The grand opening of Mac Mac restaurant at the CP center in Beijing on Monday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Mac Mac, a new fast-casual sub-brand of Sumac Restaurant Group, officially opened Monday in Beijing in a ceremony attended by government officials, diplomats, business leaders and food enthusiasts.

Sumac Restaurant Group, with more than 15 years of international culinary experience, already operates restaurants in Beijing and Hong Kong. The group has won accolades such as "Best Lebanese Restaurant in Asia" and "Best Mediterranean Restaurant". The new outlet is the group's first Mac Mac flagship store in China.

Positioned as a modern take on Lebanese street food, Mac Mac emphasizes freshness, authenticity and style. Its culinary team is from Lebanon, while spices are sourced from Lebanese farms to ensure quality and tradition.

Chefs from Lebanon prepare food for the opening ceremony. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Highlights include the Gold Shawarma Roll — shawarma was named the world's best sandwich this year by the food and travel guide TasteAtlas — and Za'atar Manakish Flatbread, a hand-stretched dough topped with the classic spice blend, often paired with pomegranate yogurt dip. Manakish was inscribed in 2023 on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List as a representative Lebanese culinary practice.

Lebanese cuisine, celebrated across the Middle East and Europe, is known for its refined techniques, layered flavors and high standards for ingredients. With Mac Mac's debut, Sumac Restaurant Group aims to bring authentic Lebanese flavors to Chinese diners while fostering cultural exchange between China and Lebanon.