Surprise Lego Pop-up Cake
Once again, Riyadh has everything! Every possible sweet treat delight! Check out this awesome #Lego #popupcake for a delightful #Birthday #Surprise!
Organic Drip
So cafes are the thing here and in KSA, you will have a variety of different ones ranging from the high end to low end. Each competing with each other, coffee shops of every kind have their own specialty which gives it their signature touch. So I went to Organic Drip located in north Riyadh in AL Sahafa. The coffee shop is located on a cozy comfort zone located on the corner of Prince Naseer St. It boasts of its Spanish Latte and Italian coffee. My favorite were the Red Velvet Latte, the Cheesecake, Lotus Waffles and Crepe. They also have delicious sandwiches and bagels, which are a rare find in Riyadh. It comes to you all fancy. The best thing is that it has seating area for men and women indoors and outdoors. It isn’t a kid friendly place as it’s meant to be for teens and adults and therefore, I would recommend leaving your kids behind when coming to this place. They also have loyalty cards to earn your free coffee. You can watch the games on satellite TV and their staff are pretty chill and fast just like in America. Their coffee is indeed organic as they are certified USDA organic. Their site can be used for performances and special events. Just get in touch with the owner in advance. They are open from 6:00 AM till 12:00 AM every day except for Fridays where their timings are from 6:00 - 10:00 and then from 4:00 – 12:00 AM. Click on the link below for pics and directions.
Restaurants are a thing and so are cafes. I recently went to the Del Monte Café. In America, or rather the East coast, we know it mainly for the canned tomato purees. Here, in addition to the canned items, they have cafes here that make wonderful sandwiches. So I went to the site in Abyat in Riyadh and it was delicious! I was greeted by the managing director Mr. Salem who took me to my table and helped me with my kids. My family and I had a blast and we were able to try the fresh drinks, hot sandwiches and desserts. They all were my favorite and very filling. It is hard to just pick one when so many of them are perfect in their own right.
Let’s talk about the food. I had a philly-cheese steak which was toasted and so delicious. I also tried the Cajun chicken and it too was delicious. You will not be able to find a similar taste at other places because here they make their bread fresh. Not only that, it comes to you in a porcelain platter if you are dining in. They also serve frozen yogurt which is made perfectly. I also tried the chocolate cheesecake, chocolate chip cookie, and the tiramisu – an unbelievable blend of delicious deserts. See pics below.
The fresh juice comes daily and I tried orange and mango. The coffee is good too but I was into the hot food and juice. Do I recommend this site for socializing and fun? Yes, without a doubt. The setting and atmosphere is pleasant and there is a children’s area for them to play in. It is clean and beautiful and the staff are very professional and friendly.
The Cheesecake Factory
I absolutely love the cheesecake factory. There hasn’t been one in Riyadh until recently. Their cheesecake is the best and I promise you, it is the best! You will enjoy and devour every bit of their original cheesecake. Enjoy it for iftar!
My friends and I wanted to try it out since it opened. There is always a lot of traffic from the highway ever since it has opened. If you go during the evening, you will have to wait like 1.5 hours for a table. That is because their food is really great and their customer service is phenomenal. Their décor and ambience is as if you have entered the United States. My friends and I wanted to go early so that we can get a table right away. I googled them up trying to make a reservation only to find out that there is no phone number to contact them and you cannot make reservations at this place. It is first come and first serve. They opened at 11 AM and we got there at 11:20. We had to wait 30 min before we got a table! Can you believe that? It wasn’t that their seating is limited, their seating is enormous and can accommodate approximately 200 people in the family section. Even then, we had to wait. Gladly, a table become available within 20 min and off we went into another world to become the ultimate cheesecake slaves. Each of us ordered a different kind of cheesecake. None of my friends were able to finish their slice because it was simply huge and filling. However, I was able to finish my plain original cheesecake and it was rated number one by my friends. We had so much fun going there. It was packed. There is a single’s sections and a massive family section. Their menu is huge and their portions are huge as well, just like in America. Lunch is served until 5 PM so you would get the lunch prices for the same items of dinner. So go with time to enjoy your meal and most of all the original Cheesecake!
It’s located near exit 9 – Granada mall (not exactly in the Granada mall area but near it – just follow all the cars – can’t miss it)
Riyadh's First Cheesecake Factory Location
My friends and I wanted to try it out since it opened. There is always a lot of traffic from the highway ever since it has opened. If you go during the evening, you will have to wait like 1.5 hours for a table. That is because their food is really great and their customer service is phenomenal. Their décor and ambience is as if you have entered the United States. My friends and I wanted to go early so that we can get a table right away. I googled them up trying to make a reservation only to find out that there is no phone number to contact them and you cannot make reservations at this place. It is first come and first serve. They opened at 11 AM and we got there at 11:20. We had to wait 30 min before we got a table! Can you believe that? It wasn’t that their seating is limited, their seating is enormous and can accommodate approximately 200 people in the family section. Even then, we had to wait. Gladly, a table become available within 20 min and off we went into another world to become the ultimate cheesecake slaves. Each of us ordered a different kind of cheesecake. None of my friends were able to finish their slice because it was simply huge and filling. However, I was able to finish my plain original cheesecake and it was rated number one by my friends. We had so much fun going there. It was packed. There is a single’s sections and a massive family section. Their menu is huge and their portions are huge as well, just like in America. Lunch is served until 5 PM so you would get the lunch prices for the same items of dinner. So go with time to enjoy your meal and most of all the original Cheesecake!
It’s located near exit 9 – Granada mall (not exactly in the Granada mall area but near it – just follow all the cars – can’t miss it)
Riyadh's First Cheesecake Factory Location
Mantu Wraps are Sold in Riyadh AKA Dumpling Wraps or Wonton Wraps
Have you been one of those expats that have been looking for wonton wraps? Are you Afghani and looking to make mantu without making the wraps from scratch? Well, look no further because the search in Riyadh is over. You can find circular dumpling wraps from a hidden Korean store in Olaya. It is literally behind the VIP SAPTCO sales office. It doesn’t really look like a store from the outside. But when you go inside, it sure does. I brought my mantu pot from USA thinking that I will continue to make them here. Sadly, the wraps were nowhere to be found as I searched for them everywhere. I then searched online for Chinese and Japanese grocery stores that would come up near me. Luckily, I found this one store which had been there for more than a decade in a hidden and not so prominent location in Olaya. I called them up to see if they had what I wanted and it turned out that they did. That same evening, we went to the store and bought several packs of these circular dumpling wraps and enjoyed a tray of home made Afghani mantu – or a good version of it. They are 10 rials a pack and this store has a wide variety of food items. Check them out! But, they only accept cash, no electronic transactions - so go prepared.
The Korean Food Store
Grocery Store
8921 Al Arz
011 293 2978
The Korean Food Store
Grocery Store
8921 Al Arz
011 293 2978
Camel Kebsa - Here we go!
Have you ever tried camel kebsa? OMG, it is the best rice dish ever which will top biriyani and other forms of pulao. If you have not tried it while being in KSA, you are missing out on one of the wonders of the world. My man went to visit his friends and his friends brought camel kebsa from a very well-known joint in town. At first he was reluctant to try it as having anything other than lamb or beef wasn’t his thing. Surprisingly his friends got him to try it and he was sold. He went to the place to bring some home for the rest of us. Since I can be a picky eater, I was reluctant to try it and therefore I didn’t eat it. Our kids however ate it thinking it was lamb kebsa. They too couldn’t stop talking about it. They wanted that when they came from school. We had left overs for two days since he brought a lot. When I came home, I was so hungry and took anything that was there and heated it up. At that time, what was there was camel kebsa.
Let me tell you all about it. The left over camel kebsa that I heated up in the microwave which was sitting in the fridge for 2 days was the most delicious rice dish I ever had. I was sold. It was so delicious that I had to blog about it. You must try this camel kebsa from this particular restaurant in Riyadh. They are always busy. Sadly, I don’t remember the name but when I come across it, I will update this post. I told all my friends at work about it. I could not stop bragging about how delicious and addictive this was. So if you are in Riyadh, you must try it. Not doing so would leave you KSA experience incomplete.
Let me tell you all about it. The left over camel kebsa that I heated up in the microwave which was sitting in the fridge for 2 days was the most delicious rice dish I ever had. I was sold. It was so delicious that I had to blog about it. You must try this camel kebsa from this particular restaurant in Riyadh. They are always busy. Sadly, I don’t remember the name but when I come across it, I will update this post. I told all my friends at work about it. I could not stop bragging about how delicious and addictive this was. So if you are in Riyadh, you must try it. Not doing so would leave you KSA experience incomplete.
AppleBee's |
I went into Apple Bees the other day to enjoy lunch with my special someone. I ordered an appetizer platter, Cowboy burger, burger Classic, Electric Juice, and a milkshake. It was delicious. If halal food is all you can eat, then KSA is the best place to experience it all. I have also tried Steak House and it is where I have experienced the best tasting steak ever, tender and flavorful. |
Sultan Steak House |
If you are looking for a fancy Turkish place to eat steak, then look no further. Sultan Steakhouse located at the Boulevard is one pricey restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. It is a place where youngsters gather and hangout and spend endless hours. You will see fancy cars and it is in a very posh neighborhood near Olaya. When the steak come to you, they come sizzling hot with a fire show decked in front of you, which brings all the more thrill to your fancy meal. Their kebabs are amazing and very flavorful. All the waiters are Turkish and are prepared to serve their customers comfortably.
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