Panini Kabob Grill is staking out new turf in the heart of Miracle Mile, with plans to open a restaurant at 5779 Wilshire Blvd. in early 2027. The Mediterranean fast-casual chain is taking over a storefront at Wilshire and Fairfax that sits within walking distance of the La Brea Tar Pits and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, putting it directly in the path of one of the city's busiest museum corridors.
The Counter at 5779 Wilshire Blvd. was temporarily closed on February 19, 2026, and reopened on February 26, according to the Santa Monica Mirror. Hamed Naseri, marketing manager for Panini Kabob Grill, told WhatNow that the Wilshire location is currently under construction. The spot also lands just steps from LA Metro's Wilshire/Fairfax underground subway station, which opened on May 8, 2026, as part of the D Line extension, according to the City of West Hollywood — giving the new restaurant a direct transit link to Downtown LA and Westside neighborhoods.
A Scratch Kitchen Chain on a Growth Tear
Panini Kabob Grill describes itself as a scratch kitchen serving Mediterranean cuisine, with a menu built around paninis, grilled kabobs, wraps, salads, pasta, vegetarian dishes and desserts, per WhatNow's report. Dishes are prepared in-house daily using premium ingredients, and select locations also serve breakfast. The chain's first restaurant opened in 1998 in an Orange County mall before later rebranding to emphasize its charbroiled kabobs, the same report notes.
That origin story has since grown into a sizable Southern California footprint. At the time of Restaurant Business' report, the company had grown to 26 units, with individual stores averaging $6.3 million in annual sales, according to Restaurant Business Magazine. Top-performing sites have reached as high as $12 million in yearly sales, the trade publication reports.
Eyeing a Billion-Dollar Valuation
Rafipoor told the outlet in July 2025 that his goal is to grow systemwide sales to $400 million and take the company public around 2028 or 2029, targeting a valuation exceeding $1 billion. Unlike many fast-casual chains that lean on franchising to scale quickly, Panini Kabob Grill has kept nearly all locations under corporate ownership, with one remaining franchise-operated, a structure detailed by SFGATE's coverage of the chain's expansion.
The company is pursuing a multi-state expansion pipeline. The company's business model also leans heavily on orders placed away from the dining room — roughly 67% of total sales come from takeout, third-party delivery and catering, per Restaurant Business Magazine, even though its restaurants offer full sit-down service.
Beyond the Miracle Mile
The Wilshire and Fairfax project is just one piece of a broader Los Angeles-area push. Panini Kabob Grill has also announced a location at 9th & Olive downtown, and per WhatNow's reporting, plans additional Southern California openings in Valencia, Norwalk, Downey and Eastvale. The chain opened a location on September 9 at the Hollywood Park mixed-use development next to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, just days before the Miracle Mile plans surfaced.
The company is also pushing beyond state lines. Panini Kabob Grill plans to expand outside California, with debuts slated for next year in Chandler, Arizona, and at the Fashion Show Mall on the Las Vegas Strip, according to WhatNow. The Las Vegas Strip is part of the company's expansion beyond California.
Los Angeles has already gotten to know the chain over the years. Hoodline previously covered a Century City opening in 2017, and the brand has since spread to San Diego. The Miracle Mile location will mark its latest attempt to plant a flag in one of the city's most heavily trafficked museum and retail districts.
