Mariam Nihal

Saudi Gazette

Now you have a reason to travel all the way to Flamingo mall in Aziziyah. Yes, that part of town. They often say the best food comes from places that are far removed from luxurious display or served in gold soaked souvenirs. We all have our must-eat-from favorites back home. For Saudi, it’s Al Baik and for others, well we have a long list. Bar B Q Tonight is probably the best thing to hit Jeddah in a while. And we desperately needed one. It is nothing extravagant, so remember to expect a regular setting in a mall by the food court.



It offers you no extra credits or superfluous promises. But what it does offer is really extraordinary. With millions of South Asians in Saudi Arabia, their cuisine has become part of the Saudi household overtime. Filled with Saudi and South Asian families, the scene is quite puzzling. Sure, Arabs love Indian and Pakistani cuisine, but the scene here is far from the usual. You expect a certain class to be seated in a certain setting. But here, everyone is on a mission and that’s to dig into a delightful buffet that offers a huge variety and will make you cheat on even mom’s cooking.



The prices are SR 39 for adults on weekdays. Kids upto 6 are welcome for free, so you can only imagine the rush. But it’s no catastrophe. Sure everyone is excited to be there in huge numbers, but it’s a disciplined line all across the buffet and yes there is no ‘a la carte.’ This is probably the only occasion you would be willing to drive the distance, pull up in a foreign yet newly popular mall in Jeddah and accept the no-menu policy (because it is absolute justice).



The divergent menu offers Arab starters like baba ganouj, hommos, chicken corn soup and the best deep-fried fish (even if you aren’t a fan, you will be) in town. Then it leads you to the best part. Chicken and meat biryani and non-vegetarian rice is served next to delectable chicken karhai and korma (gravy) and even vegetables with butter naan. The quality is remarkable and the variety has been selected to cater to all tastes, which can be seen in non-spicy and vegetarian options. Karhi, which is another favorite in South Asian countries but not easily available throughout the Middle East is also a staple there, which further proves the strong selection of choices. Chicken and meat seekh kebabs are grilled perfectly with soft seasoning and mild spices. Their barbeque selection is tuned to Arab and Asian setting, which makes it far more appealing in taste. The desserts offer pudding, um ali and diet halwa (just to make sure you are convinced to go in guilt-free). Don’t expect a butler or a seven star experience, even with the friendly waiters, go in knowing this is your meal of the day and enjoy the chaos with your family and friends. You might as well get used to what may soon become a habit.



You can call them on 012 6769885