Eating Out in Saudi - First encounter @ Subway Al- Fanateer

In Saudi, public places are normally segregated into single only and families areas. That applies even when it comes to eating out at any restaurants. 


They also separated entrance door for male only and families eating area. Each family is then  ushered to our own respective eating space/area. Some restaurant have small compartments to segregate each family whilst the other segregate by putting curtains/ blinds. When it comes to ordering at the counters, only male occupants are allowed to order whilst for families, waiters shall be coming to each and every segregated places for each families to take orders, send food or replenishing our new orders. They do not have a bell system but the waiters will be mingling around the outside of the families cubicles waiting to be 'summoned'.  


This is actually my 1st encounter of eating out in the public in Saudi which was 3 months ago. We bought our food at Subway at Fanateer area. At first we wanted to dine in, but since the Fanateer beach is nearly, we decided to take away all the food. 


I will share our first experience of dining in at Saudi restaurant in my other post. 

The family entrance area

The overall look at the family eatery section in Subway Al-Fanateer 

The subway menu- it is different from the one we had in Malaysia

While waiting for the take away food in our 'cubicle'

blueberry with white chocolate cookies

Our take away food

Keropok Lekor Original Terengganu

My new neighbour who currently took over kak Najwa's house at our compound came form Malaysia. She had actually lived here for the past 3 years but had to go back to Malaysia for their new employment visa under different company now. 


Since kak Hasni and Suzi knew her and she is from Terengganu, so she brought Original Keropok Lekor from Terengganu for us the neighbours. MashaAllah the taste was so delicious. Really missed the dish especially when it came all the way from it's authentic place. 


Here are some pictures for my safekeeping. Yumsss....

My 1st children haircut in Saudi

Date: 7 April 2015

After more than 2 months staying in Saudi, my children's hair had grown long. So, it's time for their new haircut. We have surveyed a children's barber shop but the one that we have found out is in Al-Khobar. There was too many children waiting at the time when we were there and it was almost Maghrib praying time so the shop is closing for prayer time.  

Having no choice, since my children's hair are too long and their fringe had covered their eyes, I had to bring them for haircut somewhere in Jubail instead where it is nearer to our living area and as long as the hair is cut. 

There's a barber shop situated at the shop lot underneath our compound area. So, at around 10 am, I brought both of my children to the shop. It is a rather simple barber shop to me with 3 barbers mending the shop (at the point I came which is off peach hour). From their look I am guessing that the 3 barbers are from India. Only one of them can speak English or understands English which is the supervisor. The other 2 barbers are basically following the supervisor's instruction which send shivers to my spine. What will happen if they cut my children's hair wrongly? Or the supervisor interpreted my instruction differently.

2 barbers cut my children's hair simultaneously, so I had quite a challenge to monitor both barbers. Baby's hair needed just a minor trimming at her fringe but Faiq's was a major hair cut. Juggling to monitor both hair being cut is not easy. Whilst trying to give instruction on baby's haircut I have to really closely monitor so as the other barber do not chop or balded all Faiq's hair. 

My instuction for Faiq's hair was.. "make it like Korean hair style.. do you know korean hairstyle?" ... not too short ah...." make sure not to cut around the ear or my son will look ugly"  But it turned out to be like 'tempurung' kind of hairstyle with a bit of twist. We were charged 40 Riyal for my children's haircut. Haish..whatever lah as long as their hair has been cut and not bordering their sight. 

Here are some pictures on the experience.

The children's barber shop in Al-Khobar near IKEA. It charges 25 riyal per children

The exterior of the shop that we went in Jubail near our house

Inside of the barber shop

Baby's Hair cutting process

Faiq's hair cutting process

Final look of Faiq's haircut

Final look of baby's haircut

My very first Meal in Saudi - Chicken Mandy Rice

This is actually among the earlier posts that I have drafted but have yet to publish since my early blogging date. This is actually my very first meal that I had in January for my  lunch. It is chicken Mandy rice. They do not serve salatah nor yogurt nor soup nor gravy nor salsa sauce as complementary with the dish so it's a bit dry but the rice and chicken are tasty.

Normally for take away in Saudi, they will provide a very big plastic throw to be used as a tray. Saudian will then pour the whole food onto the plastic. The portion is super big that even after myself and hubby ate this, there are leftover for one more person. I wonder how those Saudi able to finish up such big food portion - wow they really have big appetite man.

Back to my first dish, since making gravy or soup will take sometime plus I am still tired due to the long flight hours; I have blended a simple 'sambal belacan' to eat with the dish. Haha our melayu taste still maintain mehh as we needed sambal belacan to complete our meal. 

# My parents asked me to learn Saudian cooking method and also their recipe but how do I get to learn their techniques if I do not have any chance (yet) to be friend with any Saudian lady. They do not normally mingle with other people and stayed in their home apart from going out shopping. Will update whenever I get to have the opportunity to learn from any Saudian ladies ok!