BeirutIn a scene full of activity, the streets of Lebanon are witnessing a new boom in the world of cooking and entertainment. This is due to the spread of “street restaurants” that have become a symbol of innovation and popular youth projects.
From Beirut, the capital, to all regions, you will find food trucks and food carts in most alleys and streets of Lebanese cities, offering a new culinary experience that combines traditional flavors with modern cuisine.
These successful youth projects are not only a source of inspiration for many, but also constitute an important economic pillar that contributes to providing job opportunities and strengthening the local economy despite chronic challenges and crises.
The first experiment
Muhammad Khabbaz, owner of the Burgero project in Sidon (south of Beirut), is proud to be the first to introduce the “food truck” concept in Lebanon, specializing in serving burgers. He told Al Jazeera Net that he seeks to “provide a distinctive service that allows customers a new and unique experience in the world of fast food.”
Khabbaz adds, “Everyone loves to try new things, and today everyone is curious to explore what is new, whether in terms of the experience as a whole, the quality of the food, or the innovative idea that we offer.”
What distinguishes “Food Truck” is the outdoor environment and the comfortable atmosphere it adds to the dining experience. Khabbaz explains, “People are tired of closed places, and are always looking for new, delicious and budget-friendly food.”
Through his project, Khabbaz aims to provide a dining experience that combines quality and innovation, at the same time at an affordable cost. He says, “The project is distinguished by the beauty of its exterior design and its lively atmosphere that attracts customers to enjoy their meals outdoors,” considering this type of project “adds a new spirit to the food scene in Sidon.”
Innovative ideas
Hussein Dirani, a business administration graduate and owner of the “11 Eleven Street” project, started the idea for his project a month and a half ago. His name was inspired by the street on which he decided to open the project, which is Street 11, opposite the Marine Corniche in Sidon.
The project owner compares traditional restaurants and mobile restaurants, explaining to Al Jazeera Net that these projects depend on evening and night hours and employ a smaller number of workers compared to traditional restaurants.
He says that the idea of the food truck is based on providing quick sandwiches, which allows the customer who is in a hurry to get his meal and go in a short time, while “the customer in the traditional restaurant needs longer time.”
Dirani explains that the price of a sandwich in his restaurant starts at $4, while the price of the most expensive sandwich reaches $6.5. He told Al Jazeera Net, “I am keen to provide excellent quality that suits most categories, and that these prices are considered very reasonable compared to the prices of traditional restaurants.”
Challenges and opportunities
Dirani also seeks to innovate new services, such as serving food via a tray that reaches inside the car, stressing that he will continue to provide new ideas related to food.
He admits that the project was a risk in light of the current crises in Lebanon, but he describes it as a successful youth project at the present time.
Dirani believes that “these projects provide great support for young people who have not found job opportunities in their specializations,” stressing “the importance of encouraging youth projects in these difficult economic circumstances.”
Mobile project
Ahmed Zidan, owner of the “Churros by Skyler” food truck project in Sidon, announces his move soon to the Qanaya Roundabout area, where a group of mobile restaurants will be opened within a large square.
The idea began with the aim of providing a new service to customers, which is to provide food in a different way than traditional restaurants.
Zidan explains to Al Jazeera Net, “Mobile restaurants provide a unique experience that combines food quality and speed of service, which attracts many people looking for fast and distinctive options.”
He added, “This type of project is witnessing great demand in Sidon, where customers appreciate the wide variety of foods offered and the lively atmosphere created by these mobile restaurants. With the rising costs of dining in traditional restaurants, food trucks have become an economical and popular alternative for many.”
Lower cost and more profit
The “Sister Wraps” mobile restaurant in the Mar Mikhael area in Beirut has been reserving part of a courtyard overlooking the main street for 16 months, where it is implementing the idea of a “street restaurant,” according to Hassan Delbani, who works on this project. He said in his interview with Al Jazeera Net that “the idea of a food truck It is considered a lower cost and higher investment option.”
He adds, “Today, this idea has become very popular in Lebanon, and it is inspired by European countries. The options offered by Food Truck are varied.”
Regarding the difference between them and traditional restaurants, Delbani points out that “restaurants today have become very expensive, and the customer needs to spend at least 30 minutes waiting in the restaurant. In contrast, during the same period of time, Food Truck can receive about 20 customers.”
In terms of cost, he says, “A person can pay about $100 for two or three items in a restaurant, while he can buy an entire menu of food for the same amount at Food Truck. This huge difference in cost and time makes Food Truck an attractive option for many people in Lebanon.”
Profitable projects
Economist and financial markets expert, Dr. Imad Akoush, believes that these projects achieve more profits than traditional restaurants due to reducing costs, as the project owner is often the main manager with only one or two employees present to help.
This model is considered a solution to create job opportunities for young people who do not have the ability to establish large projects due to the lack of capital.
Akoush adds, “These projects contribute to strengthening the tourism and service sectors, leading to more transparent competition and lowering the prices of services for citizens and tourists.”
The economic expert focuses on the necessity of having a legal regulation for such projects in Lebanon, as there is currently no legal framework that fully and clearly regulates them.
