Ayat: The Palestinian restaurant winning hearts and minds through food and culture

Ayat, a popular Palestinian restaurant in New York City, was founded by Egyptian-American entrepreneur Abdul Elenani with the explicit mission to communicate the occupation of Palestine through food and culture. Growing up defending his family from anti-Muslim harassment post-9/11 shaped his passion for justice. After losing his previous business during the pandemic, he decided to create a venture with impact, boldly centering Palestinian identity. The restaurant, which has received both praise and hate, is named after his Palestinian-American wife, Ayat Masoud, who helped shape the menu with traditional dishes.