Loco’s Pizza is a newly opened Saudi restaurant that offers American-style dishes inspired by the ’80s cartoon “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”
Each of the four main characters in the cartoon preferred certain types of pizza toppings. Donatello’s favorite was topped with chicken, mushroom, green pepper and tomato. Leonardo’s favorite was onions, black olives, green pepper and mushrooms. Michelangelo’s preference was pepperoni, ham, pineapple and jalapeno, while Raphael opted for pepperoni and Italian sausage.
Loco’s Pizza is owned by four Saudi siblings who have brought their passion for pizza-making to Jeddah. Their pizzas come in varieties such as pepperoni, supreme meat, turkey, chicken, four seasons, four cheese, margherita, BBQ and spicy.
Some dishes feature a Mediterranean and Saudi twist, with thin layers of tomato sauce and oregano on top, as well as local spices and mozzarella.
One of their signature creations is volcano pizza — a customer favorite — which is topped with fresh Lebanese sausage, hot sauce and cheese. The dish is suitable for both lunch and dinner.
Loco’s Pizza also offers an array of side dishes, including lasagna, spicy chicken wings, potato wedges, cheesy garlic bread and volcano sausage bread. For sweets, the chain has a simple, single choice: Chocolate marshmallow pizza.
Loco’s Pizza is located on Helmi Koutbi Road, Al-Zahra district, Jeddah. Delivery is also available on applications including Jahez, Hungerstation, ToYou, Mrsool, The Chefz and Careem. For more information, visit the store’s Instagram account @locos.pizza.
Where We Are Going Today: Loco’s Pizza
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Where We Are Going Today: Loco’s Pizza
Where We Are Going Today: Makbous Express in Riyadh
- Each option complements the dish in its own way, though the mandi rice seems best suited to absorb the savory depth of the sauce
Sometimes comfort arrives in a takeout box. Makbous Express in Riyadh brings the warmth of home-style cooking to your doorstep, offering familiar Gulf flavors designed for casual indulgence rather than fine dining.
Even without the dine-in experience, the food travels well, retaining much of its authentic charm. The tabolah stands out immediately. A bright mix of parsley, bulgur, tomato, and onion, it tastes crisp and refreshing, cutting through richer dishes with balance and simplicity. It is a welcome palate-cleanser.
The Makbous meat, the restaurant’s bestseller, shows why it carries that title. Tender meat cooked in aromatic saffron sauce arrives perfectly seasoned, with your choice of biryani, mandi, or plain rice.
Each option complements the dish in its own way, though the mandi rice seems best suited to absorb the savory depth of the sauce. This plate captures the essence of Kuwaiti soul food: generous, fragrant, and deeply satisfying.
Less exciting was the shrimp pasta, tossed in Makbous hot sauce. The shrimp were well-cooked, but the overall dish felt predictable, with the sauce adding heat but not much complexity.
The jareesh, made from crushed wheat groats simmered in chicken stock and cumin, then topped with butter or wild ghee, is pure comfort food. Warm, wholesome, and nostalgic, it delivers understated satisfaction rather than surprise. It’s the kind of dish that feels like home cooking done right.
The potato stew was runny for my taste and lacked the richness needed to tie its flavors together. A thicker texture or deeper spice could have made it more enjoyable, especially if it had more body.
Despite a few uneven dishes, Makbous Express succeeds in delivering the homely warmth of Kuwaiti cuisine, one that speaks of tradition, spice, and generosity. It may not dazzle at every turn, but for days when you crave hearty, unpretentious comfort food, this express route hits close to home.
