Anchored on Jeddah’s Northern Corniche, inside Oia Downtown Lifestyle Club, a private members club, Kilo Kitchen is the ideal balance of waterfront views, great atmosphere, and excellent dining. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame layers of blue, with the terrace below and the sea stretching out beyond, making for easily one of the best sunset views in the city.
Behind Kilo are two Latin American friends who found their home in southeast Asia and wanted to build something that genuinely connected with the people around them. The name says it all: Kilo is the nautical signal flag for "I wish to communicate with you," and that has always been at the heart of what they do. From the food to the space to the way guests are welcomed, Kilo was created as a place to gather, share, and discover.
Atmosphere & Interior Design
The restaurant opens at 6pm, the perfect time to enjoy seaside views. When I asked why Jeddah felt like the right city for their first expansion beyond southeast Asia, the answer was simple: the openness, warmth, a culture that already understands gathering around a table, and, of course, the sea.
The interior design centres around an earthy, organic palette that bridges Southeast Asian warmth with contemporary Mediterranean minimalism. Soft sage green structural columns and micro-cement walls frame the open layout, topped by a barrel-vaulted ceiling finished in warm, textured cork or woven natural fibres. Woven rattan pendant lights hang low over curved booth seating, casting a soft, ambient glow that transitions the space seamlessly from afternoon light into golden hour.
Furnishings lean heavily into handcrafted natural materials, reclaimed wood dining tables, woven cane chairs, vintage teal-painted timber sideboards, and potted tropical greenery in patterned ceramic urns. Floor-to-ceiling glass paneling lines the western perimeter, drawing in layers of coastal light and offering an immediate visual connection to the outdoor terrace and sea beyond. The overall atmosphere feels intentionally relaxed yet elevated, evoking the spirit of a high-end island sanctuary set right along the Jeddah waterfront.
The Food
The food also reflects that same philosophy. Bold, playful, and thoughtful, drawing from both Latin American and Asian influences. Every dish has its own identity, curious and full of flavour, but never complicated for the sake of it – refined comfort food with personality.
I settled in for my sunset dinner with a glass of A Sure Thing, a refreshing mocktail with hints of lime, vanilla, mint, and cucumber. The name says it all. Next, I checked the menu, designed for sharing, from appetisers to mains and a Street Food section of smaller plates.
For starters, I chose the Signature Foie Gras Cigars, a must on any visit. The Wasabi Tuna Tartare was light and fresh, and the Dynamite Prawn was a comforting classic. From the Street Food section, the Popcorn Prawn Taco was a standout, the charred avocado brought a quiet depth to my selection, and the Crispy Baja Fish Taco was memorable, with a lovely lift from its sweet mango salsa. I also tried the Truffled Najil Yuzu, made with fresh local white fish and a beautifully balanced truffle yuzu.
For mains, Kilo’s Famous Black Rice was undeniably a top choice. A fusion of Spanish paella and Indonesian Nasi Goreng, it perhaps best captures what this restaurant is about – two cultures brought together into a single cohesive dish. For something more substantial, the wagyu and Australian Angus cuts from the grill are an excellent choice, with a sauce selection that adds depth. You have the classics, truffle beef jus, clean and familiar, and then more unexpected options, like fermented miso, which I’d strongly encourage you to try. Not to be missed is the Crispy Eggplant, with that satisfying sweet chilli warmth.
A sweet ending called for the Yuzu Posset. It’s fresh and cooling, exactly what you want after a rich meal, while the 8 Layer Cake was pure decadence, the kind of thing you share, then quietly wish you hadn’t. I paired my choices with tea from Kilo’s extensive list.
Overall Experience
What stays with you about Kilo isn’t any one dish. It’s the feeling of the place – the view, the setting, the sense that you’ve stepped outside of Jeddah’s usual rhythm, like taking a little holiday without going anywhere at all. A genuinely welcome addition to the city’s corniche, Kilo is the kind of place you'll find yourself recommending before you've even left.
Kilo Kitchen Jeddah, OIA Beach, Al-Kurnaysh Road, Jeddah
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@kilojed
