Lansing's former YaYa's location will be home to new restaurant

LANSING — A Wayne County-based restaurant chain that serves smoked brisket sandwiches, “bam bam” shrimp, rice bowls and even wings is opening a location in a building formerly home to YaYa's Flame Broiled Chicken.

Big Moe’s Kitchen , which has five locations in Michigan, will open one at 3011 E. Saginaw St., which has been vacant since YaYa’s closed its doors abruptly in June 2023 .

Company founder Muhieddine El-hamawi, who was born in Lebanon and lives in Dearborn, said his casual dining restaurants offer “new American style” dishes that appeal to a broad customer base.

“What I decided to do with the menu is to make it as diverse as possible to be able to attract all cultures, all colors, all languages,” he said. “I wanted that to be their spot where everybody can meet.”

The Lansing location is expected to open in June, El-hamawi said.

The restaurant’s menu offers diversity

El-hamawi, 34, who was given the nickname “Moe” when he was a culinary student at Schoolcraft College in Livonia, opened the first Big Moe’s Kitchen inside a Wayne County gas station in 2016.

Today there are locations in Canton, Garden City, Grand Blanc, Dearborn and Sterling Heights. This week Big Moe’s Kitchen opened its first international location in El-hamawi’s hometown of Beirut, Lebanon.

Diversity is what has always made the restaurant stand out, he said.

“It’s flavors from all over the world and I just put my American touch on them,” El-hamawi said.

The restaurant's dishes include chipotle-garlic shawarma and “bam bam shrimp,” which is jumbo shrimp, breaded, covered in a house-made mild and tangy sauce, and served over Asian coleslaw. Other popular items include its smoked brisket sandwich, bowl and fries.

Most dishes cost between $15 and $20, El-hamawi said.

Plans include adding a pastry shop

El-hamawi’s excited about the Lansing location’s proximity to Michigan State University’s campus. The location will offer discounts and specials for college students, as well as law enforcement, he said.

The approximately 2,400-square-foot space will offer seating for more than 32 people.

“We're bringing another concept to Lansing, too,” he said. Lansing’s Big Moe’s Kitchen will be the chain’s first location to include a Chocolick inside a section of the space. The shop, which El-hamawi owns, offers ice cream, pastries, and specialty drinks and coffees, he said.

The restaurant will employ six to 12 people, both part time and full time.

Contact Reporter Rachel Greco at rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on X @GrecoatLSJ .

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Lansing's former YaYa's location will be home to new restaurant