Chicken Bukhari Rice

Bukhari rice is proof that great food travels. It was brought to Mecca by pilgrims and traders from Bukhara, in present-day Uzbekistan, and over generations it became one of Saudi Arabia’s most loved rice dishes. Today it is a street-food staple in every Saudi city, served in dedicated restaurants where the chicken is roasted on top of the rice and the whole pot is steamed under a tight lid. The best spots still roast the chicken over the rice in the traditional way, letting the juices fall into the grains.

The street food that conquered Mecca

The rice is the signature: stained sunset-red by tomatoes, tangy and slightly sweet, with each grain separate and plump. The chicken on top is juicy and deeply browned, and the meal is always served with a green chili sauce and pickles on the side. It is simple, honest food, the kind that fills you up without fuss and makes you want another plate. A good bukhari rice is judged by the quality of its tomatoes — sweet, ripe ones make all the difference.

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