Three questions come to us again and again, especially from families and groups: what is in the Rokn Warda platter?, what is the difference between mixed grills and special mixed grills? and should I take a third or a half? This article answers all three, and everything we say about the dishes comes from their menu descriptions exactly, with nothing added. Where the menu does not say, we will tell you plainly: ask the restaurant.
In this article
The tableya: where does the name come from?
In Egyptian homes of old, the tableya was the low, round wooden table the family sat around to eat from the same dishes. The name says it all: the food in the middle, and everyone helps themselves. For more on the Egyptian table and family gatherings read the Egyptian table and gatherings.
The Rokn Warda platter: what is in it?
The menu describes the Rokn Warda platter as: grills, stuffed pigeon, shish, sausage, ribs, kebab, kofta and tarb with rice. So on one tray:
- Kebab and kofta: the base of any Egyptian grill.
- Tarb: kofta wrapped in a layer of fat; its story is in what is Egyptian tarb?.
- Ribs.
- Shish and sausage.
- Stuffed pigeon, with more in stuffed pigeon in Al Khobar.
- And with them, rice.
The platter comes in one size on the menu. In the dining room it is set in the middle of the table and everyone helps themselves, just like the old tableya.
The difference between mixed grills and special mixed grills
| Mixed grills | Special mixed grills | Rokn Warda platter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menu description | Beef kebab, kofta and chicken shish grilled over charcoal | A special selection of charcoal-grilled meats | Grills, stuffed pigeon, shish, sausage, ribs, kebab, kofta and tarb with rice |
| Sizes | A third or a half | A third or a half | One size |
| Rice? | Not mentioned in the description | Not mentioned in the description | Yes, «with rice» |
| Suits | Those who want the reliable basics | Those who want to try another selection | A gathering that wants grills, pigeon and rice on one tray |
Mixed grills
Its contents are clear: kebab, kofta and chicken shish. A safe start for anyone eating Egyptian grills for the first time, with the three kinds most people love.
Special mixed grills
The menu describes it as «a special selection of charcoal-grilled meats» and does not list what it contains. So we will not guess and tell you what is in it; if you want to know exactly, ask the restaurant when you order, or look at its photo on the dish page.
And the platter?
The platter is wider than both: it has tarb, ribs, sausage, stuffed pigeon and rice alongside the kebab, kofta and shish. So if you want to taste everything at once, it is the closest fit. To learn the difference between kebab, kofta, tarb and ribs themselves, read the difference between kebab, kofta, tarb and ribs.
An Egyptian grill platter for the family: how to choose the right size?
We do not say how many people a dish feeds, because that varies from family to family. But these questions will help you choose:
- How many will actually eat grills? Not everyone at the table; some prefer a casserole or mahshi.
- Are there other dishes on the table? With casseroles, mahshi and fatteh, the grills need not be the largest size.
- Are there children? Children usually eat less.
- Do you need rice? The platter's description says «with rice»; if you want rice with mixed grills, the menu has Egyptian rice with vermicelli and white Egyptian rice.
- Eating in or ordering? In the dining room you can start with one size and add later; for delivery, think ahead.
If you are still unsure, ask the restaurant: tell them your numbers and what else you are ordering. For getting the best value from sizes and sharing, read Egyptian restaurants at a range of prices: how to choose the best value for money.
Examples to help you decide
| Situation | A good choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Two people craving grills | Mixed grills, a third or a half | The grill basics, sized to your appetite |
| Friends who want something different | Special mixed grills | Another selection; ask what is in it |
| A family that wants grills, pigeon and rice | The Rokn Warda platter | Everything on one tray in the middle |
| A big gathering | Platter + a casserole or mahshi, or the events page | Variety, and trays for large numbers |
What to add?
- Salad buffet: vegetables, sauces and Egyptian pickles of your choice, which cut the richness of the grills.
- Tarb or lamb chops on their own, if you want more of the kind you love: tarb in a third or a half, lamb chops in a half.
- And something sweet with tea at the end.
Where to eat it?
At Rokn Warda in Al Khobar, on Al Yarmouk Street in Al Olaya, our meat arrives fresh, never frozen and the grills are over charcoal; for why that matters read fresh or frozen meat?. Come and eat the platter in the family hall or the outdoor seating, and book your table if you are a group. Or order it from the menu for delivery to Al Khobar and Dammam districts (the available districts show when you order), or through HungerStation, Keeta and Ninja.
Common questions
How many people does the platter feed? We do not give a number, because it depends on appetite and the dishes alongside it. Ask the restaurant and tell them your numbers.
What exactly is in the special mixed grills? The menu describes it as «a special selection of charcoal-grilled meats». For details ask the restaurant or look at the dish page.
Does the platter come in sizes? No, the platter comes in one size. The third and the half are for mixed grills and special mixed grills.
Do mixed grills come with rice? Their menu description does not mention rice, so if you want rice with them add it from the menu. The platter is the one described «with rice».
