Saudi Arabia is popular for its unique cuisine and genuine middle eastern food (sense of taste) that you might not find elsewhere in the world. If you are a traveller in the region of Kingdom with your Cheap Umrah Packages or travelling to KSA for work purpose, tourism or family visit purposes; you must try the local delicacies during your stay.
Here are the top 20 most popular foods in Saudi Arabia that you should taste.
Tharid
It is a lamb and vegetal stew that you get on a thin bread, and prepared with potatoes, onions, and carrots. It is usually popular during Ramadan.
Ruz Al Bukhari
With second name as ‘Al-Fahm; Ruz Al Bukhari is a rice dish served with roasted chicken with special seasoning of cinnamon, cumin, cardamom, and star anise. For its topping, raisins, fried onions, almonds and pine nuts are a popular choice along with a tomato sauce dip.
Sambusak
Deep fired savoury pastries with a cheese filling along with ground beef, or chicken.
Muttabaq
Muttabaq is a snack consisting of thin bread stuffed with minced meat, eggs, leeks, and scallions. With its crispy outside and stuffed inside, you can enjoy this tasty dish with lemon wedges and chilies with the option for shallow-fried or baked.
Harees
A traditional dish of Saudi Arabia, Harees consist of coarse ground wheat and meat in oil/butter. It is often topped with fried onions and garlic.
Ful wa Tameez
Ful wa Tameez is a breakfast dish with a mashed fava bean dip and thick bread. These fava beans get cooked along with garlic, onion, tomatoes, and spices while the serving is with olive oil and fresh herbs.
Hummus
Hummus consists of tahini, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil and is a chickpea dip that you get with a flatbread.
Shawarma
Shawarma is a popular Middle eastern street food. It is prepared from chicken, lamb or beef meat that is slowly cooked on a moving grill.
Kibbeh
Kibbeh are deep-fried croquettes made from bulgur wheat and meat. The stuffing of this Saudi dish is with pine nuts and different spices.
Maamoul
Shortbread butter cookies with a filling of dates, nuts, or figs.
Mandi
Mandi is a meat and rice dish from Yemen, popular in Saudi Arabia. Cooked in an underground oven, rice gets its yellow colour from turmeric used in the dish while the meat is prepared along with spices.
Kahwa
Kahwa is popular hot Arabic drink with its special ingredients like cloves and cardamom. People drink it after having their meals as it helps in digestion. You can enjoy Kahwa with dates or sweets in small cups.
Ferek
It is a winter dish that has a has a sweet and savoury flavour. Ferek contains caramelized onions, sugar, hot Spices, and bread. If you want to taste this dish and planning to visit KSA for Spiritual purpose, then you can Book Umrah Packages 2025 in advance through Islamic Travel in UK.
Arayes
With crushed lamb, spices, and parsleys, Arayes are pita bread sandwich with a crunchy shell and soft stodgy inside.
Saleeg
A popular rice dish from Hijaz region, Saleeg is creamy and porridge-like because of the short-grain rice used for its cooking in broth. It is also served with roasted meat i.e. chicken or beef.
Kunafah
Kunafah is a honeyed dish in Saudi Arabia. You can think of it as a pastry that has a crispy shell and a cream or cheese filling inside. Often topped with a flavoured honey, it tastes best served warm.
Dajaj Mashwi
A spicy grill chicken dish doused with spices like paprika, chili powder, black pepper, sumac, and za’atar.
Tamiya (Falafel)
Tamiya, or falafel, are vegetarian fritters made from chickpeas or fava beans, a popular snack served as is or in sandwiches with veggies and garlic-tahini sauce.
Fatayer
Fatayer are meat-filled pies with variations such as cheese, labneh, or spinach. They are served as tastes and baked until golden.
Kabsa
Kabsa is consider national dish of Saudi Arabia, Kabsa is a rice dish with roasted chicken with toppings like fried onions, raisins, and pine nuts.