A few weeks back I was looking for the best sandwich in Riyadh and I had to try more than twenty different restaurants to finally feel like I have found the top five spots.
Let’s be honest!
Life is too short for boring sandwiches
Luckily!
The restaurants in Riyadh know exactly how to grill and fill these breads with the right ingredients. Whether you’re craving something cheesy, toasty, or downright messy (no judgment here), this city has a sandwich for every mood.
I have chosen these restaurants not just for their impressive interior designs
THOUGH
You will want to snap a few pictures but also for their expertise in knowing how to stack those sandwiches.
Let me tell you why these places are the best when it comes to those two pieces of bread (with filling in between).
So? Shall we begin?
1. Pronto
This healthy food restaurant is quite popular for its sandwiches and salads in Riyadh. Walking into Pronto immediately feels refreshing and relaxing.
The green accents on the walls give this place a nice natural look and the open kitchen gives you trust as you see your fresh salads and sandwiches being prepared.
The simple furniture and lighting make the whole dining area calm and welcoming.
Honestly, I would want my food to arrive late so I can soak in the beautiful atmosphere that the restaurant provides.
Sandwich options
I came in hungry and left not only full but impressed too. You get more than ten different sandwich options and
THE BEST PART?
They are all healthy and fresh. My top three picks are:
- Chicken Parmigiana: I wouldn’t say it was light. It’s actually a good option for brunch or a quick lunch. The sandwich includes ingredients like pesto paste and sweet sundried tomatoes. Add in fried eggplants, gooey mozzarella, and balsamic glaze.
- Bacon and Truffle: The salty and savory taste of the beef bacon is perfectly balanced with the taste of burrata. The truffle sauce doesn’t take all the taste but you will feel it with the rest of the ingredients.
I don’t know who made this combo but it is delicious!
- Capo Del Capi: If you want some contrast in your sandwich then I will recommend this one. It includes black Angus bresaola which is thinly sliced and tender. The stracciatella—soft, rich, and slightly tangy melts into the bread. The pistachios make it healthy and also a bit heavy.
Where To Find Pronto
This sandwich restaurant is located at Al Mathar Ash Shamali, Riyadh.
2. L’Olivo
This restaurant has captured my attention for all the right reasons. The restaurant has a long history. It started back in 1966 as a family-run business and now operates in multiple locations.
Unlike other sandwich spots in Riyadh, there are no fancy tables or intimate lights to make your mood better. There’s only pickup or delivery straight to your doorstep.
They know their way around sandwiches and have done it successfully since 1966.
Their secret ingredient?
The soft focaccia bread and ingredients are so fresh it feels like they were just picked from the farm and put in your sandwich.
With two branches in AlSulimaniyah and AlYasmeen, L’Olivo makes it dangerously easy to upgrade your lunch game.
Sandwiches I Loved!
The variety of sandwiches here will make you question your IQ for a few minutes. I have tried this restaurant many times and the sandwiches I loved are:
- Grilled Chicken Pesto: Well, you wouldn’t get any dry bites here thanks to the freshly and juicy grilled chicken breast. The pesto and mozzarella pair perfectly to give you a nice unique flavor. The bread is fresh, soft, and slightly chewy.
- Steak Frites: This sandwich is a beast (in a good way). The beef steak is marinated perfectly and is rich and tender. But let’s talk about the chips inside the sandwich.
YUP! CHIPS INSIDE SANDWICH!
The crunch of the chips with the melty cheese and caramelized onions is next-level genius. You won’t find a sandwich like this anywhere else.
- Manzo Steak Sandwich: This sandwich is filled with a generous amount of beef and cheese is literally dripping from every corner. The rucola keeps it from getting too rich, and the special L’Olivo sauce? I don’t know what’s in it, but I want it on everything.
3. PÃO
When I visit this restaurant it feels like I hit a pause button on life and a play button on vacation vibes. Light wood walls, soft colors, woven chairs, and dried flowers give it this breezy, boho vibe that instantly makes you want to kick back and relax.
It’s the kind of place where time slows down, and you can casually sip on a fresh juice while diving into a sandwich that feels just as light and vibrant as the space around you.
DON’T FORGET!
The outdoor dining area is best for those cool days. The chairs are more comfortable than a first-class plane seat. The white umbrellas make sure those rays of sun don’t hit you hard.
Sandwich Picks
Their options are limited and I wish I could recommend all of their menu items.
BUT
I have picked three of my favorites which are:
- Spicy Tuna: I always believed that tuna sandwiches are boring but PAO proved me wrong there. The tuna in this sandwich is light and flaky combined with jalapeños, pesto, and a splash of Tabasco.
It’s not overly spicy but enough to give you an enjoyable amount of heat. The pesto balances the heat and gives the sandwich a nice texture.
- Bresaola Sandwich: I loved the thin slices of beef bresaola which were slightly salty. They are balanced by the creamy flavor of the tartar sauce. To add a touch of health you will also get garlic mushrooms and peppery arugula.
- Chicken Curry: The tender chicken cooked in garlic sauce didn’t disappoint me. The yogurt and red curry tie all the items together nicely and balance the flavor.
4. Noho Deli
Well, this restaurant feels like you are dining in Brooklyn, but it’s a bit cooler because it’s Riyadh. The black-and-white checkered floor, moody dark walls, and warm wooden tables scream, “Yeah, we know we’re stylish.”
The staff here is friendly and helped me choose the best items on the menu. You can sit back, relax, and enjoy the delicious food in an almost luxury dining area.
Which Sandwiches To Try?
The sandwiches here are big and delicious. I mean one sandwich is enough for dinner or a nice heavy lunch. I will recommend trying:
- Reuben Pastrami: I won’t exaggerate here but this is the kind of sandwich that will make you pause eating and say “WOW”. The filling is amazing and you get pickled beef pastrami layered with burger sauce, ranch, Swiss cheese, and crunchy pickled cabbage on rye sourdough. It’s basically an all-in-one sandwich.
- Noho Roast Beef: If you are after a meal that is light and feels like home then go for this one. It includes roast beef, garlic mayo, sweet caramelized onions, and a good amount of cheddar. You will feel a slightly sweet taste in every bite.
- Grilled Chicken Pesto: It’s lighter but definitely worth trying. It’s more of a brunch item and includes grilled chicken, Rocca, tomatoes, and a pesto-Caesar sauce. It’s fresh, herby and also healthy.
5. Dank
If you love retro dining then Dank is going to be your new favorite. It’s retro but a bit cool too. The greens and browns around the dining area with booth seating give this place a nice calm, retro, and vintage look.
The restaurant started back in 2017 in Jeddah and has expanded to multiple cities ever since.
What did I love?
Saying delicious is an understatement for their sandwiches. They are truly unique and presented in the best possible way. My favorites were:
- Philadelphia Steak: If I hear the word steak I automatically start liking that thing. This sandwich includes juicy slices of beef, onions, and their signature dank sauce which holds everything together. Oh, I forgot! It comes with fries and juice as well.
- Brisket Sandwich: Don’t compare this to your average Brisket Sandwich. I am talking about brisket slow-cooked for nine hours until it’s fall-apart tender, BBQ sauce, with a surprising pop of sweetness from blackberries.
- Dynamite Shrimp Sandwich: Did you say you love spicy food? Try this sandwich and you will be thanking me for days. Crispy shrimp in a spicy dynamite sauce, layered with fresh lettuce, red cabbage, and melted cheese.
