It’s officially fall aka pumpkin season. This is the time when pumpkin dishes in Riyadh come into full swing and celebrate seasonality and comforting vibes, with every restaurant and café serving up items to commemorate the new season.
Whether you have a sweet tooth or are craving something more savoury, there’s something to be enjoyed. What do you say, Riyadh? Ready to warm yourself up with a quick trip to the pumpkin patch? Here are the best pumpkin dishes in Riyadh to try out now.
Gapama at AVAK
Take a look at this one. Pumpkin dishes in Riyadh probably don’t get much better than this Armenian classic. Gapama is prepared by removing the inside of a pumpkin and stuffing it with rice, meat and dried fruits. AVAK serves an Indian pumpkin cram-jam-packed with rice, meat and freekah. As pretty as it looks, it’s time to dig in.
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SAR116. Open daily, 1pm-2am. Prince Muhammad Ibn Saad Ibn Abdulaziz Road, instagram.com/avak.sa.
Golden squash dumplings at Yauatcha Riyadh
Craving some Asian-inspired pumpkin dishes in Riyadh? Time Out Riyadh Restaurant Awards Best Asian winner Yauatcha is here with the autumn vibes in the form of these colourful morsels. The golden squash dumplings are stuffed with mushrooms and pumpkin pieces then wrapped in an appropriate yellow-leaf-coloured dough. Grab your chopsticks.
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SAR45. Open daily, noon-midnight. Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Rd, Al Olaya, yauatcha.com/riyadh.
Lavash pumpkin at Lavash Lounge
If you’re after a decadent meal prepared with traditional Armenian spices for pumpkin dishes in Riyadh, Lavash Lounge is where you could go. The lavish (sorry) spot has stunning décor, but it’s the presentation on this dish that really shines. Lavash Lamb takes the pumpkin quite literally with a slow-roasted squash filled with rice and a perfectly positioned lamb shank. Talk about going all out.
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SAR132. Open Sun-Wed 1pm-11.30pm, Thu-Sat 1pm-12.30am. Mateen Plaza, King Abdulaziz Road, Al Rabie, instagram.com/eat_lavash.
Pumpkin cake at Delish Bakery
When a bakery calls itself Delish, it has a lot to live up to. Delish Bakery shouldn’t disappoint though, especially when we’re talking sweet pumpkin dishes in Riyadh. The four-tier cake is enveloped in a sweet cream cheese frosting and topped with chopped walnuts and drizzles of a house-made sweet caramel sauce. Why not go all out? It is fall after all.
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From SAR40. Open Mon-Thu 10am-10pm, Fri 1pm-10pm, Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 10am-midnight. 8065 Prince Ahmad Ibn Abd Al Aziz, Al Wurud, delishbakerysa.com.
Pumpkin pie at Buttermilk
Buttermilk is a local concept founded by three Saudi women who believe in creating memories through food. If you’re after comforting fall memories, combined with the An Nakheel’s spot’s Southern American charm, we can’t think of a more fitting dish than the pumpkin pie. When it comes to pumpkin dishes in Riyadh, this an American classic. Enjoy flaky pastry, spiced pumpkin filling and a dollop of cream. The venue also won highly commended on the Time Out Riyadh Restaurant Award’s best North American restaurants.
Click here for the best savoury pies in Riyadh.
SAR38. Open daily, 6am-10pm. An Nakheel, buttermilksa.com.
Pumpkin pie doughnuts at Glaze Craze
We’re familiar with pumpkin pie, but this is one of the pumpkin dishes in Riyadh with a twist. Meet the pumpkin pie doughnut, complete with a teeny-tiny slice of pie on top. It’s one of the playful dishes on the Glaze Craze autumnal menu. Have one or four, because just like a slice of traditional pumpkin pie, one probably won’t be enough.
Click here for the best doughnuts in Riyadh.
SAR35. Open Sat-Wed 6.30am-12.30am, Thu-Fri 6.30am-1.30am. An Nada, instagram.com/glazecrazedonuts.
Roasted pumpkin and lentil salad at Porterhouse
We know Porterhouse is all about prime steaks but every top cut of meat needs a worthy side. That’s where the roasted pumpkin and lentil salad comes in. It’s one of the pumpkin dishes in Riyadh to start an autumnal meal right. Enjoy the hearty salad, complete with marinated green lentils, pumpkin seeds and baby arugula, before moving on to your meaty main… or just savour that roasted pumpkin.
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SAR45. Open Sat-Wed 12.30pm-12.30am, Thu-Fri 12.30pm-1am. Prince Muhammad Ibn Abd Al Aziz, Al Olaya, instagram.com/porterhouse_ksa.
After more foodie inspiration? Click here for the best cookies in Riyadh.
