Healthy Eats for All
The Global Bounty of Ummah Market
BY: Sierra Fisher
Along Leesburg Pike, Ummah Market stands out as a beacon of global abundance. This Falls Church market and eatery is rooted in halal tradition, but its heart—and pantry—are open to all. Step inside, and the air fills with the scent of warm bread, grilled meats, and spices that tell stories from far beyond the Beltway. Aisles brim with a bounty of ingredients sourced from around the world: fragrant saffron and cardamom, dried fruits and nuts by the scoop, Lebanese chocolates and candies, fresh halal meats, and an ever-rotating selection of global staples. It’s the kind of place where cooks of every background can find both the familiar and the delightfully new.
At the heart of the market is the daily hot bar—an aromatic lineup of comfort and craft. Head chef Sharad Nanda, originally from India, designs a menu that travels the Silk Road through flavor: Afghan and Turkish döner, vegetable qorma, baba ghanoush, and baked pitas, all made fresh each morning. Vegetarian dishes get special care, with mushroom stock and cashew cream lending depth and richness. The bakery, led by Turkish pastry chef Aynur Gul, sweetens the experience with delicate desserts, each prepared, as she says, “with love and care.”
Owner Jawad Yousufi built Ummah Market on the principle embodied in its name—ummah, meaning community. His journey from humanitarian work across the Middle East and Africa to founding a thriving grocery business in Virginia reflects that same purpose: nourishing people, body and soul.
After opening his first location in Richmond in 2020, Youssef expanded to Falls Church in early 2025, bringing with him a vision for what an international market can be: a gathering place where quality, culture, and care come together. He dreams of adding more locations—and a dine-in café where neighbors can share a meal, trade recipes, and feel at home.
At Ummah Market, the idea is simple but powerful: Good food is for everyone.