Afghan Restaurateurs In Tri-City Donate Proceeds To Refugees

FREMONT, CA — The Afghan-born founders of iniBurger, a gourmet burger spot in Pleasanton and Fremont, are donating a portion of proceeds through September to a nonprofit supporting refugees fleeing Afghanistan — a cause deeply personal to the restaurateurs.

“Abdul and I are horrified to see what is currently happening in Afghanistan, especially because our home country has been experiencing disaster for decades,” said Leeza Popal, owner of IniBuger along with her husband, Abdul.

Leeza and Abdul, both, left their native country in the early 1980s during Soviet turmoil — with Abdul's family settling in Berkeley and Leeza's family moving to Fremont.

Abdul was a young boy when communists invaded Afghanistan, and "first on the Soviet execution list" were those, such as his parents, who had Western, pro-democratic connection and graduated from American universities, he said. Leeza, meanwhile, shares a similar story — arriving in the U.S. in 1984, with her family, including her father, who completed graduate work in the U.S. and taught mathematics at Kabul University.

Now husband and wife, Abdul and Leeza own and operate the two East Bay iniBurgers, with the first site in Pleasanton just marking its one-year anniversary.

Since opening the eateries, the duo has maintained a local, philanthropic commitment, having donated more than $10,000 to such area charities as Open Heart Kitchen, Tri-Cities Volunteer Food Bank, Rise Against Hunger, Muslim Community Center food pantry, Muslim Sisters Help in Fremont, Give Light Foundation, Action Against Hunger and Bay Area Rescue Mission, along with multiple local schools, clubs and organizations, according to the couple.

But right now ... the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is predominant, and the restaurants' current donations will go to the International Rescue Committee (IRC) of Northern California, specifically to the organization’s “Afghan Soft Landing Fund,” providing aid for emergency housing, basic necessities, assistance and future employment for refugee families.

“As a company that was founded on a mission to support our communities, we are honored to support the International Rescue Committee, especially during this crucial time, and to contribute to the great work they are doing for Afghans both overseas and in the states," Leeza said. "We hope that we can lead by example and inspire others in the Bay Area community to step up and support in any way they can.”

She added that iniBurger also is interested in creating job opportunities for refugees who are resettling in the San Francisco Bay Area.

"We give, because we care," she said. " We both understand that either one, or both of us, could have been in the same situation as millions find themselves today. The least we could do is be grateful for the opportunities we had and to give back to those less fortunate."

The Popals' iniBurger serves a Halal menu featuring gourmet burgers, chicken wings, fries and shakes, along with its bestsellers, the "Waffle'n Out" (chicken, Boom sauce, cheese, grilled onions, fried egg, turkey bacon on a waffle potato bun) and the spicy "Nashville Hot Chicken" (crispy chicken, Boom sauce, cayenne sauce, pickles and coleslaw).

Locations are at 44029 Osgood Road in Fremont and 4233 Rosewood Drive, Pleasanton. Follow this link for more iniBurger info.

For additional details on the International Rescue Committee and its Afghanistan efforts, go to this link, and for the "Soft Landing Fund," go here.

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