Interactive Dining Destination on Tahlia Street Offers Authentic Korean Flavors

One of the cuisines I have consistently sought in Riyadh is Korean BBQ.

Nothing compares to a cooking experience shared with friends while savoring Korean food’s delicious flavors. I recently discovered a fortunate recommendation for a spot in downtown Riyadh — Seoul.

Situated on Tahlia Street in Riyadh’s Sulaymaniyah district, Seoul combines Korean street food, soul food, and barbeque, delivering a comprehensive dining experience.

Sleek Atmosphere Creates Multiple Dining Zones

Upon entry, the space presents a dim, sleek atmosphere featuring simple colors with soft lighting.

The restaurant itself is expansive, incorporating a bar area, standard seating, and tables reserved for on-table barbeque. Each option provides a distinctive experience, with the bar’s elevated seating offering glimpses into bar operations while the barbeque option delivers the customizable experience of cooking your meat selection.

Starters Launch Flavorful Journey

For starters, I recommend the beef bulgogi mandu, priced at SR62 ($17), which delivered strong flavor with soft texture; it proved the perfect opener for the forthcoming meal.

Excited to try something novel for the main course, I selected the barbeque experience. I ordered the BBQ combo (SR195), a combination featuring beef, sliced chicken, and plain shrimp — sampling one of everything.

You can also customize sides and sauces. I chose classic soya sauce plus bulgogi sauce for the beef. For sides, I selected kimchi.

Japchae Noodles Complement Grilled Selections

Before commencing the grilling experience, I wanted to add mains from the non-BBQ menu. As an enthusiastic noodle fan, I chose japchae, a sweet potato glass noodle stir-fry dish. I selected this dish for its vegetable assortment including carrots and mushrooms.

Upon receiving the raw ingredients, I began grilling the beef slices, shrimp, and chicken using my chopsticks.

The experience proved thrilling, offering an interactive table experience rather than an average dinner.

The option to grill your own meal suits those with older children keen on activities, as well as those enjoying customizing their food’s cooking temperature, sauces, and sides — or simply anyone wanting to try something new.

Meal Delivers Balanced Flavors, Textures

The meal was delicious. The noodles complemented the strongly flavored meat options excellently, while the kimchi provided a great source of fermented vegetables.

For dessert, I chose the chocolate gateau (SR98) — a layered dark-chocolate cake coated with chocolate ganache.

Premium Pricing Positions Seoul as Special Occasion Destination

Overall, Seoul delivered a great, novel dining experience that was interactive and fun for those seeking to shift from their normal lunches and dinners.

The pricing falls on the higher end, so I would make an experience of this rather than considering the spot an everyday option.

Original Article:

Arab News. (2025). Where We Are Going Today: Seoul in Riyadh. https://www.arabnews.com/node/2623376/food-health