Root 98: the DMM café everyone keeps skipping
On paper Root 98 sits in the Passenger Terminal at King Fahd International Airport, post-security, but it barely shows up in traveler reviews despite a posted rating of 2 out of 5. It’s listed as a café and casual dining spot in the main Passenger Terminal, mid-range in price ($$), yet most regulars at DMM talk about other brands and overlook it entirely.
Root 98’s menu leans light by airport standards, with a named signature dish: a Grilled Chicken Salad that’s the safest bet if you want something under the usual burger-and-fries weight. With prices in the $$ band, expect mains to sit above basic fast food but below hotel-level dining, roughly the range you’d find around a Hardee’s combo with an airport mark-up. Coffee, soft drinks, and simple snacks round out the café side.
The location is inside the Passenger Terminal after security screening, so you clear immigration and security first, then use Root 98 as a last stop before heading toward your gate. The concession list groups it among other post-security options near mainstream chains like Krispy Kreme, so think central concourse rather than a quiet side pier. If you’re already near the big US fast-food names, you’re in the right zone.
There’s no reliable crowd-sourced detail on exact opening hours yet; airport documents list Root 98 in the standard daily rotation that tracks with other Passenger Terminal food outlets, typically stretching across most flight banks through the day and into late evening. With no real online feedback and a 2-star rating as the only datapoint, this is a “try only if nearby” stop, not something to cross the terminal for.
Tip: if you want a sit-down salad like the Grilled Chicken Salad and you’re already past security in the Passenger Terminal, check Root 98 first before defaulting to pure fast food at the bigger names.
Grilled Chicken Salad