CHAMCHAMAL, Kurdistan Region - A group of volunteers have opened a pop-up restaurant on the Sulaimani-Kirkuk highway near the town of Chamchamal to provide free food at dusk for Muslims breaking their fasts during the holy month of Ramadan.
"We cook chicken, rice and beans. We are now cooking these three dishes," said Sardar Abdulkareem, a chef. "Every day, around 1,000 TO 1,200 people stop by and eat and they go. We are three chefs cooking. They eat and go. They are very satisfied with our service."
Water and dates are also available for those who do not want to eat a full meal but just want to break their fast.
Volunteers say they usually cook food for up to 1,200 people, starting work two hours before the maghrib call to prayer at sunset.
Named 'The House of God Restaurant,' the project is funded by two wealthy brothers from Chamchamal.
"To receive God's grace and for the sake of this holy month of Ramadan, we have opened The House of God Restaurant," said Yaseen Hussein, one of the brothers.
He said they have fed people from across the country. "For example, today a man from Basra passed by here and stopped. He had said that he was interested in breaking his fast at our place."
In addition to passing drivers on the Sulaimani-Kirkuk highway, people from the town of Chamchamal have also come to the restaurant.
"This is a very beautiful thing for Chamchamal and its surroundings.