Lebanon social divide highlighted by $13 chicken sandwich

A debate over a $13 chicken sandwich in Beirut has become a symbol of the widening socioeconomic gap in Lebanon. The restaurant The Glow Paradise introduced a healthier version of the traditional shish taouk wrap, named the ‘Chic Taouk’, at a price nearly double the standard rate for similar sandwiches in the city.

While the high price sparked outrage among critics who pointed to the country's widespread poverty and struggle to afford basic necessities, the product has been a commercial success. Managing partner Hrag Jeghalian reported that the restaurant sold over 20,000 sandwiches in just 11 days, describing the social media controversy as ‘natural marketing’.

Economists note that the popularity of the luxury item masks a harsher economic reality. Sami Nader, an economist at Saint Joseph University of Beirut, observed that while the restaurant sees crowds, 22 other restaurants closed in the previous month. The incident underscores the social fragmentation caused by years of financial meltdown, political dysfunction, and conflict, which have hollowed out the middle class while leaving a small group of affluent consumers able to maintain prosperous lifestyles.