Saloua Bey, founder of the Al Walima restaurant, has died
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Webdo
Granddaughter of Lamine Bey and founder of the Al Walima restaurant in Tunis, Saloua Bey died on 10 November 2026. A chronicler of the Beylical family and a figure of the Tunisian food scene, she began with a grocery shop, “Mon Poussin”, before opening her self-service restaurant “Le Régal” in 1984, according to Webdo.
The founder of the Tunisian restaurant Al Walima, Saloua Bey, died on Tuesday 10 November 2026, according to Webdo. A granddaughter of Lamine Bey, she was also a chronicler of the Beylical family and a figure of the Tunisian food scene.
Before the restaurant, she opened the grocery “Mon Poussin”, which initially specialised in selling eggs and chickens that she delivered to several rotisseries in Tunis. On 4 September 1984, she opened her restaurant under the name “Le Régal”, thanks to a bank loan. Her self-service quickly attracted employees of businesses in the Lafayette district.
The restaurant is known for its osbene couscous served every Friday, and for its panaché, an assortment of specialities also called “Bent El Bey”. The name Al Walima, which means both “treat” and “banquet” in Arabic, became established over the years. Webdo notes that Al Walima continues to innovate in the spirit of cultivated hospitality fostered by Saloua Bey and her family.
