Where We Are Going Today: Katf coffee shop in Riyadh

1 / 2
Katf is located in the eastern part of the city, a few minutes away from the Granada Mall, the coffee shop has a bright and feminine atmosphere, which is inviting. (AN photo by Haifa Alshammari)
2 / 2
Majority of the customers are from the companies nearby, which explains why I think Katf would be a great option for a take-away order. (AN photo by Haifa Alshammari)
Short Url
Updated 21 October 2025
Follow

Where We Are Going Today: Katf coffee shop in Riyadh

Located in the eastern part of Riyadh, a few minutes away from the Granada Mall, Katf coffee shop has a bright and inviting atmosphere.

The interior is simple and colorful, creating a pleasant first impression. However, the seating arrangements are not particularly comfortable, suggesting that the space might be designed for short visits rather than long study or work sessions. This design choice was somewhat surprising to me.

Although the cafe is quite small and the seating could be improved, many customers still seem to come to Katf to work or study.

The availability of Wi-Fi is a definite plus and adds to the cafe’s appeal as a convenient spot for brief productivity breaks.

However, what I genuinely appreciated at Katf was the coffee. The beans were perfectly roasted. One cup of the Coffee of the Day was enough to explain why many people come to the cafe, along with its reasonable prices and friendly staff.

I also ordered the zaatar, black olive and feta cheese babka that was beautifully displayed and one piece of the chocolate cake the cafe has named the “emotional cake.”

The food and service are my favorite things about this coffee shop. I also like the wall covered in positive notes — it is a thoughtful and creative way to invite customers to share their impressions of Katf and connect with the place.


Where We Are Going Today: Yashi

Updated 04 February 2026
Follow

Where We Are Going Today: Yashi

Located in Jeddah’s Mohammadiyyah district, Yashi offers a menu focused on Asian staples, from ramen and noodles to dumplings and curry.

The interior reflects its theme, with decor inspired by Asian motifs and a warm, inviting atmosphere that encourages diners to stay longer.

I started with a few light appetizers, including the surimi salad with sesame sauce and crispy rice with shrimp. Both were executed as described, the textures worked as expected and, most importantly, the flavors stayed on the traditional side. The kimchi wagyu taco is another dish worth trying, offering a subtle layer of heat. 

The menu may be simple and limited in offerings, but I chose to try three ramen dishes for the mains. The tom yum ramen featured slow-cooked chicken broth with grilled shrimp, fresh noodles, vegetables, and a soy-marinated egg.

The broth had a clear balance of tang and spice, though the shrimp could have been slightly more prominent in flavor. Secondly, the yuzu ramen, with grilled chicken and enoki mushroom tempura, features a yuzu-infused broth that adds a light citrus note, offering a unique flavor not found elsewhere in the city. 

The shoyu ramen, with wagyu beef slices in a 12-hour slow-cooked broth, offered tender meat and a flavorful broth. I also tried the spicy noodles with Chinese chili oil and wagyu beef. The heat was noticeable but manageable, and the bok choy added a fresh element to the dish.

A highlight is that the chili oil used in the noodles is available for purchase at the restaurant, allowing you to take a taste of Yashi home. 

Dumplings, including shrimp and beef gyoza, were prepared cleanly, with a solid filling-to-wrapper ratio. For dessert, the mango sticky rice was consistent with expectations, with the mango adding a fresh, fruity note to the dish.

The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday and is worth a visit.