A familiar Des Plaines corner that long housed Evan's Place may be headed for a major menu flip, as city paperwork and local officials indicate Yemeni restaurant Al Diar has applied to take over the space at 1900 E. Touhy Ave. The spot sits at Touhy and Birch, across from Iroquois Community School, and the filing suggests it could move from its longtime fast-food lineup to Yemeni specialties such as mandi and haneeth. No formal opening date has been announced, and neighbors should expect the usual permitting and build-out work before any new dining room opens.
According to Journal & Topics, Zakarya Saeed filed an application to open a restaurant called Al Diar at the Touhy and Birch location, and Jeff Rogers, Des Plaines’ director of community and economic development, confirmed the filing. The outlet reports that Evan's Place closed earlier this month, creating the vacancy Saeed’s application is now aiming to fill. The Journal & Topics coverage did not include a projected opening date or a full menu for the proposed restaurant.
What Is Al Diar?
Al‑Diar Restaurant already operates in the Chicago area and uses its website to spotlight traditional Yemeni dishes and large, shareable rice and meat platters. The brand promotes catering and family-style portions that are popular with group dining, signaling that any Des Plaines outpost would likely lean into that same bring‑your‑friends approach. A location in this part of town would put those offerings closer to the O'Hare corridor's blend of commuters and nearby residents.
From Evan's Place To A New Menu
The storefront at 1900 E. Touhy has been closely associated with Evan's Place for years, a reliable stop for fast-food fare at the Touhy and Birch corner. As Journal & Topics notes, Evan's Place closed earlier this month, leaving an open kitchen for the next operator. The former diner’s own website still lists the address, a reminder that some online directories have not caught up with the closure yet. For restaurateurs looking to get moving quickly, that combination of a well-known corner and an existing restaurant layout makes the spot an appealing candidate.
Next Steps And Approvals
For now, Al Diar's move is still at the application stage. Building permits, zoning clearances, and county health inspections are typically required before any restaurant can officially open in Des Plaines. The City of Des Plaines’ Community & Economic Development department, which lists Jeff Rogers as director on municipal documents, handles those reviews and maintains the public records for projects like this one.
At this point, the public record is limited to Saeed’s application and the city’s acknowledgment of the filing, and there is no publicly released opening timeline. City permit logs and future public records will reveal the next steps if the project advances. If approvals come through, Al‑Diar would introduce a Yemeni option to a busy stretch of Touhy Avenue that serves both daily commuters and nearby families.
