If you thought Saudi Arabia was reluctant to take on Western decadence, when it comes to food get ready to be surprised. Riyadh is full of American chains such as McDonald’s, Pizza Hut and Starbucks meaning you needn’t go without your quarter-pounder with cheese when visiting the kingdom. There is even an A&W restaurant serving up burgers and all-American root beer.

Western restaurants of a more distinguished nature are increasingly prevalent in the upscale hotels in the city where Italian food is common. Fans of chicken chow mein should also not have too much difficulty tracking down Chinese restaurants which appear both in hotels and stand alone on many high streets. For a good selection of numerous varieties of cuisine, head to the ever-popular Olaya street.

Local cuisine

If you’re seeking out authentic Saudi or Middle Eastern dishes then you won’t have to look hard. Dining out at local restaurants can be surprisingly good value. Middle Eastern kebabs, or shawarma, are found everywhere, so too restaurants serving aromatic rice with a small portion of chicken or lamb. Riyadh has a huge population of South Asians, so variations on this theme such as biryani and pilau rice are common in the city.