DANIA BEACH, Fla. – Those who keep kosher have a new place to bring their mishpocheh to kibitz and nosh.
The first kosher Dunkin' Donuts in Broward County has opened. It is located at 3951 Stirling Road, just east of State Road 7, in Dania Beach.
In the window is a stamp of approval from the Orthodox Rabbinic Board. In the kitchen, Local 10 News found Rabbi Moshe Berger inspecting the ingredients, cooking equipment and methods used to clean.
"I personally come here very regularly to supervise and inspect," Berger said.
Michael Koroghlian said he got the idea for a kosher doughnut shop when he opened a Dunkin' Donuts two miles away.
"Customers were coming in and asking us if this is kosher, and a light bulb went off," he said.
To receive kosher status, the Dunkin' Donuts restaurant altered its menu to adhere to the dietary needs of its kosher customers. Items such as ham, bacon or sausage made from pork are forbidden. There are special kitchen equipment and storage requirements.
The Dania Beach location offers vegetarian sausage and bacon as an option for its breakfast sandwiches.
Otherwise, everything else Dunkin' Donuts uses is already kosher, Koroghlian said.
"I only eat in kosher restaurants and I sometimes feel isolated from the broader general community," customer Dr. David Genet said. "This opens up options."
Koroghlian said the response has been overwhelming.
"The customers have come in and expressed their gratitude," Koroghlian said. "They say, 'Thank you for doing this for our community. We are so happy you guys are here.'"
There is one other kosher Dunkin' Donuts in Miami Beach on 41st Street.
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