So Delicious! A Must-Eat in Tabuk & Duba!

Wandering around Duba Port in Tabuk, I was initially just captivated by the blue of the Red Sea, not expecting to find any stunning food—until a local driver said, "Go try that seafood restaurant; it’s just been fished from the Red Sea." Pushing open the creaky wooden door, the salty sea breeze mixed with the aroma of grilled shrimp hit me. One bite, and "must-eat in Duba" was etched into my DNA! Fresh enough that the shrimp shells glowed with moisture, tasty enough to lick the plate clean, cheap enough to want to pack three portions for midnight snacks—I’m still salivating just thinking about it 🤤 🐠 Still Carrying the Sea’s Warmth When Served: From the Red Sea to the Table in Just Three Hours I was immediately stunned by the "fish skeleton art" at the next table: the intact skeleton was spotless, even the tail fin perked up, showing that the previous diners had eaten with devotion 😻 I pulled out my phone to take a photo of my own "battle result," but… in the end, only a bare spine was left on my plate, even the tiny bits of meat near the gills had been picked clean. The charcoal-grilled prawns were skewered fresh, their feelers still twitching slightly! The red, shiny shells cracked open easily, revealing as white as jade. Biting into them, there was a "crunch" of firmness, so fresh it felt like chewing the spray of the Red Sea. Even the roe had a faint salty sweetness—no need for sauce at all; The fried squid rings were coated in a batter thin enough to see through. Biting into them, there was first a crisp crackle, then the tenderness of squid meat, mixed with freshly squeezed lemon juice. It made my tongue tingle with sourness, but brought out the seafood’s sweetness even more; The best of all was the steamed grouper. When the boss fished it out of the tank, it was still thrashing! Served steaming, its eyes were wide open. With a gentle lift of chopsticks, the flaky meat slid into the bowl, tender as pudding. The soy sauce drizzled over it had a hint of local lemon, so delicious it made me stamp my feet. In the end, even the sauce was mixed with rice—not a single grain left. As I ate, it suddenly hit me: this seafood wasn’t just "fresh"—it carried the sea’s warmth. Even the fishy smell was clean, like it had been pulled from the waves and straight onto the grill 🌊 💰 Seafood Freedom for 50 RMB per Person: Can Saudi Prices Be This Great? I checked the bill repeatedly at checkout: a large plate of grilled prawns (10 in total), a portion of squid rings, a grouper over a kilo, plus two servings of Arabic rice—only 60 Saudi riyals (about 115 RMB)! When the boss saw me staring, he laughed loudly: "The sea in Duba has more fish than sand—why would it be expensive?" A Filipino uncle at the next table said he came "stocking up" every week, packing a large portion of grilled fish to take home for dinner, cheaper than frozen shrimp at the supermarket. Suddenly, I understood this "affordable luxury"—when the sea is right at your door, the freshest gifts should be this down-to-earth. 🚢 Hidden Ways to Eat in Duba: "Seafood Codes" Locals Know The restaurant doesn’t even have a sign; it’s tucked by the fishing boat pier in Duba. Just look for "fishing nets hanging at the door, bald uncle boss" and you’re there. Locals’ ordering codes you must remember: To eat "jumping" seafood, say "grab the alive one"—the boss will take you to the tank, and you pick which one to catch; For grilled prawns, always choose "red shrimp"—smaller than regular prawns, but sweeter meat. They’re most fragrant when grilled until the shells are charred; Finally, don’t forget to ask for "Arabic lime sauce"—dip fish in it to cut greasiness, or mix with rice to eat two more bowls. Leaving, the Red Sea sunset dyed the sky orange. My stomach was as round as a ball, walking along the pier watching fishing boats return. Suddenly, Duba felt more like "the other side of Saudi Arabia"—no dry desert, just sea breeze and fresh seafood, even the air was softly humid. Next time I come to Tabuk, I’ll stay right by Duba’s sea, having seafood for breakfast every day! Who understands? This joy of "cheap and delicious enough to stamp your feet" is the most precious surprise in travel ✨ #SaudiArabia #Tabuk #Duba #RedSea #SeafoodHeaven