Some nights, when your body and brain battery is down to three percent the only thing to do is place an order at your favourite Riyadh takeaway. Having a takeaway is certainly a treat and for that reason you should choose wisely. Luckily, Riyadh has all the bases covered, and we’re not just talking about pizza. Plus, there’s always the option to skip straight to dessert. Chocolate dinner? Yes, please. Here are a few of our most-loved Riyadh takeaways. So sit back, relax and wait for a Riyadh food delivery to enjoy with a good movie.
Indian Corner
If you happened to have grown up in the UK then you’d already know how much of a weekend wonder an Indian takeaway is. Almost impossible to recreate at home, unless your nan is from the subcontinent that is, there’s nothing quite like a lovingly prepared (and swiftly delivered) curry. Indian Corner has proved a real crowd-pleaser over the years and if you’ve never tried its Dynamite Shrimps before then prepare your taste buds for an epicurean explosion. Pretty cheap, and very cheerful, this place provides a cost-effective way to feed those rumbling tummies. This little corner of India is one you should definitely not pass by.
Open daily noon-1am. Jarir Street, Al Malaz, Riyadh, www.facebook.com/indiancorner1/ (11 417 9111).
Lapaz Batchoy
A flavour-filled Filipino soup originating in Iloilo City (we’ve never had the pleasure, either), you can truly taste the love in every spoonful. Its owners made the bold move to name this eatery after that noodle-laden staple, though rightly so as it’s a highlight of an all-round stellar menu. But this beautiful broth isn’t the only meal we keep coming back to Lapaz Batchoy for more of. The chicken adobo (arguably the Philippines’ national dish) is a marinated masterpiece that will live long in the memory, while the grilled ‘Inihaw’ specialities are a flavoursome force to be reckoned with. The coconut milk-infused Laing is the perfect side for this Filipino feast.
Open daily 7am-1am. Various locations including Tihamah St, Ad Dhubbat, Riyadh, lapaz.tryorder.online/ (11 478 2632).
Over Jar
We have plenty of friends who’d happily eschew a starter or main and head straight for dessert. For those types of folk, Over Jar is surely their go-to when a takeaway night is on the cards. Infusing each of its cocoa creations with the finest of Belgian chocolate, this place truly tantalises those with a sweet tooth. Cakes, pastries and other such well-deserved indulgences are what you’ll find here. Even the coffee feels like it should be sprinkled with chocolate chunks (and will be, if you ask nicely). When you don’t feel like sharing your gluttonous side with the general public, grab some Over Jar loveliness to take away. Just make sure your serviette stash is up to scratch should the neighbours pop round mid-feast.
Open daily 10am-1am. Yasmin Plaza, Anas Bin Malik Rd, Al Yasmin, Riyadh, www.instagram.com/overjarksa (053 055 2202).
Panda Express
Who doesn’t love a panda? And a panda who’s handy around a wok – yes please? You might think we’ve been taken in by this American-Chinese restaurant’s cute mascot but behind its soft exterior lies a team of chefs willing to do the hard graft. The menu isn’t massive, but we often prefer it that way. Mainly because you know that what Panda Express does, it does well. The Shanghai Angus Steak is a particular favourite of ours and we’d love to know what they put in that paw-licking savoury sauce. We also appreciate the fact Panda Express puts its ‘Wok Smart’ stamp on the dishes that are less likely to turn you into a lazy but cuddly bear.
Open Sat-Wed noon-midnight, Thu noon-1am, Fri 1pm-1am. Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Rd, As Sulimaniyah, Riyadh, www.pandaexpress.ae (11 415 4100).
Shawarma House
Before setting foot in Saudi for the first time (and subsequently joyfully making it our new home) we’d sadly never been treated to the simple but eminently effective shawarma before. It was love at first bite, though, and now that we’re fully fledged members of the shawarma supporters’ club we just can’t get enough of these wondrous wraps. Infinitely better than those doners you used to devour for fun (but with pangs of guilt), these bad boys are sensational when done right. Shawarma House does them right while also knocking up a few filling sandwiches for breakfast time. Prices start at a mere SAR6 so if you happened to have skipped the first meal of the day, you can always order two to make up for lost feeding time.
Open daily 6am-3.30am. Various locations including Dammam Branch Rd, Al Yarmuk, Riyadh, www.shawarmahouse.com.sa (9200 16666).
Shiro
One of our go-to cuisines when the idea of cooking for ourselves proves a bridge to far is Japanese. Not only because our sushi-making skills are somewhat questionable but also because no-one quite makes a Japanese dish like the masters who’ve spent years learning their craft. At Shiro you can take your pick from a wonderful array of soups, rolls and wok-fried wonders. The beef teppanyaki here is simply sublime, while the maki will make you fall instantly in love. A delightful destination to dine in during happier times, its takeaway service has proved a real bonus. We don’t know how they get our mochi to us still in fine form but we’re delighted they do.
Open daily noon-1.30am. Various locations including Alurubah Square, shiro.com.sa (11 417 9111).
Turnstone Pizza
Bringing classic, Sicilian-inspired creations to Saudi Arabia for the past four years, Turnstone Pizza has really captured our attention since it first rocked up in Riyadh. Making the best use of its stone oven (hence the name), the chefs here magic up a wide range of pizzas that somehow, quite beautifully, taste wholly different to those churned out by the more common or garden takeaways. We’re hugely enamoured by the likes of the Piancas Chicken (grilled bird with a smoked cheese mix, garlic and thyme) and the eponymous Turn Stone (pepperoni, ground beef, grilled cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives, topped with basil pesto). However, the star-shaped pizzas (including the hugely calorific but ultimately gorgeous Polpta) are the ones that really leave a twinkle in our eyes.
Open daily noon-1am. Various locations including Dareen Center, Al Ihsa Ar Rabwah, Riyadh, turnstonepizza.com/ (920 025 502).
