The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill opens new Ladera Heights location, serving customizable Greek dishes and launching a hiring drive

Franchisee Saba Mengesha debuted a 2,000-square-foot fast-casual eatery at 5305 W Centinela Ave. with Mediterranean menu, catering options, a ribbon-cutting event and a recruitment push for about 20 staff members

The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill® announced the opening of its latest California outpost in the Ladera Heights section of Los Angeles, bringing a Mediterranean-inspired fast-casual concept to the 5305 W Centinela Avenue address. The 2,000-square-foot space inside The Ladera Center operates daily from mid-morning until late evening, offering dine-in, pickup, delivery and full-service catering for corporate and community gatherings.

Franchise owner Saba Mengesha, an Ethiopian restaurateur with more than 13 years of experience and over two decades living in Los Angeles, said the brand’s focus on fresh, healthy flavors aligns with local demand. The launch coincided with a public ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 23, 2026, hosted by the LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce, and a hiring campaign seeking roughly 20 employees across kitchen and front-of-house roles.

The new eatery offers a fully customizable menu rooted in the Mediterranean diet, letting guests build rice bowls, fresh salads or pita wraps with protein choices that range from traditional gyro meat to salmon. Signature items highlighted by the brand include made-to-order Feta Fries, a selection of house-made dips, and desserts such as baklava ice cream and rice pudding, all prepared in-house according to recipes passed down through generations.

Beyond the standard fast-casual service, the Ladera Heights location expands into catering, providing build-your-own gyro kits, souvlaki skewers, traditional sides and desserts for corporate events, community gatherings and family celebrations. The catering menu mirrors the restaurant’s emphasis on fresh, authentic flavors while scaling to larger groups, a point underscored in the press release from RestaurantNews.com.

Operating hours vary by day: Monday through Wednesday the kitchen serves from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., while Thursday through Sunday it remains open until 11 p.m., matching the schedule listed on the brand’s official site for the Los Angeles location.

Saba Mengesha, the franchisee behind the Ladera Heights opening, previously owned an Ethiopian restaurant for more than 13 years and has lived in Los Angeles for over 20 years. In an interview quoted by the same press release, Mengesha expressed confidence that the menu’s “delicious, healthy cuisine” will resonate with local consumers.

To staff the new operation, the brand posted a hiring notice on Craigslist seeking approximately 20 employees for positions including line cooks, prep cooks, cashiers/front-counter staff and dishwashers. Compensation starts at $18.42 per hour, with higher rates for experienced candidates, and the posting notes that both full-time and part-time schedules are available, training will be provided, and students are welcome to apply.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 23, 2026, organized by the LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce, invited community members to meet the team, enjoy snacks, refreshments and raffles, and celebrate the addition of a new Chamber member. Event details, including the contact person Teyah Romero, are listed on the Chamber’s event page.

The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill adds a family-friendly, health-focused option to Ladera Heights, a neighborhood that has seen limited fast-casual Mediterranean choices. Its emphasis on locally sourced, made-from-scratch dishes and a robust catering program could attract both everyday diners and corporate events, while the hiring drive offers entry-level jobs to residents, reinforcing the area’s growing employment landscape.