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Located inside the Joudyan Hotel at the Red Sea Mall in Jeddah, Sunsera restaurant offers a Saudi special menu that takes diners on a flavorful journey across the Kingdom, from the central plains to the western coast and southern highlands.

We started with central region flavors. The crisp jareesh balls and qursan rolls were comforting, but the creamy, tangy jareesh garnished with ghee stole the show. The marqouq, a hearty meat-and-vegetable stew, was rich, though the flatbread could have been softer.

From the western region, the sayadieh was a standout — perfectly seasoned fried fish over rice infused with fish broth and golden onions. The saleeg, rice cooked in chicken broth and milk, packed flavor, and the mantu dumplings were light with a tasty filling.

Desserts included delicate, fragrant sagodana and vermicelli with milk, though the latter was a bit too sweet for some.

The southern menu was bold and hearty. The haneeth featured tender smoked lamb with saffron rice, while thareed and mashghoothah offered homestyle comfort, if a bit heavy. The areekah dessert, drizzled with smoked ghee and honey, ended the meal richly.

What tied the meal together were the drinks. The date smoothie was thick and rich, blended with cinnamon and vanilla for a comforting finish. The almond coffee, made with rice flour and milk, was just as hearty — almost a meal on its own.

Uncle Majid Restaurant, a Filipino eatery with one branch in Riyadh and another in Jeddah, is a spot that comes highly recommended by the Filipino community in the Kingdom.

It was my day off and I wanted to treat our family helper, Angelyn, for her kind efforts and dedication with a dinner that would make her feel at home, so we ordered in a few must-try items from Uncle Majid recommended by her.

We started with one of the most popular items on the menu, sinigang na hipon, a classic Filipino sour soup with shrimp as the main ingredient.

I was surprised by the generous portion, which could easily serve five people, and the aroma was incredibly inviting. 

The soup was loaded with fresh jumbo shrimp and vegetables like water spinach, tomato, white radish, green chili, onion, and eggplant, which had all been simmered in a tangy tamarind broth.

The flavor was well balanced and it reminded me of Chinese tom yum. The taste and portion made the SR92 ($24.53) price tag worthwhile.

Next, we tried chicken inasal, a famous grilled dish marinated in a blend of spices.

Honestly, it was one of the best grilled chickens I have had, and I even ate the skin, which I usually do not do. It was crispy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside.

No Filipino feast is complete without pancit, a flavorful white noodle dish stir-fried with spices, garlic, carrots, cabbage, onion, chicken, and seafood.

One bite took me back to my childhood and memories of my nanny who used to prepare a similar noodle dish for us at home.

To ensure I had something familiar to fall back on, I also ordered bistek Tagalog, a comforting dish of shredded tender beef in a savory onion and soy-lemon sauce, served with white rice.

Often referred to as Filipino steak, it was simple yet satisfying, a warm, cozy dish perfect for a relaxed evening at home.

The total bill was SR250, which I found fair, especially given the portion sizes were enough to serve more than three people.

The food arrived hot and fresh, and the menu features a wide range of authentic mains, salads, desserts, and drinks.

The restaurant branch in Jeddah is located in Al-Faisaliyyah, which can affect delivery times.
 

For more information, visit Instagram @uncle.majid.