South Tacoma’s Old Barbecue Spot Is Getting a Lebanese Twist

The former Famous Dave’s at 1905 S. 72nd St. is getting a second act. Tanoor Lebanese Grill & BBQ plans to turn the empty Tacoma Place restaurant into its first Pierce County location, according to reporting by The News Tribune’s Kristine Sherred. The family-owned business is targeting an opening in early 2027.

Behind Tanoor is a family tradition of cooking for other people. On its website, the restaurant describes how welcoming friends and neighbors into the family’s home helped inspire the business: guests kept encouraging them to open a Lebanese restaurant. Tanoor now operates in Sammamish, Seattle and Bellevue, with Tacoma next in line.

The existing menu offers several ways to build a meal, from a shawarma sandwich to a table of shared dishes. Mezze—small plates such as hummus and other spreads—sit alongside falafel, salads and grilled beef, chicken and lamb. Fresh pita is made in-house, giving diners something to tear apart and share while working their way through the plates.

Dietary needs are also part of the restaurant’s story. Tanoor says celiac disease affects members of the family, which helped shape its emphasis on gluten-free choices alongside its halal meats. Its menu includes vegetarian and vegan options, and an allergen guide identifies ingredients and possible modifications, giving diners more information when choosing their meal.

Tacoma will get something the other locations don’t have: a connection to the building’s barbecue past. The owners plan to keep the former tenant’s smokers and introduce smoked meats with Lebanese accompaniments. That creates an intriguing possibility for a space once associated with American barbecue—a familiar cooking method paired with a different set of flavors.

For now, the restaurant remains a work in progress, and early 2027 is a target rather than a confirmed opening date. The South End location will expand Tanoor’s reach beyond its existing Seattle-area restaurants. Which dishes could become Tacoma’s new favorites—and what exactly do the owners have planned for those smokers? Sherred’s full News Tribune story takes a closer look at the family, the menu and the barbecue twist. Click here to access it.