More and more Saudi-founded restaurants are popping up around the world, expanding the Kingdom’s culinary influence far and wide.
Blending heritage with innovation, these four establishments - helmed by visionary entrepreneurs - may be miles apart, yet share a commitment to excellence, inviting and comfortable atmospheres, unmistakable uniqueness, and direct alignment with their founding concepts. More than eateries, they are cultural ambassadors promoting the country’s heritage and originality, whether through a story-filled coffee experience or an introduction to fresh, unexpected flavours without losing that all-important authenticity.
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Foul & Tamees, UAE
Foul & Tamees is all about bringing essential Saudi flavours to Dubai, a way for Saudi entrepreneur Alaa AlZawawi, also the brainchild of Riyadh’s Momo, to share her culinary heritage with a wider audience. And the all-day menu means you can enjoy regional specialities during breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner.
One of the main draws includes foul, with the Foul Jarrah combining the wholesome cooked beans with olive oil, cumin, parsley, garlic, onion, and lemon juice, perfect for dipping one of the classic, piping hot tamees options in. (The famous tannour oven-baked bread also comes with savoury signature toppings.) Mutabbaq, that traditional, folded dough grilled in a special oven pan, is also up there, with a variety of sweet and savoury fillings to choose from. In addition, diners can enjoy eggs, including the robust Signature Shakshuka, hamsat-style dishes, mezze for sharing, like the interesting Hijazi Balila topped with cucumber and beetroot salad, and sandwiches. For the main event, a must-try dish is the kabsa pasta with chicken, infused with a special blend of spices. Finishing on a sweet note, the popular bread-based massoub, whether classic-style or the Massoub Malaki with bran flour and cheddar cheese, and Hala Al Tayabeen, blending soaked biscuits, coffee, and custard, are fabulous choices.
Tucked away in Jumeirah 3’s Al Athar Street, Foul & Tamees has a laid-back vibe, ideal for getting together with friends or family, or even a quick solo meal. Ambient lighting is paired with subtle metallic details and woven artistic elements that celebrate Saudi culture without feeling overdone, as well as warm colours and natural woods for a comfortable atmosphere.
@foulandtamees.ae
Jumeirah 3, Dubai, UAE
Hijazi Corner, UK
Living in London and craving a taste of home? Reported to be the very first Saudi Arabian restaurant in London (and the UK!), Hijazi Corner, on Old Marylebone Road near Edgware Road is a crowdpleaser. Presenting a distinctive selection dishes from Saudi Arabia’s western Hijaz region, the restaurant was founded by chef Ayman Al-Zubaidi. Growing from his personal desire to recreate and share the flavours of home after living in London for many years; his cooking draws on family recipes and the culinary traditions of Jeddah and the wider region. Its menu features Saudi and Yemeni dishes, including slow-roasted lamb haneeth, chicken seelag, mandi, mutabbaq - a thin pastry filled with savoury ingredients - and masoob, a comforting and much-loved Saudi dessert.
The interiors draw inspiration from the traditional architecture of Al Balad. Rather than a formal fine-dining setting, the atmosphere is informal and communal: a modest street-facing entrance opens into to a lively dining room, where traditional floor seating encourages groups to gather and share large platters. This emphasis on generous dishes, family-style dining and regional hospitality makes Hijazi Corner an interesting London destination for discovering Saudi cuisine beyond the better-known international restaurant formats.
@hijazi_corner
332 Old Marylebone Road, London NW1 5RE
SADU Restaurant Paris, France
If you’re looking for a hit of authentic Saudi soul food that feels like a hug while in the French capital, SADU Restaurant Paris on the third arrondissement’s Rue Notre Dame de Nazareth is a sure bet. The eatery, backed by a syndicate of six partners, including CEO Nourah Al-Jarba and chef Azzah Al-Shmassi, adds a special touch to the Parisian dining scene as the dishes are a blend of French technique, Saudi heritage, and traditional flavours.
These include starters like Kubbah’t Jerish (jareesh fritters stuffed with cheese) and the date carpaccio salad, combining a finely crafted balance of flavours. For mains, the kabsa, with savoury rice, tomato sauce, spiced chicken, and aromatic spices or slow-cooked, comforting jareesh, featuring velvety smooth cracked wheat, whether chicken or vegetarian, are made just as they should be. And to follow, the mastic ice cream or henaini will surely put a smile on any dessert lover’s face.
Diners can expect the warm hospitality associated with Saudi Arabia, with the cosy, trendy ambience making the eatery, which has an outdoor terrace, perfect for both casual outings and special occasions. Majlis-style seating, textures, and decor elements that pay homage to Saudi heritage, and warm lighting help make customers feel welcome. And listening to live music during tarab nights gives the meal that added dose of authenticity.
24 Rue Notre Dame de Nazareth, Paris 75003
Somewhere Café, UK
Partly owned by Saudi entrepreneur Deem AlBassam, one of the founders of the Arab female-founded Independent Food Company, Somewhere Café honours the region’s rich history, reimagined with a modern twist and inspired by the owners’ travels. With the first UK outpost found on the fourth floor of London’s Harrods, this fusion cuisine concept offers bold flavours, as well as signature dishes.
The classic sharing mezze experience includes the tabbouleh kale salad with pomegranate seeds and ribbons of crispy markouk bread, the Japanese-style shrimp rolled in crunchy kunafa, and the hummus and fatteh “bars.” Batata harra is elevated with truffle and cheese, while bao bun options include one with grilled wagyu, cranberry sriracha, and crispy shoestring onions. For mains, fish or shrimp sayadiyah and tahini-topped beef shawarma with beetroot rice undoubtedly hit the spot. Desserts mean indulgences like the Somewhere or French coffee baklava, the latter with a roasted hazelly and tahini peanut butter sauce, Cerelac Um Ali, infused with the nostalgia-inducing milk, or a kunafa croissant.
Warm, inviting, fresh, and character-filled interiors pervade the main restaurant space and light-flooded indoor terrace, which can also be used as a private event venue. Alongside the building’s grandeur, there’s a palette of greens and oranges, as well as bespoke furniture, including the playful tub chairs with meticulously selected textiles and bullion fringe skirts. Somwhere's refined yet relaxed vibe also graces its Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and UAE sister restaurants. And with AlBassam and Amal Al Marri’s other groundbreaking F&B brands, including SALT, Shalwa, Parker’s, and Kumo, we’re sure to hear much more from this concept creation duo.
@somewhere
Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Rd, London SW1X 7XL
Shotted Specialty Coffee, US
Saudi founder Bandar Alhenaki’s specialised coffee concept has brought genuine Saudi gahwa hospitality to the Washington DC-Maryland-Virginia area. Inspired by the lively coffee scene in the Kingdom, Shotted Specialty Coffee is an access point to Saudi culture for Americans and offers the rich taste of home for Arab communities. After the success of his pop-ups, Alhenaki established his first brick-and-mortar spot at Tysons Corner Center in 2020, followed by four more in Tysons Galleria, Annapolis Mall, Gainesville, and Dulles Town Centre.
While the menu’s items are levelled up with Saudi flavours, they are carefully adapted to local customers’ preferences. As well as the karak chai and specialty coffees, like the pistachio and red velvet lattes and pour-over V60, you’ll find customers enjoying sandwiches and desserts while soaking up the community-oriented atmosphere. Some sweet highlights include the pistachio basbosa, date toffee option, pistachio toast with a signature spread and an added corn flakes crunch, plus a saffron tres leche and soft serves. The hummus and burrata toast sees the creamy marriage boosted with pomegranate glaze, kalamata olives, and pickled onions. Meanwhile, the grilled chicken tortilla features juicy chicken, a signature garlic aioli, pickles, and glaze.
In its wholesome, family-friendly atmosphere, Shotted’s flagship features touches of Arabian art and clean, modern, and minimalist interior design, giving it a sleek lounge vibe. The cafe provides a space for cultural exchange and meaningful moments, and prioritises promoting Saudi culture and coffee tradition by organising special Saudi celebrations and celebrating Ramadan. Shotted also has catering services and has poured some joy into places like the Saudi embassy.
