Sometimes only a steak will do. When you’re hankering for some real meaty goodness there really is just one weapon of choice. Here in Riyadh, we are blessed with an array of steakhouses that will sate even the hungriest of carnivores. And whichever cut you like the best – T-bone, tomahawk, filet mignon or rib-eye – your next bite of beefy brilliance is never far away.
Here’s a selection of the top steakhouses in Riyadh.
Florya Steak Lounge
The brilliant brainchild of Etçi Mehmet, Florya Steak Lounge takes Turkish inspiration to provide one of the finest eateries in Riyadh. The place just oozes cool with its sleek décor and hand-blown glass lighting. Even the foliage adds a sense of freshness to this vibrant venue. The fact it serves up a range of burgers, chicken, lamb and kebabs means your friends who aren’t in the mood for prime beef (what planet are they on?) are also catered for. But we’re here for the steak and only the steak (well, maybe some chips too). And Florya really knows its stuff when it comes to these prime cuts – always cooked to perfection, always seriously juicy.
La Valle Mall, An Nafal, Riyadh, floryasteaklounge.com (55 860 6444).
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Gürkan Şef Steakhouse
Another incredible Istanbul import, Gürkan Şef Steakhouse brings the vision of the chef whose name it bears to the tables of Riyadh. This is not your run-of-the-mill steak joint as a quick glance at the menu will prove to you. The Turkish lamb offerings are well worthy of a mention, as is the sheer variety of veal options available. But whenever we enter Gürkan Şef’s house, we want his wagyu (medium-rare, thank you very much). The chef does like to bring a bit of theatre to his place, and for that we’d heartily recommend the Gürkan Şef Vay Vay Vay – a veal tenderloin cooked at your table in inimitable style. It’s big enough to feed two, or one of your more gluttonous friends who has starved themselves for the occasion.
The Zone Mall, Takhassusi St, Riyadh http://gurkansefsteakhouse.com (11 411 9920).
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Outback Steakhouse
Founded in Florida, this Australian-themed American chain is slowly expanding across continents. When a steak craving hits, Outback hits the spot. They offer up some of the juiciest steaks served complete with a sauce of your choosing like the mushroom or the peppercorn. This is a family-friendly joint, though, as they now also have a kid’s play area with face-painting and activities on Thursdays and Fridays.
Open Sat-Wed 11am-12.30am. Thu 11am-1am. Fri 1pm-1am. 2803 Prince Muhammad Ibn Abd Al Aziz, Al Olaya, outback.wrc.sa (920 027 043).
Porterhouse
We’ll always support a homegrown brand here at Time Out, and Porterhouse is certainly one of those we can fully get behind. Borne out of a desire to bring the Saudi people some brilliant beef, perfectly dry-aged in-house in a stripped-down, industrial chic-style venue, this Riyadh hangout always hits the spot. The chefs at Porterhouse take great pride in every single morsel of meat they cook in the wood-fired grill imported all the way from Argentina. The superb steaks they serve come from Australia, Japan and Korea. And given the name of the place, we think it would be rude not to bring a friend along to share one of the Australian Angus Porterhouses, dry aged for 60 days and bursting with flavour.
Prince Muhammad Bin Abdulaziz Rd, As Sulimaniyah, Riyadh, porterhouse-sa.com/ (11 217 0088).
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Steak House
An American-inspired eatery that has been serving Saudi Arabia for a quarter of a century, Steak House has no airs and graces. Just take a look at its name: simple and does exactly what it says on the tin. While we would never turn down a rib-eye wherever we go (we just think it’s king), if you’re feeling particularly flush you can push the boat out for the ‘Reef & Beef’ option. For SAR229 you’ll get either a rib-eye, tenderloin or New York striploin of premium Black Angus along with two giant black tiger shrimps you simply won’t be able to resist tearing into as soon as your plate hits the table.
Various locations including Prince Sultan lbn Abdul Aziz Rd., Al Olaya, Riyadh, steakhouse.com.sa/ (11 464 9638).
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Sultan’s Steakhouse
Meatballs, burgers and lamb chops. All fantastic in their own right but when you come to a steakhouse, surely there’s only one thing you should be ordering (apart from a drink to wash it down with). At Sultan’s Steakhouse you could opt for the beef fillet, which we hear is very nice. But when there’s an entrecôte, T-bone, ‘XXX-large porterhouse’ and mighty 1.1kg tomahawk on the menu, we really would suggest loosening your belts (and your purse strings). Arguably one of the finest cuts Sultan’s serves up is the Asado short rib, which they’ll bring in your portions big enough to feed four people just so there’s no food envy going on whatsoever.
Prince Turki Ibn Abdulaziz Al Awwal Road, Hittin, Riyadh, sultanssteak.com/ (055 563 3706).
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Texas Roadhouse
Fun fact: the world-renowned brand Texas Roadhouse was born in Clarksville, Indiana, and not in the Lone Star State at all. But don’t let its slightly misleading moniker put you off really letting your hair down and shouting ‘Yeehaw’ with every bite of steak you dig into here (okay, maybe you can whisper it once – you’re here to eat, not antagonise your neighbours). The biggest-selling steak on the menu is the USDA Choice Sirloin and for once we’d have to agree with the popular vote. We love the fact all the salads and sides are made from scratch at Texas Roadhouse. We also love the free bucket of peanuts for every table. Generosity never tasted so good.
Near Gate 1, Riyadh Park Mall, texasroadhouse.com (11 520 0504).
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Texas De Brasil
Hailed as a meat lover’s heaven by some, this place has an amazing selection of meats cooked to absolute peak deliciousness. Like a hot knife through butter, these steaks cut just that easily. With a wonderful salad bar right upfront and amazing sides like fresh shrimps and lamb chops, come with an empty stomach. If you’re looking to save a few riyals, brings the kids. Children aged between six to 12 years old can enjoy half-price meals, and those under six years old can eat for free. So if you’re lookg for a family restaurant, this is the place for you.
From SAR145. Open Sun-Wed 11.30am-midnight. Thu-Sat 1pm-1am. Northern Ring Branch Rd, Rubeen Plaza, texasdebrazil.com (011 211 1850).
The Butcher Shop & Grill
This place is a real institution among South Africa’s steakhouses. It first arrived on the scene in Sandton, Johannesburg, way back in 1961 and has been packing them in on Nelson Mandela Square ever since. In the owners’ infinite wisdom they decided to expand operations to the Middle East and we’re grateful that they did. This family-run steakhouse, butcher’s and deli all rolled into one uses only the finest and freshest ingredients. Strangely, the steaks here are actually Australian but we’re not ones to complain, especially when our knives run so effortlessly through the flesh. The Black Onyx (a 300 days grain-fed Black Angus) is the beautifully marbled king of the menu alongside 450 days grain-fed Ranger Valley wagyu. If you’ve brought the whole gang, maybe order a combo meal, which includes a Top Butt sirloin, lamb chops, beef ribs, chicken breast, boerewors, tiger prawns and onion rings. Now that’s a feast and a half.
Northern Ring Road, Al-Ahmadi Street, Al Taawun, Riyadh, http://butchershoparabia.com/ksa/ (11 410 1229).
Wildfire
Looking for something a little classier? Located in a fancy hotel, Wildfire is here to make your evenings that much more special. They offer tasty cuts of premium fish, chicken and, the obvious star of the show, beef. They also cook up a mean leg of lamb if you’re feeling a little extra. You can also dig into the amazingly seasoned tiger shrimps to satisfy seafood cravings, too.
Open Sun-Thu 6pm-midnight. Fri-Sat 2pm-midnight. RDC Hotel & Convention, Crowne Plaza, wildfirerdc.com (011 813 1399).
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