RED LOBSTER:
AMOU HAMZA: On an average day of trying to figure out what we would like to eat, Amo Hamza turns up as one of the first options when we want fish that’s affordable and filling. They have several locations around Riyadh, but we would suggest going to the big ones in King Abdullah and Makkah Road to really enjoy their menu. Their seafood arrives daily from the Eastern Province and so freshness is guaranteed. Our personal favorite is the grilled Denis fish paired with their special rice and if you’re really hungry, you can’t go wrong with their SR 90 buffet. Location: King Abdullah Road
It’s a bit of a drive from the city center but worth it if you’re out with the family or your friends and want something that’s different from your usual Middle-Eastern seafood place. An international franchise, it’s American casual dining all the way. They have upped their dishes since they opened last year and we can’t stop thinking about the chowder, even non-seafood lovers would like it. So far the biggest crustaceans and prawns we’ve had in Riyadh. The lobster lover’s dream is a dream come true, the grilled king prawns are indeed royalty and garlic butter biscuits are spot on as the ones they have elsewhere. Just a tip: The waiters will help you with your shellfish (crabs and lobsters can be hard to open, believe me, no shame in asking) and don’t forget to put on your apron. Location: Northern Ring Road
NAFOURA:
AL QALZAM:
There are a lot of Nafoura branches but there’s two in particular that serve up really good seafood. Singleton Riyadhis should try the one in Malaz while families should dine in the Airport Road branch. The men would definitely enjoy the fish kabsa. It’s savory and a quick fix. Each restaurant has a nautical feel to it and is great for a casual weekend dinner. You have Lebanese, Asian and European cuisines, but what you shouldn’t miss is the Lobster Thermidor and prawns with garlic sauce – we’ve never been disappointed.
A sister branch of the famous Qalzam restaurant in Jeddah, they’re known to serve freshly caught fish, cooked to your liking. They offer a wide variety of seafood fried, grilled or baked in the oven. We had the tajeen, which was especially flavorful. The fried hamour was crusted with spicy seasoning although a bit dry. The highlight on their menu for us is the perfectly grilled jumbo shrimp that’s charred but juicy. The sides of tahini and sour humar (tamarind) sauce were great complements. One thing we didn’t enjoy much was the red sayadiya rice, it was unconventional and lacked the traditional fish spices. We would recommend doing a delivery or a takeout and it is quite pricey.
Location: Old Airport Road
Location: Oruba St. and Takhassussi Intersection DESTINATION RIYADH 47