A Northridge dessert pop-up known for its Middle Eastern knafeh is finally putting down roots. Korner K’nafeh plans to open its first permanent brick-and-mortar location at 9545 Reseda Blvd., Unit 8, near the intersection of Reseda Boulevard and Plummer Street, with co-owner Mousa Helo hoping to welcome customers by mid-2027, though he says there is no firm timeline yet.
The business currently operates as a pop-up, and the Northridge storefront will mark its first standalone space, according to WhatNow. Helo described the location as deeply personal, saying Northridge is where Korner K’nafeh began and has felt like home. “We started as a small pop-up serving the local community, CSUN students, and the loyal customers,” Helo said, per the same report, and he called establishing a strong foundation at the new Northridge spot the business’s immediate priority.
What’s on the Menu
Knafeh itself is a traditional Arab dessert built from thin, crispy pastry strands layered with cheese and soaked in sweet syrup. ABC7 Los Angeles has described it as a Middle Eastern sweet made from thin noodle-like filo dough, cheese and a sweet rose syrup coating.
The planned menu leans on that tradition while pushing into newer territory. It will include traditional crispy and soft cheese knafeh alongside specialty variations such as Pistachio Paradise, Dubai Chocolate Knafeh and Biscoff Churro, the report notes. Beyond knafeh, the shop plans to offer ready-to-go sandwiches and snacks, baked goods, and a drink lineup of specialty coffees, teas, lattes and matcha.
From Pop-Up Roots to a Permanent Home
Korner K’nafeh’s backstory stretches back years before this storefront plan took shape. A 2020 account in the Los Angeles Times said the business launched in November, founded by San Fernando Valley friends Mousa Helo, Oshin Artoonian and Patric Amar. The idea took root during a 2017 trip to Jordan to visit Helo’s relatives, where the founders were captivated less by the falafel and shawarma stands and more by the knafeh and sand-brewed coffee on offer, according to the Times.
In its early pop-up days, the business served knafeh Fridays through Sundays on the patio of Poseidon Restaurant & Lounge in Northridge, per the Times, offering five varieties at the time, including a Palestinian knafeh na’ameh and an ashta-topped pistachio knafeh. That same report listed the pop-up’s address as 9310 Reseda Blvd. The venture has also picked up broader media attention since, joining KCAL Cuisine on Sept. 6, 2025, according to CBS Los Angeles.
Eyes on Expansion, But Northridge Comes First
Helo said the business aims to create a welcoming destination that celebrates Middle Eastern culture, brings people together and adds value to the community. He added that the upcoming chapter belongs as much to customers as to the business itself, and that the team looks forward to welcoming them into their permanent home.
Looking further ahead, Helo said Korner K’nafeh hopes to explore additional Southern California markets, including Orange County — particularly Anaheim and surrounding communities — as well as Pasadena and Los Feliz, Rancho Cucamonga, and San Diego County. The long-term goal, per Helo, is to serve communities throughout Southern California and eventually beyond, with the business pursuing that growth deliberately. For now, though, the Northridge storefront remains the focus before any of those other markets move forward.
