Food · Riyadh · Saudi Arabia
What to eat in Riyadh
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Riyadh, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: B.alotaby, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Kabsa, Mandi and Jareesh. Saudi hospitality starts with qahwa and dates. Alcohol is not served; menus feature fresh juices, mocktails, Saudi coffee and specialty coffee instead.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Kabsa
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 3
- Tipping
- Tipping is not obligatory.
- Food experiences
- 4
10 foods to try
Dish
1.Kabsa
Saudi Arabia's signature dish: long-grain rice cooked in a spiced tomato broth with baharat, dried lime and cardamom, topped with chicken, lamb or camel and often scattered with fried almonds and raisins. It is usually served on a large shared platter.
Where: Traditional Saudi restaurants across the city, including family restaurants in Olaya and the old centre.
Dish
2.Mandi
Lamb or chicken slow-cooked over smoky heat above rice, so the meat juices drip into the grain. Originally from Yemen, it is now one of the most popular everyday meals in Riyadh.
Where: Mandi restaurants with floor seating are found in every district; Al Batha has many inexpensive ones.
Dish
3.Jareesh
A Najdi staple of crushed wheat slowly cooked with laban, onion and sometimes chicken until creamy, topped with fried onion and ghee. It is common at family gatherings and during Ramadan.
Where: Restaurants specialising in Najdi heritage food; also served as a side dish in traditional Saudi restaurants.
Dish
4.Marqooq
A Najdi stew of lamb or chicken with squash, tomato and aubergine, into which thin sheets of hand-rolled dough are cooked until soft. It is a hearty winter dish.
Where: Najdi heritage restaurants, particularly around Diriyah and the historic centre.
Dish
5.Qursan
Paper-thin wholewheat bread broken into pieces and soaked in a vegetable and meat broth, a central Arabian dish similar in spirit to marqooq but drier and more rustic.
Where: Najdi restaurants and home-style cooking menus; ask for Najdi dishes by name.
Street food
6.Mutabbaq
A thin pastry folded around minced meat, egg, leek and spices and fried on a griddle; sweet versions are filled with banana, cheese or honey.
Where: Street stalls and casual cafeterias across the city, especially in the evening.
Street food
7.Shawarma
Thin slices of spit-roasted chicken or beef rolled in flatbread with garlic sauce and pickles. In Saudi Arabia it is often served with a handful of fries tucked inside the wrap.
Where: Shawarma counters on almost every commercial street, open late into the night.
Drink · Vegetarian
8.Saudi coffee (Qahwa)
Lightly roasted coffee brewed with cardamom and often saffron or cloves, giving a pale golden colour. It is poured in small amounts into handleless cups (finjan) and served with dates as a gesture of hospitality.
Where: Offered in hotels, majlis-style cafés and at heritage sites such as At-Turaif; coffee shops also sell it by the flask.
Snack · Vegetarian
9.Dates (Tamr)
Dates accompany coffee and break the fast in Ramadan. Sukkari, soft and caramel-sweet from the Qassim region north of Riyadh, is the local favourite; Khalas and Ajwa are also widely sold.
Where: Specialist date shops and the dates sections of large supermarkets and souqs.
Dessert · Vegetarian
10.Kleija
Round biscuits from Qassim, flavoured with cardamom and filled with date paste, eaten with coffee or tea.
Where: Bakeries and date shops across the city, especially in the winter months.
Food experiences
Coffee and dates in a majlis
Saudi hospitality starts with qahwa and dates. Heritage cafés and some hotels serve them in a traditional majlis setting with floor cushions, and at At-Turaif you can see how coffee is roasted and pounded.
Dinner at Bujairi Terrace
An evening meal facing the floodlit ruins of At-Turaif is one of the city's signature outings; reserve a terrace table for the sunset.
Najdi heritage restaurant
Restaurants focused on central Arabian food serve jareesh, marqooq, qursan and kabsa on shared platters, often in mudbrick-style dining rooms with floor seating.
Specialty coffee crawl
Riyadh has a large specialty coffee scene; independent roasters line Tahlia Street and the northern districts, many open until after midnight.
Quick bites and street food
- Mutabbaq — Street stalls and casual cafeterias across the city, especially in the evening.
- Shawarma — Shawarma counters on almost every commercial street, open late into the night.
- Dates — Specialist date shops and the dates sections of large supermarkets and souqs.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 3 are usually vegetarian: Saudi coffee, Dates and Kleija. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Alcohol is not served; menus feature fresh juices, mocktails, Saudi coffee and specialty coffee instead.
- Restaurants are busiest late in the evening, and many families dine after 9pm.
- During Ramadan, restaurants generally serve after sunset (iftar) and through the night; public eating and drinking during daylight hours is avoided.
- Shared platters are common; eat with your right hand when dining from a communal dish.
- Ask for 'Najdi' dishes by name, as many restaurants focus on kabsa and grills.
Tipping
Tipping is not obligatory. Rounding up or leaving about 10% in restaurants is appreciated where no service charge is added, and small tips for hotel porters and drivers are common.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| As-salamu alaykum | Hello (peace be upon you) |
| Shukran | Thank you |
| Min fadlak / min fadlik | Please (to a man / to a woman) |
| Kam? | How much? |
| Yalla | Let's go / come on |
| Inshallah | God willing |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Riyadh famous for?
Kabsa, Mandi, Jareesh and Marqooq. Saudi Arabia's signature dish: long-grain rice cooked in a spiced tomato broth with baharat, dried lime and cardamom, topped with chicken, lamb or camel and often scattered with fried almonds and raisins.
+Is Riyadh good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Saudi coffee, Dates and Kleija.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Riyadh?
Tipping is not obligatory. Rounding up or leaving about 10% in restaurants is appreciated where no service charge is added, and small tips for hotel porters and drivers are common.