Chef Ali Lemma plans to open an outpost of his popular Ethiopian food stall, Ruki's Kitchen, in Peoplestown's Switchman Hall later this year.
Switchman Hall offers some of the best of the stalls, including sega tibu with sirloin steak, asa tibu with black salmon, vegetable plate with injera, and mesir (vegan Berber stew with spicy red lentils). Some of our popular dishes will be featured on the menu.
Lema was born in metro Atlanta, but lived in Ethiopia for five years as a child. Her Rema has fond memories of attending school there and spending time on her grandfather's dairy farm. After she returned to Atlanta and graduated from Georgia State University, Lemma worked in banking and finance for many years. He eventually moved to Washington, D.C., and took a business development position at JPMorgan Chase.
Rema returned to Atlanta in 2021 and chose to leave corporate life for good. With this decision, he headed to the kitchen and began creating adapted Ethiopian dishes based on his mother's recipes. He named the pop-up after his mother, Rukia (also known as Ruki).
“I spent eight years in corporate America and felt lost there. I put my heart and soul into this food and I feel like people appreciate it.” ” said Rema.
This year has already been a roller coaster for Rema. For the past two years, he operated his Ruki's Kitchen at the Qomunity food hall in East Atlanta Village (EAV). Ruki's Kitchen closed in late February following owner Quynh “Q” Trinh's sudden closure of We Suki Suki and Qomunity. Due to the chaotic circumstances surrounding the closing and Mr. Trinh's actions, Tony Carr, owner of Rema & Tony's Chicago Beef, was forced to leave without notice.
Both chefs have since earned residencies elsewhere in Atlanta. Until Ruki's Kitchen opens in Switchman Hall, people can expect to see it every Thursday through Saturday at his ToneArm Listening His Bar in Decatur and at his Punk His Foodie stall at Ponce City Market on Sundays. I can.
Switchman Hall will take over two former warehouses on the Terminal South site in Peoplestown and will feature 18 food stalls. Ruki's Kitchen joins Everyday People Caffeine and Cocktails, Saint Jawns, Te Quiero Tacos, Tiger K Cup Bob, Sabu K Ramen, Southern Grace, The Original Hot Dog Factory and Life Bistro at Switchman Hall. Two of his full-service restaurants will also open south of the terminal, including Pürsen Mimosa Wine Bar.
Terminal South is scheduled to break ground in early February and open this fall. This redevelopment project marks the end of MARTA's bus rapid transit (BRT) expansion that stretches from downtown to Peoplestown near the Southside Beltline Trail.
