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So you are on the hunt for the best Arabic restaurant in Riyadh, Huh?
Saudi Arabia’s capital has some amazing places where you can find traditional Arabic foods as well as a taste of Middle Eastern cuisine.
If you are looking for a traditional shawarma, a juicy grilled meat, or something more modern in an Arabic style then I have the perfect suggestions for you.
After visiting over thirty Arabic restaurants in Riyadh I have picked three of my favorites which are:
Each of these restaurants has its own vibe and menu so if you want a quick meal or a fancy one you will find it at least any of these.
I will give you complete information about their best dishes, positive reviews, and also some furious negative reviews. So why wait?
Let’s explore these Arabic food places in Riyadh.
1. Al Tazaj – Fresh Grilled and Crispy Chicken
This restaurant is widely known for its crispy and delicious chicken. Al Tazaj has been around for quite some time and due to its early success it has branches all over Riyadh.
This Arabic restaurant features a simple, convenient design with a strong emphasis on efficiency. If you’re in a rush or have unexpected guests, picking up from Al Tazaj is a great option.
It’s also an excellent choice for a quick family meal in Riyadh because it has a small kid’s play area where they can enjoy while you wait for your food.
They have a diverse Arabic food menu with everything from traditional broast and farouj to sandwiches, family sized portion, and of course a delicious Kabsa.
Al Tazaj Location:
They have many branches across Riyadh but the one I tried is located at Al Murabba, شازع الأمير فيصل بن تركي بن عبدالعزيز ،, Riyadh 12628, Saudi Arabia.
Must-Try Dishes at Al Tazaj
They have an extensive menu and I don’t want you to try every dish to find your favorite. I tried almost all their menu items but the ones I would recommend are:
- Kabsa
- Bashka Tenders
- Broast
- Farouj Meal
Positive Reviews About Al Tazaj
This particular branch has over 8 thousand reviews on Google which shows how popular this Arabic restaurant is in Riyadh.
Positive reviews were all about their broasted chicken and people seem to mention that this is one of the best places in the kingdom to get chicken.
People also mentioned other dishes like a crispy burger, crispy hotdogs, and their garlic sauce. People mentioned that while food may take longer to reach it is definitely worth the wait.
Customers seem to agree that the prices and the portion sizes offered by this restaurant are reasonable and good value for their money.
All in all most positive reviews are about the tenderness and taste of their fried chicken.
Negative Reviews About Al Tazaj
Most of the negative reviews are related to their delivery and staff. People mentioned that the staff is slow and rude and take a lot of time to even serve your meal when it’s ready.
Some also mentioned that the staff is uncooperative and don’t understand English or Arabic really well. This is something that should be improved by the restaurant because customer service is the first and most important thing.
Moving on the next thing that a lot of negative reviews mention is that the delivery is really slow. Customers mentioned that their orders took more than an hour to get delivered. It seems like they give the in-branch customers more preference and delay the deliveries.
A few people also mentioned that the bread they deliver is sometimes old and barely eatable.
My Experience At Al Tazaj
Went I stepped into the restaurant it felt like I am walking inside a very ordinary place. The ambiance or the overall vibe of the restaurant was not fancy or minimalist it felt really ordinary.
I went for the broasted meal which had perfectly crispy chicken paired with crunchy fries and garlic sauce. The Farouj Meal was equally good, with juicy, grilled chicken and warm bread.
I also enjoyed the Tikka Sandawisht, a flavorful wrap with crispy chicken tenders and spicy tikka sauce.
The service was a bit slow and the waiters seemed to be in a rush without any reason which felt a bit annoying.
Overall I would rate the ambiance 7/10 the food 8.5 out of 10 and the service 6/10.
Summary Of Al Tazaj
| Category | Details |
| Location | Musa Ibn Nusair St, Al Olaya, Riyadh 12214, Saudi Arabia |
| Price Range | SAR 20 – 50 per dish |
| Positive Reviews | – Crispy Broasted Chicken – Juicy Farouj Meal with warm bread – Flavorful Tikka Sandawisht |
| Negative Reviews | – Ordinary ambiance – Slow service with rushed staff |
| Must-Try Dishes | – Broasted Meal – Farouj Meal – Tikka Sandawisht |
| My Experience | – Broasted Chicken was perfectly crispy – Farouj Meal had juicy, grilled chicken – Service was slow and the staff seemed rushed – Ambiance: 7/10, Food: 8.5/10, Service: 6/10 |
2. Suhail Restaurant – Authentic Arabic Restaurant In Riyadh
Suhail restaurant is a combination of traditional and modern Arabic ambiance and cuisine. Their aim is to provide authentic and home-like Arabic food to their customers and revive the old Arabic tradition.
They have two branches in KSA one located at Al Ula and the other at Riyadh. The restaurant has a unique style that will leave you surprised when you walk in.
The interior uses light brown tones that resemble desert landscapes, with giant pillars designed to look like palm trees. Another thing that I really liked about this restaurant is that they have both an indoor dining option and also a minimalist outdoor outing.
Suhail Restaurant blends tradition with luxury, providing a sophisticated experience.
Their menu is really detailed and have different kinds of dishes like Kabsa, Grated Hejazi Lamb, salads, and soups.
Suhail Restaurant Location:
They have two different locations but the one I visited is at Northern Ring Rd, An Nakheel, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia.
Positive Reviews
These reviews are all about the great food and ambiance of this Saudi restaurant. Not only Arabic people but people from all over the world like Canada and US seem to enjoy the food.
Many people mentioned that this is probably the only place to get authentic Arabic food in Riyadh. Customers did mention that the prices were high but they added that the unique ambiance and food made up for that.
Reviewers mentioned different dishes but I think many people seem to enjoy the dishes that were mentioned again and again in positive reviews were:
- lamb kabsa
- Arabic coffee
- watermelon and goat cheese salad
Negative Reviews
Negative reviews for this Saudi restaurant are mostly about their prices and staff. People mentioned that the serving portions are very small and are not a good value for money. The restaurant must consider this because I can see a lot of people losing interest in the restaurant because of this.
The second thing that I noticed was that most people are not satisfied with the restaurant staff. People mentioned that the staff doesn’t give attention to customers and usually takes over ten minutes just to take your order.
A few reviewers mentioned that the food arrived late and appeared to have been frozen and reheated upon ordering.
Must Try Dishes At Suhail
Their menu is quite expensive and detailed so I had to choose plenty of dishes but my favorites were:
- Lamb Kabsa
- Tayfi Saliq with Chicken
- Sambosa Meat
- Jizanian Fish Maghsh
While all the dishes were tasty these were my top favorites.
My Experience at Suhail Restaurant
I had a great experience at this place because you don’t get to see this kind of ambiance anywhere else. When you enter this Arabic restaurant you will feel like you just teleported back to ancient times. The slow music also feels really good to the ears.
When I entered I couldn’t see any waiters so I had to adjust myself and then wait for about five minutes to get the menu.
The lamb kabsa was my favorite. The lamb was perfectly cooked and soft and the sambosa meat had a nice meaty filling.
The Tayfi Saliq with Chicken was rich in flavor with perfectly cooked rice and tender chicken but the rice serving was too small.
The food tasted amazing and I didn’t have any issues with any of the dishes but the portion sizes were a bit too small compared to the prices.
Overall I would rate this place 10 out of 10 for ambiance 8.5/10 for food and 7/10 for their service.
Summary Of Suhail Arabic Food
| Category | Details |
| Location | Northern Ring Rd, An Nakheel, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia |
| Price Range | SAR 49 – 265 per dish |
| Positive Reviews | Authentic Arabic food Cozy ambiance |
| Negative Reviews | Staff not attentive High prices |
| Must-Try Dishes | – Lamb Kabsa (SAR 120) – Tayfi Saliq with Chicken (SAR 105) – Sambosa Meat (SAR 68) – Jizanian Fish Maghsh (SAR 120) |
| My Experience | – Delicious Lamb Kabsa and flavorful Sambosa Meat – Portion sizes were small but worth the taste – Ambiance: 10/10, Food: 8.5/10, Service: 7/10 |
3. Operation Falafel Arabic Food
This restaurant is known for its delicious Arabic food like shawarmas, falafel, and different kinds of mezze. It’s a go-to spot for you if want to relax and enjoy a quick delicious meal.
I was truly impressed with the interior design of this restaurant. The black and yellow color scheme stands out beautifully, and the spacious layout ensures you won’t feel cramped or seated too close to others. Plus, the chairs are very comfortable.
They have a detailed menu that not only includes Arabic dishes but also includes other Middle Eastern dishes and a dedicated kids menu for your little ones.
Location:
They have several branches in Riyadh but the one I went to is located at الطريق الدائري الشمالي الفرعي، روبين بلازا 6501 الطريق الدائري الشمالي الفرعي، 4298 الرياض 13512 6501، 13512، Saudi Arabia.
Positive Reviews
This place has over 8k reviews for one specific branch only this shows you how popular this restaurant is. Positive reviews are mostly about their Middle Eastern cuisine. People mentioned that this by far is the most convenient and spacious restaurant in Riyadh.
Most of the positive reviews are about their Falafel. Some other dishes that got a lot of praise from customers were:
- Falafel sandwich
- chicken shawarma
- Fattah
- Orange juice
Negative Reviews
Negative reviews for this restaurant were all over the place. There are negative reviews about almost everything while I don’t agree with some from my experience.
First, as the other restaurants people complained about slow delivery and service from the restaurant even when it was not busy.
Some reviews mentioned that the tomatoes and pickles in some dishes were not fresh and looked like they have been more than a day old.
A few reviewers mentioned that the restaurant is not hygienic but in my experience the hygiene was right on point.
Must Try Dishes At Operation Falafel
You cant try all the dishes in one go but if you are here for the first time I would recommend trying these:
- Hummus
- Falafel Slider Box
- Special Tawook
- Falafel sandwich
My Experience At Operation Falafel
I had a very pleasant experience at this Arabic food restaurant. As you enter, you’re greeted with a spacious setting and a relaxing ambiance that sets the tone for a great meal.
I got there at lunchtime so the place was a bit crowded but the waiters greeted me and gave me a seat on one side.
I went with the hummus to start and also ordered a Falafel Sandwich and shakshuka. The hummus was nice, fresh, and had a tangy touch to it.
The falafel sandwich was one of the best that I tried in Riyadh so far with a nice balance of taste and freshness. The shahkshuka was a bit low quality and I think the vegetables used were not really fresh. I did ask the waiter but he refused to even taste it or return it.
Overall I would rate the ambiance and service 9/10 and the food 7.5/10.
Summary Of Operation Falafel
| Category | Details |
| Location | Several branches in Riyadh; visited branch at Rubeen Plaza, Northern Ring Road. |
| Price Range | Average price: SAR 25 |
| Positive Reviews | – 8,000+ reviews; praised for Middle Eastern cuisine. – Favorites: Falafel, Falafel sandwich. |
| Negative Reviews | – Slow service; concerns about vegetable freshness. |
| Must-Try Dishes | – Hummus, Falafel Slider Box, Special Tawook, Falafel sandwich |
| My Experience | – Pleasant ambiance; great hummus and falafel sandwich; shakshuka was poor. – Ratings: Ambiance & Service: 9/10; Food: 7.5/10. |
Conclusion
So there you have my top 3 picks for the best Arabic restaurants in Riyadh. Make sure to try their Arabic food and let me know your reviews.
So what are you waiting for? Grab your keys and get to these places
