Saudi Arabia is a hub of different cuisines from both eastern and western parts of the world. One can find restaurants that offer Japanese, Italian, Lebanese, Greek, or Chinese cuisine as well as places that offer all of it under one roof.

Restaurants in the Kingdom often specialize in certain types of food or present a specific kind of meal.

“One of the best things about restaurants in Riyadh is that each offers a unique, authentic cuisine, and people usually go there to experience its dishes during various courses,” said 31-year-old Noor Saleh.

Riyadh offers world-famous chain restaurant brands that people might have seen and tried during their travels.

“I was very happy when I heard that Ladurée opened in Riyadh, because I tried their food in London and Paris and fell completely in love with it. They offer the best kinds of salads, sweets and the well-known French pastry called macaroons,” said Moneera Al-Abdullah, a college student in Riyadh.

“Even though the location is not superb, just going there and experiencing their food is like taking a trip down memory lane to London and Paris,” she added.

Waiters are one of the most important elements in a good restaurant, according to American schoolteacher Lisa Green. “Restaurants in Saudi Arabia should have multilingual staff, because not all people living here speak Arabic, and this is what makes most restaurants in Alkhobar an easy place to go for my family and I,” she said.

“However, this is not always the case, because some restaurants don’t offer English menus of English-speaking staff, which is really difficult for non-Arab people who work in the Kingdom,” she added.

Shisha cafes find much attention from the younger Saudi generation. “When my friends and I plan to eat outside or go for a cup of coffee, we always look for cafes that offer good shishas,” said Dania Abdulwahed, a 29-year-old banker.

“We don’t care much about the quality of the food; all we care about is the atmosphere, the location, and how good the shisha is,” she added.

Saudis find restaurants that offer free home delivery services fascinating. “It’s always comforting to know that there are some restaurants that deliver their food right at your home, because most of the time we cannot find a driver that would either take us there or bring us food,” said Seba Tariq, an 18-year-old school student.

“I always ask for restaurants to deliver food when I have friends at my place, because they are quick and I don’t have to worry about my driver to pick up the food and drop it at my house,” she added.

Taking advantage of the weather in restaurants with outdoor area is something many Saudis love. “When the weather is nice and chilly, we always head to restaurants that have an outdoor area and terrace, so we can simultaneously enjoy our meal and the good weather,” said Mohammed Mushtaq, a 32-year-old businessman.

“It is always great to change views and take advantage of the good weather, mainly in November and December, and to eat outside in company with good friends,” he added.

In spite of its dangers, the fast-food industry is blooming in the Kingdom. “When you want something fast and tasty, you can always depend on McDonalds or KFC, even when you know it’s not healthy,” said 22-year-old college student Kamal Jaber.

“When you feel really hungry, you never think of going healthy; you think about burgers, fries and pizza, and this is exactly what fast-food restaurants offer,” he added.

Family-friendly restaurants offer kids an area to play. “I love taking my children to Chili’s and Fuddruckers, because there is more for them to do than just eat. They love the outdoor areas, where they can run and play as much as they want without me worrying about their safety,” said Tasneem Arab, a Saudi mother of two.

“I choose restaurants on their menus for children and what they offer them for entertainment. Not many restaurants offer a kids’ zone, but the ones who do are just great,” she added.

Restaurants that offer football channels and host football theme nights get crowded on game nights. “Many restaurants have huge plasma screens and broadcast football games. These places are often visited by football lovers like my friends and I,” said Fahad Al-Thagafi, a university student aged 21.

“We like to go there to enjoy the game over a good meal and shisha. It is ideal for us to watch the game outside our homes, because we do not always have the house for ourselves. Consequently, you will always find a group of young men hanging out at a café or restaurant that offers football channels,” he added.

Authentic Italian pizza used to be hard to find in Saudi Arabia, as all restaurants make American pizzas, according to Abdulrahman Shata, a college student of 21 years. “After my visit to Italy, I discovered the real taste of pizza. I kept looking for it in the Kingdom and finally found it at Rossopomodoro in Jeddah,” he said.

“Their pizzas are the real deal. I love how they make them, exactly like the ones I had in Italy. I used to anxiously wait for my visits to Jeddah just to go there. Now that they are opening a branch in Riyadh, I can go there everyday and enjoy the real taste of Italy,” he added.