Syrian restaurants flourish in Alexandria

Over the past two years, signs reading "Syrian meals" or "Damascus Restaurant" have proliferated in the streets of Alexandria. Hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees landed in the city after fleeing President Bashar al-Assad’s brutal regime. In the midst of Egypt’s ongoing economic crisis, new arrivers were hard-pressed to find work. Desperate to earn a living, they resorted to their world-renowned cuisine. Egyptian diners flocked to new Syrian restaurants, enticed by novel dishes that have since taken the city by a storm. Enterprising Syrian housewives began delivering home-cooked meals throughout the city. Children often helped with transport. Successful delivery services evolved into a project titled “We are not refugees, but productive residents,” a collective of family catering outfits. After launching a Facebook page to communicate with customers, the group rapidly gained a following. Business has boomed, and the families involved are now able to rent a shop.