Spotlight
Al Soussi Restaurant
Information last updated on 13 June 2024
About the Founder and Founding Story
Mohammed Mahmood Al Soussi was born in Sidon, Lebanon.[7] During the last decade of the 19th century, he opened a small eatery named Al Soussi Restaurant, located on Saad Zaghloul Street, a narrow street behind the Beirut Municipality, specializing in ful (fava-bean stew), and other traditional Lebanese dishes.[8] The restaurant with its pint-size kitchen, was personally run by him and would open every day from sunrise until 2 PM. It quickly became popular in the neighborhood, as there were only a few restaurants in the area.[9] The family soon gained a reputation as the Sidonians who made some of Beirut’s finest breakfasts.[10] The Al Soussi Restaurant maintained its popularity over the following decades, enjoying a particular increase in its clientele during the 1930s.[11]
Growth Phase
Al Soussi Restaurant continued to operate steadily until the 1970s, during which the family business faced serious challenges, mirroring the turmoil in Lebanon. With the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War in 1975, the restaurant had to temporarily close.[12] About two years later, in 1977, Mohammed passed away, and his eldest son, Mahmood, continued the family legacy by reopening the restaurant in a safer location in Beirut, on Mar Elias Street, where it remains today.[13] He received vital assistance from Raji Kebbah, the founder’s grandson, who started helping out in the business at around 13 years old and eventually quit school to work full-time for the family restaurant.[14] The second generation sustained the restaurant’s popularity despite the relocation, building on the family’s culinary legacy and handing family recipes down to the next generation.
In the 1980s, the restaurant saw changes in ownership. In 1987, following the death of Mahmood Al Soussi, his son Ahmad Al Soussi took over the family restaurant, working alongside his cousin Raji.[15] Ahmad had already been involved in the family business long before; he was around 12 years old when he helped his family relocate its restaurant following the civil war.[16]
According to the family, prominent local political figures such as used to frequent the Al Soussi Restaurant.[17] Additionally, Raji recalls Rafic Al-Hariri, who later became Lebanon’s prime minister (1992-98; 2000-4), visiting the establishment.[18] According to Raji, Rafic Al-Hariri organized flea markets known as “Souk el Barghout,” where antiques and vintage items were sold to revitalize urban economic activity, and Al Soussi catered to and participated in these markets.[19]
During the 2000s, the restaurant started to gain international renown. In 2013, CNN recognized it as one of the 12 best breakfast restaurants in the world, which in turn generated more local attention.[20]
Today
Today, third-generation Ahmad and Raji continue to manage the restaurant with support from other kitchen and serving staff.[21] The fourth generation of Al Soussi is not involved in the family restaurant, as Raji stated that his children have chosen different career paths.[22] The restaurant on Mar Elias Street in Beirut remains the business’s sole outlet, with the family having decided against opening additional locations in Lebanon or abroad.[23]
Notes
Photo Credit: Ahmad Al Soussi (left) and Raji Kebbeh (right) at the Al Soussi Restaurant, Beirut, Lebanon. Image Credit: Anadolu Agency. Image Source: Anadolu Agency.
[1] “«السوسي».. حيث لصحن الفول المدمّس تاريخ يعبق بالشهرة.” Asharq Al-Awsat, https://aawsat.com/home/article/579301/%C2%AB%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B3%D9%8A%C2%BB-%D8%AD%D9%8A%D8%AB-%D9%84%D8%B5%D8%AD%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AF%D9%85%D9%91%D8%B3-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE-%D9%8A%D8%B9%D8%A8%D9%82-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A9 Accessed 3 June 2024.
[2] Rahayel, Anthony. “LIVE: World-Famous “Al Soussi”. Traditional Breakfast Since 1900!” YouTube, 23 July 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFaQSVyDzIU. Accessed 3 June 2024.
[3] “مطعم “السوسي”.. 132 عاما في تقديم الفطور اللبناني التقليدي (تقرير).” Anadolu Agency, https://www.aa.com.tr/ar/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B1/%D9%85%D8%B7%D8%B9%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B3%D9%8A-132-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D8%B7%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%. Accessed 3 June 2024.
Rahayel, Anthony. “LIVE: World-Famous “Al Soussi”. Traditional Breakfast Since 1900!” YouTube.
[4] “مطعم “السوسي”.. 132 عاما في تقديم الفطور اللبناني التقليدي (تقرير).” Anadolu Agency.
[5] Rahayel, Anthony. “LIVE: World-Famous “Al Soussi”. Traditional Breakfast Since 1900!” YouTube.
[6] “مطعم “السوسي”.. 132 عاما في تقديم الفطور اللبناني التقليدي (تقرير).” Anadolu Agency.
[7] “السوسي: إرث عائلي في الزيدانية.” Al Akhbar, https://al-akhbar.com/Baladi/16876. Accessed 3 June 2024.
[8] “مطعم السوسي.” الصفحة الرئيسية |العربي الجديد, 30 November 2015, https://www.alaraby.co.uk/%D9%85%D8%B7%D8%B9%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B3%D9%8A. Accessed 3 June 2024.
“السوسي: إرث عائلي في الزيدانية.” Al Akhbar.
[9] Rahayel, Anthony. “LIVE: World-Famous “Al Soussi”. Traditional Breakfast Since 1900!” YouTube.
[10] Hankir, Zahra. “A History of Beirut in 10 Dishes.” Roads & Kingdoms, 5 January 2018, https://roadsandkingdoms.com/travel-guide/beirut/history-beirut-10-dishes/. Accessed 3 June 2024.
[11] “مطعم “السوسي”.. 132 عاما في تقديم الفطور اللبناني التقليدي (تقرير).” Anadolu Agency.
[12] “Al Soussi: Traditional Lebanese Breakfast Since 1910 in Beirut السوسي: إفطار لبناني تقليدي.” YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAlrpqoyI6A. Accessed 3 June 2024.
“Lebanese Civil War.” Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/event/Lebanese-Civil-War. Accessed 3 June 2024.
[13] Rahayel, Anthony. “LIVE: World-Famous “Al Soussi”. Traditional Breakfast Since 1900!” YouTube.
“السوسي: إرث عائلي في الزيدانية.” Al Akhbar, https://al-akhbar.com/Baladi/16876. Accessed 3 June 2024.
[14] “Al Soussi: Traditional Lebanese Breakfast Since 1910 in Beirut السوسي: إفطار لبناني تقليدي.” YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAlrpqoyI6A. Accessed 3 June 2024.
Rahayel, Anthony. “LIVE: World-Famous “Al Soussi”. Traditional Breakfast Since 1900!” YouTube.
“السوسي: إرث عائلي في الزيدانية.” Al Akhbar, https://al-akhbar.com/Baladi/16876. Accessed 3 June 2024.
[15] “مطعم “السوسي”.. 132 عاما في تقديم الفطور اللبناني التقليدي (تقرير).” Anadolu Agency.
[16] Hankir, Zahra. “A History of Beirut in 10 Dishes.” Roads & Kingdoms, 5 January 2018, https://roadsandkingdoms.com/travel-guide/beirut/history-beirut-10-dishes/. Accessed 3 June 2024.
“مطعم السوسي في لبنان .. الأفضل حول العالم.” YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnN-bFYGmWo. Accessed 3 June 2024.
[17] “«السوسي».. حيث لصحن الفول المدمّس تاريخ يعبق بالشهرة.” Asharq Al-Awsat.
[18] Rahayel, Anthony. “LIVE: World-Famous “Al Soussi”. Traditional Breakfast Since 1900!” YouTube.
“Rafic al-Hariri.” Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rafiq-al-Hariri. Accessed 3 June 2024.
[19] Rahayel, Anthony. “LIVE: World-Famous “Al Soussi”. Traditional Breakfast Since 1900!” YouTube.
[20] “Best breakfasts around the world.” CNN, https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/best-breakfasts-around-the-world/index.html. Accessed 3 June 2024.
[21] “مطعم “السوسي”.. 132 عاما في تقديم الفطور اللبناني التقليدي (تقرير).” Anadolu Agency.
[22] Ibid.
[23] Ibid.
To cite this article please use:
“Al Soussi Restaurant” Family Business Histories Research Project, New York University Abu Dhabi and Tharawat Family Business Forum, 10 Sep. 2024, familybusinesshistories.org/spotlights/AlSoussi-Restaurant