Where We Are Going Today: Mashwa Al-Balad Restaurant in Qatif
My family and I love this place because it usually solves the 'What are we having for dinner tonight?' feud when one of us wants a shawarma and others want kebab plates; rarely do restaurants offer such a wide selection of dishes and do them all well.
Let's start with the classic shawarma plates: Arabic beef and, my personal favorite, the Arabic chicken, both of which come with fries. Well-seasoned, tender, and with a portion size that is great as a full meal. They sometimes put a little too much garlic sauce for my liking, but others might prefer it that way.
If you're not a fan of the plates, they offer shawarma sandwiches in different styles as well, from classic to spicy to ones with a slight Mediterranean twist, served with pomegranate seeds and rocket leaves.
The stars of the show, however, are the kebab and grill wraps, including beef awsal (cubes), shish tawooq, beef kebab, chicken kebab, and chicken musahhab.
These wraps are so flavorful, you can taste the smokiness in every bite, and the meat is complemented by the sauces and salad toppings.
And of course, you can't forget about the classic grill plates, which include separate or mixed combinations.
What I like about Mashwa Al-Balad is that you can mix and match your favorite plates, sandwiches, and all the traditional appetizers (hummus, tabbouleh, grape leaves, and more) and ensure there's something for everyone at the table.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Argaam
22 minutes ago
- Argaam
Saudi Arabia posts SAR 27B BoP travel surplus in Q1 2025
Saudi Arabia achieved a record balance of payment (BoP) surplus of approximately SAR 26.8 billion for travel in Q1 2025, compared with a year earlier, driven by a significant increase in spending by international visitors. Spending by inbound tourists reached a record SAR 49.4 billion in Q1 2025, marking a 10% hike compared to Q1 2024, according to Ministry of Tourism. Accordingly, the first-quarter travel surplus grew by 12% year-on-year (YoY), the ministry said, citing data from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA). Travel surplus represents the difference between the spending of inbound and outbound travelers. Spending by outbound travelers reached SAR 22.6 billion by the end of March 2025, up from about SAR 21 billion a year earlier, as shown in the following table: Travel Item Details in BoP in Q1 2025 (SAR bln) Q1 2024 Q1 2025 Change Spending by Inbound Tourists 45.0 49.4 10 % Spending by Outbound Travelers* 21.0 22.6 8 % Surplus 24.0 26.8 12 % *Spending by Saudi nationals and residents The following table shows travel item in BoP since 2016: *Spending by Saudi nationals and residents
Arab News
29 minutes ago
- Arab News
International visitor spending in Saudi Arabia hits $13bn in Q1
RIYADH: International tourists spent SR49.37 billion ($13.16 billion) in Saudi Arabia during the first quarter of 2025, a 10 percent increase compared to the same period last year, recent data showed. According to figures released by the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA, the rise pushed the Kingdom's travel account surplus to SR26.78 billion, up 11.7 percent year on year, underlining the sector's growing contribution to the country's non-oil economy. This comes as Saudi Arabia accelerates its Vision 2030 push to position tourism as a pillar of economic diversification, raising its target to 150 million annual visitors by 2030 after surpassing the 100 million mark ahead of schedule. In 2024, the sector hit a milestone, with international tourism revenue soaring 148 percent from 2019 — the fastest growth among G20 nations. Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb, commenting on the sector's performance following the release of the Ministry of Tourism's 2024 Annual Statistical Report in June, said the document 'showcases the sector's remarkable growth and its role in enabling Saudi Vision 2030, a record performance achieved with the support and guidance of the Kingdom's visionary leadership.' The report said that Saudi Arabia welcomed 115.9 million tourists in 2024 — 29.7 million inbound and 86.2 million domestic trips — easily surpassing the Vision 2030 milestone of 100 million visits, five years ahead of schedule. Total visitor spending reached SR283.8 billion, of which SR168.5 billion came from international travelers and SR115.3 billion from domestic tourists. Since Vision 2030's launch, Saudi tourism has expanded at breakneck speed. Inbound arrivals have climbed from 17.5 million in 2019 to 29.7 million in 2024, a 70 percent jump, while their spending ballooned by 63 percent, from SR103.4 billion to SR168.5 billion over the same period. Domestic trips almost doubled, according to the annual report figures, rising from 47.8 million to 86.2 million over the same period. The sector's success is underpinned by multibillion-riyal investments in destination infrastructure. The first island resorts of the Red Sea Project will open later this year, while construction races ahead at NEOM's Trojena mountain resort and Riyadh's heritage-rich Diriyah Gate. Developers are lining up more than 320,000 hotel rooms, and Red Sea International Airport is expected to start commercial flights in 2025, sharpening long-haul connectivity for high-end travelers. Global recognition has followed, with UN Tourism data, cited in the Annual Statistical Report, showing Saudi Arabia ranked first among G20 nations for growth in international tourist numbers in 2024 and second globally compared to pre-pandemic levels. Speaking in April 2024, Ahmad Arab, founder of tourism and hospitality firm DRB Arabia and former deputy minister at the Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, told GLG Insights the industry is on track to create 1 million tourism-related jobs by 2030, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of the Kingdom's diversifying non-oil economy. A notable trend, according to the Ministry of Tourism's annual report, is the shift toward leisure travel. Non-religious visits accounted for 59 percent of inbound arrivals in 2024, up from 44 percent in 2019, as streamlined e-visas, entertainment seasons, and high-profile sporting events broadened the Kingdom's appeal. Egypt remained the top source market with 3.2 million visitors, followed by Pakistan with 2.8 million and Bahrain with 2.6 million. Makkah Al-Mukarramah led all destinations with 17.4 million overnight foreign visitors, while Riyadh and Jeddah also attracted millions. Domestic tourism is expanding in parallel: trips rose 5 percent to 86.2 million in 2024, fueling record domestic outlays of SR115.3 billion. Leisure remained the top purpose, helped by school-holiday campaigns and new regional festivals. With first-quarter spending at an all-time high and visitor volumes already outpacing long-term targets, Riyadh's next challenge is to sustain capacity growth while maintaining service quality.
Al Arabiya
37 minutes ago
- Al Arabiya
Iran's western and central airspace closed to international flights, ministry says
Iran's western and central airspace is closed to international transit flights for safety reasons while the country's eastern airspace is open to flights, Iran's SNN cited a spokesperson for the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development as saying on Wednesday. Internal and external flight cancellations in the northern, southern and western parts of the country have been extended until Thursday 14:00 local time, SNN added.
