Our Story
Born from Purpose
What if a restaurant existed not to make owners rich - but to feed a mission?
The Beginning
A Restaurant for the Ummah
Yala started with one question: what if every plate sold could feed someone who can't afford one? In Staten Island, that idea became real. A halal restaurant where 100% of profit goes to UMMA Foundation - funding emergency relief, the Hope Bus, education programs, and water wells across 23+ countries.
This is not a marketing line. This is the business model.
How It Works
A Self-Sustaining Cycle
01
Yala Earns
Revenue from food sales, catering, and franchise royalties.
02
UMMA Receives
100% of profit funds humanitarian programs.
03
Communities Heal
Families eat, children learn, homes rebuild.
04
The Cycle Continues
More locations, more revenue, more impact.
Most nonprofits depend on donations. UMMA built a business that generates its own funding. Yala is the engine.
The Standard
No Shortcuts. No Compromises.
Fresh Daily
Every ingredient sourced fresh. Nothing frozen. Nothing pre-made.
100% Halal
HFA certified. Zabihah standards. Every supplier vetted.
Community-Driven
A place where people eat, connect, and support a cause.
The Journey
From One Kitchen to a Movement
First Location
Yala opens its doors on October 31, 2024. The mission begins.
3 New Locations
2 locations open in March, 1 more in April. Demand proves the model.
Brooklyn & New Jersey
1 location opens in Brooklyn and 2 in New Jersey by May. Multi-state expansion.
Franchise Launch
Yala franchise model goes live. The cycle scales nationwide.
Chicago & Indiana
2 locations being scouted in Chicago, 1 in Indiana. The movement grows.
Get Involved
Join the Mission
Three ways to be part of the cycle.