Long lines are a part of the inimitable Al Baik experience, and always have been. From the first store that opened in Jeddah in 1974 to the latest branch in The Dubai Mall, its winding queues are a testament to the fandom apparent at all franchises of Saudi Arabia’s popular broasted chicken brand.
The long queues at the Jeddah store were even known to cause mayhem during peak hours, often resulting in crowd control by the police.
Saudi entrepreneur Zainab Baig recalls standing for hours on end many times for the coveted, succulent chicken meal.тАЬThe crisp, salty skin of the chicken and fries dunked into their unique garlic sauce is what differentiates Al Baik from other broasted chicken,тАЭ she says. тАЬSince it tends to sell out quickly, the adrenalin rush of fighting crowds and getting your hands on a meal makes it all the more tempting.тАЭ
Apart from broasted chicken, jumbo shrimp and fish fillet are also popular items on the menu.
For 38 years, Al Baik operated only in the western province of Saudi Arabia (Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah).In the 1990s, flagship stores along the Holy Mosque in Makkah and one non-profit outlet at the Mina site during Hajj season served pilgrims.
A meal of four sizeable chicken pieces, along with a bun and fries, was initially priced at 10 Saudi riyals (Dh9), making it a satisfying and affordable meal for those on a tight budget. The Al Baik store served as an equaliser, where members from all strata of society came together for a delicious meal and substantial portion.The broasted method of preparation was still a novelty in the 1980s and 1990s, and over time Al Baik chicken gained the reputation of a meal that pilgrims тАЬmust tryтАЭ when visiting the kingdom for Hajj or Umrah.
Muzaffar Ismail, an accountant who lives in Canada, remembers how whenever he carried home the familiar packaging of Al Baik, people always approached him. тАЬThey had heard so much about this restaurant, they wanted to know where they could buy it.тАЭ
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