I went to Alkofeia Restaurant (مطعم الكوفيّة) in Jeddah three times in one trip. Not because I was doing research, not because I ran out of options in the city. Because I sat down the first time, ate the molokhia, and knew it was a must-eat Palestinian food spot.
Quick Facts:
Restaurant: Alkofeia Restaurant (مطعم الكوفيّة)
Location: حي الروضة, JERA8241، 8241 عبدالمقصود خوجه، 2734, Jeddah 23435, Saudi Arabia
Cuisine: Palestinian Food
Price range: $$
Hours: Daily from 6am – 2am
Phone: +966 55 022 2748
Known for: Must-eat Palestinian food in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
The name الكوفيّة means kufiya, the Palestinian checkered scarf. It tells you what kind of restaurant this is before you walk in. Since opening its first branch in Riyadh in 2018 and expanding to Bahrain and then Jeddah, Alkofeia has been making the case that Palestinian home cooking deserves its own seat at the table, separate from the broader category of Levantine or Arabic food. The Jeddah branch is in Rawdah, opens at 5pm, and fills up from the first hour.
The interior is historical, cultural, and homey at the same time. Miniature roped furniture hangs from the ceiling. Vintage signs and photos cover the walls. The chairs have traditional Palestinian embroidery on them.
Starters and Sides
We started with lentil soup (~180 kcal). The soup is warm and earthy but a squeeze of lemon lifts the whole thing and makes it something you want to finish before the rest of the table arrives.
We also got the hummus with meat (~350 kcal) and fattoush (~120 kcal) which came out crisp and bright, dressed with pomegranate molasses that gave it a tartness without tipping into sweet.
Along with starters we got sides like Okra, Molokhia, and yoghurt with meat. Incredible dishes that I would order again and again.
The Dishes I Grew Up Eating: Molokhia and Okra
I spent a significant part of my life in Saudi Arabia, and molokhia and okra were part of how I ate growing up. Finding them here, cooked the way they’re supposed to be cooked, matters in a way that’s hard to articulate quickly.
The molokhia chicken with rice (~480 kcal) is the jute leaf stew that splits opinions everywhere it exists. It has a texture that I loooveee, viscosity that coats the rice and carry the chicken into every bite. Molokhia cooked properly is the reason I came back a second and a third time.
The okra with meat in a clay pot (~320 kcal) is the other obsession. Slow-cooked in a clay vessel, the okra holds its shape rather than collapsing, and the meat releases into the sauce over time. The result is dense and savory and a must-have addition to your rice. I’ve been thinking about it since I left Jeddah.
The Musakhan Plate
If you haven’t had musakhan before, Alkofeia is where to start. The traditional musakhan plate (~1817 kcal and 62 SAR) is roasted chicken over taboon bread with a generous layer of caramelized onions and sumac. The bread underneath absorbs everything. Palestinian food has a lot of bread-as-vehicle moments, and this is the best one.
Meat Maqllouba
The Meat Maqllouba (2067 kcal and 72 SAR) is a generous portion of spiced rice with meat. It’s the kind of dish that works for a group, plated large and meant to be shared. We also got more chicken (fried), and an Ozi rice with meat (2210 Kcal and 49 SAR)
There’s a zucchini with meat and tomatoes on the menu that I didn’t get to try. I’ll be ordering it the next time I’m in Jeddah, and I already know there will be a next time.
The Space and When to Go
The restaurant runs from 6am to 2am, which makes it a genuine anytime or late-night option. It’s the kind of setting that makes you want to sit longer than you planned.
The kitchen was consistent across all three of my visits, and that consistency is not something you can assume about every restaurant in the city.
Being able to come back to Jeddah and find this food, accessible and cooked properly, is a reminder of what food does beyond feeding you. It carries heritage, culture, and history forward.
Like meat? Try Camel meat for breakfast in Saudi Arabia.
📍 Alkofeia Restaurant مطعم الكوفيّة
Rawdah District, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
🕐 Hours: Daily 6:00am – 2:00am
📞 0550222748
🔗 Website: alkofeia.com
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