AFTER a full day enjoying the North Wales Macabre Market in Rhyl, we were ready to sit down, decompress and find something good to eat.
The new Queen’s Market has quickly become my go‑to for group outings — there’s so much choice under one roof that everyone can wander off and come back with exactly what they fancy. Burgers for one, Greek for another, a shared pizza, or just a sweet treat and a coffee if that’s the mood.
Two of us did go down the pizza route, but the other two of us wanted something a little different. That’s how we ended up at Mariam’s Kitchen, one of the newer food stalls bringing an authentic taste of Syrian cuisine to the market.
We were greeted warmly, and the staff couldn’t have been more helpful, talking us through the different dishes and what made each one special. For vegetarians — and especially vegans — Mariam’s Kitchen is a very welcome addition. Many of the dishes are vegan, even more are vegetarian, and everything feels fresh and thoughtfully prepared.
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We were tempted straight away by Mariam’s Special 5 Plates, which promised a proper taster of what was on offer. We were told four of the dishes were vegan and the fifth vegetarian, but as the meat‑eater in the group, let me tell you: nothing was lacking. These plates were a sensation — a journey of tastes and textures that felt new to us but never overpowering.
We also ordered wraps: halloumi for my vegetarian friend and lamb for me, plus rice puddings to finish.
The wraps were hot, freshly prepared and absolutely first class.
In truth, the 5 Plates alone would have been enough, but I’m glad we didn’t hold back.
The rice pudding was the one divisive moment. I loved it — chilled, creamy, and the perfect palate cleanser after the cocktail of spices and flavours we’d just enjoyed.
For others, the rose‑water note wasn’t quite to their taste, so it’ll be baklava on our next visit!
All in all, I’d recommend Mariam’s Kitchen to anyone wanting something a little different from the usual burgers and pizza — or simply for those who enjoy authentic, restaurant‑quality cuisine served to order in the heart of Rhyl.
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