Home › Destinations › Middle East › Saudi Arabia › Food and Drink

Reisepartner

MIETWAGENCHECK Günstige Mietwagen für Ihren Urlaub im großen Preisvergleich

Book and Go

Book & Go

Or perhaps you need...

Travel Insurance
Car Hire - Compare 550 providers
Activities, Tours & Airport Transfers
Search for a perfect cruise
Need a Visa?
Book your Airport to Hotel Transfer

Saudi Arabia Food and Drink

You know where
you are going!
Why not check out
what to Eat & Drink

Saudi Arabia has a rich and ancient food culture where meals – often big communal platters of rice topped with roast meat – are joyously shared with visitors since the times when nomadic tribes and trade caravans roamed the Arabian Peninsula. These days, the hospitable Saudis still prefer to nurture friendships over meals and many cups of qahwa (roasted coffee ground with cardamom and flavoured with saffron).

Breakfast is a simple affair; dates with qahwa or flatbread with cheese and date jam are often served. Lunch is the main meal of the day and Kabsa, the national dish of Saudi Arabia, is a must-try.

Specialities: 

• Kabsa: rice topped with meat and vegetables, often flavoured with cinnamon, saffron, cardamom, nutmeg and loomi (sun-dried black limes).
• Matabaq: stuffed and fried roti.
• Shakshuka: rich and spicy tomato sauce topped with poached eggs.
• Jareesh or Harees: boiled crushed wheat with rice and meat, along with plenty of spices. Highly popular during the month of Ramadan.
• Thareed or Tharid: stewed meat and vegetables served with rice or on a thin piece of bread
• Umm Ali: a type of bread pudding filled with nuts, honey, milk and spices.
• Ma'amoul: cookies stuffed with nuts and dates.

Things to know: 

During the fasting hours of Ramadan, restaurants are shut and visitors cannot eat or drink in public.

Tipping: 

If a service charge is not included, tipping 10%-15% is recommended.

Regional drinks: 

Arabic coffee and fruit drinks are popular alternatives to alcohol.

Alcohol-free beers and cocktails are served in hotel bars.

language == 'en'): ?>

Do you have any Feedback about this page?
© Columbus Travel Media Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission, click here for information on Columbus Content Solutions.

language == 'es'): ?>

¿Tiene comentarios sobre esta página?
© Columbus Travel Media Ltd. All rights reserved. Ninguno de los contenidos de esta Web debe ser reproducido sin nuestra autorización expresa y escrita. Para más información sobre como obtener permiso para la utilización del contenido clica aquí. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission, click here for information on Columbus Content Solutions .

language == 'fr'): ?>

Avez-vous des commentairessur cette page?
© Columbus Travel Media Ltd. All rights reserved. Le contenu de ce site ne peut être reproduit sans autorisation écrite. Cliquez ici pour plus d'information sur notre 'des solutions de contenu’. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission, click here for information on Columbus Content Solutions.

language == 'de'): ?>

Haben Sie Feedback zu dieser Seite?
© Columbus Travel Media Ltd. All rights reserved. Alle Inhalte dieser Seite sind urheberrechtlich geschützt und dürfen nur mit schriftlicher Genehmigung des Verlags genutzt werden. Weitere Informationen finden Sie in unseren Lizenzbestimmungen. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission, click here for information on Columbus Content Solutions .

Visa and passport information is updated regularly and is correct at the time of publishing. You should verify critical travel information independently with the relevant embassy before you travel.