As good as Middle Eastern cuisine is, Al Baik was my first priority when traveling to Saudi Arabia.
For those unaware, it is their Chikfila, Mcdonalds, KFC, etc. It is THE fast food. Although, it was impressive how many food chains I saw in Jeddah.
The best part was, Al Baik was literally right outside of my hotel. It sat right on the Red Sea and truly felt like a “surfer bro” California beach.
Check out the menu here.
I got the 10 piece nugget meal and the Al Baik Shawarma. They just opened so it took a little longer than traditional fast food but I was the only person waiting. From the Youtube videos, the place looks like a mad house at night so I was thrilled to be there at this time.
When I got back to the hotel I noticed it was not like traditional USA fast food. Why? Because Al Baik gave me 10 packs of sauces that I didn’t even have to ask for…It’s like pulling teeth to get 1 ranch cup at my local Mcdonalds.
The first bite of the interestingly shaped nugget was incredible. Such a crispy crunch and had a great kick. Dipped the next bite into the iconic garlic sauce and it got even better. Really enjoyed these nuggets. There’s really no comparison to any nuggets I have had in the USA or abroad.
I washed them down with a very traditional and local Saudi drink…a Sprite.
Typing this right now, I wish I could go get the Al Baik nuggets this second. The crisp is just so nice.
The fries were pretty underwhelming, but that’s a common trend nowadays. They were kind of similar to In N Out, aka not that great, but fine. Almost as if they were like the frozen fries you have at home that you put in the air fryer.
If Al-Baik is reading this, some type of “spicy fries” as an option would be incredible, like Five Guys for example.
On to the Al Baik Shawarma. I’ve never had a “fast food” shawarma before so I really have nothing to compare it to. But I would 100% get it my next order. The pickles and garlic sauce tasted unreal.
For anybody “scared” of food, I’d say its a good way to get your bearings on your trip to Saudi Arabia. Get the Al Baik shawarma first, then get a “real” one after you are warmed up.
Oh ya, in the bag were 2 buns individually wrapped. It seems as if people make sandwiches with the nuggets and then pour the garlic sauce on top. That’s why I got so many sauces. A great small detail.
My only complaint was that 2 of the 10 nuggets had “bad pieces” in half of them. I’m not really sure how to describe this. Like when you eat a chicken nugget and you get that “bad piece” while chewing and you spit it out? I’ve had this happen everywhere, it’s not an exclusive Al Baik issue.
Maybe some people eat through those pieces, but I don’t. Not a fan. It took nothing away from my experience at all, it is just worth noting.
A lesson into showing that nothing is perfect.
If you are going to Saudi Arabia, Al Baik is a must try in my opinion. You will find them everywhere. Get the spicy nuggets and garlic sauce, you won’t regret it.
This post may contain affiliate or Amazon Associate links to in which we would recieve a small compensation on purchase. But it also might not.