I visited Kuwait in 1999, post Iraq invasion and pre-9/11. It was my first and only visit to the Middle East that also included a stop on the island of Bahrain. Kuwait is located in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf. I found the country to be quite vibrant and and its citizens very warm and friendly.
There were countless remembrances in buildings, hotels and markets of the Iraq invasion, mostly through framed pictures and memorial plaques. Our host recounted the rebuilding of Kuwait after the invasion which I found quite interesting. The country’s economy is mostly derived from the petroleum industry. At the time, I was the director of a petroleum institute in Houston that was affiliated with an engineer association. I was there to meet with others in the industry, but my heart was most anxious to explore their indigenous dishes, markets and restaurants.
Upon our arrival, our host took us to what I recall was a tea garden. 
We sat outdoors and ordered from a long list of teas and for snacking, I ordered the lamb kabobs. I’m not a tea drinker but I have to admit that the tea was very aromatic and had a hint of spice to it. I enjoyed drinking it. The lamb kabob was so well seasoned and so juicy and tender. I vowed to try making these when I returned to the states. You can find my recipe in my blog site.
Kuwaiti cuisine is a combination of Arabian, Persian, Indian, and Mediterranean cuisines. The restaurants in Kuwait, much like our country, range from fast food (mostly in the form of food booths in markets) to fine dining. I wanted to try what was considered to be the signature dish of Kuwait, which was Machboos. 
It is served with a saffron rice that is cooked in a well seasoned broth and accompanied by either chicken or mutton. I ordered it with mutton. The meat is cooked low and slow and is melt-in-your-mouth tender. It was served with a side of sauce called dakoos, made from tomatoes, that you poured over the dish. I wish I could remember the name of the restaurant where I enjoyed this meal, but it escapes me. However, Machboos is what Kuwait cuisine is known for and I’m sure you can find many restaurants that serve it.
Another treat, and what I always look for when I travel, was visiting one of Kuwait’s most popular markets, Old Kuwaiti Souq Market. 
This was more than a food market. The market is filled with vendors of silks, jewelry, cafes, restaurants, perfume shops, toys, clothes, vegetables, seafood, fruit, sweets and a variety of other shops. I particularly enjoyed the shops where dates, honey, spices, sweets, vegetables, fruits, meat, and fish were sold. Gold is relatively inexpensive there so I veered off my food visits long enough to buy some gold earrings for my wife. 
We started our visit late in the afternoon and into the night. Night time was very special with the beautiful lighting and the vibrancy of the all the people. The market has been in existence for over 200 years. Like so many other parts of Kuwait, the market suffered severe damages during the Iraq invasion, but was rebuilt soon after.