It is Saturday afternoon and you and your friends are driving down the Arabian Gulf Road looking for a good place to eat. The problem is, everyone wants something different, and you all have different tastes. One is on a diet and only wants grilled chicken items, the other is dying for a greasy but delicious burger, you’ve got the vegetarian in the back, next to the girl that only wants a dessert. But you can all agree on one thing, it has to be affordable and delicious.

Enter Plajat, Kuwait’s newest restaurant hub in Salmiya, right off the coastal road. With a wide array of choices, you and your friends are bound to find a filling meal that will leave you happy, satisfied and with your wallet in tact.

Picture this as a destination where you can actually try different things in a one stop shop. So, if you are a burger person there is JJ’s. If you want shawerma and kofta and things like that, go to Abou Jassem. Sandawicha is a place where you can try different flavors and tastes from around the world, and if you want something sweet there is Meywa.

When you pull up to the strip, with its wooden modern design, your first task is to choose which matching door you will go through for a dining experience. Behind door number one is JJ’s burger joint, where everything is all about the layering. From the design of stacked primary color lines that give the inside a cool and contemporary feel, to the burgers themselves.

JJ’s adheres to a layering equation created by spice specialist Chef Georges Zeidan: soft bun, crunchy onions, fresh tomatoes, crispy lettuce, mouthwatering cheese and a juicy beef patty. Each layer provided the perfect combination of flavor that made it a burger well worth remembering. You could taste the freshness in the vegetables and the bread. The patty seasoning greatly complemented the high grade US meat, and the creamy cheese definitely hit all the right spots.

If you are looking for something a bit different, try the Louisiana spicy burger that packs a punch in the patty, or the southwest beef burger with a guacamole kick. For that vegetarian friend there is a healthy veggie burger, with a hot patty made of chickpeas, basil, oat, brown rice, tofu, garlic powder, sage and barbecue sauce. Or go for something completely out of the box with the beef bacon burger toaster, your classic burger but on perfectly browned toast, instead of a bun.

JJ’s also offers a great selection of delicious appetizers to perfect your burger experience. They’ve got all the classics, from mozzarella sticks to fries, onion rings and buffalo chicken wings. The spicy cheese balls are a must try with four different cheeses and jalapenos breaded with a homemade herb mixture.

For the cultured friend that wants a taste of the world, head next door to Sandawicha. Here you can experience the tastes of Mexico, France, India, Greece and so much more. The chef has identified the spices and mixtures that truly define each country for a mouthwatering quick eat. Moreover, the sandwich is placed on homemade bread that is reminiscent of the country it is named after. The Taj Mahal’s shredded beef sandwich is spiced with a creamy curry spread and placed on fiber bread. Mexico is represented with the Tijuana Sandawicha embellished with the country’s staple, avocado, a Mexican spread, and wrapped in a delicious homemade flatbread. The Italian sandwich is filled with mozzarella, tomato sauce and a breaded chicken on Ciabatta bread.

Of course, there is bound to be that friend that doesn’t want to veer too far for home. In that case, head over to Abou Jassem where you’ll find all the great Arabian classics. From shawerma and sojouk to falafel and chicken taouk, every dish has the taste and feel of a homemade meal. For those willing to step a bit out of the box, the za’atar chicken taouk, marinated with lots of oregeno, is a great choice.

In the end, you and your friends should meet at the dessert and drinks shop Meywa. The concept was named after an old Kuwaiti custom of bringing out fruit at the end of the meal, and its idea is to be just that: a fresh and fruity end to your meal. You will find amazing drink mixes from the tried and true fresh orange juice, to the unique halawa shake that will create a party for your taste buds. For the perfectly sugary end to your meal try an international classic, like the strawberry cheesecake or the local favorite of mouhalabieh.

After experiencing each of these concepts, we had to ask the chef how he could possibly keep everything so fresh tasting and delicious. The answer was simple, keep everything on location. Chef Zeidan gave us a sneak peek at the kitchen where we watched people knead bread, stuff sausages and make the sauces. Every ingredient in his dishes is made in that back kitchen. So, while the variety will get you to Plajat, it is that level of quality and freshness that will keep you coming back for more.

Plajat is located off the Arabian Gulf Road at Plajat Street, Gulf Road, Salmiya and is open from 12pm to 12am. To contact them call 188 8848. Follow the concepts on Instagram JJ’s , Abou Jassem, Meywa, Sandawicha