Zayt & Zaatar: Freiburg’s Falafel Flyer for a Taste of Green

The story

Mustafa Alem is the founder of Zayt&Zaatar, a mobile street food concept that brings vegan Palestinian cuisine straight to the streets. What started as an idea became reality with an e-bike and a custom-built kitchen mounted on a CARLA trailer. Today, Zayt&Zaatar is a staple of Freiburg’s street food scene – and a true eye-catcher at events and catering gigs.

The decision to go mobile came when Mustafa discovered the CARLA trailer at the P3 workshop in Freiburg’s Vauban district. There, he was offered a kitchen setup tailored to his needs – perfectly matched to the trailer and his vision. This was the beginning of a kitchen that doesn’t just cook – it moves.

The Setup

The current setup consists of an Urban Arrow electric cargo bike and a CARLA trailer, with the entire kitchen structure permanently mounted on it. The build measures about 2 meters in length and 1.7 meters in height, weighing around 200 kilograms. Despite its weight, the setup is surprisingly agile, stable, and flexible – whether in city traffic or at crowded events.

Mustafa can be ready to go in just a few minutes, easily coupling or uncoupling the trailer and maneuvering through narrow streets and busy event spaces. Compared to traditional food trucks, this is a clear advantage. The kitchen trailer is not only fully functional, but also a true head-turner – guests are often surprised and amazed when they realize this fully equipped kitchen is actually on wheels.

Looking ahead, Mustafa dreams of adding a second CARLA to his setup to transport more equipment and supplies. For Zayt&Zaatar, the mobile kitchen model has proven to be a perfect match.