Our Guide To The Best Saudi Arabian Street Food

Our Guide To The Best Saudi Arabian Street Food

Sampling delicious street food is one of the keys to truly immersing yourself in the life and culture of another city. Use our guide to find the best Saudi street food Riyadh has to offer.

Our hotel, Fraser Suites Riyadh, places you in the ideal location to find an array of delectable delights.

Saudi street food you need to try

If you’re a first-time visitor to Saudi Arabia, you might be surprised to learn that the best Saudi street food in Riyadh is a glorious mix of various cuisines from different cultures. While in the city, make sure you try the following tasty offerings.

Yugmish is one of the most popular street foods, and it’s widely available in the city. The dish is simple, consisting of bread filled with juicy meat. Falafel is another popular street food. The fried chickpea balls are usually served with pickled vegetables, salad, and sauce, or as a filling for flatbread.

Samboosas are another of the Saudi street foods in Riyadh you need to sample. The fried triangular pastry pockets are available with a wide variety of fillings. Manaeesh are not to be missed if you’re a fan of pizza. The bread bases are usually topped with labneh (thick yoghurt and thyme), the popular zaatar spice blend, and/or minced lamb.

Mantu are a Saudi street food with Asian origins. The delicious bite-sized dumplings contain a mixture of meat and local spices. For Saudi street food in Riyadh with an African origin, look for a stall that sells lahoh. The spongy pancakes are usually served with honey or a yoghurt-based dish.

Mutabaq is one of the most famous and popular of all street foods available in the Saudi capital. The dish is of Yemeni origin, and it consists of pancakes filled with onions, tomatoes, eggs, mincemeat, jalapeno chillies, and parsley.

Middle East meets West in batatis, which are French fries topped with local spice mixes or a favourite Western condiment, namely tomato ketchup. For a moreish savoury snack, look for stalls selling baleela, which is chickpeas boiled with salt and garlic, served with your choice of a variety of toppings.

In the mood for something sweet? The following Saudi street foods Riyadh offers are sure to hit the spot.

Luqaimat are the Saudi answer to doughnuts. The fried batter balls contain spices and are served with date syrup or honey. Of Indian origin, kulfi is a thick ice-cream made with full-cream milk and nuts. Kulfi’s one of the tastiest ways to cool down on a hot afternoon.

If you need to quench your thirst, get yourself a glass of sobia. Usually made from bread, barley, or oats, the cold drink is available in various flavours.

Riyadh New Year’s Eve

Saudi Arabia follows the Islamic rather than the western (Gregorian) calendar, which means Riyadh New Year’s Eve celebrations are limited.

The best way to celebrate the event in the Saudi capital is to treat yourself to Saudi street food in Riyadh or to a sumptuous meal in one of the city’s many fine restaurants. A Riyadh New Year’s Eve firework display and light show has not yet been confirmed for 31 December 2021.

The best accommodation in Riyadh

Heighten the experience of your stay in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by staying in world-class accommodation. Book into Fraser Suites Riyadh, which offers serviced apartments in a location that makes it easy to find the best Saudi street food in Riyadh.

Contact us for more information and start planning your trip today.