The Lucky Llama

The Lucky Llama is a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant at 4056 Ibrahim Al-Anqari in the Al Mohammadiyyah district of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, serving Japanese-Peruvian Nikkei cooking. Nikkei cuisine grew from Japanese migration to Peru and combines Japanese technique with Peruvian ingredients and flavours, typically through raw fish dressed in citrus, chilli and similar accents. The Bib Gourmand is the Michelin Guide's distinction for good-quality cooking at moderate prices, and the restaurant's recognition reflects that value positioning in a city where Japanese dining is often expensive. Signature dishes include ceviche, in which raw fish is cured in citrus with chilli and aromatics, and Nikkei tacos, which blend Japanese and Peruvian flavours in a handheld format. Meals typically cost about SAR 80-200 (roughly $21-53) per person, a fraction of the cost of the city's top Japanese restaurants. The dining room is casual and lively, with a mood suited to relaxed dinners among friends and younger groups, and noise levels rise in the evening as tables fill. Dress is casual, with modest clothing expected in Saudi Arabia. Alcohol is not available in the kingdom, so the beverage programme leans on mocktails, juices, tea and soft drinks, which suits the citrus-led flavours of the food. Opening hours are not published, so visitors should confirm before going. The restaurant works largely on a walk-in basis, and Instagram is the best place to check for booking information. Because the Bib Gourmand has raised its profile, popular times such as Thursday and Friday evenings can be busy, and arriving early in the service or contacting the restaurant ahead improves the chance of a table. Visitors sampling the menu can order several small plates to share, mixing ceviche with a taco or two, which is the most economical way to try the range. The Al Mohammadiyyah location is convenient for visitors staying in the northern districts.