Where We Are Going Today: Hareed Restaurant in Jeddah

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Updated 22 September 2025
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Where We Are Going Today: Hareed Restaurant in Jeddah

  • Hareed takes pride in slow-cooked dishes prepared with traditional techniques

Hareed, which is on Prince Saud Al-Faisal Road in Jeddah, is a destination for lovers of lamb. For Saudi Arabia’s 95th National Day it is offering a platter for three at SR195 ($52) and a larger platter for five at SR395.

Each of them includes grilled meat skewers, lamb shorba, sambusa, salad, and steamed rice, ideal for sharing.

The restaurant is also offering 25 percent off online orders and a special National Day menu with lamb and rice, and appetizers such as hummus, mutabal, muhammara, salad, and soup. 

The menu ranges from cold mezze such as Hareed’s shiwa’a salad and grape leaves fattah to hot mezze featuring liver skewers, lamb fattah, and mushrooms with cheese.

The stuffed pumpkin, which is filled with rice, freekeh, and lamb, is a creative standout, though the nuts may not suit all diners.

Hareed takes pride in slow-cooked dishes prepared with traditional techniques. The grilled neck, marinated and cooked for eight hours in special ovens, delivers tender, flavorful meat and is served with steamed rice.

The “lamb in jar,” which is simmered in broth with vegetables, is equally satisfying, though the portion size can feel modest.

Boneless lamb with rice and nuts is another favorite, rich and hearty. Chicken dishes include the classic saleeg and mulukhiyah chicken rolls.

Desserts range from cheese and cream kunafa to sticky toffee pudding, and the playful cinnabon cigar. 

While some portions appear small for the price and vegetarian options are limited, Hareed is great for diners with hearty appetites who want to enjoy lamb dishes.

It is also a popular choice for large families wanting to celebrate Saudi culture over a shared meal.

For more details, visit @hareedsa.

 


Where We Are Going Today: Auria

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Updated 02 March 2026
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Where We Are Going Today: Auria

  • The restaurant itself is very spacious, offering seating on both sides of the dining area

Situated on the bustling Takhassusi Road, Auria offers a high-end dining and bakery experience in the heart of the capital.

The best way to describe the restaurant is modern and cozy, featuring dim lighting, comfortable seating, and attentive staff.

Before diving into the menu and recommendations, it is worth noting the restaurant’s no-children policy — a choice that feels somewhat unusual given that Riyadh is such a family-oriented city.

Those arriving with children under the age of 13, whether with a reservation or as a walk-in, can expect to be turned away and denied service.

The restaurant offers a fine-dining experience characterized by smaller, more refined portions at a higher price point.

Most starters range from SR55 ($15) to SR75, while the majority of main dishes fall between SR85 and SR135.

Among the starters, the highly recommended dishes include the crispy shrimp tempura — four pieces served with a zesty chili-yuzu mayo — and the lobster kari, which features prawns, cream cheese, and a vibrant coriander-jalapeno dressing.

Another top-rated starter is the grilled corn salad, a vibrant mix of avocado, citrus, and fresh herbs topped with caramelized nuts. The shrimp salad also makes for a refreshing beginning, though it remains a third-choice contender when compared to the standout corn salad.

Regarding the pasta, both the penne arrabbiata and the rigatoni pecorino felt somewhat standard. While well-executed, they were not quite as exciting as the rest of the menu.

For the main courses, there is a choice of several proteins, including sea bass, lamb, veal, chicken and steak. Of these, the most highly recommended are the grilled prime angus fillet and the veal al limone.

The steak was exceptionally tender and juicy, yielding easily to the knife, while the veal was light and buttery with a bright citrus finish.

We were warmly greeted with traditional Saudi coffee, and throughout our meal, our coffee cup was never allowed to run dry.

The restaurant itself is very spacious, offering seating on both sides of the dining area.

While the oversized, cozy chairs are a key attribute of the luxurious ambiance, they are quite heavy and difficult to adjust, often requiring the assistance of a server to help you slide in or out of the table.

In addition to the lunch and dinner service, the restaurant offers a breakfast menu which we have not tried yet.

While the no-children policy and the premium price point may be factors, the quality of the food and the quiet, upscale atmosphere make it a notable, under-the-radar destination in Riyadh.