Jeddah is Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port city and the gateway to Makkah and Madinah, where the UNESCO-listed coral-stone houses of Historic Jeddah (Al-Balad), the long Corniche, the 300-metre King Fahd's Fountain and the Jeddah Waterfront sit along one sea-facing coast.
Jeddah's cooking is Hijazi, shaped by centuries of pilgrims and Red Sea trade: fish grilled or fried with sayadiya rice, saleeg, meat brik, ful and tamees bread at breakfast, and Yemeni and Indian touches such as marsi and spiced hareed. Historic Jeddah (Al Balad) holds the oldest fish houses and bakeries, while the Corniche, Yacht Club and Tahlia areas have Lebanese, Japanese, Indian and modern Saudi dining. Alcohol is prohibited everywhere in Saudi Arabia, so menus feature mocktails, fresh juices, laban and specialty coffee.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Jeddah.
Grilled or fried Red Sea fish with sayadiya
Whole najil, hamour or kanad grilled or fried and served over spiced fish rice; Jeddah's signature meal.
Where to try: Al Basali Seafood, Ba'eshen Fish, Twina Seafood, Fish Market
Price: About SAR 50-250 (~$13-67)
Hareed
Spiced grilled fish, a house speciality in Al Balad fish houses.
Where to try: Al Basali Seafood, Ba'eshen Fish
Price: About SAR 50-150 (~$13-40)
Meat brik with honey
Crisp pastry parcel filled with meat and topped with honey, a Hijazi classic.
Where to try: Samia's Dish
Price: About SAR 20-50 (~$5-13)
Saleeg
Creamy rice cooked in milk and broth, served with chicken; a Hijazi staple.
Where to try: Samia's Dish, Yaza
Price: About SAR 40-100 (~$11-27)
Ful, kibdeh and tamees bread
The traditional Hijazi breakfast of fava beans, fried liver and oven-baked bread.
Where to try: The Hijaz House, Tamees House
Price: About SAR 15-60 (~$4-16)
Marsi
Yemeni sweet of grilled white bread, cream and banana, popular in Al Balad.
Where to try: Bait Al Marsi
Price: About SAR 15-35 (~$4-9)
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Japanese
Seafood
Indian
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Al Baik broasted chicken
Saudi fast-food chain founded in Jeddah in 1974 and famous for crispy broasted chicken with garlic sauce; meals cost roughly SAR 17-35 (~$4.5-9).
Find it at: Dozens of branches across Jeddah, including Al Rawdah
Shabura bread and bakery snacks
Wheat bread and sweet rounds baked fresh in Historic Jeddah bakeries.
Find it at: Forn Al Sheikh, Al Balad
Sobia
Chilled sweetened barley or oat drink spiced with cinnamon, sold in Al Balad during evenings and Ramadan.
Find it at: Sobia Bar, north of Al Alawi Market Street, Al Balad
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Al Alawi and Al Nada markets, Al Balad
Old covered souqs inside Historic Jeddah with spices, dates, bakeries and breakfast counters; the Hawateen Alley fish houses sit at the end of Al Nada Market.
Hours: Roughly 09:00-12:00 and 16:00-22:00; shops vary
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Alcohol is prohibited across Saudi Arabia, so no restaurant serves it; mocktails, laban and fresh juices are the norm.
Some restaurants pause service for 20-30 minutes at prayer times; mall and hotel restaurants mostly stay open.
Al Balad fish houses are busiest after sunset and on Thursday and Friday; fish is priced by weight, so ask the price before ordering.
Reserve Corniche and hotel restaurants ahead for Thursday and Friday evenings through each venue's Instagram, Google Maps listing or hotel switchboard.
During Ramadan most restaurants open after sunset (iftar), and eating or drinking in public by day is not permitted.
A 15 percent VAT is included in menu prices; tipping of about 10 percent is customary where no service charge is added.
Food-delivery apps such as HungerStation and Jahez are widely used and work for solo travellers in hotels.
- Vegetarian
- Easy at Lebanese and Indian restaurants through mezze, falafel and vegetable curries; Hijazi mains are mostly fish or meat.
- Vegan
- Possible at Lebanese places and cafes; ghee and yoghurt are common, so ingredients should be checked when ordering.
- Halal
- All meat is halal; pork and alcohol are not sold anywhere in Saudi Arabia.
- Gluten free
- Grilled fish and meats, rice dishes and salads are the safest orders; breads are central to breakfast menus.
- Allergies
- Shellfish, nuts, sesame and dairy are common in Hijazi dishes and desserts; allergies should be stated clearly when ordering.
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | About SAR 15-50 (~$4-13) per meal | Al Baik meals, Al Balad bakery and breakfast stops, ful and tamees, marsi. |
| Mid-range | About SAR 60-180 (~$16-48) per meal | Ba'eshen Fish, Samia's Dish, Meez and The Lucky Llama. |
| Upscale | About SAR 250-500 (~$67-133) per meal | Corniche and Yacht Club dining at Maritime, Karamna, Niyyali, ROKA Jeddah and Rasoi by Vineet. |