Motek Is Coming to New York: Miami’s Mediterranean Powerhouse Expands with Five NYC Locations

Miami’s favorite Mediterranean restaurant is finally making its New York debut — and it’s not coming quietly.

After building a loyal cult following in South Florida with its vibrant take on Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine, Motek is heading to the Big Apple. Five locations are set to open across NYC, kicking off this fall with a flagship in the Flatiron District on Broadway.

Founded by Charlie Levy, Motek opened its first location in downtown Miami during the height of the pandemic in 2020. Despite launching in a challenging climate, the concept quickly gained traction with its colorful dishes, craveable flavors, and welcoming design. Today, it operates six packed locations across Miami, serving everything from crispy falafel and grilled kebabs to creamy hummus, shakshuka, and Jerusalem bagels.

“I spent 20 years in New York before Miami became home,” Levy said in an official statement. “Miami is often called the sixth borough of New York, so it’s a natural next step for our brand to expand here.”

The announcement came via Instagram, with the team posting:

“It’s been a long time coming... We are proud to announce that Motek is coming to NYC officially! With five locations in the works, our first will open this fall on Broadway in the Flatiron.”

The Expansion Plan:

• Fall 2025: First NYC Motek opens in Flatiron, on Broadway.

• Winter 2026: Launch of Yalla Motek, a kosher street food spinoff.

• Three additional NYC locations are planned — details wilTBD.

While many restaurants expand cautiously into the NYC market, Motek is going all in — a testament to the strength of its brand and the growing demand for authentic, elevated Mediterranean cuisine in fast-casual and full-service formats. The decision to debut in Flatiron is strategic: the area’s mix of office workers, tourists, and residential density makes it a prime launchpad for buzzy new concepts.

Yalla Motek, the kosher offshoot set to debut in early 2026, aims to tap into a different niche entirely. Offering street food-inspired dishes with kosher certification, it’s poised to resonate with observant communities and broader audiences looking for clean, high-quality food with bold flavor.

Why Motek Matters:

• Ethnic cuisine is booming, and New York’s appetite for Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors has never been stronger.

• Motek’s expansion strategy blends hospitality roots with scalability—it balances beautifully plated, Instagrammable meals with a fast-casual format that delivers consistency across locations.

• The design DNA of the Miami locations — open, airy, and saturated with earthy textures and warm colors — is expected to be mirrored in the NYC spaces, aligning with the city’s trend toward experiential, aesthetic-first dining.

• Community focus remains key: Motek’s growth story isn’t just about food. It’s about hospitality, culture, and building an experience that feels just as much like home as it does a destination.

Motek’s entry into the NYC dining landscape is more than just another out-of-town brand arriving on the scene — it’s a cultural crossover that brings the warmth, soul, and vibrancy of Miami’s food scene to New York’s fast-paced, flavor-hungry streets.

From pita to prestige, Motek is ready to take on New York.