Umrah is a blissful journey that Muslims desire to embark on to experience Allah’s blessings in the two holiest sites on the Earth i.e. Haram and the Prophet’s Mosque. However, several pilgrims also desire to explore the Kingdom’s diverse attraction along with doing Umrah. As food is also a huge part of the KSA’s culture thus, we’re going to cover this aspect of the Kingdom in detail.
You can learn about the best eateries in Mecca and Medina where you can savour authentic Arabic food that is rich in protein and tasty as well. We’ll also share a list of the top Arabic foods that you can keep on your preference list. So, if you wish to embark on this holy pilgrimage by opting for all-inclusive Umrah packages then you can find this post helpful in making your trip to KSA more fulfilling.
Top Eateries in Mecca & Medina
The visit to Mecca and Medina always seems incomplete without trying the local and global cuisines. Hence, we find it important to share some of the best eateries where you can indulge in fine dining with friends and family. These include:
· The Oasis: If you want to enjoy a luxury dining experience then there is no better place than ‘The Oasis’. Receiving a 5-star rating for food, ambiance, services, and value, this famous restaurant is located in Mecca. Winning the best global luxury restaurants in 2023, the Oasis offers the best Arabic, Asian, and Western dishes that you can enjoy in chic dining spots. Visitors can enjoy a buffet or choose from a la carte menu to enjoy delicious breakfast, lunch, or dinner with their loved ones.
· Al Baik: The iconic food place of KSA, Al Baik is famous for its tasty broast chicken and shrimp. Located in Mecca, it is a restaurant where you can enjoy halal fried chicken and seafood dishes. Here you can also savour entrees such as salads, fries, soups, and tempting desserts liked by both locals and visitors.
· Al Shorfa: How about indulging in a fine dining experience while also enjoying the stunning views of the Kaabah? This is possible in Al Shorfa, one of the top eateries in Mecca. Located on the 11th-floor terrace, Al Shorfa serves Middle Eastern and Arabic food for breakfast, lunch, and buffet dinners. The secret to the delicious taste of its food is using the best ingredients.
· Steak House: Situated within Rashid Mega Mall Medina, Steak House is the only dining space to win the “Best Restaurant in Saudi Arabia’ award from the Saudi Excellence in Tourism Awards (SETA) four times. This popular food spot offers casual American burgers, chicken, and a wide range of appetizer dishes. However, their specialty is premium grilled steaks. The staff is helpful and remains at your service to ensure your dishes are served fairly quickly.
· Arabesque: Paying homage to modern interior design with polished wood floors, Arabesque restaurant is situated in Medina. With a seating capacity of 140, this major eatery serves breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You can savour diverse sorts of cuisines such as grilled kebabs, pasta, curries, and seafood. You can top up your food by enjoying desserts like Turkish Syrian ice cream, knefeh, and several other evening tea delights.
Top Foods to Try in Saudi Arabia
The dishes to try in KSA are numerous so you can start by tasting these famous cuisines:
i. Kibbeh: Also famous as the Kingdom’s comfort food, Kibbeh is made from a paste of bulgur wheat and meat, kibbeh is a fried croquette consisting of toasted pine nuts and spices. To prepare kibbeh, bulgur wheat and ground meat (usually beef or lamb) are first processed together to form a paste. This paste is then shaped into balls, stuffed with a mix primarily made up of pine nuts and spiced meat, and fried. You can also find them baked or served raw in some places.
ii. Ruz al Bukhari: Ruz Al Bukhari literally means ‘Bukhari Rice’ and is believed to have gotten its name from the ancient city of Bukhara. Also known as Al-Fahm, it is a fragrant rice dish usually served with roast chicken. It is made from various spices such as cumin, star anise, cardamom, AND cinnamon and topped with fried onions and raisins. The dish is served with a spicy tomato sauce on the side called salata hara. While some of its variations also include pine nuts and almonds.
iii. Shawarma: Shawarma is a staple Arabic dish you can find almost everywhere you go. It is made from meat cut into thin slices, layered on top of each other in a cone-like shape, and slow-roasted on a skewer. The meat is then packed in khubz (Arabic bread), topped with french fries, pickles, and tahini sauce wrapped into a sandwich, and served. Although chicken shawarmas are the most common in KSA, you can also find beef or lamb shawarmas in restaurants.
iv. Mandi: Mandi is a meat and rice dish, famous in most Arab countries including Saudi Arabia. However, its origins are in Yemen. The meat used in Mandi is simmered with whole spices, cooked in an underground oven pit, and then smoked using coal. The rice for this dish is cooked using a mix of spices especially turmeric to give it the iconic yellow color. It is served on a large round platter shared by all people and topped with fried onions and raisins.
v. Tamiya (Falafel): Tamiya and Falafel are both a little bit different in ingredients so we’re discussing them together here for convenience. Falafel are actually veggie balls made from either fava beans or chickpeas or both in some cases. Tamiya is a variation of the Middle Eastern cuisine popular in Egypt. It is a wrap or sandwich that consists of veggies such as eggplant, pickles, and tomatoes and can sometimes also include sliced boiled eggs.
vi. Harees: One of the oldest dishes in the Kingdom, Harees is made from basic ingredients including stiff ground wheat, meat, and oil/butter and mixed with spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and cumin. The dish is often served topped with fried onions and garlic.
vii. Hummus: Hummus is a popular Middle Eastern dip created with garlic, chickpeas, lemon juice, and tahini (sesame paste). It is usually served with a generous drizzle of olive oil and eaten with freshly baked khubz.
viii. Qahwa: The central part of Saudi Arabian culture for centuries, Gahwa is an Arabic coffee made from ground-roasted coffee beans fused with spices such as cardamom and cloves. It is usually consumed with fresh dates or sweets and served in tiny cups or mugs.
Umrah is a spiritual journey of a lifetime. However, pilgrims can make the most of their trip by exploring the culture of the Kingdom and its diverse attractions. KSA’s food culture is also quite interesting which you can explore by visiting the best eateries there and trying out the authentic Arabic food. We’ve shared both these things in the article so you can start your food exploration by following this list. If you want to embark on this holy voyage this year then opt for all-inclusive Ramadan Umrah packages offered by Muslims Holy Travel.
