Iraq’s 80s smash burger restaurant expands to Baghdad

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The popular Iraqi smash burger restaurant 80s has moved from Erbil to Baghdad, launching a new branch in Al-Yarmouk as the worldwide smash burger fad gains traction in Iraq. The local eatery originally opened in Erbil’s Dream City before expanding to Baghdad’s Al-Yarmouk neighborhood, near the Four Streets area, this year. 80s is noted for its retro-inspired decor and Western-style smashed burgers, including the famous Oklahoma Burger and Truffle Mushroom Burger. Smash burgers are created by pushing small slices of beef straight onto a hot heating surface, resulting in a browned and crispy skin. The style has grown in popularity in large cities such as London, Dubai, and Los Angeles, fueling a surge of specialized independent burger eateries. The concept’s introduction in Iraq reflects shifting preferences among younger Iraqi customers as well as a restaurant sector that is more impacted by global cuisine trends. The growth of 80s is especially remarkable since it is a locally built restaurant rather than an international franchise, providing Iraqi customers with an alternative to the country’s worldwide fast-food corporations. Baghdad has experienced an increase in the number of independent restaurants, cafés, and foreign dining concepts in recent years, thanks to increased security and new commercial projects that have reshaped the capital’s leisure and hospitality industry. For 80s, the shift from Erbil to Baghdad provides the restaurant access to Iraq’s biggest metropolitan market while also introducing a cuisine trend that is already popular abroad to a larger Iraqi audience.