Cuisine Dreams: South Indian Bliss
While joy riding on a little rickety and old bus filled with foreign laborers, I noticed a restaurant labeled “Persian Cuisine.” I instantly thought: How exotic sounding. I made a mental note to remember where it was, and to get there as soon as possible.
After bringing a couple of coworkers there and finding it too meaty, pricey and overloaded with rice, we left and vowed not to return.
After walking about 100 meters back towards our abodes, I spotted a little dive that could only be noticed while on foot. I walked in and saw signs for different masala dishes. I immediately thought: Great. Here’s another new place that I’ve got to check out as soon as possible.
I’ve ranted and raved over a couple of South Indian restaurants in Riyadh. But now, there’s a place that ranks even higher. I’ve found it to be better than the other two combined.
I’ve now been to this new South Indian place on a handful of occasions. It’s currently my favorite restaurant in Riyadh. Let me show you why:
This fiery Soft Shell Crab Masala may be the best thing I’ve eaten during my three months in Saudi’s capital. The flesh was succulent and cooked to perfection. The sauce was super-spicy and delicious. The coriander or cilantro complimented the shellfish well.
As bones needed to be dissected, there was work involved in eating this Fish Masala that was drenched in curry. The labor was well worth it.
While in India I stuck exclusively to vegetables. However, it was the first time I’d ever even heard of eating mutton or sheep. Because I’m open to trying everything, I had to go along with this Mutton Masala which tasted as good as it looks.
Here I had the opportunity to try quail for the first time. Like all of the sauces, the one that’s part of this Quail Masala was absolutely delicious. The quail itself I found to be a little bit overcooked. This was the only dish that I don’t want to have again. I found it awkward eating small amounts of meat off of a little bird. It’s just not the thing for someone who thought they’d be a full-fledged vegetarian just a short time ago.
This Chicken Masala was perfect, even for a vegetarian wanna-be like myself. Dishes like this are the reason that my current goal is to eat vegetarian 80% as opposed to 100% of the time.
Like at the other two South Indian restaurants that I’ve written about, the Chicken Chili here is phenomenally tender and packed with the perfect amount of heat.
Here you see South Indian Thali. The five items on each tray include Parotta (bread in the center), potatoes and veggies, dal, gravy and eggplant or aubergine (bottom right of the tray). This subcontinental style eggplant has made me a lover of this vegetable that I’d never cared for. It’s either that my taste buds have matured or it’s the way they prepared it.
This entire table full of gastronomical bliss including chai and water cost 71 Rial or $18.93 and was split four ways. There are no taxes in this part of the world. Tips are not expected at inexpensive places such as this one.
Everyone eating in this restaurant hails from South India. Whenever I walk into a place and see people of a place eating the ethnic food that their used to, I think: The food has got to be excellent.
NOTE: The Hindi word masala means mixed.
Al-Afra Restaurant is located on Kalid Bin Waleed Street in the Rowdha district of Riyadh. Besides the staple Thali dish, if you want to know what other four to six dishes are on the menu, you can call Navas at 0506991269.
I highly recommend eating there in the evenings after 7 pm as that’s when the exotic dishes are available. During lunch there are only two options plus the Thali.
Have you ever had Indian food that looks this good?
My name is Mike, aka Earthdrifter. I managed to travel on and off between work, from the mid-90s till the mid-00s. At the start of 2011, after a five year exploration hiatus, I eliminated a home base and started traveling indefinitely. Now I combine my love for travel, writing, and improving my personal culture. As I enhance my existence, I hope to help you do the same. 
South Indian Recipes are to a assertive admeasurement acceptable to adapt and beneath painstaking. The chutneys are able of tamarind, coconut, peanuts, dal, fenugreek seeds, and cilantro.
[...] Cuisine Dreams: South Indian Bliss (earthdrifter.com) [...]
My God that looks So Good!!! I am almost drooling onto my keyboard. Soft shell crab Masala, are you kidding me?? And all that for $18?? that’s insane!I am so looking forward to the food in India now.
SARAH: I almost couldn’t believe it either. They have different dishes on offer every night. The guy calls me when they have the crab, about once a week. Yes. The price is right. Practically everyone that frequents the place are South Indian laborers who don’t earn a ton of dough.
All the red makes it look something was murdered and you’re the one who gets to enjoy it.
I tip my hat to you once more, good sir.
MARGYLE: Ha ha, well, animals were actually murdered, makes me wonder if the consumption of flesh food for the sake of trying new things should continue to out trump my vegetarian ideals. It’s tough as I had an amazing Pakistani chicken dish tonight, and camel meat that melts in your mouth a couple of nights ago. Thanks again for your eccentric commenting.
That fish masala looks delish. I also thought that most South Indian restaurants are mostly veggies (at least the ones I’ve been to).
JILL: All of those dishes aren’t on offer every night, just some of them. I took those photos over a few eating sessions. All of these South Indian places tend to serve the vegetarian Thali dish every day and night, along with a mixed veg dish that I didn’t show in a pic, so all veg is still always an option.
Interesting there was so much meat options, all the South Indian restaurants I have been to are vegetarian.
AYNGELINA: Yes. I felt the same way. Many of the Indians that immigrate to the middle east aren’t Hindus. This is why it’s even common to see beef on offer at these places, unlike in India of course.
I lived in Washington DC area for two years and they had a fabulous choice of ethnic restaurants including all sort of Indian cuisine even in the remote suburbs of DC. But I admit none of them looked like your 1st or 8th pic.
COOLNEWZ: Thanks! I thought the crab and mutton dishes were very good. I’d never come across a dish like the crab. It’s especially amazing to me that it was so affordable.
That looks awesome!
AL: Thanks. It definitely tastes as good as it looks.