Iconic restaurants in Baghdad expand with new branches

BAGHDAD, August 28 — Prominent restaurants in Baghdad are opening new branches across the capital, often on adjacent streets or in the same areas they are already located in. This growing trend is noticeable on both sides of the city (Karkh and Rusafa) where restaurants are seeing crowds of customers looking for their favorite meals. As a result, restaurants are branching out to multiple locations to meet increasing demand in a city known to be “always open” for culinary delights.

Various restaurants offering Eastern and Western cuisines, among others, have recently embarked on opening neighboring branches. Some of these branches are just a few meters away from their original locations, depending on the restaurant’s circumstances and the area they are situated in.

Among these establishments are Aref Restaurant on Al-Kindi Street, Zarzour Restaurant in Mansour, and Sabaya Restaurant in Karada, to name a few.

Karar Al-Obaidi, Manager of Aref Restaurant, told 964: “We opened Aref 2 Restaurant to expand the project in Harthiya and to emphasize the progression from one restaurant to a larger one in the same area. We are considering opening other branches in different parts of Baghdad, but Harthiya remains the address of our success and launch.”

Jasim Mohammed Abdullah, owner of Sabaya Restaurant, said: “In Karada, space is limited. There are health requirements, kitchen measurements, and designated work and storage spaces. Therefore, there are no large premises that allow for such expansion. We are forced to open new branches that offer different dishes. Our first branch is still dedicated to grilled food, while we moved shawarma to another adjacent branch, and Eastern dishes to a third nearby branch. This expansion, in part, serves as marketing for us and our project, known to the people of Karada since my late father’s time, may he rest in peace.”