PERTH | Yalla Bala began life in 2020, popping up across Perth, building a reputation for it’s delicious, generously filled, Levantine pita pockets. Last year, they opened a small bricks and mortar kiosk in Leederville, on Electric Lane in the same area where Servo is.
It’s a family affair, run by owner Ben Kotkis and his family. Gavin, Ben’s dad, is the face you see on the logo, and you’ll often see Ben’s mum Shelley, and other relatives helping out. Service is friendly, in the way that you only get from a family-run place that comes from the heart.
The menu is small, with four items to choose from – falafel or chicken shawarma in plate or pita form. I opted for the chicken shawarma pita, the most popular item on the menu, with the addition of chips inside the pita. It’s a thing of beauty – fluffy freshly baked pita filled to the brim with succulent, flavoursome spiced chicken, pickled vegetables, salad, onions, hummus, and tahini.
Each bite is elevated by the sauces. There’s amba, pickled mango sauce originally created by Iraqi Jews in Bombay, and zhug (optional), a spicy Yemenite hot sauce. The name of the business reflects the mixed Arabic and Jewish influences of the food – “yalla” is the Arabic word for “hurry”, and “bala” is short for balagan, the Hebrew word for “chaotic”.
To drink, you can pop across the sunny courtyard to the Servo bar, which offers a great selection of Western Australian craft beer, wines, spirits, cocktails, and non-alcoholic options.
Yalla Balla
9 Electric Lane
Leederville
Western Australia 6007
Australia
Telephone: n/a
E-mail: n/a
Website
Open
Wed – Sun: 11:00am to 2:00pm