Turkish chef Burak Özdemir says his first restaurant in Aleppo is nearing opening

Turkish chef Burak Özdemir, owner of the CZN Burak restaurant chain, announced plans to open a new branch in Aleppo, which would be his first restaurant in Syria. The opening date and location within the city have not yet been disclosed.

Turkish chef Burak Özdemir, known worldwide as “CZN Burak,” announced that a branch of his restaurant chain is nearing opening in Aleppo, northern Syria. The move would mark his first venture in Syrian territory.

Syria News reported that Özdemir revealed his intention in a video, while the Syrian website Al-Majhar said he had previously written on his official account that he planned to open a new branch in Syria “to serve the best authentic Turkish cuisine.” The restaurant’s opening date and exact address in the city have not yet been announced.

Wide reaction on social media

The announcement generated broad engagement among the chef’s followers across the Arab world, Lovin and Turk Press reported. Özdemir, who was born in Türkiye’s Hatay province in 1994, has more than 51 million Instagram followers and became famous for videos in which he prepares Turkish and Middle Eastern dishes in huge quantities and with a theatrical style.

The walls and stone bridge of Aleppo Citadel

This is not the chef’s first connection to Syria. Syria News said he visited displaced-persons camps in the Aleppo countryside in 2022, followed by camps in Idlib in February 2026, where he helped prepare food and distribute aid and gifts to children.

Al-Majhar said that opening a restaurant of this size could boost economic activity and commercial activity in Aleppo. This comes as Turkish companies show growing interest in the Syrian market across various sectors, from industry to services.

Photos: Anadolu