Question 1

What is the "Ankawa Restaurant Tourist Menu Overcharge" scam in Erbil?

Accepted Answer

Several restaurants in the Ankawa (Ainkawa) Christian neighborhood — a popular area for expatriates and tourists due to its alcohol-serving establishments — maintain dual-pricing systems: a Kurdish/Arabic menu with standard local prices and an English-language tourist menu with markups of 40–100% on the same dishes. Some establishments add an unannounced "service charge" or "tourist fee" to the final bill, which does not appear on any posted menu. Dolma, grilled meats, and mezze platters are standard items where overcharging is most common. Ask to see the Arabic or Kurdish menu even if you do not read it — compare with the English version if both are offered. Check the bill itemization carefully before paying and ask specifically whether any service charge has been added. Prices for a standard Kurdish meal of dolma, rice, grilled kebab, and salad for two should be in the range of IQD 15,000–25,000 at a mid-range local restaurant.

Question 2

What is the "Tourist Restaurant Menu Price Mismatch" scam in Erbil?

Accepted Answer

Several restaurants in the Ankawa Christian quarter and around the Sami Abdulrahman Park area maintain two informal pricing structures — a lower price for locals and a higher price for foreign tourists. Menus shown to foreigners may not display prices, and the bill on departure includes charges not agreed in advance, including mandatory "service charges" of 10–20% or inflated per-item prices. The discrepancy is rarely large (€5–€20) but can be combined across a group. Request a menu with prices before ordering, and photograph it if prices are not written. Confirm the total price for your order before food is brought. If a service charge is added at the end, ask whether it is standard policy. Licensed restaurants in Ankawa popular with expats typically operate transparent pricing; smaller unlicensed eateries near tourist sights are where discrepancies are most common.

Restaurant Scams in Erbil

Ankawa Restaurant Tourist Menu Overcharge

Tourist Restaurant Menu Price Mismatch

Experienced a scam here?