First Pacha restaurant opens in Rabia, bringing Mosul’s famed dish to border town

NINEVEH — Khalid Mubarak has opened the first restaurant in Rabia, a town in Nineveh governorate that borders Syria, specializing in the popular Iraqi dish, Pacha. Located on Old Al-Bareed Street, the restaurant introduces the Mosuli culinary tradition to a town that previously lacked such dining options.

Pacha is a traditional Iraqi dish, made from sheep’s head, trotters, and stomach. The main components include the brain and tongue, and the dish is slow-cooked for hours to tenderize the meat and infuse it with rich flavors. While Pacha is often enjoyed as an early breakfast in Mosul and other cities, Mubarak’s restaurant operates from noon until midnight, also offering free delivery.

Chef Ali Al-Bajjaji, a Mosul native working at the restaurant, described the menu, which features a variety of Pacha options, including dishes made from the sheep’s brain, tongue, and trotters.

“There was no Pacha restaurant in Rabiaa before,” Mubarak, the restaurant owner, told 964media. “So I brought this experience from Mosul. I’ve hired a professional team from Mosul to provide a delicious meal for Rabiaa’s residents, and we offer free delivery.”

Chef Al-Bajjaji added, “We invite Pacha lovers and everyone to visit us to experience Mosuli flavor and genuine hospitality, all at very affordable prices.”

The Pacha dish involves boiling the sheep’s head, feet, and stomach for several hours until the meat becomes tender. In some variations, the stomach is stuffed with rice, herbs, and meat, and the whole meal is slow-cooked to develop its deep, rich flavors. Traditionally, Pacha is served with bread soaked in the rich broth produced during cooking.