A Decade of Delectable Delight by Mariam Polding

Times have changed, and so too have our palettes, and with it our local culinary landscape across Saudi Arabia.   Coffee shops, tea lounges, shisha lounges, healthy eating, and the explosion of sushi restaurants, bakeries, and local franchises have hit cities across the kingdom especially in the Jeddah restaurants scene with full force. 

Jeddah' restaurants have come a long way from Kudu being the only local Saudi franchise to boast of.  Today, our cuisine selection has multiplied and is actually starting to reflect and cater to our particular tastes; Deera Café blends beans that are acquired and named after regions across the Arab peninsula, while Crunchy Square reinvents the Motabag and Masoob.    From saturated fatty "Americano" style burgers to healthy eating, and the ultimate shisha experience, we've come quite a way in the last decade, and this is how it's panned out…

Jeddah Coffee Shops & Tea Lounges

At the beginning of the decade one was hard pressed to find that perfect coffee roast or tea blend. But then, it was as if coffee and tea addicts began to harvest the coffee berries and tea leaves themselves, as specialty shops began to sprout everywhere.  Now, java junkies are spoiled for choice with roasted blends from around the globe.

·       The Coffee House, Starbucks, Second Cup, Barnie's, Costa Coffee, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Coffee Republic, Café Ceramique , Cilantro, Bridges, Te Amo, Teayana, Chai & Ba, Cappuccino Grand Café, Book Café, Deera Café,  

Restaurants & Shisha Lounges

Permitted, banned, revolt, restored, permitted and once again adored.  The only Saudi city to permit public consumption of shisha, as far as we are aware of, you can take away many things, but don't mess with a Jeddawi's shisha!  The sheer debilitating affect the ban of shisha had on local businesses, was enough to have businessmen rally enough resistance to have the ban lifted and their right to vend the fruit vapor reinstated.

·       Java Lounge, Vertigo, Bubbles, Pearls, Nosh lounge, Melange lounge, Papaya, White, Campioni Sports Cafe, Fratelli, Cast & Crew, Café Lenotre, Balsamico Too

Healthy Eating

Although paling in popularity to fatty fast foods, shops and centers catering towards healthy eating and diet food have been gaining a loyal local following.  Over consumption has led the human race to embark upon the eternal quest for quick fix weight-loss solutions.   However, in recent years, more sensible consumption has increased the popularity of organic wholesome foods, and hopefully, restaurant menus will start to reflect this more. 

·       Diet Center, Diet World

Jeddah Sushi Explosion

We still have a long way to go to match the quality and variety of sushi fare on offer across the region, but we certainly have come far.  Prior to the last decade, sushi was a delectable delight enjoyed while abroad.  Although, falling short in terms of variety and quality to what genuine sushi lovers may be accustomed to, the local selection may at least somewhat satiate your California roll and wasabi withdrawal symptoms. 

·       
 Sushi Yoshi, Shogun, Wakame, Ohayo,Benihana, Osaka, Noodles, Zn Lounge, Mabu

Bakeries & Home Catering

Summoning the Arabian Betty Crocker within, cupcake consumption is on the rise and so are the bakeries that make them.  Cupcakes are not just for kiddy parties anymore… as one manicured hand kneads her dough in attempt to outdo the other, competition is fierce.

·       Munch Bakery, Helen's Kitchen, Crunchez, Crusty, Al Forn,  Lite Bite, Chocolate Corner, Nesma Chocolates, Voila  

Local Franchises

McDonaldization, give way to Al-Baikization…because we are as mad about cows as we are chickens…if not a little more.  We are really proud of all the home-grown gastronomic talent, classic favorites with a local twist fill our stomachs and make us proud.   

·       Al Baik, Toasted, Lallo's, Balsamico, Crepe café, Burger Boutique (Riyadh), Roodys, Sultan Burger, Philly's, Jan Burger, Joe's Diner, Wonder Burger, Diner 66, Hot Waves,  

For more information about restaurants and food in Jeddah, Riyadh, khobar, madinah, Makkah and more please visit www.sufrati.com and enjoy the websites services and benefits. By registering you are able to rate, comment and suggest restaurants to your friends while gaining the chance to win prizes as well as discounted meals in featured restaurants.

Click here to register http://www.sufrati.com/saudi-arabian-dining/registration

I JUST LANDED IN SAUDI ARABIA & IM HUNGRY!

Visiting Saudi Arabia for the first time? Or have you just arrived ready to start your new job without any idea where to start your life in this new and exciting place. Life in KSA is not easy and information on how to get on with it can be difficult to come by, that is why we have decided to help all you newbie’s and fresh fish on where to get started and how to find your way especially when it comes to eating and dining.

The Internet is simply the best way to get started and the recent years here have seen a boom in the online world where social media and online browsing has dominated our day-to-day active life. It is simply the most efficient and quickest method to get what you want when you need it.

RESTAURANTS & FOOD IS ENTERTAINMENT

When it comes to dining and finding out where the best places are in your area or city then www.sufrati.com is the answer. A comprehensive and creative website that can help any browser find what they are looking for from cafes, restaurants, bakeries, and delivery services in a user friendly carefully categorized search engine with photos menus and more. www.sufrati.com covers most cities in Saudi Arabia such as Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Yanbu, Jubail, Makkah, Madina and more so where ever you are you can always find your nearest place to enjoy a cup of coffee or a full Saudi Arabian style dining experience.

THE Local’s

Eating with the locals in Saudi Arabia is considered not only to be a common daily life essential activity but a form of entertainment and leisure activity that lasts many hours and many courses including several starters, a few main courses, a relaxing round of tea or coffee with a desert and fruit selection to be sealed with a flavorful Sheesha smoking session that brings the meal to a close. All this is also accompanied by great conversation and satisfying presentations. This is sometimes allot to take in and can be a lot of weight gained, the answer to this is you only live once. This is the way it is done here so enjoy it and relax.

For an experience in eating with the locals try (Non Vegetarians Only):

http://www.sufrati.com/saudi-arabian-dining/restaurant/saudi/redan

THE SAUDI PALETTE

The choice and variety of restaurants around the kingdom is as vast as its deserts and we can easily loose our selves in the world of food, the Saudi food palette is surprisingly well traveled, not in the literal sense but in the sense that there are more varieties of food in Saudi Arabia than anywhere else in the world. This is due to the expat community flock in their millions every year for the last 1000 years to work, trade and perform their pilgrimage bringing with them hidden recipes from distant villages, towns and cities from all over the world and with less restriction on food trafficking than most developed countries this makes it possible to smuggle in a variety of exotic herbs, spices and other magical and tasteful delights.

One thing for sure is that "spice is nice" and that’s what you will find everywhere. Saudi food is full of flavor and cooked till well done… There is nothing rare about Saudi cooking…Medium is not an option well done is the only way it is served up. 

Try this place for their garlic sauce and famous chicken:

http://www.sufrati.com/saudi-arabian-dining/restaurant/saudi/al-baik

THE HOT SPOTS

Where ever you see the crowds is where it is at and most of the time malls seem to draw the most traffic for their shops and also for their food courts that will impress you. Both local chains and international chains are usually found covering all cuisine and food categories like sushi, pasta, Burgers, Fish and chips subs and much more. Independent restaurants are not that easy to come by around the cities and most would be recommended by a personal contact however most five start hotels host great dining venues with spectacular views and good service.  So ask around or just visit www.sufrati.com hot list to see what’s the latest spot on the chart.

HOME OR OFFICE DELIVERY

Most of us work in our offices and get so swamped with work that lunch at home can some time seem to be a distant memory something that was experienced in another life. So the next best option is to get it delivered right to your desk in front or close to that annoying fax machine that wont stop going off for no reason. Saudi Arabia’s restaurants mostly deliver so there is no shortage of variety and one can generally enjoy a hot meal out of a box.

For the biggest list of delivery options visit:

http://www.sufrati.com/saudi-arabian-dining/home_delivery

Recommended delivery for Jeddah people

http://www.sufrati.com/saudi-arabian-dining/restaurant/saudi/toasted