JACKSONVILLE, FL — EZ Eatz by Yaya is now in a soft opening phase at 1023 Park St, Jacksonville, FL 32204, bringing Moroccan and Mediterranean-inspired cuisine to the Five Points area. Owner Yahia “Yaya” Zrikem told Business Debut the restaurant quietly opened this week, with a grand opening planned for sometime next week.
What to Expect
EZ Eatz by Yaya operates as a fast-casual restaurant with a hybrid service style. Guests order at the counter, then dine in while food is brought to the table, with staff checking in throughout the meal. The space includes indoor seating and a patio, totaling roughly 120 to 130 seats combined.
The concept centers on Moroccan and North African flavors presented in an approachable way for a broad audience. Zrikem said the menu blends traditional Moroccan dishes with familiar Mediterranean items, introducing guests to new flavors without straying too far from what many already know.
Menu and Vision
The menu focuses on made-from-scratch dishes using a wide range of spices intended for depth of flavor rather than heat. Zrikem told Business Debut that cumin, cloves, allspice and house-blended Moroccan spices are staples in the kitchen, along with preserved lemons that are cured in-house for several months.
Offerings include charcoal-grilled platters cooked over an open flame, slow-cooked tagines prepared for hours until the meat becomes tender, and traditional Moroccan dishes such as couscous. The menu also features msemen, a Moroccan flatbread, served in both savory and sweet preparations, including versions filled with cheese or finished with honey butter, almond butter or pistachio cream.
Several tagines lean into the balance of sweet and savory common in Moroccan cooking, pairing meats like beef short rib with plums, raisins or nuts. Vegan options are also available, and many dishes are designed to be lighter and health-focused…