Some dismiss kabsa as the most basic Saudi cuisine: a simple dish of rice and meat, kabsa’s hardly worth leaving the house for. We disagree. Like a Margherita pizza or a glistening dollop of hummus, kabsa’s beauty lies in its simplicity. With so few elements to tweak, singling out a great kabsa is a local sport that anybody can sink their teeth into.
Water used for cooking kabsa meat is always repurposed for the rice, which is served combined on a platter for your fingers. Kabsa varieties include mandi (tandoor-cooked meat), madhbi (crispy-skinned chicken), madfoon (slow-cooked, spice-infused meat), and zurbian (Biryani-style rice).
Now you know the basics, get out on the town and visit the best kabsa restaurants in Riyadh.
Al-Romansiah
You’ll never find yourself that far from an Al-Romansiah in Riyadh, so it’s handy to know that they’re actually good. There’s more chicken than you can shake a tail feather at, including shawaiah, charcoal-grilled, madfon, mandi, madhbi, zurbian, maqluba, and, of course, kabsa options. Prices are reasonable, while in some locations – such as King Fahad Branch Road – you’ll have access to a kids’ play area.
Multiple locations, instagram.com/alromansiahksa (092 000 0144).
Al Saudi
Since its birth in 1994, Al Saudi has grown to eight Riyadh branches on the strength of its kabsa, which it positions front and centre. As you might expect from a restaurant with such a forthright name, it delivers national classics with no fuss, at fair prices: kabsas start at SAR 19.5 for a half-chicken, up to SAR 45 for a whole-chicken Al Barr.
Multiple locations, instagram.com/alsaudi_sa (092 000 9515).
Al Tazaj
The McDonald’s of Riyadh kabsa, Al Tazaj is unlikely to win a high-brow dining trophy any time soon – but kids in particular will probably love it. A temple to the wonders of chicken, Al Tazaj peddles its poultry in kabsas, burgers, kebabs, fried sticks, nuggets, or tandoori-style.
Multiple locations, instagram.com/altazaj_fakieh (092 001 1200).
DDR
The logo for this famous eatery features axes and flames, but this isn’t a firefighting-themed restaurant – DDR just knows exactly what it’s doing when it comes to wood, fire, and smoke. The menu includes smoked BBQ chicken, smoked chicken rogeta, firewood chicken, smoked yellow rice, and an entire smoked lamb. Even the kanafeh faces the flames. If you’re not a fan of carbon, you’re in the wrong restaurant.
Open Sun-Wed noon-midnight, Thu-Fri noon-1.30am, Sat noon-midnight. 3199 Anas Ibn Malik Road, Al Malqa, 13521, instagram.com/ddr_ksa (050 771 4769).
Dr. Kabsa
You’ll definitely need to attend this doctor’s appointment with an empty stomach, because the portions are tremendous. A house speciality is the mammoth fish kabsa, which requires two people to simply carry the plate to your table. The centrepiece is a stuffed pineapple, around which eight whole fish are placed, each separated by a slab of salmon.
Multiple locations, instagram.com/drkabsa (092 000 2435/092 002 0717).
Kabsa Plus
This no-frills kabsa spot is a simple beige and grey dining room with an ordering counter at the back, a two-page menu, and highly praised rice. The mandi chicken is a Kabsa Plus speciality, as is the habit of cooking with olive oil, making this a healthier-than-average choice.
Open daily noon-1.30am. Al Imam Saud Ibn Abdul Aziz Branch Road, King Fahd, 12274, instagram.com/kabsaplus (011 415 5556).
Najd Village
The matazeez steals the show at Najd Village, but these restaurants are so classy and accomplished that kabsa afficionados will be just as happy. When your stomach alarm strikes kabsa o’clock, choose between chicken, shrimp, lamb, or camel options. If you go in a group and grow indecisive, just order the village sofra: it’s a stunning array of morsels laid out on a floor mat.
Open Sun-Thu noon-12.30am, Fri 1pm-12.30am, Sat noon-12.30am. Multiple locations, instagram.com/najdvillagesa (092 003 3511).
Suhail
This exquisitely appointed dining room is deeply impressive, so if it’s date night but you can’t control your kabsa cravings, Suhail will cover both bases. The sand-coloured surfaces and intricately waved walls recall a romantic Saudi cave, while the fantastic alfresco area boasts dramatic water features and a fabric-strewn pergola. As you might have guessed, this is pricier than your average kabsa joint.
Open 12.30pm-midnight. Northern Ring Road, An Nakheel, 11564, instagram.com/suhail_saudi (092 000 2690).
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