Saudi Arabia Food Guide

The National Dish: Kabsa

Kabsa is the undisputed national dish of Saudi Arabia, consisting of long-grain basmati rice mixed with meat (typically chicken, lamb, or goat), vegetables, and a complex blend of aromatic spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and black lime (loomi).

What is the difference between Kabsa and Mandi?

While Kabsa is the general term for this rice-style dish, 'Mandi' is specifically defined by its cooking method. Mandi meat is cooked slowly inside a pit (tandoor) dug into the ground, where the juices drip onto the rice below, resulting in a distinctively smokey and succulent flavor. Saudi dining culture is deeply communal; typically, you will be served a massive platter intended to be shared by a large group sitting on the floor�a practice reflecting the Kingdom's history of hospitality and 'Hafawah'.