, Melanie brings warmth, personality and an uncompromising attention to detail, creating spaces and experiences designed to make guests feel something beyond the pleasures of the aesthetic.

Happea’s Mediterranean Grill, located at 2749 Northeast 193th Street, Unit 20, Aventura, Florida 33180 will open November 2026. Hours of operation: Monday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. For more information, visit: www.happeas.com. Follow Happea’s on Social Media: @happeas.