Staten Island, we have some news. Two new Yala locations are coming to the borough in 2026. One on the North Shore. One on the East Shore. Both in neighborhoods that have been asking for Yala and both designed to bring the same halal American comfort food, the same nonprofit mission, and the same community-first approach that has made our Eltingville location a neighborhood staple.
Here is everything we know so far.
West Brighton - 708 Castleton Ave
The first new location is coming to West Brighton at 708 Castleton Ave, in the heart of one of Staten Island's most vibrant and diverse neighborhoods. If you live on the North Shore, this one is for you.
Why West Brighton
West Brighton sits at the crossroads of some of the most active corridors on the North Shore. Castleton Avenue and Forest Avenue run through the neighborhood carrying a steady flow of foot traffic, local shoppers, and commuters heading to and from the St. George Ferry Terminal. The area has long been one of Staten Island's most culturally diverse neighborhoods, home to South Asian, Middle Eastern, West African, and Latin American communities that have built a rich tapestry of small businesses, restaurants, and cultural institutions.
For years, the North Shore has been underserved when it comes to halal dining options that go beyond traditional cuisine. There are excellent Pakistani, Yemeni, and Middle Eastern spots scattered across the area - and we love them - but the halal American comfort food category has been almost entirely absent from this part of the island. West Brighton residents who wanted a Yala platter or a Loaded Buffalo Mac had to make the trip down to Eltingville on the South Shore. That changes with this location.
The Neighborhood
The area around 708 Castleton Ave is walkable, active, and growing. Castleton Avenue is lined with shops, bodegas, laundromats, and restaurants that serve the daily needs of the neighborhood. It is the kind of strip where people run errands on foot, stop in for a quick bite, and bump into their neighbors.
The proximity to St. George and the Staten Island Ferry terminal is another major factor. Thousands of commuters pass through the North Shore daily. Having a Yala on Castleton Ave means commuters heading home can grab dinner on the way, and families in the area have a new weeknight option without driving across the island. The North Shore is also in the middle of a broader revitalization, with new housing developments and commercial investment bringing energy to West Brighton, Tompkinsville, and Port Richmond. Yala is part of that momentum.
What to Expect
The West Brighton location will serve the full Yala menu - Chicken Over Rice, Lamb Over Rice, Mixed platters, Loaded Mac and Cheese, gyros, Yalarittos, burgers, waffles, crepes, and dirty sodas. Same recipes. Same portions. Same quality. If you have eaten at Eltingville, you know exactly what you are getting. If you have not, you are in for something good.
Hylan Blvd - 1898 Hylan Blvd
The second new location is at 1898 Hylan Blvd, on one of the busiest and most recognizable commercial corridors on Staten Island. If you know the East Shore, you know Hylan Blvd - and you know this stretch near New Dorp is one of the most active retail areas on the island.
Why Hylan Blvd
Hylan Boulevard is the longest street on Staten Island - over 11 miles stretching from St. George down to Tottenville - and one of the most heavily trafficked. The stretch around 1898 Hylan Blvd sits in the New Dorp and Midland Beach area, a corridor that combines high car traffic, strong pedestrian activity, and a dense concentration of businesses. The surrounding neighborhoods - New Dorp, Midland Beach, Grant City, and Dongan Hills - are home to a mix of longtime Staten Island families and newer residents drawn by the area's affordability and community feel.
Filling a Gap on the East Shore
The Hylan Blvd corridor has plenty of food options, but halal dining is noticeably underrepresented. Residents in the New Dorp and Midland Beach area have told us they typically drive to Eltingville or head off the island entirely for quality halal food. That 15 to 20 minute trip each way is enough to make halal dining inconvenient for a weeknight dinner or a quick lunch run. 1898 Hylan Blvd puts Yala directly in the path of daily life for thousands of East Shore residents.
The location also benefits from its proximity to New Dorp Lane, one of Staten Island's most popular shopping streets. The intersection of Hylan Blvd and New Dorp Lane draws shoppers from across the island. Combined with strong signage visibility, parking access, and high traffic volume, this spot is set up for the kind of volume that allows Yala to maximize its impact - both for customers and for the Trucks of Hope program that every meal supports.
What Both Locations Mean for Staten Island
When these two locations open, Yala will have three restaurants spread across the island - Eltingville on the South Shore, West Brighton on the North Shore, and Hylan Blvd on the East Shore. That geographic coverage means that no matter where you live on Staten Island, there will be a Yala within a reasonable drive of your home.
The Same Menu and Mission
Both new locations will offer the complete Yala menu. The recipes do not change from location to location. Whether you order a Chicken Over Rice at Eltingville or West Brighton or Hylan Blvd, it will taste the same. Consistency is something we take seriously.
The nonprofit mission carries over fully. Both new locations operate under the Umma Foundation, and every meal served contributes to the Trucks of Hope program. More locations means more revenue, which means more hot meals delivered to homeless and underserved communities. This is the core of why Yala grows - not to build a chain, but to scale the impact.
More Jobs, More Community Impact
Each new location creates jobs for Staten Island residents. We hire locally, and we pay competitive wages. Beyond employment, each location becomes a community anchor. Yala has become more than a place to eat - it is where Little League teams celebrate after games, where families grab dinner after Friday prayers, and where high school students hang out after school. We expect both new locations to develop the same identity that our Eltingville location has built.
The Yala Story So Far
For those just learning about Yala, here is how we got here. Yala started in Eltingville with a straightforward idea: build a halal American restaurant where the food is excellent, the prices are fair, and every dollar of profit goes to humanitarian aid through the Umma Foundation. No shareholders. No owners extracting wealth. A restaurant that exists to serve its community in every sense of the word.
The Eltingville location proved the concept. Customers responded to the food and to the mission. Knowing that your lunch is funding hot meals for someone in need changes the way you feel about spending money at a restaurant. It turns a transaction into a contribution. That success gave us the confidence and resources to expand. West Brighton and Hylan Blvd represent a doubling of our Staten Island presence and a significant increase in our ability to fund the Trucks of Hope.
Timeline and What to Expect
Both locations are currently in preparation. We are working through the buildout, permitting, and hiring processes. While we are not announcing specific opening dates yet, both locations are on track to open in 2026.
Here is what we can tell you:
- Buildout is underway. Both spaces are being designed and prepared to deliver the full Yala experience.
- Hiring will begin soon. If you live in West Brighton, New Dorp, Midland Beach, or the surrounding areas and you are interested in joining the team, keep an eye on our social media for announcements.
- The menu is set. Full menu from day one. No limited soft-opening menu. When the doors open, everything will be available.
- Grand opening events are being planned. We want to celebrate with the community. Details will be shared as we get closer to the opening dates.
How You Can Help
Even before these locations open, there are things you can do to support the effort and help us build momentum in both neighborhoods.
Spread the Word
If you live on the North or East Shore, tell your neighbors, coworkers, mosque community, and school parent groups. Word of mouth has been the single most powerful driver of Yala's growth, and every person who learns about us before we open is a potential day-one customer.
Follow Us and Sign Up
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook for real-time updates on construction progress, hiring announcements, and grand opening details. Visit our website and sign up for email updates so you get the news directly.
Try the Eltingville Location
If you have not been to Yala yet, do not wait for the new locations. Our Eltingville location at 3271 Richmond Ave is open Monday through Saturday and serving the full menu right now. Come see what the buzz is about. By the time West Brighton and Hylan Blvd open, you will already know what you are ordering.
Order Catering
Planning an event or community function? Yala's catering service delivers across Staten Island. It is a great way to introduce Yala to a group of people who might not have tried it yet - and every catering order feeds families in need through the Trucks of Hope.
Two Neighborhoods, One Mission
Opening two new locations is exciting, but for us the most exciting part is the math. More locations means more meals served, which means more hot meals delivered to people who are struggling. Every platter ordered at 708 Castleton Ave or 1898 Hylan Blvd contributes to that equation.
Staten Island believed in Yala from the beginning. The support from this borough has been extraordinary, and it is the reason we are growing. These two new locations are our way of giving back to neighborhoods that have been asking for exactly this - great food, a real mission, and a restaurant that belongs to the community.
We cannot wait to open the doors. Stay tuned, Staten Island.
Check out our full menu, find our current locations, explore catering for your next event, or learn more about the mission behind every meal. And if you are interested in bringing Yala to your community outside of Staten Island, take a look at our franchise opportunity. Good food should do good - and we are just getting started.