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Restaurant

Ya Mal Asham

This restaurant is set up similar to a cafeteria with a grab-a-tray and-point-service mentality, but there is a great selection of Arabic food from shawarma to soups, grills, stews and desserts and the style of ordering makes it easy to choose. Shwarma SR4, full meals SR15-20.

City guide

Overview & visitor information

Ya Mal Asham

This restaurant is set up similar to a cafeteria with a grab-a-tray and-point-service mentality, but there is a great selection of Arabic food from shawarma to soups, grills, stews and desserts and the style of ordering makes it easy to choose. Shwarma SR4, full meals SR15-20.

Address:  Olaya Rd (off Musa ibn Nosayr St, next to Jarir Bookstore).

Muslim check

Halal dining checks

These checks help Muslim guests assess service details before booking or visiting.

Serves alcohol?Not verified
Serves pork?Not verified
Separate utensils for pork?Not verified
Washroom has bidet / Muslim shower?Not verified
Has prayer room?Not verified

More restaurants in Riyadh

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Al-Shallal

The largest and best-known Shisha/Hookah/Nargila café in Riyadh is Shallal. It is an exotic complex of indoor and outdoor venues for socializing with tea, Middle Eastern snacks, and traditional water pipes.

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Al-Nakheel

Al-Nakheel, Khozama Centre 7F (next to Al-Khozama Hotel). Though widely acclaimed as the best restaurant in Saudi Arabia, Al-Nakheel’s décor is unchanged since the 1970s and is run-down rather than rustic. It offers an uninspired buffet (no a la carte menu) of the usual Arab offerings. The main clientele appear to be visitors, tour groups, and hotel guests. Dinner buffet costs SR110, not including taxes, service, or drinks.

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Sheraton Riyadh

Sheraton Riyadh offers a very rich buffet for breakfast, covering a wide spectrum of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern delicacies in addition to regular European food. The Italian restaurant in the ground floor of Sheraton Riyadh is particularly outstanding.

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The Globe

Located in Al Faisaliah Hotel is an expensive restaurant that offers both a delectable cuisine and a spectacular ambience. The restaurant is located in the golden globe that tops Al Faisaliah Tower and offers panoramic views of the city of Riyadh. The restaurant is open for lunch, dinner and high tea on weekends and offers a Modern European cuisine.

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Assaraya

This very popular Turkish restaurant is packed during the evening hours. Meat is the name of the game here, and it comes in numerous tasty variations. SR30.

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Chilis

Quite good rendition of TexMex with a typical American look-and-feel. The Buffalo Wings / Tenders are recommended and are excellent with the hot sauce. SR60.

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Korean Palace

Korean-run eatery offers reasonably authentic Korean, Japanese, and Chinese food at reasonable prices. The restaurant is popular with the local Asian community. SR50.

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Burger Boutique

This is the Middle East's first gourmet burger joint. They specialize in a wide array of classic and gourmet burgers as well as mouth watering sliders, fresh salads, and sides. The Burger Boutique is an upscale casual restaurant that opened first in Kuwait and has since expanded to Riyadh. Prices are moderate to expensive but definitely worth it for the ambience and great food.

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Mirage Restaurant

This Taiwanese-Saudi-run restaurant offers a variety of Asian foods, but it is recommended to indulge in the Taiwanese or Chinese menu items. The restaurant accepts mixed gender groups. The tables on top of the illuminated fish tanks near the center of the restaurant are particularly stunning. Getting here can be difficult since it is located in a side strip mall- look for the pagoda top and the neon Chinese gate. SR80.

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Duo

Family-friendly

This chain Italian restaurant caters primarily to families. The selection is decent, but quality is lacking. The Spaghetti Curry dish - fried chicken, peas, pineapple curry pasta - sounds weird, but tastes good. There is space for bachelor groups (all males), though the room is off to the side with limited service. SR60.

More places in Riyadh

Keep exploring Riyadh.

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The National Museum and Riyadh Zoo

Museum

The National Museum and Riyadh Zoo are safe bets for enjoyable places to take children and the Desert Diamond hunt is family friendly, even if it does take an entire day. The Ice Skating center is also a great distraction for the children, especially since the center also contains tennis courts, a bowling alley, and a restaurant.

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Kingdom Centre

Building

Kingdom Centre Daily 4-9 PM. Kingdom Center is situated in Al-Urubah Road between King Fahd Road and Olaya Road in the growing business district of Olaya. The Kingdom Center, opened in 2001, is currently the tallest building in Saudi Arabia with a height of 302 meters. It is Riyadh's most celebrated piece of modern architecture, and is quite a sight, especially when lit at night. The center is home to a pricey three-story shopping mall, with one floor reserved for women only, but its main highlight is the 99th-floor Sky bridge that connects the two top floors at a height of three hundred meters and gives a sublime view of the city. SR25 (Skybridge) The Kingdom Center was the winner of the 2002 Emporis Skyscraper Award selected as the "Best Skyscraper of the World for Design". A five-level shopping center, which also won a major design award, fills the east wing. The large opening is illuminated at night in continuously changing colors. Other neighborhood notables include Al Faisaliyah Center, the first skyscraper in Saudi Arabia, the King Faisal Foundation, an esteemed charity foundation, and Najd National Schools, one of the best and most prestigious schools in the country.

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The Diplomatic Quarter

Town

The Diplomatic Quarter, or DQ as it is popularly known, is home to foreign embassies and international organizations, as well as residential structures and malls. With lush gardens and numerous sports facilities, it is also one of the city's greenest areas. It is especially known for its fine architecture, and is considered a model for other Islamic cities around the world. Despite its name, the special privileges offered in the Diplomatic Quarter constitute a controversial issue. All Saudi laws must be obeyed and there are occasional patrols by the Mutaween, or Saudi religious police. However, foreign diplomats and their families are allowed certain privileges and it is not uncommon to see foreign diplomats and their wives strolling on the streets of the DQ in shorts and short-sleeve shirts. The district is also generally more walking friendly.

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Masmak Fortress

Fortress

The heart of old Riyadh, this was the fortress stormed by King Abdul Aziz and his men in their daring conquest of Riyadh in 1902. It was completely renovated in 2008 and the historic mud brick structure now appears brand new, but the museum inside recreates the story of the raid and has some excellent photos of old Riyadh. It was originally built in the late 19th century and, as the Al-Musmak Fortress, was the main prize captured by King Abdul Aziz in 1902. It thus represents the birthplace of the modern day Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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National Museum

Museum

Opened in 1999, this museum is undoubtedly one of the top sites in Riyadh. The museum is infused with the latest technology and is very accessible to visitors, with almost everything available in English. There are a vast number of video presentations and mini-theatres for the dedicated museum enthusiast to spend an entire day doing virtual tours of Madain Salih or watching re-enactments of the Prophet Mohammed's battle of Medina. The Kiswah cloth that once covered the Ka’aba in Makkah is a main attraction. Note: Many cabbies will not recognize the English name, ask for the neighboring Murabba Palace (Qasr al-Murabba) instead. Ticket price: SR15. Open Su-Mo,We-Th 9-noon for men, 4:30-9 PM families; Tu 9-noon women only, 4:30-9 PM men; Fr 4:30-9 PM families; Saturday closed.

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Murabba Palace (Qasr al-Murabba)

Palace

Murabba Palace (Qasr al-Murabba), (next to National Museum). (6-9 PM Sun-Fri). This is Riyadh's second old mud-brick palace, built by King Abdul Aziz after he conquered Masmak Fortress because he wanted a more strategically powerful fort. This two-story structure does have an intimidating look and feel to it, but permits are no longer needed to venture inside, where you can find interesting items including the first royal Rolls-Royce. Free.

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Dirab Golf & Country club

Activity

This attraction is a thirty minute drive west of Riyadh. It features a traditional country club layout with superb grassy greens; the last nine holes are even floodlit for night golf. The club also offers tennis, swimming, and horse-back riding activities as well.

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Al-Thumairi Gate

road

This is an impressive restoration of one of the nine city gates that led into the city until its walls were torn down in 1950. It is a quaint reminder of the city’s past.

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Riyadh Zoo

zoo

The park is located in the Malaz area, east of Al-Ahsa Street and North Street Musab bin Amir. The zoo is home to over 1,400 animals of 40 different species of animals and birds including reptiles, crocodiles, rhinoceros, snakes, gazelle, leopards, monkeys, lions, hyenas, vultures, kangaroos, seals and camels. Timings are 8:30 am – 12:00 PM and then 1:00 PM to Magrib Prayer (Sunset) Men are allowed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and Women are allowed on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Tickets are priced at SR 10.00 for adults, SR 5.00 for children and SR 2.00 for school trips.

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Al Faisaliyah Center

Building

This commercial skyscraper is the second tallest building in Saudi Arabia (after the Kingdom Center) and is located in the business district of Riyadh. It contains a shopping center with international brands at its base and a viewing deck on higher floors, as well as a luxury hotel and numerous restaurants. The tower is most famous for the glass globe near its summit.

More hotels in Riyadh

Keep exploring Riyadh.

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Al Faisaliah

Located in the same complex as the Faisaliah Tower (but not in the tower itself), is probably Riyadh's top hotel. Impeccably stylish, excellent service and priced to match — a coffee in the lobby will set you back SR60! Rooms are around SR1400 a night. Address: King Fahd Rd, Phone: +966-1-2732000.

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Four Seasons

Luxury Hotels

It doesn't get any fancier than staying in the 302-meter Al-Faisaliah Tower, and the Four Seasons provides all the standard features what you expect from the luxury hotel chain. Singles from SR1200, doubles from SR1400 per night.

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Holiday Inn Al-Qasr

Budget Hotels

Holiday Inn Al-Qasr, Olaya Main Rd, +966-1-4625000. Formerly the Howard Johnson Olaya Palace, this hotel was completely renovated and reopened in 2007. The hotel exudes a modern design, decent rooms, central location, and basic gym. Internet costs SR100/day while the breakfast buffet runs at SR105. Rooms are priced at SR550 per night.

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Intercontinental Hotel

This is a popular hotel for visiting businessmen. It contains large meeting facilities and good restaurants; it is also close to Olaya Road business district.

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Luthan Spa and Hotel

This is the first and only women-only hotel in Saudi Arabia. Most visitors are locals coming here for the spa, but there are also twenty-five rooms for overnight visitors. It is highly recommended for women traveling alone into Saudi Arabia. SR350-979 per night.

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Marriott Riyadh

This hotel is in desperate need of a facelift and is awkwardly located east of the city core. About the best that can be said about its location is that it is clean and quiet ( though this can be said for most of the city. Nevertheless, the rooms meet the high standards set by any Marriott. It does offer an excellent large-size indoor swimming pool and excellent fitness room (included in the room charge). SR1000 per night,

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Radisson SAS Riyadh

Moderate Hotels

This is a very comfortable modern hotel with a European touch. It contains a nice gym with two saunas and pools, free Internet, and good breakfast. It also has four in-house restaurants including both Japanese and Italian. SR800 per night.

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Sheraton Hotel

This is an older structure, but it has been well-maintained and is located three kilometers north of the city center.It’s proximity to both the airport and the business district makes it an attractive option for business travelers. The hotel also has a solid array of tasty in-house restaurants, but there are virtually zero other restaurants within walking distance. SR900 per night.

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Al Khozama

Once among Riyadh's top hotels, it is now getting a more rustic feel. Its rooms are small, but well kept and sanitary. The pool right by the hotel is outdoor only (making it somewhat dirty), but hotel guests have access to the fitness center in the next building (Khozama Center, 1st floor) which offers a superb gym, a large indoor pool, tennis, and bowling. Free internet in the business rooms (located on the 5th floor). SR800 per night. Address: Olaya Rd, Phone: +966-1-4654650.

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Almuthana

Almuthana is a modern, four-star hotel priced reasonably compared to its better known peers, though service has a reputation for being sub-standard. Free, but notoriously inefficient wireless internet, a small indoor pool, and a limited gym (open only in the evening) are available to customers. The cafe on the mezzanine provides a relaxed breakfast buffet and the 8th floor restaurant dinner buffet, while tasty, is expensive at SR120 per night.