What food should I try in Saudi Arabia?

Which dishes should I try?

Dish	What it is	Region
Kabsa	Spiced rice with chicken or lamb	Nationwide
Mandi	Meat slow-cooked in an underground oven, over rice	Southern, now everywhere
Jareesh	Cracked wheat cooked with broth	Najd
Margoog	Vegetable and meat stew with soft dough	Najd
Saleeg	Creamy rice cooked in broth and milk	Hejaz
Mutabbaq	Stuffed, pan-fried pastry	Hejaz
Ful and tameez	Fava beans with flatbread, a classic breakfast	Hejaz
Sayadieh	Spiced rice and fish	Coasts
Areekah	Bread with honey, ghee and dates	Asir

What should I drink?

• Gahwa: light Arabic coffee with cardamom, served in small cups with dates.
• Karak and sweet tea: sold everywhere.
• Sobia: a sweet, cold Hejazi drink popular in Ramadan.
• Specialty coffee: Riyadh and Jeddah have superb cafes.

Which dates are best?

Ajwa from Madinah is the most famous. Sukkari is soft and sweet, and Khalas comes from Al-Ahsa and Qassim. Buy loose at a date market and ask to taste first.

Where should I eat?

• Al Baik: the famous broasted chicken chain from Jeddah. Be ready to queue.
• Al-Balad street stalls: mutabbaq and ful after Maghrib.
• Bujairi Terrace: upscale dining beside At-Turaif.
• Near the Haram: food courts in the hotels around each mosque.

What should vegetarians know?

Options exist, including ful, hummus, falafel and lentil dishes. Indian restaurants, which are everywhere, are the most reliable choice.

What about food in Ramadan?

Most restaurants close by day and open at Iftar, with many staying busy into the night. Hotels may serve guests privately.