Before sunrise: while the city sleeps, suhoor meals attract a lively social scene during Ramadan

"The pre-dawn meal has long been a lively social tradition in many parts of the Middle East, where cafes and restaurants stay open late into the night. Now cities such as Sydney – as well as London and New York – are catching on, as more venues extend their trading hours during Ramadan to create spaces where people can gather, eat and share the final meal before the fast begins."

"It's been like this every single night of Ramadan, says Wafaa Kamaleddine, who launched the business only a few weeks ago with her husband, Mahamed Said. The community has really shown up and alhamdulillah – we are so grateful!"

"At The Meat Up, the scent of charred meat drifts down the street and pulls in hungry, sleepy-eyed worshippers from the local mosque down the road. Groups of snap-happy friends linger beside parked cars, laughing between"

During Ramadan, Sydney's Muslim community is adopting Middle Eastern traditions of late-night suhoor dining, where restaurants and food trucks remain open after evening taraweeh prayers. The Meat Up, a halal food truck in Auburn launched by Lebanese couple Wafaa Kamaleddine and Mahamed Said, serves steak sandwiches to crowds of young Muslims gathering before the pre-dawn meal. This practice, long established in Middle Eastern cities, is now spreading to Western urban centers including London and New York. While many Muslim families still observe suhoor at home, these venues create communal spaces for social gathering, eating, and connection during the fasting month. The courtyard atmosphere reflects a growing trend of businesses accommodating religious observances and cultural traditions.

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