Michigan’s Best Local Eats: This Middle Eastern family is living the dream at More andShawarma

FENTON, MI born in the Middle Eastern country of Jordan, Belal Khirfan has had plenty of relatives own various businesses.

Khirfan has been a Flint resident since 1986, but he was never quite happy working in other industries.

Opening Shawarma and More, located at 1383 N Leroy St. in Fenton, three weeks ago, Khirfan has realized that this restaurant is what truly ful lls him.

“This is a dream,” he said. “I’ve had other businesses, but it wasn’t what I wanted to do. This is a family business. My wife (Etemad) loves cooking, and she likes to see the happiness on people when they eat their food.”

Inside the store can be seen pictures of Khirfan’s homeland, and renovation is not done yet. He plans to install a 60inch TV monitor displaying the menu, along with adding a buffet option and drive-thru for customers.

Khirfan was a business owner from 1995-2006 in Flint but was never satis ed. He made sure the next store he opened would be something his four children would be proud of.

Khirfan, a Muslim, purchases his halal meat from Dearborn, which is meat that is prepared under Islamic dietary guidelines. In 2006, he moved his family back overseas to spend more time around his father, who died eight years later. He returned to Flint in 2017. His wife and son, Bassel, assist him in the kitchen. They have not of cially had a grand opening as they are still testing, but the customers have already expressed their love of the menu with 5-star Google reviews.

“No matter what business I have been in, I have succeeded,” Khirfan said. “Even the stores I owned, when I bought them, they were nothing. But I made it work. I have my way to work things out.”

ON THE MENU Chicken shawarma is o ered as both a sandwich wrap and meal. Other dishes also o ered are ke a kabob and six-piece chicken wings. All meals come with a choice of rice or fries and a choice of fattoush, tabbouleh or Caesar salads. Customers also can choose from side dishes such as chicken shawarma, grilled chicken breast, French fries, grilled ke a kabob, and kabsa.

Appetizers include hummus, lentil