Self-Guided Qurban Street-Eats and Fish Crawl

The Self-Guided Qurban Street-Eats and Fish Crawl is a two-hour, independently organised food route through the Qurban district of south Madinah, in the Al Madinah region of Saudi Arabia. There is no tour operator and no booking is needed, so the route has no set start time, group or guide. The crawl follows Prince Abdul Mohsen Road and links four kinds of stop: the Qurban Fish Market, Al Jazeera Fish Restaurant, Kaki Bakeries and Sweets, and a fresh juice shop on Ali Ibn Talib Road. Visitors begin by looking over the stock at the Qurban Fish Market, then eat fried fish with rice at Al Jazeera Fish Restaurant, which forms the main savoury course. Next they buy pastries at Kaki Bakeries and Sweets, the sweet part of the route, and finish with pressed sugarcane juice. The balance is therefore roughly two savoury stops, one bakery stop and one drink. Food and drink are paid for at each stop; no tastings, transit or guide are included, and a budget of SAR 40-110 (about $11-29) covers a fish meal, pastries and juice. These prices are estimates. Distances between stops may call for a short taxi, so some transit cost should be allowed for. The crawl is self-paced, suited to individuals or small groups, and Arabic is the main language, though ordering is simple at counters. Fish dishes suit those avoiding red meat, while the bakery items contain wheat and often dairy or nuts, so visitors with allergies should ask at the counter. Dietary substitutions are informal and depend on each vendor. Evenings between October and March are cooler and are the most comfortable time for walking between stops.