Plenty of famous restaurant chains have already opened their doors in Riyadh and Jeddah
We know that Riyadh has an exciting dining scene, but we love when a big-name restaurateur comes into town to prove that this is indeed the place for anyone who is anyone (we see you, David Burke) to be opening a restaurant. Whether it’s world-famous chains or celebrity chefs, Riyadh’s restaurant scene is cooking up a storm. Here’s just a handful of restaurants opening in Riyadh to have on your radar.
David Burke
David Burke has outdone himself with not one, but two restaurants in Riyadh – one in Riyadh Front and the other in The Zone. Burke is a champion of big, bold American classics. So if a Porterhouse steak, salt-aged beef burgers and mac ’n’ cheese sound like a bit of you, it’s time to get that table booked. The DB salt aged beef menu is perfect for special occasions. If you can stand the heat, the kitchen arrives at your table. The meal is cooked in front of you, you can choose two accompaniments and four cuts – including baby lamb chops.
LPM Riyadh
With branches across London, Dubai and Hong Kong, LPM Riyadh joins a list of major global cities for the culinary heavyweight. The Riyadh restaurant hasn’t lost any of the brand’s charm or iconic style, with white tablecloths offset by vibrant, funky paintings – Mickey Mouse complete with a cigarette is sure to gain likes on the ‘gram. Currently open for lunch and dinner, the menu aims to change the perception of French food and move away from heavy dishes. Instead, it’s all about light, healthy dishes here, from cauliflower salads and ratatouille to snails with garlic butter (okay, so it’s not all healthy, but you can’t lunch at LPM and not order the escargots). Bon appétit.
Meraki
Whether it’s mezze-style spreads of refreshing tzatziki (cucumber and yoghurt) and htipiti (red pepper and cheese) or a comforting slice of feta-and-spinach spanakopita pie, foodies are flocking to Meraki faster than you can say ‘opa’. Meraki Riyadh, headed up by Mykonos veteran and Top Chef winner Athinagoras Kostakos, promises to bring a taste of those fresh Hellenic flavours direct to the heart of Riyadh – and it more than delivers. Tucked under the famous pyramid-shaped Al Faisaliah hotel in the centre of the Olaya dining district, the restaurant transports diners to Greece using ingredients shipped in from the Mediterranean. Get ready to Greek out.
ROKA Riyadh
You know what it’s like, you wait for one world-famous Japanese restaurant to open and two come along at once. Specialising in robatayaki (barbecuing over hot charcoal) Roka began in London in 2004, before its success led to the founders launching more Rokas worldwide. The Riyadh one only opened this summer, and is already turning heads with its huge ceilings, curved wooden bar and industrial-chic design – let alone the beautifully presented dishes. Try anything from the flaming grill, but other specialities include the sake no taru taru (salmon tartare with den miso and yuzu) and kampachi sashimi no salada (yellowtail sashimi with yuzu-truffle dressing).
The year 2022 is a big one for F&B in Saudi Arabia. More international names have opened their doors in the Kingdom, includingBillionaire Mansion, Roka, Il Baretto and many more. Plenty of F&B career opportunities are on the way!