Many students feel like home is very far away once they arrive at ASU, but The Munchies Cafe aims to give them a home away from home.
Munchies, located on Mill Avenue and 6th Street, is co-owned by the husband and wife duo, Ali "Al Munchie" Sarmadi and Sara Sarmadi. It has been specializing in Mediterranean cuisine since August 2007.
When the Sarmadis saw the restaurant's location go up for sale, they bought the building as quickly as possible.
"We've been in the restaurant business for over 20 years right now and once this spot became open, we just grabbed it fast," Sara Sarmadi said. "It used to be Vietnamese food, and we came and made it Middle Eastern food."
Both are civil engineering majors from ASU's class of 1991, so they Sarmadis have history in Tempe. Their sons would both end up attending ASU as well.
After owning businesses in Phoenix and Glendale, the Sarmadis looked to Tempe to be closer to family.
"My son started going to ASU in 2007," Sara Sarmadi said. "We wanted to open some place here so ... he could help us out at lunchtime, plus he has a place to eat everyday. Both my kids used to come here and help at lunchtime."
While the Sarmadis' sons have since graduated and moved away from home, the parents have not stopped cooking as if they were serving their own children.
"Most of the students are from out of state, and every time they come here they feel like they come and visit their parents," Sara Sarmadi said. "It's a family feeling. When you are serving the students you feel like you are serving your own kids."
Sara Sarmadi said they create the lunch specials at Munchies because they know college students struggle financially.
"You want to serve them the best that you can or at the cheapest price that you can," she said. "It just helps the budget for the kid."
It is this family dynamic that really drives the owners of Munchies to do what they do, and ASU students have noticed this dedication.
"It's kind of the same food as my traditional food," mechanical engineering sophomore Fares Alotaibi said.
Fares said he has been going to Munchies as long as he has gone to ASU. He especially enjoys the rice, chicken and salad.
"It's lunchtime, so the rice and chicken is the best," industrial engineering freshman Ahmed Alahmadi said.
When asked what a first-timer might get at Munchies, both Sara and Al Sarmadi had the same answer.
"Chicken Shawarma is the number one seller because the taste is good and healthy," Al Sarmadi said. "Everybody loves it."
He said his favorite part of the restaurant is serving young people.
"When the students come, I love them," he said. "When I see them, I see them like my kids. I try to serve them well and talk to them and show them the right way for the future. They make me young. That's important for me."
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Reach the reporter at jdarge@asu.edu or follow @jeffdarge on Twitter.
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