About Me
Hi, I'm Omar Al-Hassan - a food enthusiast who believes that great meals tell stories about people, places, and traditions.
My Journey into Food
I didn't set out to become a restaurant reviewer. Eight years ago, I was working as a logistics coordinator, traveling frequently between Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. The job was demanding, with long hours and constant pressure. Weekend dinners with friends became my escape - a chance to disconnect from work and reconnect with what mattered.
Those dinners evolved into adventures. We'd research lesser-known restaurants, drive an hour for a specific dish someone mentioned, debate whether a new cafe lived up to its hype. Friends started asking for recommendations. Colleagues wanted to know where I'd eaten during business trips. What began as casual enthusiasm gradually became something more structured.
In 2020, during the pandemic's early days, I started keeping detailed notes about restaurants - not just what I ate, but the full experience. The owner's story. The neighborhood's character. How the food reflected broader cultural shifts happening across Saudi Arabia. These notes became this website.
Photo: Unsplash / Avel Chuklanov
My Approach to Reviews
Multiple Visits
I visit each restaurant at least three times before writing a review. One exceptional or disappointing meal doesn't tell the full story. Consistency matters.
Anonymous Dining
I pay for my own meals and don't identify myself as a reviewer. This ensures I experience what any regular customer would encounter.
Honest Assessment
I share both strengths and weaknesses. If something disappointed me, I say so. If a restaurant excels, I explain exactly what makes it special.
Cultural Context
Food doesn't exist in a vacuum. I try to explain how restaurants reflect their neighborhoods, traditions, and Saudi Arabia's evolving identity.
What This Site Isn't
This isn't a comprehensive restaurant directory or a ranking system. I don't rate restaurants with stars or numbers because reducing complex experiences to scores feels reductive. Every place I review here is somewhere I'd genuinely recommend - otherwise, why write about it?
I also don't accept payment for reviews or free meals in exchange for coverage. The moment financial incentives enter the equation, honest assessment becomes impossible. This independence is non-negotiable.
Beyond the Restaurants
Photo: Unsplash / Alyson McPhee
Living in Saudi Arabia during this particular moment feels significant. The country is transforming rapidly - new museums, entertainment venues, and international restaurants appearing constantly. Within this change, seeing how traditional food culture adapts and persists fascinates me.
Family-run restaurants that have served the same dishes for three generations now coexist with specialty coffee shops and fusion concepts. Neither is better or worse - they represent different facets of modern Saudi identity. My reviews try to appreciate both without demanding one conform to the other's standards.
When I'm not eating out, I cook at home (though with significantly less skill than the chefs I write about). I read extensively about food history, culinary anthropology, and regional cuisines. I'm learning Arabic cooking techniques from YouTube and my neighbors. Every conversation about food teaches me something new.
Connect With Me
I love hearing from readers - whether you want to suggest a restaurant, discuss one of my reviews, or share your own dining experiences. Particularly valuable are recommendations from locals who know hidden gems I might miss as someone who travels frequently but doesn't live permanently in every city.
If you own or work at a restaurant I've reviewed and want to respond to my assessment, I welcome that dialogue. Constructive conversation improves understanding on all sides.
The best way to reach me is through the contact page. I read every message, though response times vary depending on my travel schedule.
Thank You for Reading
Whether you're a fellow food enthusiast, a visitor planning a trip to Saudi Arabia, or someone who simply enjoys reading about restaurants, I appreciate you taking the time to explore this site. Good food shared with good people remains one of life's reliable pleasures, and I'm grateful to document and share these experiences.
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