News Summary
Tarik’s North African is preparing to launch a new brick-and-mortar restaurant at 900 E Hill Ave, Knoxville. The establishment will continue to offer traditional North African dishes, building on the popularity of its pop-up operations. Chef Tarik Becha, who hails from Algeria, is committed to providing authentic cuisine while fostering community dining experiences. Positive feedback has already been received during soft openings, and a grand opening date will be announced soon.
Knoxville is set to welcome a new culinary addition as Tarik’s North African prepares to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant at 900 E Hill Ave, Suite 130. The owner and chef, Tarik Becha, has been delighting local food enthusiasts since May 28, 2022, when he first launched Mina’s North African. Due to a trademark issue with a Moroccan company, the restaurant’s name was changed to Tarik’s North African.
Tarik Becha hails from Tizi Ouzou, a mountainous village in Algeria, where his passion for cooking began at a young age, helping in family kitchens during weddings and gatherings. His professional culinary journey has taken him across several countries, including Tunisia, Algeria, Greece, Turkey, Serbia, and Paris. In Paris, he met his wife, Allison, a Knoxville native, sharing a mutual love for food and culture, which ultimately led him to settle in Knoxville.
Currently based at Real Good Kitchen, Tarik’s North African has gained popularity at local breweries such as Crafty Bastard, Alliance Brewing, and Albright Grove Brewing, where it has served its traditional North African dishes. The menu includes highlights like steamed couscous with vegetables and proteins including chicken or lamb, as well as Kabyle bread, which is prepared in a cast-iron skillet. Maintaining authenticity, Tarik incorporates herbs and spices sent by his mother from Algeria into his dishes.
The upcoming brick-and-mortar location is a culmination of years of searching for the right space, with a recommendation from Bailey Foster, founder of Real Good Kitchen, leading Tarik to the new site. Recently, Tarik’s team completed a crowdfunding campaign to purchase essential equipment, such as a commercial fridge, to support their operations.
The new restaurant will continue to offer popular menu items while expanding its offerings to include more sandwiches and rotating specials in the future. A communal dining table is planned to be the centerpiece of the restaurant, fostering community and shared experiences among diners, which reflects Tarik’s desire to promote cultural exchange through culinary experience.
Soft openings have garnered positive feedback from guests, although a grand opening date has yet to be announced. Meanwhile, the team at Tarik’s North African will continue providing catering services and hosting pop-up events as they prepare for regular restaurant hours. They are also scheduled to participate in the Mill & Mine event on August 10, aiming to support local food justice and arts initiatives.
Tarik’s goal is to provide accessible and authentic North African cuisine, creating memorable dining experiences for the Knoxville community while inspiring other international chefs to share their culinary cultures. The restaurant’s branding, which features the Amazigh symbol, pays homage to Tarik’s heritage and underlines his commitment to cultural preservation.
As Tarik’s North African moves closer to its opening, the anticipation continues to build for a dining establishment that promises to enhance Knoxville’s culinary diversity with its rich North African flavors and experiences.
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Additional Resources
- Inside of Knoxville: Tarik Becha Serves Up Tarik’s North African
- Knox News: Mina North African Cuisine Pop-Up
- Inside of Knoxville: From Pop-Ups to Permanent Tarik’s North African Opens
- Wikipedia: North African Cuisine
- Knox News: Real Good Kitchen Helps Make Restaurant Ownership a Reality
Author: STAFF HERE KNOXVILLE WRITER
The KNOXVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREKnoxville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Knoxville, Knox County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Dogwood Arts Festival, Big Ears Festival, and Knoxville Asian Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership and United Way of Greater Knoxville, plus leading businesses in healthcare, education, and energy that power the local economy such as Covenant Health, University of Tennessee, and Tennessee Valley Authority. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBristol.com, HEREChattanooga.com, HEREMemphis.com, and HERENashville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Tennessee's dynamic landscape.
