Another culinary tenant has been announced for the food hall planned for Terminal South.
Ruki’s Kitchen is expected to open at Switchman Hall later this year. The concept offering a simplified and modern take on traditional Ethiopian cuisine is led by chef and owner Ali Lemma.
Lemma, whose parents grew up in Ethiopia, is a first-generation Georgia native. The family moved back to Ethiopia for five years before Lemma returned to metro Atlanta. After working in the corporate world for several years and living in Washington D.C., he decided to move back to Atlanta. The self-taught chef who enjoyed cooking as a teenager found himself learning more about Ethiopian cuisine, and Ruki’s Kitchen was born.
Ruki’s Kitchen first opened in East Atlanta Village, a location that is now closed, just in time for expansion elsewhere.
The menu at Terminal South will have four mainstay entrées: steak, chicken and salmon combinations in addition to a four-vegetable plate. The Sega Tibs Combination features tender sirloin steak marinated in traditional Ethiopian spices, the Doro Tibs Combination features Ethiopian curried chicken, and the Asa Tibs Combination has Ethiopian spiced blackened salmon – all served with sauteed onions, garlic, tomatoes and herbs plus choice of vegetable and choice of made-from-scratch gluten-free injera rolls or yellow basmati rice.
The Four-Vegetable Plate is also served with choice of injera rolls or yellow basmati rice and includes Gomen – chopped fresh collard greens stewed in herb oil, onions and garlic; Mesir – spicy red lentils simmered in a vegan Berbere stew; Tikel – stewed cabbage loaded with potatoes, carrots and a hint of spice; and Timatim Fitfit – fresh injera pieces tossed in homemade sauce made with puréed tomatoes, onions and jalapeños.
Ruki’s Kitchen can currently be found at two temporary pop-up locations, serving Ethiopian cuisine at ToneArm in Decatur every Thursday through Saturday, and every Sunday at Ponce City Market in partnership with Punk Foodie.
Terminal South will be located near the BeltLine in Atlanta’s Peoplestown neighborhood. The project slated to open in late 2024 features the adaptive reuse of two former warehouse structures, introducing more than 45,600 square feet of mixed-use space that will include the food hall, Switchman Hall. The development of the project is led by Stafford Properties.
