Cherry Hill resident Mia Eylon is parlaying a meal prep business begun during the COVID-19 pandemic into a fast-casual eatery on Haddon Avenue.
By Matt Skoufalos | June 25, 2021
Workers handle the lunch rush at Mia’s Meals Falafel Bar. Credit: Matt Skoufalos.
Looking out over a busy Haddon Avenue streetscape at lunchtime, Mia Eylon of Cherry Hill smiled to see customers of her brand new falafel bar dining outside in the midday sun.
“This is what it looks like in Tel Aviv,” Eylon said. “People eating falafel on the street.
“I just love the town,” she said. “It’s a great area.”
Born in Miami and raised in New York by Israeli immigrants, Eylon has worked a number of different jobs in her professional life, but Mia’s Meals, a falafel bar in Haddonfield, is her first food venture.
“I always loved cooking; loved hosting,” Eylon said. “My house is always open to people.
It makes my heart full when I see people enjoying food.”
The idea to make a business venture from her recipes came during the pandemic, when her children said, “Mom, you’re already cooking anyway. Why don’t you just meal prep?”
Exterior, Mia’s Meals Falafel Bar. Credit: Matt Skoufalos.
Her shawarma-seasoned hummus was a hit out of the gate, and from there, Eylon found her audience.
By July 2020, she’d located the Haddonfield storefront in which to situate her business.
It took months more to change over the former Violins and Guitars by Mitchell into an eatery.
But when Eylon opened the doors of Mia’s Meals earlier this month, her pandemic customers were waiting for her.
The falafel bar is designed for takeaway orders, but the shop can also accommodate a number of dine-in guests.
Its menu is fully vegan, and certified kosher by the Keystone-K Community Kashrus of Greater Philadelphia.
“It was very important to me to be kosher and get certification,” Eylon said.
“Being vegan, non-dairy, non-meat, I know the community needs something to go to.”
Falafel are served in a pita, bowl, or over “Israeli salad,” a mixture of cucumbers and tomatoes, with Israeli pickles and tahini. Fries seasoned with shawarma spices provide a flavorful accompaniment to the main dishes.
A unique selection of beverages includes Malt Star, a non-alcoholic, Israeli-brewed beer from Heineken, and frozen shakes made with tahini, date syrup, and almond milk.
Falafel and shawarma-seasoned fries at Mia’s Falafel Bar. Credit: Mia’s Meals.
“All the recipes are mine,” Eylon said, and made with “a lot of love.”
She is hopeful that customers looking for vegan or kosher alternatives will find her new shop and take notice of the care with which she’s crafted its menu.
“You have to have a passion for it,” Eylon said; “a passion to see people eat, and that’s what makes it worth it.”
Mia’s Meals and Falafel Bar is located at 3 South Haddon Avenue in Haddonfield.
Hours are 11 a.m to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
For more information, call 856-858-5877 or visit miasmeals.com.
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