Rami Ykmour on social media rant as Rashays Toowoomba closes

The founder of a 25-year-old franchise restaurant with almost 40 stores across three states has taken to social media, addressing rumours around its poor quality food, as its Toowoomba store closes in a flurry of confusion.

Mystery has abounded after Rashays Toowoomba suddenly closed, leaving patrons, diners, and even media in confusion.

The Toowoomba CBD restaurant has grinded to a halt only a week after an attempt by the owner to revive it, telling the Chronicle it was on pause in an attempt to try to keep 12 staff hired and is now closed without further opening.

It comes two and a half weeks after the May 3, 2024 reopening announcement on Instagram, and an invitation to the Chronicle for a photo shoot and an interview with Rashays founder, podcaster, and entrepreneur Rami Ykmour.

Rashays was founded by Rami and Shannon Ykmour in Western Sydney in 1998 and is an Australian owned restaurant which, according to TripAdvisor, specialises in Australian cuisine – ribs, burgers, pasta and grill.

TripAdvisor review of Rashays Toowoomba

According to the Rashays website, the franchise has almost 40 locations across Qld, NSW, and Victoria.

Since the start of the year, online reviews has hit the Toowoomba franchise hard, with patrons leaving scathing reviews over opening hours, quality and price of food.

A review of the Toowoomba store in March 2024 left on TripAdvisor by Dean S, described the food as the “worst breakfast I’d had in 50 years”.

“I’m obviously 50,” he commented.

It went on to described the food as “inedible”, “cardboard,” “couldn’t taste it.”

“Just don’t. Wife said we should of given our $60 to the homeless bloke out the front rolling up chop chop on their tables.”

It did manage to get a good review from StevenR245 from Kingaroy, who described the food as “great food and reasonably priced,” back in November 2023.

In a post asking why the store shut down on May 16 left a slew of mixed memories.

One comment by Matt Sneddon described the food and atmosphere “like the base hospital cafeteria”.

Karen Brady, on the other hand said they were “lovely meals at a fair price and that is why we all went back there”.

Jodie Ljungström said last time she went there “they had mould all through their water jugs and were begging us not to take photos”.

Founder of Rashays Rami Ykmour responds to rumours of frozen food and microwaves.

“I’ve been to many Rasheys (sic) and they are all the same – Poor quality food that is expensive at least the service at the Toowoomba one was OK,” Tammy Dennis commented.

It seems the complaints are being heard all over Australia, with Rashays Facebook filling up with videos of Mr Ykmour himself addressing the rumours and complaints of cooking the frozen food with microwaves.

“Do you see frozen products in here?” Mr Ykmour said to the camera in a post from May 21.

In another video posted on May 20, 2024, Mr Ykmour gives a tour of the kitchen.

“Everyone who works in the hospitality industry understands that things get messy at the end of the night,” he said.

Founder of Rashays Rami Ykmour responds to rumours of frozen food and microwaves.

“Another rumour I hear is microwaves, I feel like breaking every single microwave that exists in this world,” he said, pointing to what looks like a chicken breast on the grill.

“You know nothing, shut the hell up, stop slandering the business,” he said.

A spokesperson from Rashays said the company had made a business decision to close the Toowoomba store, that Mr Ykmour would address the issue via social media and he was not looking to discuss with media outlets.

Originally published as Rami Ykmour on social media rant as Rashays Toowoomba closes