A Beirut restaurant’s introduction of a $13 chicken sandwich has highlighted the widening economic divide in Lebanon, exposing tensions between those still able to spend freely and the majority facing severe financial hardship. The Glow Paradise, a trendy health-focused eatery, launched the “Chic Taouk” — a healthier variation of the traditional Levantine chicken wrap known as shish taouk — priced at nearly double the cost of a typical chicken sandwich in the capital.

Despite backlash on social media accusing the restaurant of overpricing in a country where many struggle to afford basic goods, The Glow Paradise reported selling more than 20,000 sandwiches within 11 days. Managing partner Hrag Jeghalian characterized the online controversy as “natural marketing” and noted that customer demand remained strong.

The episode has underscored Lebanon’s deepening social and economic fractures. Years of financial collapse, political instability, and ongoing conflicts have eroded much of the middle class, leaving a small segment of consumers capable of sustaining a more affluent lifestyle. Economist Sami Nader of Saint Joseph University pointed out that while such establishments may appear busy, the broader reality is stark; he cited the closure of 22 restaurants in just one month as evidence of the wider economic contraction.

The debate over the sandwich’s price divided Lebanon’s Instagram community, with some condemning the eatery for price gouging and others arguing the product was targeted at a niche market able to afford it. Critics also questioned whether such a dispute reflected misplaced priorities in a country facing pressing challenges, including the ongoing effects of Israel’s occupation of southern territories, as well as chronic electricity and water shortages.

Lebanon’s economic crisis has roots in decades of corruption and excessive spending by political elites. The financial system’s collapse in 2019, compounded by the 2020 Beirut Port explosion and two wars within a short span, has devastated the economy. The World Bank reports that the country’s gross domestic product has declined by nearly 40% since 2019. Inflation is projected to reach 17.5% amid rising global energy and shipping costs, far exceeding the global average inflation rate noted by the International Monetary Fund earlier this year.

According to the United Nations children’s agency, four out of five Lebanese households now face difficulties affording basic necessities, while Lebanon’s middle class has effectively “disappeared,” as Nader described, a victim of the escalating crises reshaping the country’s social and economic landscape.