Waqif Arabian Kitchen

Waqif Arabian Kitchen combines authentic Arabian flavours with a modern street-food approach, serving freshly prepared dishes inspired by the vibrant food markets and cafés of the Middle East. Using quality ingredients, bold spices, and recipes designed for sharing or enjoying on the go, we create memorable meals that stand out from typical takeaway options.

Customers choose Waqif because we offer something genuinely different in Yorkshire's food scene. Flavour-packed dishes, friendly service, and great value. Whether you're trying Arabian cuisine for the first time or looking for familiar favourites done well, our menu delivers an exciting and satisfying experience that keeps people coming back.

Waqif Arabian Kitchen was born from a passion for sharing the rich flavours, hospitality, and food culture of the Arabian Gulf with a wider audience. Inspired by founder Tom's upbringing in Qatar, where he spent more than a decade immersed in Arabic and Levantine cuisine, the concept was created to bring authentic Gulf-inspired food to Yorkshire in a way that feels fresh, accessible, and contemporary.

Named after Doha's famous Souq Waqif, a bustling marketplace known for its vibrant street food and social atmosphere, Waqif Arabian Kitchen aims to capture that same sense of warmth, community, and discovery through its food. Starting as a pop-up concept, the business quickly gained a following before establishing itself as a permanent presence at SPARK York, serving modern Arabian street food that blends traditional flavours with creative presentation and high-quality ingredients.

Today, Waqif Arabian Kitchen serves customers across York through its food hall kitchen and catering services, offering everything from shawarma and kofta to slow-cooked stews, loaded hummus, and fresh flatbreads. The mission remains simple: to introduce people to the bold, comforting flavours of the Arabian Gulf while delivering a memorable dining experience built on generosity, authenticity, and great food.

We regularly cater for corporate lunches, business events, private parties, weddings, festivals, university events, community gatherings, and public food markets, serving everyone from office teams and event organisers to families and friends. Our flexible catering style and distinctive menu make us a popular choice for clients looking to provide their guests with a unique and memorable dining experience.