Four new restaurants open in Fresno with sandwiches, breakfast, Mediterranean food, more

Several Fresno-area restaurants have closed in recent weeks — but it’s not all bad news.

There has been a steady trickle of new places to eat opening, sometimes in the empty spaces the closed restaurants left behind.

There’s a new breakfast spot, a cannabis-themed sandwich franchise and a downtown gelato place that’s finally open. There’s also a Mediterranean restaurant that serves both traditional food and creative dishes involving Hot Cheetos.

Here’s a look at four new eateries in town.

Lily’s Kitchen

This little takeout-only Mediterranean spot opened at the northwest corner of Bullard and West avenues in September. It’s in the space once occupied by Honolulu BBQ.

Lily’s Kitchen has traditional Mediterranean options, such as chicken and beef kebabs — the latter made from filet mignon. Its kebab plates are the most popular seller, the meat served on a bed of a rice with a choice of sides, including rice pilaf, hummus and tabouli.

Something very untraditional is on the menu, too: a burrito with chicken and beef shawarma (thinly sliced meat roasted on a vertical spit) and crunched up Hot Cheetos inside.

Almost everything is made on site, said owner Sara Sulukyan, whose husband Gevork “George” Mkrtchyan does the cooking.

“Everything we have is made from scratch — falafel, hummus. We boil our garbanzo beans,” she said. “I think he uses 22 different spices to season the meat.”

The couple opened the first version of the restaurant in the Los Angeles area and named it after their daughter Lily, now 6. But they ended up moving back to Fresno for family.

Sulukyan and her sister — both nurses — take care of their dad, who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also called ALS.

But Lily still missed having a restaurant named after her, according to her mom.

“She was so bummed that her Lily’s Kitchen was closed in L.A., and she kept asking her dad, ‘Am I ever going to get a Lily’s Kitchen again?’” Sulukyan said. “Now we’re back.”

Details: Lily’s Kitchen is at 2020 W. Bullard Ave., and on Uber Eats, DoorDash and Grubhub. Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays.

The Waffle Place

The Waffle Shop is now The Waffle Place.

The breakfast restaurant on the Fig Garden Loop closed a few months ago (though its sister restaurant Daddy Waffles is still open). But now the restaurant at Figarden Drive and Brawley Avenue is open again with new owners.

It still specializes in waffles, with 13 kinds on the menu. That includes a churro dulce de leche waffle, chicken and waffles, and a waffle sandwich.

There are all the standard breakfast and lunch foods: pancakes, omelets, chilaquiles, sandwiches and more.

Vegan and gluten-free options, juices, smoothies and an acai bowl are also on the menu.

Details: The Waffle Place is at 4025 W. Figarden Drive, suite 101. Hours: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Gelateria Del Centro

The gelato spot in downtown Fresno is finally open.

The owners, a pair of downtown supporters and small business owners, spent several months fundraising and getting the dessert shop ready to open.

Jordan Sanchez and Tami Waters opened Gelateria Del Centro on Nov. 17. It’s in one of the spaces next door to the Warnors Theatre.

Gelato is Italy’s take on ice cream — a richer, denser version of the American treat. The shop has nine flavors, including two vegan options.

The owners decorated the business in an art nouveau style with a large chandelier and floral wallpaper to echo the style of the neighboring theater.

Details: Gelateria Del Centro is at 2017 Tuolumne St. Hours: Noon to 9 p.m. daily.

Cheba Hut

Cheba Hut “Toasted” Subs is a sandwich shop with a unique theme: Pot. Cannabis. Marijuana, whatever you want to call it.

It opened in October in the Winepress Shopping Center at Shaw and Marks avenues, near Brahma Bull.

It has loud music and a full bar with beer and cocktails.

But it’s the open-faced sandwiches that are the star of the show here. More than two dozen of them are on the menu, ranging from “the Chronic,” (a barbecue roast beef) to the “Dank,” (a pizza sub).

Two of the most popular are the White Widow (grilled chicken with bacon and ranch) and the Kali Mist (a spicy roasted turkey) sandwich.

Cheba Hut is a chain with locations across the Western United States. This location is owned by a local franchisee.

Details: Cheba Hut is at 3050 W. Shaw Ave., suite 116. Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. 559- 421-3058.