With coffee houses galore — each with its own signature dessert and coffee variants — it could be quite a task to pick the perfect spot. At times, the desserts are enticing and the coffee average, and vice versa.
But with Heyla Café open at the new Khayat Center (next to Big Chefs) on Prince Sultan Street in Jeddah, you’ll find a good balance of both — refreshing coffee plus delectable desserts to satiate your sweet tooth. The menu may be a bit restricted but it is safe to say almost every dessert is a must-try — we have already picked our favorites.
While the exterior looks more grandiose and formal, once you walk in you will instantly pick up on the casual and fun vibe the place has. Whether it is the colorful couches, cushions, tables or walls, the interior is oozing with vibrancy and is refreshing to the eye. A great setting if you want to hang out for a couple of hours with friends for multiple coffee rounds.
It is only one floor for now — which is spacious and caters to a large number — but the good news is the second one should be up and running soon.
The first thing we tried was the scented rose cake because the presentation was simply the epitome of perfection on a plate — a scrumptious slice of cake served on a bed of fresh rose petals. For those who have not tried fragrant rosy desserts, a rose cake is essentially pound cake with a mild blend of vanilla, rose petals and a tinge of saffron. It is also one that a lot of confectioners do not get right. The ratio of all the ingredients is tricky yet crucial. The flavor has to be subtle. If the floral ratio is even slightly off, it can be very overpowering and leave a taste you cannot rid your tongue (and throat) of for a few hours — like you accidentally swallowed perfume.
But we have to say the bakers at Heyla know what they’re doing. When you dig into the vanilla sponge (though it looks dense), it instantly melts in your mouth like mousse. The texture is almost like an aerated baked cheesecake and the subtle undertone of rosiness, which comes up as pops of flavor, will be a delight for your palate. And of course the refreshing fragrance of the rose petals will make your gastronomical experience all the merrier!
Our second choice was the date cake — there were two options, bundt and one topped with a thick mouthwatering layer of caramel. In a country where dates are in abundance and almost revered, you would expect every bakery and café round the block to nail the recipe…but that wasn’t the case. While the thick caramel layer on its own was divine, the sponge itself was rather dry and crumbly, which was surprising because the texture of dates always provides that much needed stickiness and depth to any dessert recipe they’re used in. In fact, you could barely taste the flavor of dates. The bundt date cake on the contrary was a lot better. The flavor came out well, the texture was sticky — exactly how it should be — and every bite was scrumptious and left a mark.
Last but certainly not the least was the delectable pistachio kharabeesh — a hands down crowd pleaser. It is everything you are probably looking for in a dessert. Every bite will take your palate on a rollercoaster ride — you will taste cream and a layer of crushed green pistachios, and then cream followed by pistachios again. It melts in your mouth, and the key ingredients complement each other well. It was definitely well-balanced — sweet enough to be a dessert but not nauseatingly sugary which is perfect. If you’re a fan of kunaafa, then this will be next on your list of favorites.
Your dessert may fulfill your sugar cravings, but you also need the perfect cup of coffee or tea to wash it all down — or maybe a few cups! The perfectly brewed Arabian coffee or tea at Heyla cannot be missed. It’s served in a pot which guarantees to keep your drink hot till you’re done with the last and final cup.
All in all, the ambiance and aura of the coffee shop is on point, the staff is welcoming and amiable, the music is never too obnoxiously loud, prices are not over the top and the overall vibe of the place is great.
However, the menu is a little restricted and you don’t get too many dessert options but whatever they are offering, will leave your taste buds satisfied. We also wish they had a menu in English because not everyone understands Arabic in the multi-cultural city that is Jeddah.
Heyla Café is a must-try for dessert aficionados and coffee buffs!
• [email protected]
Heyla Café: For your sugar and caffeine cravings
Heyla Café: For your sugar and caffeine cravings
Where We Are Going Today: ‘Ashbiz’ Uzbek cuisine in Riyadh
- Ashbiz is a pocket-friendly option for anyone who enjoys that home-cooked feel to their food
Ashbiz is a great spot for Uzbek cuisine, offering a rich and flavorful array of foods that combines influences from Central Asia and the Middle East.
The menu is small but full of dishes that burst with flavor, including a favorite of mine, chicken bukhari, which originated in the ancient city of Bukhara.
Bukhari, which can be made with beef, lamb or chicken, is served hot and packs a punch with its aromatic spices like cumin, cardamom and cinnamon.
Noodles are a key feature of Uzbek cuisine and the hand-pulled variety created at Ashbiz are key to its lag’mon: a delicious dish that combines beef or lamb with vegetables in a hearty broth.
Another favorite is the samsa, a tasty bun stuffed with spiced meat and vegetables, which resemble the samosa, but instead of being fried is baked in the oven.
The menu also includes manto — a popular handmade steamed dumpling stuffed with a choice of pumpkin or meat and a unique blend of spices — and shish barak soup which has small dumplings.
Ashbiz is a pocket-friendly option for anyone who enjoys that home-cooked feel to their food.
The restaurant has outlets in Riyadh’s Taawun district and the Mohammadiya district of Jeddah.
Black limes: a unique staple of Middle Eastern and North African cuisine
- Dried citrus adds zesty kick to dishes
- Originated as a way to preserve fruit in hot climes
RIYADH: Anyone who has not yet dived into the world of black limes is in for a treat. Known in English as dried limes or black lemons, these intriguing ingredients are referred to as noomi basra in Iraq, limoo amani in Iran, and loomi in Saudi Arabia and Oman.
They are a must-have for elevating culinary creations and have graced dishes across the Middle East and North Africa for more than 1,000 years. It’s about time they were brought into every kitchen.
So, what exactly are black limes? Think of them as the sophisticated cousins of fresh limes. They undergo a transformation process: first, they are packed in salt, and then they bask in the sun until they turn a striking black.
The result is a hard, dried fruit that delivers a remarkable burst of flavor.
When it comes to taste, black limes pack a powerful punch. The flavor is a harmonious blend of sour and slightly sweet, rounded out by a touch of bitterness.
“It was a game-changer to realize that (adding black lime) isn’t just about adding tanginess to a dish — it’s a full-on spice with a smoky aroma and earthy notes that bring out so much flavor,” Shadia Al-Bayat — a home cook from Qatif — told Arab News.
“Beyond that, it’s packed with nostalgia, calling to mind traditional Gulf dishes like seafood, grilled meats, and hearty stews. It’s also the key to the signature hot ‘loomi’ tea, a staple at traditional gatherings and celebrations,” Al-Bayat added.
FASTFACTS
• Black limes are packed in salt and then they bask in the sun until they turn a striking black.
• They add a zesty kick to Saudi dishes; they originated as a way to preserve fruit in hot climate.
This unique profile makes them perfect for enhancing stews, tagines and a variety of other dishes. A black lime added to a cooking pot will instantly elevate any meal.
Cooks can get creative with black limes. They can be used whole or crushed into powder, allowing for versatility.
Imagine a flavorful tagine or a warming soup that gets a delightful kick from a black lime. If preferred, the lime can be removed before serving, but leaving it in adds an appealing touch.
For something refreshing, blend black limes into limonana, a delightful drink that combines lemon and mint, perfect for quenching thirst.
And for something soothing, consider brewing some dried lime tea — a comforting drink that can settle the stomach and provide a sense of warmth.
They also make excellent additions to marinades for meats and fish, giving dishes a fantastic zest.
In Saudi cuisine, loomi is a prized ingredient that adds a distinctive tangy flavor to traditional dishes.
In kabsa, a popular rice dish, black lime is added whole or ground to add acidity and elevate the dish’s depth.
Black limes have a history that dates back centuries. They are believed to have originated in the Middle East and North Africa, where they were a valued ingredient in ancient cooking.
Historically, they were prized not just for their flavor, but also for their ability to preserve food in the warm climate. Over time, dried limes became a staple in various cuisines, with each culture adding its own flair to their use.
Today, they are recognized for their versatility and are celebrated in dishes in many cultures.
Beyond their culinary charm, black limes come with health benefits, too. Packed with vitamin C, calcium and potassium, they are a nutritious addition to any diet.
Black limes are a cultural staple. While they share ties with fresh limes, black limes have a distinct personality, bringing an intriguing bitterness and complexity to dishes.
They can even be spotted in spice blends like baharat, because a little extra flavor never hurt anyone.
Black limes are a unique and flavorful ingredient that can bring depth to cooking and are worth adding to any culinary repertoire to impress the taste buds.
Where We Are Going Today: ‘Yum-A-Sama’ – a sushi spot in Riyadh
- Pricing is reasonable, making it an attractive option for regular orders
Yum-A-Sama has quickly established itself as one of the top sushi spots in Riyadh, operating as a cloud kitchen that consistently delivers fresh treats.
The raw salmon is incredibly delicious, and the tuna is equally impressive. A must-try item on the menu is the torch salmon nigiri. Each dish showcases the freshness of the ingredients, making it a delight for sushi lovers.
In addition to sushi, Yum-A-Sama offers a variety of salad bowls that are generously portioned. Options include crab salad, chicken salad, and a veggie salad bowl for those seeking vegetarian choices. This variety ensures that there’s something for everyone, whether you’re in the mood for sushi or a refreshing salad.
Pricing is reasonable, making it an attractive option for regular orders. I find myself ordering from them twice a week because the quality remains consistent, and the food is always fresh. This reliability is a significant factor in why many customers keep returning.
Yum-A-Sama also features some unique signature dishes that are worth exploring.
Items like the spicy mango sushi, sunset salmon, special crab, samurai fry, and pink tara are just a few of the creative offerings that set this restaurant apart from others in the area.
For convenience, Yum-A-Sama can be easily ordered through popular delivery apps, allowing customers to enjoy their favorite dishes without hassle.
Overall, the combination of quality, variety, and reasonable pricing makes this outlet a go-to choice for those craving delicious sushi in Riyadh.
Where We Are Going Today: ‘Enabah’ restaurant
There is a certain art to mastering hospitality and creating memories, which requires attention to detail and providing your guests with the perfect array of food to swoon over.
Enabah restaurant in Riyadh specializes in appetizer boxes of authentic Mediterranean food, making it an ideal choice for any type of gathering.
The boxes are offered in small, medium and large options with a variety of starters including grape leaves, stuffed cabbage, onions and kibbeh.
There are also classic and spicy grape leaves, the perfect savory dish. Often, grape leaves are a little too sour or acidic, prone to causing discomfort, but Enabah has perfected the balance of salty and tangy.
A particular attraction on the menu is cheddar jalapeno kibbeh and meat kibbeh, the national dish of Syria and Lebanon. Kibbeh is usually prepared as a combination of bulgur cracked wheat, onions, and minced meat which could be beef, goat, lamb or camel.
At Enabah they have their own twist with a vegetarian option. This is a cheddar jalapeno, which is crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside.
Their stuffed cabbage is a mixture of beef, rice and spices — a perfect lighter option for those who do not prefer fried foods.
To get more bang for your buck, bigger boxes are recommended, as the smaller ones perhaps have too little food. For SR165 ($43), you can get the Large Mixed Box, with the option of four to eight appetizers.
You can cleanse your palette with one of Enabah’s fresh juices and creamy smoothies. The menu has lemon mint, pomegranate and orange juices, cocktail smoothies, and Awar Qalb, a mix of milk, strawberry, banana and mango.
Enabah is available to order through delivery applications including The Chefz and HungerStation.
Where We Are Going Today: ‘Home Bakery’ in Riyadh
- For a sweeter breakfast, the restaurant offers a variety of French toasts, but you can’t go wrong with the creme brulee French toast
Located on Anas bin Malik road in the north of Riyadh, Home Bakery is one of the city’s most beloved breakfast spots with a constant crowd bustling through the bakery.
What started as a popular home-style bakery in the UAE has expanded to Saudi Arabia with 10 cafes open in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and most recently Riyadh.
Home Bakery offers an array of freshly baked goods, including breads, cookies, croissants, and cakes, and is also renowned for its breakfast selections.
We’ve visited this cafe multiple times and sampled various menu items. From desserts like the zaffron or pistachio cake to savory dishes such as eggs Benedict and avocado toast — we highly recommend trying it all.
For a sweeter breakfast, the restaurant offers a variety of French toasts, but you can’t go wrong with the creme brulee French toast. It might sound overly sweet, but it was well-balanced.
For drinks, we tried the Earl Grey tea, green tea, and a few of their coffee options, such as the cappuccino and latte. The coffee was quite standard, and other places in Riyadh offer stronger and more refined blends. We wouldn’t recommend the matcha, which came in a plastic cup that didn’t reflect the cafe’s aesthetic and tasted overwhelmingly of milk.
The tea service was exceptional. Instead of merely serving a mug of hot water and a tea bag like other restaurants, staff presented us with tea in a glass kettle, warmed over a candle, along with a tray of sweeteners. They also provided a tea timer, explaining that the steeping process takes five minutes for proper brewing.
Regarding the experience, the bakery is very elegant and offers a quiet atmosphere — perfect for work meetings, intimate family breakfasts, or simply enjoying a book over a cup of coffee.
In the winter, the restaurant expands to offer outdoor seating with a variety of sofas and chairs.
In Riyadh, one of the most common concerns is parking space, but the plaza offers free parking, underground parking, and valet service.
In terms of pricing, most items are standard; however, some customers might hesitate to pay SR30 ($8) for a single croissant or SR95 for a slice of tiramisu.
Aside from a few items, most prices are reasonable, ranging from SR10 for a cookie to SR78 for granola pancakes.
