"Riyadh's speakeasy pan-Asian room behind an unmarked door in Olaya, strong on the oxtail bao. Book it for a first date."
About Kimyona
There is no obvious door. You find Kimyona behind an unmarked entrance in Olaya, push through, and the room opens into a dim, modern dining space whose menu runs across Asia, from Burma to Vietnam. The name means curious and incomparable, and the kitchen plays to it: forgotten regional dishes plated for a contemporary Riyadh crowd. It opened in 2024 and quickly became one of the city's hardest tables. It anchors the date-night end of our Riyadh dining guide and our guide to the best Chinese and pan-Asian restaurants worldwide.
The Kitchen
Kimyona is a concept restaurant rather than a chef's-name room, and it is honest about that: the kitchen draws forgotten dishes from Burma, China, Indonesia, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam and plates them for a modern Riyadh table. The menu is built to share, split into nibbles, dumplings, fried bites and larger plates. The dishes to order are the oxtail bao at SAR 120, the Peking duck at SAR 270, and the caramel Chilean seabass at SAR 300; the Burmese fermented tea-leaf salad at SAR 75 and the bang nang prawns at SAR 90 are the lighter way in. Most of the menu sits between SAR 50 and SAR 125, with the sharing plates climbing to SAR 300, so two people can eat well for a few hundred riyals or build a long table for more. As a Saudi restaurant it pours no alcohol; the bar runs an inventive list of zero-proof cocktails instead. The address is tucked inside the King Faisal Foundation's Airline Building on Street 40 in Olaya, behind the unmarked door that is half the fun. It opened in 2024 and books out on weekends.
The Room
Kimyona is built around the reveal: an unmarked door, then a dim, low-lit room that feels more like a private club than a restaurant floor. The sound level is a steady evening hum, conversation-easy at a two-top; lighting is low and flattering; tables are close enough to feel intimate without sharing your talk with the next pair. Dress is smart; this is a dressed-up Riyadh crowd. It seats a moderate room, with booths that suit a date better than the central tables. Service is attentive and used to walking first-timers through a long, shareable menu. It runs evenings only, from 6pm.
Best for a First Date
Book Kimyona for a first date for three reasons: the hidden-door arrival gives you something to talk about before you have ordered, the lighting is low and flattering, and the shareable menu keeps the table busy and the conversation moving. A typical scene: a corner booth, a couple of zero-proof cocktails, the oxtail bao and the tea-leaf salad between you, and a server who paces the plates so you are never left staring at an empty table. It works as well for a low-key deal over dinner. Book a booth and order to share.
Not for
Skip Kimyona if you want a quiet, formal dinner or a drinks-led night: it is an evenings-only, shareable-plates room with no alcohol, and it gets busy and buzzy on weekends.
Frequently Asked
Is Kimyona worth it?
Yes, for a fun, design-led dinner that does not feel like anywhere else in Riyadh. The hidden-door entrance and the dim, club-like room are half the draw; the other half is a shareable pan-Asian menu that pulls from Burma to Vietnam. The oxtail bao and the Peking duck are the dishes to order. With most plates between SAR 50 and SAR 125, two can eat well without overspending. See our Riyadh dining guide.
How hard is it to book Kimyona?
Hard on weekends, easier midweek. Kimyona opened in 2024 and became one of Riyadh's tougher tables, so Thursday and Friday evenings book out well ahead. Reserve direct through the website or by phone, and ask for a booth if you want a quieter seat for a date. It runs evenings only, Monday to Saturday from 6pm, so there is no lunch option.
What is the dress code at Kimyona?
Smart. This is a dressed-up, design-forward room with a club-like feel, so smart-casual to smart is right, and most diners make an effort. There is no formal jacket rule, but the low-lit, polished setting rewards looking the part. Casual daytime clothes will feel out of place against the crowd in the evening.
What is the average meal price at Kimyona?
Most of the menu sits between SAR 50 and SAR 125, with sharing plates such as the Peking duck and the caramel seabass climbing to SAR 270 and SAR 300. Two people sharing several plates can eat well for a few hundred riyals, more if you add the larger dishes. There is no alcohol bill; the zero-proof cocktails are priced like the food.
What should I order at Kimyona?
Order the oxtail bao and the Burmese fermented tea-leaf salad to start, then split the Peking duck or the caramel Chilean seabass as a larger plate. The bang nang prawns are a good lighter option. Pair it with a couple of zero-proof cocktails. For more rooms like it, see our best Chinese and pan-Asian restaurants guide.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Kimyona
Book direct or by phone. Open evenings only, Monday to Saturday from 6pm. Weekends book out; ask for a booth for a date.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
AddressKing Faisal Foundation, Airline Building, St 40, Al Olaya, Riyadh 12212
NeighbourhoodOlaya
CuisineModern pan-Asian
PricePlates SAR 50–300
Dress CodeSmart
SeatingModerate · booths suit a date
ReservationDirect or phone
Phone+966 11 269 4425
HoursMon–Sat, 6pm–late
DietaryVegetarian options; no alcohol (zero-proof bar)
