A Lebanese born Top Chef is bringing Middle Eastern food to Hollywood in a new restaurant with a massive patio set to open this summer.

“Top Chef Middle East & North Africa” season 5 winner Charbel Hayek will be behind the kitchen at the upcoming Laya restaurant, which is set to open at 1430 N. Cahuenga Blvd. on July 2.

“It’s going to be straight-forward comfort food but executed at the highest levels,” said Hayek, who also runs the respected Lady Hawk Mediterranean restaurant in West Hollywood and has worked at other well known restaurants like Mélisse in Santa Monica under two-star Michelin chef Josiah Citrin.

For Laya he is teaming up with the Sunset Entertainment Group, which is behind well-known Los Angeles spots such as the Sunset Room, Lure, White Lotus, Le Jardin, Green Door, La Mesa Lounge and others.

Hayek fell in love with cooking while in the kitchen with his mother, who was herself an accomplished chef.

“I was a chubby kid and I loved food and my mom used to cook great food so it was a great combo,” he said with a chuckle.

At the age of 17 he moved out of Lebanon and headed to Paris to study at the French School of Excellence. While he learned French and Italian cooking techniques as well as modern American, once he went on “Top  Chef” he went back to his roots.

“Being on ‘Top Chef’ you want to create stories for every dish you are doing and the best way to do that is to go back to your memories, and every memory I have as a kid is about our cuisines,” he said.

He’s continuing on that trajectory at Laya where he is planning a Middle Eastern menu that includes various skewers, including Wagyu beef and chicken offerings as well as octopus and an artichoke skewer served with lemon garlic dressing.

“It’s soft, it’s acidic, it’s aromatic and to me it’s the perfect appetizer,” he said, referring to the artichoke dish.

He’s also serving chicken shawarma, hummus, Hanan bread and other classic dishes.

The food will come with quite an ambience since the restaurant will also boast a 6,500-square-foot outdoor patio that will seat up to 157 people.

“I can’t wait for everyone to see the restaurant. It’s turning out to be stunning,” he said.

For more information go to layarestaurant.com.

Related Articles