Lubbock is more than 6,000 miles from the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean Sea, but residents have been able to experience that region's cuisine for 31 years at one Hub City restaurant.
Lite Bite Mediterranean Markets initially opened in 1993 as a café on 50th Street, owned by Sam and Farah Shoujaa, of Lebanon. A year later, it moved to where Market Street currently is, as the space was formerly a shopping center. Soon after, the Shoujaa family moved the restaurant to 3624 50th St., where it has remained for decades.
Joe and Kelly Hilal, friends of the Shoujaa family, purchased the restaurant in December 2020. The couple streamlined the menu to five appetizers, five salads, and five sandwiches. Soups, baklavas and pizzas are also available.
"We prep our products on a daily basis and we do our best to meet our customers' expectations," Joe said.
Lite Bite's menu represents multiple countries along the Mediterranean, including Greece, Lebanon and Syria.
"The type of spices and herbs we use in our recipes are different," Joe said. "For example, the falafel is basically chickpeas, but the spices and the herbs we mix it with - that's what makes it so special and unique.
The customer favorites are the gyro, a type of Greek sandwich served on pita bread, and shawarma, a Middle Eastern sandwich. Lite Bite recently began offering a Pressed Chicken Sumac, which is marinated roasted chicken mixed with the sumac herb and garlic, and toasted.
"The gyro is the No. 1 seller, but the rest of the items on the menu are almost sold equally," Kelly said. "People are loving the new products we're introducing and it’s becoming very popular. There's a big variety for vegetarian and vegan food on our menu."
Kelly's favorite is the Tabbouli Salad, which originates from Lebanon. The salad is made with chopped parsley, cracked wheat, tomatoes, onions, mint and olive oil.
"We prepare the food exactly as we prepare it at home - that’s why we get a lot of good comments on the freshness of the food we serve," Kelly said.
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Another option the Hilals introduced is the ability for people to order their sandwiches as a plate. The plate option also adds about 1.5 times more food, and a choice of salad or rice. Pizzas can also be served as calzones.
"The most popular pizza is the Mediterranean, which is marinated beef mixed with green pepper and onions," Joe said. "It's amazing"
Lite Bite also offers a market side, where people can find more than 100 Mediterranean items. That includes: