Your Guide to Middle Eastern Food Restaurants in Saskatoon

When you have ever tried a bowl of hot rice with a layer of soft grilled meat and a squeeze of lemon on it, you can guess there is something special with the Middle Eastern food. It is also full but not heavy, full of flavour yet really comforting. And this is how it works: gradually Saskatoon has turned into a fantastic place to taste these foods, particularly when there are restaurants that offer authentic Afghan, Persian and Arabic cuisine. We can break it down so you can know exactly what you are going to get, what to taste and where these flavours originate.

The Middle Eastern cuisine is centered on three concepts, which are fresh, balanced spices, and proven recipes. You will find a lot of grilled meat, slow cooked stews, warm breads and rice that smells like heaven.

Here’s a quick look at the basics:

Common Dish	What It Is	Why People Love It
Kabob	Grilled marinated meat	Smoky, juicy, flavour-packed
Shawarma	Spiced meat cooked on a rotating spit	Tender and aromatic
Falafel	Crispy ground chickpea balls	Great for vegetarians
Rice Pulao	Rice cooked with broth, spices and sometimes raisins or carrots	Light, fragrant and comforting
Garlic Sauce	Creamy, tangy and bold	Perfect with grilled meats
Naan or Afghan Bread	Fresh, warm flatbread	Ideal for scooping everything

These recipes might seem to be very easy, yet years of tradition are behind them. These restaurants make much love on the way they marinate meat, grill kabobs or season rice and that is what makes the food real and memorable.

Saskatoon is an increasing community that values fresh and flavourful food. Consumers desire home cooked meals rather than processed meals. That is the case with the Middle Eastern dishes. You will also find families, students, workers on lunch break and even visitors find themselves attracted to these restaurants due to:

• The portions are generous.
• The flavours are balanced. The food becomes natural and healthy.
• The prices are generally quite affordable.
• Something to please the meat eaters and vegetarians.

It does not matter whether you are having a lunch, a family dinner or you just feel like trying something new, in this case, Middle Eastern restaurants here make it easy.

A lot of Saskatoon restaurants, such as the Afghan Kabob, which are of Afghan origin, have menus with base in Afghan home cooking. The recipes revolve around the aspect of deep marinades, grilling on charcoal and rice that is cooked with light spices.

Here’s what you’ll often find:

Chicken Kabob
Pieces of chicken that are soaked in yogurt, lemon, garlic, and spices. Grilled on charcoal, the exterior becomes smoky and crispy to the point but the inside remains soft and juicy.

Beef or Lamb Tikka
Meat that is cut into pieces and allowed to marinate in order to soften the fibers. It is slowly grilled to achieve a natural sweetness and tenderness.

                     Are you craving grilled food?
                          /               \
                       Yes                 No
                       /                    \
         Do you want chicken or beef?     Try shawarma,
                  /       \               falafel, wraps,
              Chicken     Beef            or rice bowls.
                |           |
     Go for chicken kabob    Try tikka or kofta kabob

If you want something sweet and savoury together, go for Kabuli Pulao.
If you want something crispy, choose falafel or bolani.
If you want comfort food, always pick rice and kabob—it never fails.

The Middle Eastern cuisine is hospitable. You do not hurry when you are having a meal. It’s meant to be shared. Dishes are in the center of the table, the people cross to each other to sample various dishes, and the entire experience is very welcoming and cozy. This spirit is exported to restaurants in Saskatoon. You will find friendly personnel, family style dishes and customized meals. It is no fast food, it is real food the way it should be.

The actual meaning of this is that Saskatoon is the best place to experience the Middle Eastern cuisine without necessarily having to travel. You are either in the mood to have something grilled or something warm and cozy or something fresh, you will find restaurants which serve dishes with the care and the tradition.

The Middle Eastern cuisine is not a mere meal, but an experience that is based on flavour, family and time tested recipes. When you feel like having one that is customized to the menu or services of Afghan Kabob, simply request me and I will revise it.