Interesting choice of locations IMO. Being a cosmopolitan city, I get it, but don’t Muslim dietary restrictions come into play there? Don’t they have the same issue of cheese on beef and bacon that Jewish law has?
It appears as if they already are there?
Shake Shack Istanbul will be locally run by the operator Shaya, which is owned by M.H. Alshaya, the international franchise operator that runs Shake Shack’s many locations across the Middle East
Saw that, and still find it odd they might offer bacon cheeseburgers.
Muslims follow similar dietary laws as Jews. While not the same, Halal dietary laws are similar to Kosher dietary laws. One major difference: alcohol is forbidden per the Q’uran.
Turkey is 95% Muslim, but relatively secular. My understanding is that this goes back to the days of Atatürk.
Atatürk loved a good pear.
Really? I don’t get it. It’s not exactly an intuitive choice. You don’t often hear of New York City high-end burger chains opening in Turkey. Would love to hear the business thinking behind this: international locations are one in London… and a bunch in the Middle East. Weird.
It’s only a matter of time before the Mullahs from the In-n-Out & Five Guys sects declare burger jihad.
There are two in the UAE, one is a couple of miles from our house.
Not that similar really Corey, and my understanding was that alcohol is not actually ‘haram’.
My understanding is that halal laws say what is lawful to eat (though I understand that the laws extend beyond foods) and how they must be processed, much in the same way that kosher dietary laws do. I understand that the specifics are a bit different, though notably the prohibition on eating swine extends to both religions.
The dairy/meat thing is not an issue for Muslims. The combo is common in local foods in the form of yogurt sauces.
Pork is haram but they can drop the bacon entirely or find a beef substitute. Pizza Hut has been doing business in the Middle East for decades but the meats on their pizzas are beef.
Usually veal bacon as you say, sometimes turkey.
Luckily its easy to get pork for non muslims (in the UAE).
Russell – Don’t pretend to be an expert, so I googled alcohol…
Sura 2:219 says alcohol is haram.
Sura 16:67 says it’s halal.
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Ha. Yes. As I understand it, technically, it is a pleasure to be reserved for paradise. Of course, I wonder how many Muslims understand that. There is always a difference between doctrine and common perception/practice. Buddhism is not really a religion but a lot of Buddhists practice it as if it is and practice it as if they were not aware of the teachings of the Buddha.
Yeah its complex. Maybe Otto will see this, he has looked into it before iirc.
Some comments on this from another forum:
http://www.wine-pages.com/cgi-bin2/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=034129
In any event many Turks drink alcohol, especially in Istanbul.
My understanding is they are being opened by a mid east franchisee.
I get it. Burgers have become popular in Europe but they often suck compared to their American counterparts. I would say UK has many excellent places. Big opportunity for Danny.
Same goes for mexican food: Big opportunity. Heck it’s only been up until recently that even mexican food in NYC sucked compared to the west coast. I remember the first time I went to Amsterdam 25 years ago there was a place selling “burritos” for $14/pop! Terrible too. I had a dream at the time of opening mexican places in Europe.
Nor for a lot of Jews. Most delis will make a corned beef and swiss (obviously, not Kosher delis)
I also find it odd as an expansion move, but my guess is that a lot of money was involved. That makes a lot more sense.
Right. But my point is that while a dairy-meat combo violates Jewish dietary laws, it does not violate Muslim dietary laws.
Agreed