Our Story — From Jordan to Winnipeg
Authentic Middle Eastern Cuisine in Osborne Village
Zaytoon Restaurant & Cafe is the product of the tireless determination of its founders — Bassma Zahran and Mohammed Watan — two first-generation immigrants from Jordan whose paths crossed in Winnipeg.
Bassma Zahran is a hardworking mother of five who immigrated to Canada from Jordan in 1999. Over the years, she accumulated a wealth of experience recreating authentic family recipes passed down from one generation to the next. Her passion for cooking is the soul behind Zaytoon's menu, where every dish reflects the love and tradition of her Jordanian heritage. "When you do something with love, it's different," says Bassma. "We're not looking at this place as a job — we're looking at it as our passion."
Mohammed Watan is a father of two who immigrated to Canada from Jordan in 2018. Prior to Zaytoon, Mohammed had already opened a popular cafe and hookah lounge in the Southern Kenaston neighbourhood, bringing considerable hospitality experience to the partnership. Together, they spent eight months building Zaytoon from the ground up — crafting tables by hand, building the kitchen from scratch, and transforming a former retail space into the cozy, foliage-filled restaurant it is today.
