Mediterranean Deli

Mediterranean Deli

A Franklin Street Institution

For more than three decades, Mediterranean Deli, known to just about everyone as Med Deli, has been one of the defining flavors of downtown Chapel Hill. Owner Jamil Kadoura opened the restaurant on West Franklin Street in 1991, and over the years it grew from a modest deli counter into a full-service Mediterranean restaurant, bakery, and catering operation that feeds students, professors, families, and downtown workers alike. Independent and locally rooted, it has long been the kind of place where you are as likely to run into your neighbor as a first-time visitor working through the hot bar for the first time.

Part of what has kept Med Deli so beloved is its owner’s generosity. Kadoura has built a reputation across the Triangle for giving back to the community, feeding those in need and supporting local causes, earning him a place as one of Chapel Hill’s most recognizable and well-liked business owners.

The Hot Bar and Build-Your-Own Plates

The centerpiece of the Med Deli experience is its big hot bar, a long line of house-made Mediterranean dishes that changes throughout the day. Instead of choosing a single entree, you build a plate, mixing and matching grilled meats, stews, roasted vegetables, grape leaves, rice, and salads until you have exactly the meal you want. A condiment bar stocked with olives, pickled turnips, and house-made sauces lets you round it all out. It is generous, affordable, and endlessly customizable, which is a big reason the restaurant draws such a loyal daily crowd.

What to Order

Beyond the hot bar, Med Deli turns out a full menu of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern favorites. The chicken and gyro shawarma, falafel, hummus, and warm grape leaves are perennial standouts, and the lamb kebabs and Greek salad have plenty of devoted fans. The Turkish pizzas are a longtime local favorite and one of the best deals in the house. Vegetarians, vegans, and anyone eating lighter are unusually well served here, thanks to a menu built heavily around vegetables, legumes, and grains. Portions are generous and prices are friendly, which is exactly what you want from a college-town institution.

Bakery and Catering

Med Deli is a bakery as much as it is a restaurant. Fresh pita and a rotating case of Mediterranean pastries come out of the kitchen throughout the day, and the baklava alone is worth a stop. The catering side of the business is just as central, and for years Med Deli has been a go-to caterer for weddings, office lunches, and celebrations across the Triangle, bringing its mezze platters and grilled favorites to events large and small.

Back After the Fire

In July 2023, a fire that investigators later ruled accidental destroyed the Franklin Street location, sidelining one of Chapel Hill’s most cherished restaurants. The community rallied around Kadoura and his team, and after a rebuild reported at roughly 3.5 million dollars, Med Deli reopened at 410 West Franklin Street in September 2025, first for dinner and then quickly for lunch as well. Its return was celebrated across town as the homecoming of a true gathering place, and today the restaurant is once again open and serving its full lineup.

Visiting Mediterranean Deli

You will find Mediterranean Deli at 410 West Franklin Street in the heart of downtown Chapel Hill, open daily from 11 AM to 9 PM. Service is casual and counter-style, with dine-in and takeout, plus catering for events. Whether you are building a plate at the hot bar, grabbing a quick falafel wrap, stocking up on fresh pita and baklava, or introducing a friend to real Mediterranean cooking, Med Deli remains one of Chapel Hill’s most dependable and most beloved places to eat.