UberEATS Feature: The Falafel Guys Dream Big

Austin Brothers Use UberEATS App to Achieve Childhood Dream

Rawad and Kareem Al-awar have always had a passion for food, and in many ways they have always been ahead of the curve when it comes to sharing that passion with others. Growing up, their family sold gyros and other Mediterranean favorites at music festivals and other events from food trucks. That is where their shared dream of opening a restaurant began.

Rawad and Kareem are thankful for the recipes and skills they inherited growing up, but they have since learned that a lot of different ingredients go into creating a successful business. Time and money proved to be the most difficult ingredients to find, especially since what little the brothers had was being invested in their education.

Rawad graduated from UT and worked as a petroleum-engineer before deciding to build a business where he could be his own boss. And as of today, Kareem has finished his exams at UT. He’ll go straight from finals to preparing falafel.

Before the brothers shared a commissary kitchen, they both drove pedicabs on the weekends. One night, a passenger mentioned to Kareem how his restaurant was benefiting from its partnership with UberEATS. Kareem wasted no time sharing this news with Rawad, and the two began brainstorming that very night about how they could use UberEATS to make their childhood dream a reality. As engineers, the brothers recognized how innovation could lead to opportunity.

“We couldn’t just run a restaurant business out of our apartment. We needed an operating permit from the city, a food manager’s license, and a commercial kitchen to work out of,” explains Rawad. “Within a month, we found a commercial commissary kitchen and completed the necessary paperwork required by the city.”

It didn’t take long for the brothers to realize what they were doing might be considered revolutionary. With limited resources, the UberEATS platform turned out to be a magic ingredient. They operate exclusively on the UberEATS app, from a commissary kitchen in a major American city. They don’t cook for customers sitting in a restaurant and they didn’t have to hire delivery drivers.

“The response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive,” shared Kareem. “We love meeting people around town and telling them about our business, and then later seeing their name on an order.”

The brothers’ success is paying off in other ways, too. They’ve hired employees to help in the kitchen to keep up with demand. And if you order from The Falafel Guys anytime soon, don’t be surprised if you get a handwritten note from the brothers along with your order of delicious Mediterranean cuisine.

Because they enjoy connecting with their customers so much, they want to treat Austin to free handmade falafel on Thursday, December 1. How to enjoy:

• Download the UberEATS app or visit ubereats.com
• From 5pm-Midnight downtown, search for The Falafel Guys restaurant. Add the side of free falafel to your cart, along with anything else you’re craving.*
• Delivery is a flat $3.99, and we’ll deliver right to you.

*Limit 1 per order, please. Demand will be high. Available while supplies last.