Dallas, Texas, October 9, 2025
News Summary
Selda Mediterranean Grill has rapidly expanded its footprint across Texas, opening six new restaurants in just two years. The company employs a unique partnership model that fosters strong local ownership and shares profits with staff, sustaining growth and employee retention. With three additional locations underway, Selda aims to establish a clear identity for Turkish cuisine, while diversifying its offerings and expanding into new markets. The restaurant group continues to adapt to challenges, including past operational setbacks, indicating a resilient and community-supported presence in the local dining scene.
Dallas, Texas
Selda Mediterranean Grill’s rapid growth driven by partnership model and teamwork
The Selda group is now at the center of one of Texas’ fastest-growing restaurant groups, having opened six new restaurants in two years. That expansion is paired with a unique partnership model that assigns additional operating partners to each restaurant and shares profits with staff, a strategy credited with sustaining growth and creating strong local ownership. Three more locations are in various stages of completion, extending the group’s footprint from Frisco to San Antonio.
Key developments and current operations
The group began as a neighborhood favorite in North Dallas and has expanded to include a mix of full-service and specialty venues. Current operations include the original Selda Grill, a cocktail lounge, and a Greek restaurant, along with specialty concepts such as a sandwich shop and an all-day bakery. New venues added in recent expansion phases include The Mayor’s House, Elia Greek Tavern, and a cocktail-and-snack bar named Nice Mezze. Additional establishments include Selda Doner & Gyro in Richardson and an outpost in San Antonio that is run by three local business partners.
A bakery brand, Cafe de Selda, is set to open in November and will offer Turkish and French pastries. Future plans also include a ninth restaurant on North MacArthur Boulevard in Irving and a larger property in a new suburban development.
Partnership and staffing approach
The group’s expansion is built on a formal partnership model. Each individual restaurant has additional operating partners who share in profits, creating a sense of ownership among staff. Partners are not limited to investors; managers, chefs, and bartenders trained at one Selda location often become partners at another. The group has formalized onboarding that includes a six-month process for new partners, and partners now include individuals recruited from outside the original organization.
Profit-sharing is emphasized as a core motivator for employee retention and performance. Owners describe the approach as a way to align staff incentives with restaurant outcomes, deepen commitment, and pass operational knowledge across locations. Centralized quality control is maintained through a commissary kitchen that supplies multiple locations, helping preserve consistency in recipes and preparation.
Concept identity and menu strategy
Leadership aims to establish a clear identity for Turkish food rather than relying on the broader and less defined “Mediterranean” label. The original Selda earned customer loyalty for traditional Turkish cooking and home-style comfort foods, and the group seeks to make that culinary identity more visible in the marketplace. Menu plans include diversifying offerings across concepts while maintaining authentic Turkish recipes at core locations. At least one concept, Elia, highlights the cultural overlap between Turkish and Greek cuisines, and the group also offers hookah on patios at several locations with the stated goal of removing stigma around the practice.
Origins, resilience and recent challenges
Selda’s origins trace back to the Turkish restaurant Pera, which operated from 2012 to 2014 before its partnership dissolved. After that, Chef-partner Habip Kargin opened Selda during the COVID-19 pandemic; the restaurant quickly became a neighborhood hit. The name Selda honors the chef’s wife. The operation has faced setbacks, including a kitchen fire that required a two-month closure for renovations. The restaurant reopened after repairs and returned busier than before, indicating continued community support.
Future outlook
Expansion remains active with Three more locations are in various stages of completion and plans for a ninth site on North MacArthur Boulevard in Irving. The company plans continued recruitment of operating partners, further menu diversification, and efforts to clarify Turkish cuisine’s market identity. Centralized production, profit-sharing, and partner-led management are core elements in projected growth strategies.
FAQ
Q: How fast has the Selda group grown recently?
A: The Selda group is now at the center of one of Texas’ fastest-growing restaurant groups, having opened six new restaurants in two years.
Q: Are more locations planned?
A: Three more locations are in various stages of completion.
Q: What is the partnership model?
A: Each individual restaurant has additional operating partners who share in profits, creating a sense of ownership among staff.
Q: Where does the group operate?
A: Locations span from Frisco to San Antonio.
Q: What new and existing concepts are part of the group?
A: New venues include The Mayor’s House, Elia Greek Tavern, and a cocktail-and-snack bar named Nice Mezze. Selda Doner & Gyro is a sandwich shop located in Richardson. Cafe de Selda, an all-day bakery, is set to open in November, offering Turkish and French pastries.
Q: What safety or operational setbacks has the group faced?
A: Despite recent challenges, such as a kitchen fire that led to a two-month closure for renovations, Selda has returned stronger and busier than ever.
Q: How is quality maintained across locations?
A: The growth strategy involves quality control through a central commissary kitchen across all locations.
Key features and status
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Recent openings | Opened six new restaurants in two years |
| Planned openings | Three more locations are in various stages of completion |
| Geographic reach | Locations span from Frisco to San Antonio |
| Partnership model | Each individual restaurant has additional operating partners who share in profits |
| Quality control | Central commissary kitchen across all locations |
| New concepts | The Mayor’s House; Elia Greek Tavern; Nice Mezze; Selda Doner & Gyro; Cafe de Selda |
| Future site noted | North MacArthur Boulevard in Irving |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- D Magazine: How Selda Went From Neighborhood Restaurant to Texas Turkish Food Empire
- Dallas Observer: First Look: The Mayor’s House by Selda in Dallas
- Community Impact: Selda Mediterranean Grill Serves Greek-Turkish Dishes in Frisco
- Express News: Selda Mediterranean Kitchen Now Open
- Culture Map: The Mayor’s House by Selda
- Wikipedia: Turkish Cuisine
- Google Search: Selda Mediterranean Grill
- Google Scholar: Restaurant Expansion
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Restaurant Management
- Google News: Selda Mediterranean Grill
Author: STAFF HERE DALLAS WRITER
DALLAS STAFF WRITER The DALLAS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREDallas.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Dallas, Dallas 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 the State Fair of Texas, Deep Ellum Arts Festival, and Dallas International Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Dallas Regional Chamber and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, plus leading businesses in telecommunications, aviation, and semiconductors that power the local economy such as AT&T, Southwest Airlines, and Texas Instruments. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
