Famous Egyptian restaurants in Saudi Arabia: the kinds, their best-known dishes and how to spot an authentic one

The first reason is simple: a large Egyptian community has lived in the Kingdom for many years, and every one of them looks for the taste of home. The second is that Saudis themselves love Egyptian food: home-style, filling and made for gatherings.

Over time the Egyptian restaurant became a place that brings Egyptians, Saudis and every other nationality to one table. If you want to know why the two tastes are so close, read Egyptian food in Saudi Arabia.

Egyptian cooking is not one kind of restaurant; it is several «schools», and each has its own places and its own regulars.

Koshary shops

A shop that serves almost one dish: rice, lentils and pasta topped with tomato sauce, dakka and fried onions. Its reputation comes from the sauce and the dakka, and from a plate that arrives hot and fast.

Ful and taameya shops

The home of the Egyptian breakfast: slow-cooked ful with its dressings, taameya that is green inside, and warm bread. This shop is judged by the taste of its taameya and by how fresh from the oil it is.

Feteer meshaltet shops

Layered pastry made with ghee, eaten savoury or sweet: with cheese, or with honey and cream. Its reputation lies in the layers, crisp outside and soft inside straight from the oven.

Grill restaurants

Kebab, kofta, lamb chops and tarb over charcoal, with tahini, salads and bread. Here everything is decided by the quality of the meat, the marinade and the charcoal.

Home-style and family restaurants

The kind people describe as «just like home»: molokhia and okra casseroles, mahshi, fatteh, mombar and stuffed pigeon. This restaurant needs a patient kitchen, because this food is cooked slowly and cannot be rushed.

Egyptian dessert shops

Om Ali, rice pudding, kunafa with cream and basbousa. Sometimes you find them in shops of their own, sometimes as a section inside a bigger restaurant.

Some restaurants combine more than one kind on one menu: a home-style restaurant with grills, or a grill restaurant with casseroles and desserts.

People often remember a particular dish more than the restaurant's name. These are the dishes people look for when they say «Egyptian food»:

• Molokhia: if the garlic tadleya is right and the broth is rich, that alone brings people back.
• Mahshi: small, even, hand-rolled pieces with a well-seasoned filling.
• Fatteh: toasted bread, rice and a vinegar-garlic sauce, topped with meat.
• Charcoal grills: kebab and kofta, with tahini.
• Hawawshi: baladi bread stuffed with meat and baked crisp.
• Koshary, ful and taameya: the street food whose story we told in street food in Egypt.
• Something sweet: Om Ali, kunafa and rice pudding, with a full article in Egyptian desserts loved in Saudi Arabia.

Whether you are in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Al Khobar or any other city in Saudi Arabia, these questions will help you choose:

• Is the menu focused, or does it have everything? A restaurant that cooks every cuisine rarely masters any. Look for a menu that is clearly Egyptian.
• Are there dishes that take time? Casseroles, mahshi and molokhia are a sign of a kitchen that cooks slowly, not one that only reheats.
• Is the meat fresh or frozen? Ask. The difference shows in taste and tenderness.
• Are the small details there? Baladi bread, tahini, dakka, pickles. These are what set an Egyptian restaurant apart.
• Are the photos of the food itself? Menu and delivery-app photos should show the real dishes.
• Does the place suit you? Coming with family? Ask about a family hall. With friends? Ask about seating and parking.
• Is delivery clear? Do they deliver to your district, and can you track your order?

A last tip: the best guide is often an Egyptian colleague or neighbour who has tried it and tells you «that dish there is done properly».

If you are in the Eastern Province, Rokn Warda on Al Yarmouk Street in Al Khobar is a home-style, family Egyptian restaurant, with charcoal grills and Egyptian desserts too. Our meat arrives fresh, never frozen. From our dishes:

• Molokhia casserole, mixed mahshi and beef fatteh.
• Mixed grills: kebab, kofta and chicken shish over charcoal.
• Meat hawawshi if you love the spirit of street food.
• And Om Ali to finish.

Koshary, ful, taameya and feteer are not on our menu; we mention them here because they are part of the story of Egyptian cooking.

Come to the restaurant: a family hall, outdoor seating by the fountain, screens for matches and parking. We are open from 12 noon to 1 am. Book your table; for groups and companies see events, and directions are on visit us.

Or let us deliver: order from the menu on our website for delivery to districts of Al Khobar and Dammam (the available districts show when you order), track your order and pay on delivery. We are also on HungerStation, Keeta and Ninja. Details in Egyptian food delivery in Al Khobar and Dammam.

If you are looking in a particular city, read famous Egyptian restaurants in Dammam and famous Egyptian restaurants in Al Khobar.

Which famous Egyptian dish should I order first? Start with something close to your taste, like grills or fatteh, then try molokhia and mahshi. We have a full guide: first time eating Egyptian food?

Do all Egyptian restaurants serve koshary and ful? No. Koshary, ful and taameya usually have their own specialised shops, while home-style restaurants focus on casseroles, mahshi and grills.

Where can I find an Egyptian restaurant that delivers in Al Khobar and Dammam? Rokn Warda delivers from its website to districts of Al Khobar and Dammam, and is on HungerStation, Keeta and Ninja.

Can I come with my family or a large group? Yes, there is a family hall; you can book from the booking page, and groups and companies can use events.

In the end, the «famous» Egyptian restaurant for you is the one that makes the dish you are craving properly. If you would like a home-style Egyptian table in the Eastern Province, see the menu or come and visit us.