Where We Are Going Today: Meez Restaurant

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Updated 05 June 2025
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Where We Are Going Today: Meez Restaurant

  • The chicken and burrata pasta is a wonderful dish with a spicy kick, though not essential

Meez, located in both Jeddah and Riyadh, is a vibrant culinary destination that embodies the rich tapestry of Middle Eastern cultures. This establishment captures the essence of the region with its warm hospitality, lively music, and visual feast of colors and spices. It is clear that the founders set out to create a space that celebrates everything we cherish about Middle Eastern traditions.

The menu at Meez is a delightful fusion of flavors, showcasing what they call “Fusion Middle Eastern” cuisine. Each dish is crafted from homegrown ingredients and inspired by cherished family recipes, resulting in unique culinary creations that are both familiar and innovative.

Visitors will find the eggplant fatteh amazing, while the shrimp fatteh is also delicious and distinctive. The musakhan popsicles, however, seemed to be lacking something. The hummus is fantastic, even though it is slightly off season.

The chicken and burrata pasta is a wonderful dish with a spicy kick, though not essential. Likewise, the meat tabliya with dough is a nice addition but not particularly special.

All dishes are well-prepared in both taste and presentation. The restaurant was pleasantly quiet during our noon visit, allowing visitors to fully enjoy the atmosphere.

Meez also excels at breakfast offerings. Visitors are warmly welcomed with milk tea, a lovely touch. The makdous is served atop labneh and fried dough, harmoniously blending sour and nutty flavors. The mini falafel is presented on sticks, accompanied by hummus, potatoes, eggplant, and fried cauliflower, enhanced by a special lemon sauce.

The omelette is served on seasoned sour bread, making it an innovative and complete dish. The musakhan is sweet but could have benefited from a touch of pomegranate molasses.

The egg dish with mushroom and avocado was quite delicious and the pakiza dish is a delightful meshaltet pie with a distinctive sweet dip and well worth trying.

The service at Meez deserves special mention. The waiters are attentive and expedite orders quickly, allowing you to enjoy your meal without feeling rushed. The refreshing lemonade is a highlight as well.

Meez is a fantastic spot for a quick yet flavorful meal, combining excellent food with outstanding service. It is highly recommended for anyone looking to explore the vibrant flavors of Middle Eastern cuisine in a welcoming environment.

 


Where We Are Going Today: Taste and Tales by Chef Shagufa

AN photo by Sadiya A. Nadeem
Updated 29 December 2025
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Where We Are Going Today: Taste and Tales by Chef Shagufa

  • We shared three platters among the six of us, and needless to say, the portions were generous and the flavors satisfying

Relatively new on the block, Taste and Tales by Chef Shagufa, located in Jeddah’s Al-Rehab district, has been making quite a buzz on social media.

So, on a cool Friday morning at 7:00 a.m., five of my cousins and I decided to visit the restaurant to experience its much-talked-about traditional South Asian breakfast for ourselves.

We ordered the restaurant’s hyped breakfast thali (platter), which included sooji halwa (semolina pudding), kheer (rice pudding), chickpea curry, potato curry, pickles, pooris (fried, fluffy bread), and paranthas (layered flatbread), all served in beautiful copper serveware.

We shared three platters among the six of us, and needless to say, the portions were generous and the flavors satisfying. 

Personally, I enjoyed everything on the platter except the semolina pudding, which I found a little bland for my taste.

For drinks, five of us ordered milk tea, which was fairly good. One of my cousins opted for their famed Pakola lassi and couldn’t stop raving about it. Since she didn’t let any of us sample it, we’ve decided it’s something to try on our next visit.

Our total bill came to SR150 ($40), slightly higher than what nearby restaurants charge for similar breakfast platters. However, the taste, presentation, and overall ambience more than make up for the difference.

Not many South Asian restaurants in Jeddah offer decent dine-in breakfast seating for families, but Taste and Tales stands out. With its simple interiors and modest seating, the space is clean, comfortable, and welcoming. It’s definitely a place I’d visit again with my female friends, cousins, and family.