Top 5 Filipino Food You Can Find In Riyadh

And finally, we write about the restaurants serving Filipino food. You might be wondering why it took us so long to do so. We are proud to be Filipinos. You know that right? We practically announce it every time! (If this shirt doesn't even do it, we don't know what will!) But it's quite hard to feature Filipino food when we are Filipinos! Why? Because we're so used to the home cooking of our parents, grandparents, and other relatives that we tend to compare them to what we eat in Filipino restaurants. A lot of disagreements, opinions, and comments would ensue that might cast doubt to our feature. One of the most commented photo that I uploaded in our Facebook page was a bowl of kare-kare* (beef in peanut stew). A lot of readers replied with suggestions on where to get the best kare-kare in Riyadh. 

Anyway, months ago, we received a question from one of our readers, Arafat Khondokhar (hello! :), asking us where to go so he can try Filipino food. A dozen of Filipino restaurants came into my mind. They jumbled in my brain for quite some time because I couldn't decide where to send him first. There are only two places where Filipino restaurants are clustered --- in Batha and in Suleimania near the Military Hospital (RKH). 

Below are my suggestions. And also a primer to the best kinds of Filipino dishes we have to offer. You can bombard our comments section with your own recommendations but let's try to keep it gentle. Let's not overdose other nationalities with information on Filipino food. Haha! Keep the excitement to a minimum.

1. Kare-Kare (Oxtail in Peanut Stew) - Pinoy Restaurant in Batha

Yummy kare-kare!

One of my favorite Filipino dishes! Kare-kare is a combination of stewed oxtail and vegetables in a stew flavored with ground roasted peanuts or peanut butter. Sometimes, they also put beef meat, offal or tripe. The veggies include eggplant, cabbage, and green beans. I personally like my the peanut gravy thick and a bit coarse. I also like the bagoong alamang (shrimp paste) that goes with it sweet and spicy. You can find the better kare-kare in Pinoy Restaurant in Batha, just across the Military Hospital (RKH). The consistency is just right and the stew is yummy. A runner-up for me would be the kare-kare in Dampa Restaurant and Peak Restaurant in Suleimania near French Corner (cheap too!).

*When I posted the kare-kare picture in our Facebook page, most commenters said the best can be found in D' Potters Haus Restaurant. I agree. However, I was recently informed that the restaurant is already closed.

2. Sisig - Blue Ribbon Restaurant in Suleimania

Spicy sisig!

Another favorite Filipino dish is sizzling sisig, a dish made from parts of pig's head and liver seasoned with calamansi and chili peppers. It's best paired with a beer. Of course, since pork is not allowed here in Saudi Arabia, sisig comes in either chicken or beef. And beer is also non-existent here, so settle for a regular ice cold Coke. There was a time when we were obsessed with the chicken sisig of Blue Ribbon, again located across the Military Hospital (RKH) in Suleimania. We order it every time we have food delivered from Blue Ribbon. I recently found out that the beef version is tastier. A runner up would be La Paz Batchoy's sizzling beef sisig with egg. It's oily, fatty, and hot --- or what a sisig should be. It's just a stone's throw away from Blue Ribbon Restaurant.

3. Pancit - Pinoy Restaurant in Batha

Pancit Bihon. Photo from MyPinoyRecipes

In Filipino cuisine, pancit is the general term for noodles. We Filipinos (and the Chinese who gave this "convenient food" to us) mean business when it comes to pancit. We have a lot of varieties; it's as if each province has their own take on this beloved dish. That doesn't count the version we cook at home that's why finding the best pancit some where else is tricky. The mixed pancit of Pinoy Restaurant in Batha is a family favorite. It's a mix of canton (flour sticks) and bihon (rice vermicelli). A runner-up would be the pancit of Blue Ribbon Restaurant; chock full of ingredients and flavorful. Perfectly paired with their pan de sal (salt bread).

4. Sinigang - Goodah Soos Restaurant in Suleimania

Healthy, sour sinigang. Photo from Live Less Ordinary.

 Sinigang, a popular Filipino viand, is a soup consisting of meat and vegetables in a clear, sour, savory broth. It's quite good for this weather! And just about any other day. I'm not much a fan of soupy viands so I had to ask someone else for an opinion in this matter. My sinigang connoisseur (lol) picked the sinigang na tanigue (mackerel fish) of Goodah Soos Restaurant in Suleimania because of its balanced flavor. Not too sour. Runner up would be La Paz Batchoy's.

5. Chicken Barbecue - Pasalubong Restaurant in Batha

Grilled marinated chicken. Photo from Laurindaw

This is not exactly a Filipino original. Not even sure if it's considered a viand since it's practically just chicken parts that are marinated and grilled. The Asian kind of barbecue is the one you find skewered and grilled but there's also the variant you'll see widely in Riyadh: the chicken pieces rubbed with spices and left in a mix of liquid condiments and grilled. Since I always look for the sweet and spicy kick in all things I eat, I recommend the Chicken Barbecue of Pasalubong Restaurant. There was a time that it's the only pasalubong (treat given when you come from another place) I want from Batha. Try the chicken barbecue in stick of La Paz Batchoy in Suleimania too.

So there you go. Maybe you'll agree with me, maybe you won't. If it's the latter, kindly suggest more Filipino dishes other expats can try and where they can avail of them. It's a good way to introduce the Filipino cuisine to other Riyadhizens. Yallah, ro! ;) ~ Sundrenched


Mentioned restaurants:

SULEIMANIA AREA
I like to call this place "Little Batha" because most of the establishments important to expats (particularly for Filipinos) can be found here, just like in Batha. There's Enjaz, Telemoney, Alrajhi Bank and Alrajhi Supermarkets. Most of the Filipino and Thai restaurants are also concentrated in this area.

Please disregard my lack of chronological placement of letters on the photo above, haha!
A. Blue Ribbon Restaurant - +966-50-665-7160
Other good dishes you can order are Spicy Chicken Wings and Sizzling Bangus.

B. D' Potter's Haus Restaurant (CLOSED)

C. La Paz Batchoy Restaurant - +966-11-477-9647
You can order online via Talabat.com

D. Peak Restaurant
They don't deliver but they have the most affordable Filipino meals.

E. Goodah Soos Restaurant - +966-11-477-5995
They have lechon kawali but it's beef (seryoso, umasa ka na pork yan?! Hehe!). 

If you're looking for a smorgasboard of Filipino dishes, then try the affordable buffets in Kamayan and Dampa which are located a mere meters away from the famous Filipino fast food restaurant Jollibee, which you can also visit for Chicken Joy and Yum Burger.


BATHA AREA
The famous Batha... the place where Filipino, Indian, and Pakistani expats converge. You'll find a lot of Filipino/Thai/Chinese restaurants in this area too. Apart from the mentioned ones, you will find Quiapo, Cabalen, and Al Bahar restaurants here. Kruathai both in Suleimania and Batha, which is more of a Thai restaurant, also offers Filipino dishes.

A. Pinoy Restaurant 
Try their sisig, lumpiang shanghai, and kare-kare too.

B. Pasalubong Restaurant

There are so many Filipino restaurants in Riyadh already! Wow! I think this entry deserves a part 2 noh?

Up The Riyadh Water Tower

One of the iconic landmarks that I first saw when I got here in Riyadh in 2008 was this tall striped tower that fans out upward looking like a standing top or a mushroom with its head upside down from afar. We always see it when we go to Batha. Almost everyone I asked about it says it's a "water tower." Ermn, oookay. So is it filled with water? Does it supply the whole of Riyadh? Is it true that there's a restaurant on top? Can we go up there?

An icon; photo taken from the U-turn slot to Batha

Five years and 2 months after, I already have the concrete answers. First, it's not filled with water. Second, it doesn't supply the whole of Riyadh with water. It was built to supply water to the former Murabba Palace founded by King Abdul Aziz in 1936. This palace compound is now home to the King Abdul Aziz Historical Centre comprising of a remodeled mosque, the National Library, the Memorial Hall, the National Museum of Saudi Arabia, and the King Abdul Aziz Foundation for Research and Archives. (We featured the National Museum of Saudi Arabia in the blog in 2009. Read it here and here.) To the south of this compound is the Riyadh Water Tower which was also remodeled. A small theme park was built around it. Below this tower structure lies four floors of water. So yes, it is indeed a water tower. But we're talking about its basement and not its stalk. There's no restaurant on top. Maybe before but none anymore. Finally, yes, you can go up.

An airplane ride in Al-Watan Park

The tower itself is inside the Al Watan Park, which is a bit retro-looking for us. It's as if time stood still in this theme park: the rides were a bit old and looks rickety, the displays were worn out, the staff looks bored and tired, and the food looks stale and there were very few choices (if you consider three stalls of Corn in a Cup choices then urmn, you haven't left your house for a long time). Maybe we went on a humdrum night and there weren't many people but still. It felt like we were in a trance and were trapped in an old toy kingdom. Well if you think about it, maybe they're just keeping up with the theme of the whole complex... you know, history. Hehe. Jk. Anyway, there's a 5 riyals entrance fee. You can enter via the entrance near the KAHC or the main entrance with the old tower in front.

The entrance gate near the tower

Gold and light blue stripes

The ground around the tower

Tickets to the old water tower, priced at SR 10 per person can be bought at the entrance gate. We proceeded to the tower entrance and we were greeted by a staff who got our ticket stubs and told emphasized that we need to pick the 16th floor button on the elevator. So we were expecting that maybe, there were other buttons to other floors... only to be greeted by a button which says 0 for ground floor and uh, 16, which is meant for the 16th floor. Just two choices and yet, we were specifically told to choose the button which says 16. Uhhh, of course!!! Hahaha! Oh, and he also warned us not to throw anything from above; eyeing our bottles of mineral water suspiciously. Seriously, why would we do that?! And there are people who do that?! Tsk.

The entrance to the elevators

Upon landing on the the 16th floor, we were greeted by emptiness. There was no restaurant. Maybe remnants of it but it was long gone. So here's what we saw:

Why, hello Riyadh!!!

The swiveling doors leading to the outside

Here lies the restaurant that is no longer here. :P

Chairs to savor the moment

The old water tower viewing deck has lost its glory, especially with the rising of the new and more modern buildings like the Faisaliah Tower and the Kingdom Tower but we found the old water tower charming in its old, nostalgic feel. It's nearer the views, with iron gates impending your view, but if you can see past that, you'll get glimpses of the traditional Riyadh. 

Batha area

Riyadh, the other side

The busy street leading to King Fahd Road

KAHC onwards

Faisaliah and Kingdom in the distance

The KAHC below; Al Murabba district

We saw Batha, the beloved expat's haunt. We saw the modern towers in the distance; so near yet so far. We saw the KAHC grounds below. We saw the the glittering lights of places on the outskirts of Riyadh. We saw Salam Park, or rather, the tree outlines and shadows covering it, and the Dirah area. 

Here are some panoramic shots:

The Suwaidi District and beyond

The City Centre and beyond

We also saw a lovely couple, the only two persons with us on the top, sitting in an old carpet and sharing a meal. Awww, sweet! Yes, it is a simple dating place (for married couples only, please). It doesn't have the crowd and the craziness of the city center. More importantly, it has the silence that lets you share more meaningful conversations. Best to go there during the early days of winter though. It's quite warm now and the sandstorm has just spread its dust here.

Al Watan Park is open from Thursdays to Saturdays during Ramadan but for a limited time only.

The National Museum of Saudi Arabia

Combine your visit with a tour of the National Museum of Saudi Arabia. Chances are, you'll be the only persons in the huuuge place. You can take photos and yes, you can also frighten yourself and your friends ala A Night at the Museum. Check schedules here. 

Yallah, go! ;) ~ Sundrenched

Riyadh Water Tower
Al Watan Park
King Faisal Road, Al Futah, 
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Contact Form
Map

Red marks the spot.

Directions: From Lulu Hypermarket in Riyadh Avenue Mall, go straight towards the Deira area. You'll see the museum grounds on the right. Go straight past the museum grounds and the stop light. The water tower is on your right. 

Random Thursday {September 06}

It's another Thursday again! Yes! 

We'd like to thank everyone who signed up and showed interest in our women's workshop, The Pink Tarha Mornings. We received an overwhelming response and we wished we could accommodate all of you but we'd like to keep the workshop small for now so we can focus on the subjects. Who knows there might be a second one? Haha. And for those who emailed us good things about the blog, THANK YOU VERY MUCH! We appreciate them and we promise to make the blog better.

So how are you this fine Thursday morning? I'm sure most of you are still asleep. Let me guess, it's the men who are snoozing overtime. Haha. As for yours truly, I'm having breakfast while typing this. How I can feed myself spoonfuls of sinangag (Filipino fried rice) while tapping away in my keyboard is beyond me. But hey, a Pink Tarha lady's got to do what a Pink Tarha lady's got to do. Haha!

Here's a round up of interesting things this week...

Abu Bakr Ar Razi Street, the street going to Military Hospital from Dabat Street, is my neighborhood and from what I'm seeing, it's becoming a little Batha. From having branches of Enjaz, Telemoney, salons, and popular Filipino restaurants and bakeries, this street is the mini "place to be" for Filipino expats. The opening soon Jollibee branch is also here and Skyfreight for cargo and TFC transactions. Wow, I'm glad I live in this area. Although I might have to rethink that once traffic and the huge crowds get in.

I was cleaning my closet when I chanced upon my stash of Bath and Body Works, which I got from the sale a few months back. These are my favorite scents, along with Sweet Pea. There's a new line in B&BW with the theme, "Paris". Have you seen it in the stores yet? But before hoarding again, check your closets and cabinets for B&BW products that you might have bought before. I'm sure you have them in there. Use them first, or better yet give them away as pasalubongs. I'm sure my sisters are already eyeing the babies above.

Have you tried Lush's Emotional Brilliance cosmetics line already? You should! They have it in this cute containers that remind you of art supplies or a medicine bottle/dropper. Haha! There are words in there that speak about and match your personality. They sure pack a lot of colors. See my mini review below.

Beauty reviews

I've had these amazing products for a few weeks already and have used them a couple of times. The Tito Nail Polish came from one of our favorite nail spas in Riyadh, Four Nail Spa and Salon. They come in 99 vibrant colors. Macau, a gorgeous and elegant blue green color with shimmers, caught my attention immediately. The nail polish itself was easy to apply and goes on smooth. It doesn't hurt that it's perfect for the dry weather in Riyadh. It doesn't chip easily and the color stays vibrant for days.

The liquid lip color Believe came from Lush's Emotional Brilliance line and dare I say it? It is indeed brilliant. A little drop goes a long way. It really packs a wallop of that solid raspberry ice cream color. So pigmented! I had the mistake of putting too many in my cheeks (yes, it can be used as blush) and my driver looked stunned when he saw me. Hahaha. So now, I just use a small drop for my lips and cheeks. The color is good and it lasts longer compared to the usual lipstick. I suggest you put a balm on your lips first before swiping it on. Oh, and use a proper lip brush.

You know what's good to eat on a Thursday brunch? Fresh pizzas and bruchetta! Piatto, our venue for the Pink Tarha Mornings, have these! Don't they look so good to eat right now? Oh yes, we are excited for our first workshop and it's great we have a very good venue for it. I mean, how refreshing will it be to learn something new in a courtyard and having a nice brunch after?

Speaking of eating, I'm reminded of these "sporks" our boss got for us via online shopping. He does know how much we love to eat. Haha. And this is more than a spork because if you look closely, it even has a "knife" in there. Genius! Perfect for guerilla eating! Hehe. I wonder if this comes in pink?

Yesterday, the ladies and I were going gaga over Solestruck's SALE. Hello, shoes!!! And I remembered we haven't shown you what we bought from the last Solestruck sale a few months ago. So here it is! Or them. Our friend got those patented purple, okay shocking purple, boots from Ego and Greed. She loved them! I got the fuchsia gladiator sandals from the To Be Announced line. You won't believe how many times I had to wrap the black lace on my legs before I was done putting them. Hahah. But they're nice and definitely a scene stealer. The Michael Kors box contains a pair of black boots and the girl scout box? It's a Jeffrey Campbell pink Moochie. Oh you just have to wait for the ones we ordered yesterday. You'll be shocked. Hahah.

To end this random Thursday entry, I bring you a photo I snapped on the way home. Yes, that is still in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia even if it reminds me of somewhere else. We just know Riyadh as that hot, stifling, strict city that doesn't have much to offer aside from sand when it comes to "nature". But if you just know where to look, you will also get to see glimpses of the other side of Riyadh - simple, bright, hopeful - from time to time.

Have a nice weekend, everyone! ~ Sundrenched

Batha Comes Undone

This topic is special to The Pink Tarha. However, it took us this long to write about Batha, the famous hang-out place of Filipinos in Riyadh. We've mentioned Batha a few times in entries yet we stall writing about Batha itself. But even though we've procrastinated for so long, we cannot not write about Batha. And this article, which detaches from our usual light, funny way of writing, will tell you why.

How do we capture the spirit of Batha? On its own, it emits a rhythm different from the rest of Riyadh. And the Filipinos know the tune by heart. Some say that you haven't been anywhere unless you've set foot, immersed in, and left Batha. For the other nationalities, Batha is just a place but we Filipinos give it an extraordinary meaning. This labyrinthine souk gives a sense of exhilaration; both jaded and hopeful. For us, Batha is a culture.

The place, the way of life.

Growing Roots

There has always been an inevitable pull, a need to go to Batha because most Filipinos go there and you need a place to grow roots in. It's a place where you find yourself hopelessly lost in the pockets of the familiar and the unfamiliar. You see it and you remember what it was like in the Philippines - busy, crazy, fascinating... nostalgic in a way.

On a Friday night, especially during the salary weekend, Batha is filled to the brim. You cannot go in because police cars are stationed in every entrance forcing vehicles to find other entrances to no avail. They close the place. Seriously, Batha is like a shop that they can close on hours they like because once Batha is packed, you'll wonder how on earth will you survive a stampede. Just in case there is one. Once the onslaught of vehicles containing Filipinos and other nationalities arrive, you cannot find a tiny spot in the huge parking lots that is empty. Not even for a half of your car. The sidewalk no longer caters to the masses but is an extension of the parking lot. You must be nuts to enter Batha at a time like this but Filipinos who know the drill, like die-hard fans, arrive as early as 4:00 in the afternoon (after the asr prayer) and never leave until the place empties out well into the night.

Goodies from the homeland.

What will you do in Batha? A lot, if you're up to it. For one, you'll find the familiar brands of grocery items in your list. The Pinoy Supermarket, one of the more familiar ones, offer a lot of products that are embedded into your soul, brands that you grew up with and settled in your taste buds like Oishi and Jack n' Jill. Or maybe choco mallows and krunchies. Lily's peanut butter and Star margarine perhaps? Or Philippine mangoes, saging na saba, and durian. You can even find these in the Arabic-named supermarkets like Al-Rajhi and Al-Swalim. They cost an arm and leg but what the hell. They're comfort food and comfort is scarce thus expensive in this side of the world. Freshly baked bread (oh heavenly pan de sal) and rice cakes are available too. Fresh meat and seafood can be found in small alleys and unpaved streets at the outskirts. This alley keeps a Quiapo. See, a Quiapo in Riyadh. How can this be? Quiapo is a restaurant though and just one of several restaurants that offer Filipino food in the area. All your food cravings are satisfied but of course, you will still feel incomplete: an ingredient missing, a sauce tasting different, if not far, from what you were used to, a gustatory experience losing its bite. Everything is from the Philippines but they're not just the same. You expected better but you take what is there. At least they're there.

Quiapo right here!

Everything seems to be cheaper in Batha, except the Philippine brands, that's why Filipinos go there for cellular phones, laptops, and appliances... you name it, they have it. Most salesmen are Filipinos too so you can discuss and ask for opinions and, more importantly, discounts. They will almost always give you presyong kabayan, even under the glare of their ibang lahi (other nationalities) counterpart. You can buy pasalubong for your vacation - from perfumes to slippers (er, flip-flops), sneakers, clothes, and chocolates. You buy them from your suki or from those perennial irritating but somewhat amusing ibang lahi shouting "Suki! Suki! Bili na, suki!" in their unique accent. They try hard and you try hard to stiffle the laughter because you've never bought anything from them yet they call you suki. Do they even know the meaning of the word? Nevertheless, it's really interesting so you go on your way with a smile.

But the most important thing why Filipinos go to Batha (and I'm appalled why I didn't bring this up there before talking about food), is of course, remittance. If you combine the lines (or what seems like lines) in remittance counters in Batha every salary day, you'll get a Wall of China. It's crazy seeing the lines and it's crazier lining up. The wait will test your patience but it is needed to be done first and foremost. Before you buy your groceries or make chismis with your friends over shawarmas from CFC, you line up at the remittance centers and you don't care how long, how time-consuming, and how boring this task is. Not to mention, back-breaking from the start. You do it because it is the number one priority. Of course you can also pay your SSS, Pag-Ibig and what-have-yous here.

The crowd will soon swallow you by the end of the day. Whether you’re alone catching up with friends or you came with your friends, you soon discover that Batha is a piece of the homeland. In the midst of other Filipinos, you’re somewhat home. It’s not it but it sure feels like it.

Peeling Off The Charm

You feel at home in Batha because you see a lot of Filipinos, people like you. You share a lot of things in common. You see yourself in them and you see Batha as Divisoria or Tutuban or Quiapo or Monumento. And then you see snippets of Saudi Arabia merge and interweave with what you know, shaking you to the core, and making you surrender within a call of the salah. You're home but not in your own house. It still retains the dry air of an Arabian city - different, suffocating, beguiling.

The notorious religious police roams Batha like hawks out to catch their prey - men and women flirting, a woman without a tarha (veil), a man in need of a haircut, a woman with too much make-up on, a man to be converted. They see you; they see right through you. You hear all the urban legend and you heed the pieces of advice. Don't talk to the other gender. Don't look at them in the eye. Avoid using your cellphones (or else they might think you're in an eyeball of some sort). Don't wear red lipstick. Don't wear shorts. Stick with the group you came with. Don't pick up a stray piece of paper crumpled to make like innocent piece of garbage; scrawled inside is a set of numbers. You get the drift. Just don't, don't, don't. So many rules, most of them unwritten. Take everything with a grain of salt.

An infamous mosque in Batha sits in the corner, opposite the Pasalubong/Quiapo alley. Our Muslim friends thrive in the sacred ground and for the non-Muslims, it's a place to be slightly avoided. Feared, maybe, but certainly not ignored. For one, there's a huge television showing a sheikh, his Arabic speech resonating within a few meters of the area, preaching those who want to listen. You stare at it, listen for a minute and grasp what's being said. Maybe you were raised on a different religion in the homeland so you can't easily digest what you're hearing and you go on your way and resume your errands. When you pass by it a second time, you're enthralled with the whole set-up again; a realization on how really strong one faith is in this part of the world dawns.

Jam-packed!

And so you find telltale signs that no, you’re not in the Philippines. Not even close. The warm, dry air envelops your being and reminds you that you’re a mere visitor in this kingdom.

Wrapping It Up

A part of Batha is dedicated to the Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis but the area hugged by Manila Plaza, Electron building, Telemoney building, and the Pinoy Supermarket is where you’ll see many Filipinos, a domain of some sort. This is where fear, faith, aspirations, materialism, humility, and pride meet. This is where the Filipinos’ hopes and dreams converge; making the place worth a thousand volumes of stories that render you speechless and that never end. Here in this bustling side of the hot desert you'll find boundless hospitality and friendly faces. Your very own.

Where to next?

Sometimes, you go to Batha, look at it, immerse a little and find out the crowd suffocates you, the dust gets in your eyes, the trash reminds you of the slums... you don't like the place. But then you return because it already grew on you. And your roots have grown in the place. Either you come and leave, or don’t leave or return at all. There's nothing like Batha. It means a lot to Filipinos in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It means a lot to you. Even if you don't admit it that much.

So the Pink Tarha loves the malls but when it comes to newbie Filipinos in Riyadh asking where to go first in the city, we definitely put them to the test, the same way each Filipino in Riyadh has been initiated with... "Go to Batha!," we answer with a grin. We'll applaud once this place gets under your skin.

As to Your Jollibee Qs

Hey, you! Look who dropped by!

Read the first part of our Jollibee entry here.

I'm lost. Where is Jollibee in Riyadh located?
Jollibee is located in Batha. (You're not a Filipino if you don't know where Batha in Riyadh is.) It is behind City Food Court (where you get your shawarma fix), in front of Skyfreight (where you usually pay your TFC dues), and above the Al-Rajhi Supermarket. It's in the second floor so you have to go up the escalator but because of long lines, customers will be held back on the first floor. The escalator might collapse if people will wait there too.

I can't go to Batha! Because you know, Batha is well... Batha. Will there be other Jollibee branches in Riyadh?
Yes! But you might have to wait a little longer to see them. Three branches are planned to be put up in Riyadh. One will be in Olaya to be put up later this year and one will be in Suleimania, near the Military Hospital to open middle of this year. The latter will have a drive-thru service. (Sundrenched is one luckier lady because she lives near the future branch. Too near, in fact, that she'll be ones taking our orders once it opens! Lol!)

Still, why in Batha?! Why did they not open a branch in the mall, like the Jollibee branch in Al-Khobar located in Al-Rashid Mall?
So you have more time to line up! Lol. Just kidding but partly true. Mall hours are limited so by the time the mall closes, the branch should also close. They opened a stand-alone branch to cater to more customers at a more flexible time. A stand-alone branch can also offer a drive-thru like their plan for the Suleimania branch. And why not in Batha? Almost all Filipinos go to Batha and Jollibee's target market is of course, Filipinos. Other nationalities get curious and enter but you can't expect them to line up for Chickenjoy when they have their own broasted chicken. The Suleimania area in between the Military Hospital and King Fahd Medical Center houses many Filipinos too (there are many Filipino restos there) so what better location right?

I'm not sure if the lining up is worth it. Is the food exactly the same as the ones in Jollibee Philippines? Do they taste the same?
The truth is NO. They're not the same. Truly you can't expect them to import everything right? After all, Saudi Arabia has stricter policies when it comes to food products. Certain ingredients are banned and everything must be Halal. All imported goods should be certified by the government and as of the moment, not all ingredients used in the Philippines are certified for Halal. Not all products found in the Philippine menu is available but most of the basics are. The Chickenjoy though is almost the same. Billy tells us that he likes the Saudi Arabia Chickenjoy more because the chicken is from Saudi Arabia. And you know the Kingdom when it comes to their chicken. The meat is leaner and higher in quality and they make use of the premium parts. They use the same marinade and coating though so it's still good. The burgers and fries are fine. The spaghetti and palabok have a different color and taste though. Maybe it's just for the soft opening so let's see...

*They don't have peach mango pie but they have halo-halo, which you can't find in the Philippine menu.

Surely the prices are more expensive if some of the ingredients are imported. Are the meals worth gold?
Not exactly. They're more or less the same as the Philippines. A 2-pc Chicken Joy Meal is SR12. This is priced at P131.00 in the Philippines. The Spaghetti Meal is SR8 (P75.00 in the Philippines). The prices are affordable.

Wait, you haven't brought up the most important thing of all: Is there gravy? IS THERE GRAVY?!?!
Okay, hold your breath. There is gravy for the Chickenjoy. There is! Promise! We are so used to the garlic sauce used for the broasted chicken here so the gravy is such a welcome change. The first time we tried the gravy (we were given Chickenjoy by R's husband two days before we visited the branch), it was runny. Like water colored brown but it still tasted like the gravy we were used to... medyo malabnaw pero pwede na. When we had Chickenjoy on our store visit, the gravy is now more consistent with the one we have in the Philippines. Do you have to pay for extra gravy? That we don't know because when we asked nicely, they gave us extra little tubs for free. :)

How long will we be lining up?
Okay, that depends on the days or time you're going. The last time E's mother lined up, it took her 1 1/2 hours. The last time S' brothers went to Jollibee, their experience was: "they came, they saw, they left asap!" The last time S' father lined up, that was the last time he'll probably ever line up for Jollibee. He only lasted 15 minutes in his line. Lol. (What's with men and lining up? Walang EQ. Hindi makapag-antay! Hahaha!) But don't be discouraged! The number of visitors might lessen as the months go by but surely, there will always be lines. And knowing us Filipinos, we cannot not have a taste of Jollibee! Maybe our of sheer curiosity or maybe through your children's pleading, Surely, you will give in to your kids right?

Speaking of the kiddos, is there a Kiddie Land for the kids? What about Kiddie Meals?
You might have seen the signage for a Kiddie Land but they still haven't put it up. It will be installed in the family section on mid-March. Yes, they have kiddie meals with toys that came from the Philippines. What about other merchandise like a Jollibee stuff toy? Well, let's just say it's not easy passing through KSA's custom inspection. That needs a lot more permits and requirements to be met.

I want to dine in. Do they have enough tables and chairs?
The store has a seating capacity of 215 at the ladies and family section while there are 180 seats at the bachelors.

Hmn, I'm not really keen in lining up. Does Jollibee deliver? Will they offer party services?
Nope, Jollibee does not deliver. As of the moment. They're working on it. As for party services? Yes, they're working on it too. Details will be available soon.

I'm sure the muttawas are crawling the place by now. I'm scared to go. The Jollibee in the '90s closed because of those frequent visits by the muttawas.
Well, the muttawa is a staple in every corner of Saudi Arabia. They are always there and they do visit restaurants in Batha a lot. Sometimes, every night. But you can't be bothered by a muttawa unless you are doing something wrong like maybe not wearing your tarha or being with a guy not related to you. What is so wrong in going and eating at Jollibee? Muttawas entering Jollibee for a check is natural. Seeing muttawas all over a place is not a random phenomena. You should get used to it by now. The family section of Jollibee will have more divided eating slots in the future. Dividers are available if you want to use one. As for the last statement, you can't be too sure that the pressure from muttawas closed the branch in Batha before. We heard that it closed because of some franchise disagreement. So don't be afraid of the muttawa in the place. They'll always be in Saudi Arabia. Orayt?

I'm not from Riyadh nor from Al-Khobar nor from Jeddah... HELP! I want Jollibee!!!
Okay, calm down. As of the moment, there are now 7 Jollibee branches in Saudi Arabia. If you can't visit the 1 store in Riyadh or the 1 store in Al-Khobar or the 3 stores in Jeddah, then you can visit the branch in Yanbu and the branch in Taif. You're not from any of the said places? Hmn, too bad. Maybe you can have a weekend trip to these places? :D

Can we see Jollibee too?
Well, that depends on how nice you are. Lol.

If you have more questions about Jollibee in Saudi Arabia, we might have the answers. We can't put everything in this entry so ask away through the comment box here or in FB and through our Formspring account above. We're supposed to scan and upload the menu brochure here but it went missing. Hmnnn. We'll find it later.

Lumanghap sarap na sa Jollibee!!! It's like tasting the Philippines. Lol. :)

Seriously, visit Jollibee! Proudly Pinoy!

Welcome Back, Jollibee!

It's like magnet. It pulls you in without you knowing; that even physical limitation will not stop you from being drawn to it. It sucks you in and the next thing you know, you're there being smothered by a crowd of other "iron" not willing to let go.

Yes, JOLLIBEE is like magnet. It attracts you with an invisible force. No matter how long the lines are, you will still go and you wait your turn for a taste of what you grew up with... the Chickenjoy. Or maybe the Yum Burger. Or the Burger Steak. Or the Jolly Spaghetti. We will not even attempt to explain Jollibee's charm and legacy to Filipinos here because if you are a Filipino, you already know. (For other nationalities, Jollibee is like the Philippines' McDonald's. It's one of the biggest fast-food chains in the Philippines, if not the biggest.)

The girls learned that Jollibee is opening in Riyadh from random friends in Facebook. We were excited for a taste of the familiar Chickenjoy but truth be told, no matter how we were salivating, we are not that hell-bent in going because of the crowd. We imagined the crowd on opening week and we said, "Forget it!" The Filipino community in Riyadh has been waiting for Jollibee for quite a while now after the branch in Batha closed a few years ago. Some troop to Al-Khobar or Jeddah and get their Jabi fix there. Sometimes even bringing the pot bucket of gold chicken for eager family and friends in the Kingdom's capital. We felt deprived and neglected that among all the other areas in Saudi Arabia, Jollibee was nowhere to be found in the capital. Why oh why?

And then we wonder no more. Jollibee is now open in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia! The first branch, located in Batha, opened last February 6 and the crowd is, as we guessed, crazy! Crazy in numbers as lines snaked its way to nearby establishments. We shunned the opening day but we can't wait a little longer for the crowd to disperse into the following months so we thought of almost impossible ways to cut in (including conjuring spells like Harry Potter's "Evanesco!" to make the crowd disappear ). We sighed and wished and hoped. Until, an invitation came! (This is one of those times we really felt super proud writing The Pink Tarha!) The Pink Tarha ladies were invited by Joliibee KSA's marketing officer Mr. Billy Junn Tabares to visit the newly-opened branch in Batha, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia! We were overwhelmed with gratitude!

Scratch that, we were not only overwhelmed. We were beyond joy! We were shouting and crying of this new-found luck. Eyecandy was so jubilant that she said she's excited to meet the mascot whose name is Henrietta. We were all like, "Who is Henrietta?!?!?!" Apparently, she was referring to Hetty Spaghetti. LOL! (Please forgive E. She did not grow up in the Philippines.) We are so happy with the invitation that the four Pink Tarha ladies (all of us!) decided to go out together after a long time. (S and E are usually the only ones going out ever since M transferred office but for Jollibee, we are "all for 1, 1 for all!" Lol.) We restrained ourselves from going during the opening day for the fear of stampede but we decided to go on a Wednesday afternoon, after the 3pm prayer. We thought we can escape the crowd because there was no line on the entrance but we were amazed that here were already lines in the counter! There's one counter for the bachelor area and another for the family. They were both jam-packed!

Ooookay, they're not kidding about the lines!

The family section

We were overwhelmed with the hospitality of Billy and his assistant, Cesar. We also got to meet the managers and staff of Jollibee Batha. We skipped the long and many lines in the counter (Sorry kids, but you should blame those who ordered 20 pieces of Spaghetti and 10 buckets of Chicken Joy... they are prolly having a Jabi party, hehe), we ate for free (but we insisted in paying, promise! Er, did we? :P) and we got take-out too! And the most important part of all, we met Jollibee (the mascot)... and took pictures with him too! (Again children, we apologize for tearing Jollibee away from you but you see, we're still kids. Kids at heart. No, really. :) We are so honored to be graced by Jollibee's presence. Okay, you might be thinking we're such lucky ladies. Indeed, we are! :)

Guess what we ate!

Lugi si Jollibee sa'min! :P
(L-R: Sundrenched | Eyecandy | Maryhadalittlehump | Shoegarfreeruby)

The infamous Chickenjoy (and a sign for TPTL)!

More space for dine-in customers

JOLLIBEE!!! Can he dance too?!
(Our friend G's coat served as our signal that we are The PINK Tarha. Lol!)

With our wonderful hosts Billy and Cesar... a huge thank you!!!
(Spot Cesar on this entry whom R unwittingly took a photo of in her visit to Jollibee Jeddah two years ago.)

Anyway, we enjoyed our dining experience in Jollibee and we get to interview Billy. We're not publishing the interview transcript, of course. So the next entry will answer almost all questions you have about Jollibee in Riyadh. (We can't cram it in this entry because it'll get longer than the line in Jollibee... or maybe not.)