​Welcoming Week: restaurants

By Brittney Goodman and Barry Nelson

As part of Welcoming Week, September 16-25, restaurants owned by first-generation immigrants in Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo, and Dilworth are being highlighted and promoted. This is to expand restaurant patrons’ experiences by educating them about the wonderful diversity of food and culture within our community.

This is part of a larger National Welcoming Week, a nationwide event created to feature the contributions of immigrants to American communities. The goal of Welcoming Week is to bring neighbors together -- immigrants and the U.S.-born community. And what better way to do this than through delicious and varied food?

During Welcoming Week, you are encouraged to visit restaurants owned by first-generation immigrants. A few of these restaurants are: the: Café Aladdin, Rugsan’s Cuisine, Madina’s, Everest Tikka House, Himalayan Yak, Izusu Sushi, Samarai Sushi, Liberian Merry-Go-Round, Leila Thai, and Mediterranean Grill. But please do not limit yourself to this list. The Facebook page for restaurants adds to the list and updates Welcoming Week events.

This is the first year that Welcoming Week is attempting to emphasize restaurants owned by immigrants. While we don’t have space to write a full description of each of the restaurants, we are highlighting a few, in hopes that you will explore these and other diverse restaurants to give your taste buds a treat, while learning about the cuisines and cultures from all over the world.

First up, Café Aladdin is a longstanding area restaurant which opened in Fargo in 1994. It has become a regular staple in the Fargo eating scene and currently has three locations: its original site at 530 Sixth Avenue North, a second at 3017 13th Avenue South and another at 1609 32nd Avenue South.

The first two have the appearance more of a fast food, sit down café, while the 32nd Avenue restaurant with its beautiful drapes, colorful paintings, and arches, has the elegance of a fine restaurant where one will wish to spend a little more time over the Middle Eastern fare. Owners/managers and brothers Ahmad and Younis Younis note that Aladdin has one of the most extensive selections of vegetarian dishes in the area. The most popular, however, is the Gyro with a lamb and beef blend. We also recommend the falafel, as well as the spinach pie and the fries with a special sumac spice that is to die for. Café Aladdin is open 10 am-8 pm. There is also a small Mediterranean grocery selection at the 32nd Avenue South site.

Rugsan’s Cuisine characterizes itself as an Eastern African traditional “fast food” restaurant. Owner, Ahmad Hassan, is proud of the goat and chicken and rice offerings at Rugsan’s Cuisine, 2424 13th Avenue South. Rugsan’s features a wide selection of foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is open seven days a week, 10 am–10:30 pm Monday through Saturday, 11 am–9 pm Sunday. The café has a bright, clean, fast food look with ordering from the front counter and offers both counter and table seating. Ahmad notes that the restaurant’s popularity does present one challenge: a need for more seating space. He recommends the weekend as the best time to visit.

Owner Madina Omar has big dreams for her restaurant, Madina’s at 2225 13th Avenue South, Fargo. The day one of us visited, Madina and co-workers were busy taking pictures for the expanded, picture-plenty menu and she described ideas to replace the flooring and add a buffet. In the meantime, you can expect wonderful selections: chicken, goat, beef, jabata or enjera breads, vegetarian dishes, rice, Alfredo pasta, KK (a Kenyan specialty) or combo platters. Madina’s is open 7 days a week, 8 am–9 pm. Make sure you visit with Madina when you drop in – it will complete your experience.

The unique combination of Indian and Nepali flavors makes the next two restaurants stand out. Everest Tikka House’s immediate popularity prompted owner Saru Pokharel to open a second location, Himalayan Yak. Both are open for buffet from 11am–2:30pm and dinner, 4:30pm–9 pm. Saru describes Everest Tikka House as featuring more traditional Nepali Street food and recommends trying MoMo (type of steamed bun with filling). At the Himalayan Yak, she recommends the Masala Wings, a twist on wings with spices. You can check out the menus at everesttikkahouse.com. Everest Tikka House is located at 420 Center Avenue North in the northeast part of the Moorhead Center Mall and the new Himalayan Yak is at 1450 25th Street South, Fargo.

Although not owned by first-generation immigrants, three of the local breweries are also in on the Welcoming Week action.

Junkyard Brewery will offer a special happy hour on Friday, September 16, from 5–9pm, featuring food and music. A dollar from each pint purchased will be donated to Welcoming Week. Junkyard is located at 1416 1st Ave N, Moorhead.

Fargo Brewing has its happy hour for Welcoming Week on Monday, September 19, running from 4 to 10 pm. For each pint you buy, a dollar is donated. Fargo Brewing’s event will also feature ethnic music. It is located at 610 University Dr N, Fargo.

Finally, Drekker Brewing Company invites you to their happy hour on Wednesday, September 21, from 4 to 10 pm. They too are donating a dollar from each pint purchased, and you can vent your competitive nature by participating in “international trivia.” You’ll find Drekker at 630 1st Ave. N., Fargo.