ALEPPO — During the past two years, the number of restaurants serving a variety of dishes to their customers has significantly increased in the opposition-held areas in the Aleppo countryside in north Syria. Opening restaurants as an emerging investment sector in an area considered relatively stable constituted a tempting opportunity for Syrians who have money and are striving to grow their wealth. This is due to several incentives and success factors.

Al-Monitor visited several famous restaurants in al-Bab and Azaz in the Aleppo countryside and met with restaurant owners and employees. Several frequenters of the restaurants talked to Al-Monitor, which asked them about the quality of the meals, variety and prices, as well as the special services offered to customers.

Mohammed Kanou, manager of the Bawabat al-Madina restaurant in Azaz, told Al-Monitor, “We serve mostly red meat meals, specifically Awassi lamb meat, grilled meat, and chicken like taouk (marinated chicken) and kebab. All these are popular Syrian dishes that people love because they are tasty and well-grilled. We have 150 customers daily, which is a good number. The profit is reasonable, and it is a good investment project.”

At Bawabat al-Madina, Al-Monitor met with Ridwan Ahmed, one of the restaurant’s customers. “I ordered a kebab meal for one person, and I paid 10,000 Syrian pounds ($2.5), which is a reasonable price because the meal is delicious, and the place is spacious and warm,” he said.