California-Lebanese pop-up Ilna finds a permanent home in SoMa 13%
By Madeline Taub33%
7/23/2026, 1:06:34 PM
BS Summary: This article contains 11 faulty reasoning types, including In-Group Bias, Attempt to Sell a Product or Service, and Indoctrination, with Optimism Bias as the most egregious example at 17.8% saturation with 77 hits. Analysis detected 358 faulty-reasoning hits from 432 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 29.6% and a BS Rank of 13% (18,020 of 20,516 articles). This article is better (less manipulative) than 87.80% of the article peer group.
For a year and a half, Maz Naba has impressed diners with his California-Lebanese pop-up Ilna, known for infusing traditional Eastern Mediterranean dishes with seasonal produce.
Since the beginning, he’s wanted to grow the concept into a full-fledged restaurant with a counter service component and a “sexy” bar — though not so sexy that you can’t bring your family.
Now he has found the space to bring this multi-faceted plan to life.
Ilna will open late next year inside the former Bar Agricole space at 1540 Mission St. in SoMa.
Until then, diners will continue to find his shish barak (yogurt dumplings) and kishk labneh spread with smoked trout at Monday-night pop-ups at Buddy in the Mission.
“I’ve been looking for a long time,” Naba says.
“I want it to be a place where people are coming to gather together and share food.”
Naba kicked off Ilna’s residency at Buddy in November 2024.
He had specific parameters when looking for a space to take the concept permanent: big enough to accommodate a daytime counter-service fast-casual component, room for private dining and events, and a bar and lounge.
The ground-floor space inside around the corner from where Mission meets Van Ness fit every specification and had been vacant since Bar Agricole closed in late 2024.
Naba is looking forward to adding new sections to the menu, including raw bar and charcuterie, and plans to bring back his popular kafta burger on a bar menu.
Ilna will have a full liquor license.
Beyond having a space for the community to gather, Naba wants to host pop-ups and showcase winemakers, including his Augur Wine Co., which he started in 2014.
Naba, who is half-Lebanese, says cultivating other creatives has been an important part of Ilna from the start.
“For the heritage community, I really want to weave in folks that are of the same Levant, whether Palestinian or Lebanese, and have some sort of craft or story to tell or art,” he says.
He plans to work with Pam Totah, a local ceramicist who incorporates the tatreez, a traditional Palestinian geometric woven tapestry design, into plateware and bowls.
He also wants to showcase wines from the region, with the help of Terra Sancta Trading Company.
Most of all, Naba’s excited to dive into his menu’s potential.
“I fully believe in what I’m doing at the pop-up, but it’s just the nature of it really doesn’t allow for full-scale expression,” he says.
“I’m super excited to spread my wings and really showcase the cuisine, creativity, and style.”
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100%flagged-word coverageMaz Naba
161 attributed words100% of attributed speech54% writer coverage
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