Finding the best Pakistani restaurant in Riyadh can be a hassle. With so many Indian, Korean, Italian, and Turkish restaurants in the city, it can be hard to choose from.
But you can’t forget Pakistani restaurants in the food scene. Their mouth-watering BBQ platters and biryani are known throughout the world.
Riyadh offers plenty of hidden gem restaurants that offer authentic Pakistani cuisine. So if you want that spicy biryani or maybe some chicken Nehari, these spots will be for you.
I tried over 30 Pakistani restaurants in the last month and shortlisted three of my favorites which are:
So let’s see the pros and cons of these restaurants so you can make informed decisions when going for your next lunch or dinner.
BBQ Tonight
This restaurant started in Pakistan in 1988 and with its early success, they moved to Saudi Arabia.
If you are looking for authentic Pakistani food in Riyadh, this place is for you.
This restaurant is known for its special BBQ and buffets, which are uncommon in these types of restaurants.
They have a detailed menu having different kinds of Pakistani dishes like biryani, Reshmi kebabs, and naan.
Their buffet is one of the most affordable ones I have seen in Riyadh so far. For just SAR 69 for adults and SAR 49 for children aged 6 – 12, you can get over 30 Pakistani dishes to try.
Location:
This Pakistani restaurant is located at 2623 Dirab Branch Rd, Ash Shifa, Riyadh 14713, Saudi Arabia, making it easily accessible for those in the southern part of the city.
Must Try Menu Items At BBQ Tonight
I would recommend just going with the buffet because it’s a total value for money but some specific dishes that I really loved are:
- Reshmi Kabab
- Chelo Kabab (Beef)
- Chicken Shashlik
- Chicken Biryani
- Beef Nihari
- Halwa Puri (Thurs, Fri, Sat)
- Jalebi (Sun till Wed)
Positive Reviews
I went through hundreds of reviews and the positive reviews are mainly about one thing and that’s their food. Most of the reviews just mention that this is the best Pakistani restaurant in Riyadh.
Specific reviews were about their BBQ and authentic flavors. If you are visiting a Pakistani restaurant you would want food to taste the same as it does in Pakistan and BBQ tonight does just that.
People praised two of their items specifically which is their seafood and obviously their BBQ. The meat is soft and tender never overcooked and people mentioned that the taste is always the same and never disappoints.
Negative Reviews
I went through the most recent reviews to get the most up-to-date reviews and returning customers mentioned that the food is just not as good as it used to be.
People also frequently complained that the staff was not well trained and people were rude.
A few mentioned that their food was not well cooked and was raw. Many reviews commented that the restaurant is sometimes full of smoke and does not have ideal conditions for a dine-out.
My Experience At BBQ Tonight
After reading reviews of people calling BBQ Tonight as the best Pakistani restaurant I went and tried different menu items.
When you walk into the restaurant the first thing you will feel is the smell of BBQ which is going to make you more hungry straightaway.
I tried many different dishes but Reshmi kabab and Fish Tikka were my favorite. The meat was tender and perfectly cooked.
Most reviews mentioned that the meat was sometimes overcooked or raw but in my case, it was just perfect.
However, the service did have some room for improvement. It seemed like the staff was a bit overwhelmed, and at times it was difficult to get their attention.
I would say that the food made up for all the inconveniences and I would rate this place as a 7.5 out of 10 for its ambiance, service, and food quality combined.
Red Onion Riyadh
Red Onion restaurant has a long history. It started in Pakistan in 1991 and then expanded to Saudi Arabian in the late 2000’s.
This Pakistani restaurant in Riyadh offers a blend of Indian, Pakistani, and Chinese cuisine. The restaurant branch in Riyadh is affordable and has a diverse menu.
If you are in the mood for dal or biryani or even a Chinese-inspired dish like vegetable Manchurian you will get it at Red Onion.
The restaurant has quite a simple and minimalistic ambiance but I have to say you will feel relaxed when you enter into it.
Location
This restaurant is located at Olaya St, Al Olaya, Riyadh 11372, Saudi Arabia.
Menu Highlights: Must-Try Dishes
- Bhuna Gosht
- Chicken Karahi
- Shrimp Karahi
- Chicken Biryani
- Palak Paneer
- Mutton Handi
- Kulfi Falooda
Positive Reviews About Red Onion
Positive reviews were mostly about Indian and Pakistani food because that is what people want to try when they go to this restaurant.
Their open buffet gets a lot of praise because of its low price and diverse menu. People specifically talked about their chicken karahi and handi as being one of the best in Riyadh.
Many people mentioned that the restaurant is spacious and can accommodate many people without feeling like being crowded.
Customers also praised that the location hosted their events nicely and the party hall is good for small gatherings and celebrations.
Negative Reviews About Red Onion
Negative reviews mentioned specifically that Chinese food was not up to mark but I guess that’s because the restaurant specializes in Pakistani and Indian Food.
People also mentioned that during peak hours the service becomes really slow and the restaurant is not able to handle the pressure properly.
Some people mentioned that the food tasted like it was not fresh but frozen. People also mentioned that the portions were big a few years back but now they have significantly reduced the portion sizes and increased prices.
Our Experience At Red Onion
After reading reviews and keeping them in mind I went to try this Pakistani restaurant.
I started off with soup but I have to say it was not really thick it felt more like water than soup so I would suggest going with some other starters.
The chicken karahi had a lot of praise and I think people were right about that. The karahi was cooked perfectly. The sauces used were really tasty and the chicken itself was soft.
The Mutton handi was really great but I think a bit compromised on the portion size. The ambiance was not really good and could be improved by a lot to compete with other restaurants in Riyadh.
Service and customer support were great and friendly.
For their food, ambience, and service I would rate this restaurant 8 out of 10.
Grill n Rice Pakistani Restaurant
This is one of the most popular Pakistani restaurant in Riyadh.
NOT ONLY PAKISTANI
This restaurant is also famous for its delicious Indian and Arabic food. The restaurant had early success with four branches in Bahrain and then they moved to Saudi Arabia.
You can find almost any Pakistani dish in this restaurant be it street food or traditional food.
The menu is extremely detailed and even has things like Samosa, Dahi Phulkiyan With Papri, Samosa Chaat, and papri chaat which I have not seen any other restaurant serving.
Their menu also has Chinese and Italian dishes but the best part is that they have a dedicated section in the menu for healthy food.
So if your friend is a vegetarian or wants something healthy you don’t have to take him to a special restaurant separately.
Their prices are pocket-friendly and have a simple yet elegant décor inside the restaurant.
location
Grill n Rice is located at Alwast Commercial Center, Near Salim Glass Al Kharj Road Riyadh Saudi Arabia.
Must Try Dishes
Based on hundreds of reviews and my own experience I would recommend you try these Pakistani dishes at Grill n Rice:
- Chicken Biryani
- Special chicken karahi
- Gol Gappy (Pani Puri)
- Grilled chicken with rice
- Grilled Chicken Rice Bowl
Positive Reviews
This restaurant had the most confusing reviews I ever came across so I had no idea what I was walking into when I visited it.
Positive reviews were mostly about Pakistani and Indian food. Their mutton dishes such as mutton karahi, mutton kebab, and mutton biryani are the most praised dishes by people.
The service of the restaurant is praised in most of the reviews along with the ambience of the restaurant.
Negative Reviews
Negative reviews came mainly in the western or fast food section such as wings and pastas. People also heavily criticized the BBQ section of this restaurant.
Their delivery riders were also given negative reviews because of their hygiene and long hours of wait.
Customers have noted that the restaurant has different cooks, so your experience can vary sometimes you leave satisfied, while other times the food might not seem worth the price.
Most reviews mentioned that the food was overly spicy, with many customers unable to finish their meals because of it.
Our Experience At Grill n Rice
When we visited Grill n Rice, our first impression was fantastic. The restaurant had a pleasantly cool temperature, and the lighting and seating were just right.
I knew that this restaurant was famous for Pakistani food so when placing the order I only went for Pakistani dishes.
The waiters were polite and really helped me decide the best dishes. The Mutton Karahi was richly spiced, with tender pieces of mutton that practically melted in our mouths. The Mutton Kebab was well seasoned, smoky, and juicy, pairing perfectly with their naan.
The BBQ platter however was a bit disappointing. I have tried many BBQ dishes before but this one just didn’t meet my expectations. It felt like some items were cooked in a hurry while some were left for too long and burnt.
Some dishes on the platter were still good but I think they still need some improvement. The prices were good and the overall feel of the restaurant covers up for the flaws in the restaurant.
I would rate this restaurant a solid 8.5 out of 10 for its food, ambiance and service.
Conclusion
So there you have it the best Pakistani restaurants in Riyadh for 2024 and beyond. If you haven’t tried Pakistani dishes in Riyadh before then starting out with these restaurants will set your standards pretty high.
One single restaurant cannot be perfect in all areas and each of these restaurants has its own positive and negative aspects.
But out of all the Pakistani food restaurants in Riyadh, I would say these three really stand out and bring something unique to the table.
So try these restaurants and let me know what your experience was like.
