Chicken Feast at BBQ

IF THERE IS one thing mainstream about the food in Saudi Arabia, it's the chicken. In my mind, chicken would probably constitute more than half of the meat market (lamb is mostly for special occasions and beef is not commonly consumed except for steak). Growing up here, I've been so accustomed to chicken dishes that even when I go home to the Philippines, often times I'd still prefer chicken over pork. 

So how can a restaurant market chicken beyond the usual allure of the local broasted chicken shop, kabsa joint or shawarma place? Say hello to BBQ Chicken. 

While some of their menu items are indeed, barbecued... BBQ actually stands for Best of the Best Quality Chicken. You won't miss this newly opened restaurant sits in the heart of Thalateen St. with their hot, red sign that reads, "BBQ" 

The ladies and I were in a for a massive chicken treat as we browsed through their menu, intrigued by  three, four even up to five ways that they cook their chicken. But before that, let's look into their interiors first:

The staircase entrance that leads up to the Family Section is a bit narrow but once you get to the second floor, you can choose from either a booth section or open area, which are both spacious and well-lit. They also have a lot of wall art, from funky graffitis to framed quotes and photos on fun dining. You will also find a children's playroom for all your kiddos to go play. 

The service was cordial and we were seated to our booth by the waiter. We intentionally did not eat lunch that day because we knew that we were going to try out this restaurant later that night so if you see the huge number of dishes that we ordered, please don't be too judgmental. ;P

We ordered almost everything on the menu but for now, let's start with the appetizers and drinks, then the chicken feast comes after: 

Soda "Ades": 14SR

The drinks came first in these tall, big glasses that they almost looked like lava lamps. The ladies tried all the flavors: green apple, blueberry and cherry. It's made up of your choice of syrup mixed with 7-Up. 

The garden salad was tasty thanks to the honey mustard dressing that really tied that appetizer altogether. I thought it was a good combination of sweet and light and the crunchy chicken bits were good for texture. Unfortunately for the Coconut Grilled Corn Salad, it was a bit sour for me and I was a bit bummed out that it did not come in a faux coconut shell as implied in the picture of their menu (I actually ordered it under the premise that I would get to eat it in a funky container). :P 

Minutes later, the most-awaited BBQ Chicken arrived. Feast your eyes on these yummy chicks (by that, I mean "chick"-ens):

Jamaican Barbeque Chicken, 19SR

The Jamaican Barbeque Chicken is the most flavorful of them all, in my opinion. While there was quite a debate on our table on whether the spices used were more of Indian rather than Jamaican, we still enjoyed it's richness. I will tell you right here that ALL of the chicken that they served us were moist and tender -- goes to show that they are living up to meaning of BBQ. 

Korean Charboiled Chicken, 20SR

The Korean option is similar to the Jamaican but more on the sweet soy side on this one. While this  would attract the Filipino palate best, I thought that it would have been better if it was marinated more for an additional day so that the flavors could have fused more with the chicken. 

Paris Chicken, 38SR

Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding! We have a WINNER! The Paris Chicken was a unique choice for us given the enticing marriage of its crunchiness and tenderness. When I bit into it, I felt like good crackles were celebrating in my mouth. Add to that the tangy spicy sauce that's drizzled over it. Definitely highly-recommended from me (although I don't understand why they'd call it "Paris" Chicken since French cuisine is not necessarily spicy by history). Still, a two thumbs up from the Woman of Food. If you are not a big fan of spicy flavors but is still intrigued by the crunchy goodness of this chicken wing, you may want to ask the waiter to set aside the drizzled sauce on top. 

BBQ's Signature Olive Original Chicken

While it is dubbed as their signature special, I found the Olive Original Chicken quite mild and very straightforward. A sauce or dip would have turned it up a notch but what you see was what we got. Again, it was well cooked and moist to the core, it's just that I personally, wished it had more flavor. 

We also ordered some more items that did pique our interest: 

Seafood Fried Rice, 29SR

Chicken Fried Rice, 26SR

Both rice viands are good enough for 2-3 people. However, since we ordered a lot already, we weren't able to finish all of the rice and had them wrapped for take out instead. They use Biryani rice so it has the tendency to be a bit dry. But the fried egg on top solves that problem. S' liked the Seafood Fried Rice. 

Shrimp Spoon Pizza, 44SR

Again, another WINNER in our books! This unassuming plate of pizza is a wondrous combination of breakfast, lunch and dinner with a unique taste and way of eating it. You literally, hafta take a spoon and scoop out a slice. Underneath that hefty goo of cheese is a sweet pancake-like bread that for some reason, works with all of the flavors of the dish, including the shrimp itself! And you know how most people don't like to eat the crust of normal pizzas? I happen to be that kind of person but when it came to this pizza, I wanted to hog the "crust"! Because it's a little toastier on the edges, the sweetness of the bread underneath and the subtle saltiness of the cheese are nothing short of a taste of heaven. :)  

Pane Cream Pasta, 49SR

This is BBQ's twist on your regular fettuccine alfredo. It was a bit lacking in terms of seasoning but nothing a good dash of salt and pepper couldn't fix. As you can see, it is huge, so I reckon this could feed 1-2 people. 

Wok Layou Pasta, 43 SR

Since I am a spicy food aficionado, I truly dug into this bowl of Asian pasta that was stir-fried with shrimp and oyster sauce. It's almost like a pad thai, but it's not. :) If you like it hot and flavorful, then the WoF recommends this one. Good for two people. 

And just when you think we couldn't stuff ourselves any more, we just had to punctuate the whole evening with a one-of-a-kind dessert that I believe only BBQ offers. Meet the Ice Cream & Chips: 

Ice Cream and Chips, 12SR

You would think somebody should have thought of this at home already but yeah, BBQ is bringing it mainstream and it is somewhat a twist on the french fries+ice cream sort of habit but this time, with Crunchies chips and two scoops of chocolate ice cream. We got a lot of "Oooohs" and "Mmmmmms"out of this one. 

And there you have it! That's my rundown on the newest restaurant in town. BBQ offers something off the beaten path and is trying to reinvent chicken by offering it in different recipes. Visit them this week for your dose of something new. :) 

Cheers!

Eyecandy
(Woman of Food)

BBQ Chicken - Riyadh
244 Thalateen St., Olaya,
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
T: +966-11-4623343, +966-11-4628470
FB: www.facebook.com/bbqchickenksa
Twitter: @bbqriyadh