Al Ula has become more than a historical and natural gem—it’s growing as a destination for culture, luxury, and increasingly diverse culinary experiences. For visitors or residents craving Chinese or Asian-Chinese cuisine, options are still not very numerous, but there are places where you can get Chinese dishes, fusion plates, or menus that include Chinese style food. This guide helps you navigate what’s available, what to expect, and where to find the best Chinese or near-Chinese food in Al Ula plus what to look out for.
Criteria: How I Selected the Restaurants
To find the best picks, I used these criteria:
| Criteria | Reason It Matters |
|---|---|
| Authenticity of Chinese flavours / menu items | So you’re not just getting “Chinese names” but actual taste and technique. |
| Menu variety (Chinese + fusion) | Because in places with fewer Chinese specialists, fusion or international restaurants often fill the gap. |
| Reviews & reputation | What people say, both locals and tourists. Ratings help. |
| Ambience and setting | Dining in Al Ula is often about the experience, so setting counts. |
| Practicality (access, hours) | Whether open when tourists are around, convenience of location, etc. |
What I Found: Chinese / Chinese-Fusion & Near-Chinese Restaurants in Al Ula
When researching, I found very few restaurants in Al Ula that specialize exclusively or predominantly in Chinese cuisine. But several restaurants include Chinese dishes (or similar Asian flavours) as part of their broader menu. Below are what I found, plus suggestions for how to enjoy Chinese-style food even when there isn’t a “pure” Chinese restaurant.
| # | Name | What They Offer in Relation to Chinese / Asian-Chinese Cuisine | Highlights & Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heritage Garden Restaurant | Offers a menu with Asian and Middle Eastern food; in reviews people mention “Chinese cooked fish and shrimp” among their dishes. (Top Rated) | Good if you want Chinese-style seafood, especially in a relaxed garden setting. Great mix with local ambiance. |
| 2 | AlUla Palace Restaurant & Kitchen | Not exclusively Chinese; more general / international, but some mentions in reviews of having Chinese-style items or seafood that reminds of Chinese sauces. (Top Rated) | Probably more fusion; don’t expect pure-authentic Chinese, but decent options. |
| 3 | IYALA Restaurant (Sahary AlUla Resort) | International / modern fusion cuisine; their buffet and à la carte include global dishes. It is possible Chinese-style dishes may appear in the international buffet. (experiencealula.com) | Good for variety. If you’re visiting and want something familiar plus adventurous, this is a safer bet. |
| 4 | The Main Restaurant – Alula (Shaden Hospitality) | More oriented toward global and Middle Eastern; no clear info that they have many Chinese items, but their buffet style may include “Asian-inspired” dishes. (alula.shadenhospitality.sa) | If Chinese items are on the menu that day, this kind of place will often have them. Best to ask. |
| 5 | Look for Chinese-style dishes at international / fusion restaurants | Many restaurants in Al Ula are not labelled Chinese but include a “Chinese cooked fish/shrimp”, stir-fried vegetables, sweet & sour sauces etc. | A tip: check menus of “international / fusion / Asian” restaurants; these are more likely to have something you want. |
Why Pure Chinese Restaurants Are Hard to Find in Al Ula
- Al Ula is more remote and traditionally focused on heritage tourism; dining infrastructure is still expanding.
- Most restaurants cater to broad tastes—so pure regional Chinese (e.g. Sichuan, Cantonese) are less common.
- Importing certain ingredients, or finding chefs skilled in regional Chinese cooking, is more challenging outside big cities.
- Many menus adapt flavours to local palate preferences, which may mean milder spice, more fusion, etc.
This means when you’re in Al Ula and craving Chinese food, you may need to compromise a bit, or find creative alternatives.
How to Make the Most of What’s Available
Ask ahead: Call or check with restaurants if they can cook something more “Chinese-traditional” (e.g. stir-fried veggies in garlic sauce, sweet & sour chicken/fish). Sometimes chefs accommodate.
Buffets: Go to places with international buffets. These are more likely to include rotating Chinese or Asian dishes.
Hotel restaurants: Hotels/resorts (like Sahary, etc.) often have a more diverse menu. They may bring in “guest chefs” for special dinners.
Fusion & Asian restaurants: These are your best bet. Even if the restaurant is not labelled “Chinese”, you’ll often find Chinese flavours there.
Check reviews & photos online (TripAdvisor, Google Maps). Photos sometimes show what people have ordered—see if Chinese style dishes show up.
Chart: Chinese Availability in Al Ula vs Nearby Cities
| City | Approx. # of “Chinese” or “Chinese-Fusion / Asian” restaurants** | Ease of Finding Authentic Chinese Dishes | Expected Price Range for Chinese Dish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al Ula | Very few – perhaps 2-5 where Chinese items are included among other cuisines | Moderate to low – you may need to ask or seek fusion | Mid to higher, because imported ingredients, hotel/fusion settings |
| Medina / Yanbu / Jeddah | Many more – multiple pure Chinese and Chinese-fusion specialists | Higher – more specialisation, more chefs familiar with authentic methods | Wider range – from inexpensive to fine dining |
Note: “Chinese availability” includes any restaurant with Chinese style food, not only pure Chinese.
Final Words
- If you are in Al Ula and craving authentic Chinese cuisine, it may be challenging; but there are options—especially at international/fusion restaurants and hotel dining venues.
- Heritage Garden Restaurant is one of your best bets for actual Chinese-style fish/shrimp dishes. For a more varied experience, resort buffets or hotel restaurants (e.g. IYALA) are good.
- Always check up-to-date menus (websites, phone, social media) because what they offer (especially Chinese items) can change with seasons, chef availability, and supply.
- If you plan to stay a few days, try visiting different restaurants and sampling “Chinese flavour” dishes rather than expecting full menu specialisation.
