How a D.C. chef created a viral deli in Kuwait

A chopped cheese sandwich is going viral in Kuwait City — credit, in part, to a D.C. chef.

Why it matters: Alex McCoy of Lucky Buns helped open one of the only American delis, Broskis , in Kuwait this summer and it's a smash hit.

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State of play: Kuwait City has a big appetite for American food — there are more Raising Cane's there than in Baton Rouge — but Broskis is drawing next-level attention.

• There's a line outside for pastrami night. Kuwaiti TikTokers can't stop raving about the smash burgers, halal grinders, and "deli vibes." The small restaurant can fly through 100 chopped cheeses on a busy day.

Dig in: Co-owner Yazan AlGhabra fell in love with Lucky Buns burgers when he was a graduate student at Georgetown. After moving to Kuwait to pursue a career in finance, he found one thing missing in the city's vibrant global food scene: A juicy Lucky-style burger. "There's a smash burger frenzy in Kuwait City, but you don't get those gourmet blends," AlGhabra tells Axios.

• Also missing: A good American deli. So he and three friends quit their finance jobs to open a restaurant and brought on McCoy — who also has a hit sandwich shop at Union Market, Bar Boheme — as a consultant to make it a reality.

Alex McCoy (black t-shirt, center) and the Broskis. Photo: courtesy Broskis Deli

The intrigue: Opening a top-notch deli is always a challenge, but particularly so in a country where classic American staples are scarce. "We had to import everything or make it from scratch," McCoy tells Axios.

• The kitchen started churning out American-style pickles. They sourced halal beef salamis and mortadella for Italian subs. "There's an incredible bread culture in Kuwait, but no one makes seeded Philly-style hoagie rolls," says McCoy. He taught a local baker how ("They nailed it.").
• The biggest challenge: Pastrami. "No one makes pastrami from scratch. We couldn't buy a smoker, so we had the first of its kind made in Kuwait," says McCoy. The team brines 500 lbs. of meat at a time, smokes it up, and serves it as a special to hungry crowds.

Crowds waiting at Broskis. Photo: courtesy Broskis Deli

Zoom in: The chopped cheese — which the Broskis say is the only of its kind in Kuwait — is the #1 seller. AlGhabra's beloved burger is next.

What they're saying: "We never expected to get such a reaction and crowds of people," he says. "It's bringing a piece of D.C. to Kuwait."