Israeli Restaurant Chutzpah Kitchen Makes Debut In Westfield

WESTFIELD, NJ — The highly anticipated Chutzpah Kitchen finally opened in downtown Westfield and is now serving homemade falafel, pita and hummus for its customers.

The restaurant serving Israeli classics opened Wednesday at 138 East Broad Street. This is the restaurant's second location, with the first opening in Maplewood.

Like its sister location in Maplewood, the Chutzpah Kitchen menu will serve elevated Israeli street food and will feature many Middle Eastern favorite “sandvicheem” such as falafel, sabich, and shawarma, which will spotlight modern takes on Middle Eastern flavors.

The Westfield location will also feature a taboon oven to roast a rotating list of farm fresh vegetables and speciality breads, among other delicacies.

This location will also host an authentic shawarma spit. Shawarma consists of meat cut into thin slices, stacked in a cone-like shape, which roasted on a slowly-turning rotisserie or spit.

Chutzpah Kitchen offers options for vegans and vegetarians, as well. The menu features a number of hummus bowls for those following a meatless diet.

Chutzpah Kitchen’s Maplewood location has been open since October 2020 and was awarded New Jersey Monthly's Jersey Choice Restaurant 2021’s Best New Restaurant and Best Middle Eastern restaurant.

The concept of Chutzpah Kitchen was conceived by Sagi Ohayon, who was born and raised in Israel and has spent most of his life in the restaurant world. He has owned and operated NYC’s Cafe Delectica since 2008, and he and his family have called Maplewood home for the past seven years.

Ohayon was yearning to bring “the flavors and boldness of an Israeli shuk (market) to the area.”

The founder is again partnering with Tanmoy Jadhav, with whom he launched Chutzpah Kitchen in Maplewood. Jadhav is a corporate executive turned serial entrepreneur, and South Orange resident.

Together they aim to bring their signature and delicious elevated fast-casual dining with chutzpah to Westfield and its surrounding areas.

After the restaurant's soft opening, the owners plan to introduce private parties, special events and more.

"As patrons bite into a meal from Chutzpah Kitchen, the chutzpah of the flavors will transport patrons to the streets of Tel Aviv," the restaurant writes. "Chutzpah is the spirit of Chutzpah Kitchen, serving food with bold flavors and a warm smile."

Founder Ohayon is committed to using "the freshest ingredients that will be locally sourced in continued support of our communities," according to the announcement.

Visit chutzpahkitchen.com for more details and follow them on Instagram @chutzpah_Kitchen.