Afshan Aziz

Jeddah’s food scene continues to evolve, and Hokkaido on Rawdah street stands out as the city’s first all-you-can-eat Japanese restaurant.

Guests choose from three main dining experiences: a hot pot course, a barbecue course, or a mixed course that offers the best of both worlds.

Take your pick from an extensive menu featuring meats and seafood, including black angus beef, crab, squid, mussels, octopus, and a sashimi platter.

The barbecue experience is a standout. Grilling your own meats on a tabletop grill adds a fun, interactive element, and the freshness of the ingredients shines through.

The hot pot is just as customizable. Create your ideal flavor profile by choosing from four broth options, mixing and matching — sukiyaki, spicy, tomato, and miso.

The buffet includes a wide variety of options, including a spread of tempura, fried noodles, fried rice, assorted sushi, fresh fruit, desserts, and ice cream. You’ll also find a selection of noodle types like ramen, glass noodles, and udon.

While the food quality justifies it to some extent, the pricing leans toward the higher end, especially for larger groups.

If you’re visiting, I’d recommend opting for the barbecue option for more flavor control and a bit of table-side excitement.