Hola restaurant to introduce halal Mexican to Plymouth Rd.

It's not often that a genuinely new genre of food finds its way into the diverse Ann Arbor restaurant scene, but restaurateur Ali Hijazi believes his new venture, Hola, will be serving the city's first halal Mexican food.

 

Though the concept is new, Hijazi is confident Hola will be a great fit – and he knows a thing or two about both restaurants and the neighborhood. 

 

"I live in this neighborhood," says Hijazi, who has been in the restaurant business for two decades. "I know what additions will make the community here happy to see."

 

Hola is expected to open in August in a 2,200 square-foot location on Plymouth Rd. between the Songbird Café and Curry Up restaurants. The former office space has been under renovation for some time.

 

Hijazi is working with a Mexican business partner who will specialize in the food end of the business. As Hola becomes established, the partners plan to expand into breakfast and late night food, as well as expand their staff, which will begin with the partners and family help. 

 

"We'll let the food and the service talk about itself," Hijazi says. "We're trying to make it a very nice addition to the north campus area."