Category: Food & Drinks

Back in 2019, a small Bhutanese spot called Momo Zaa opened in Salmiya and quickly became popular for their delicious momos (steamed dumplings). Sadly, the pandemic hit the following year and they ended up closing. The good news is they’re now back, this time with a new name and a new location.

Lepo & Lemo opened this past August in a new location in Salmiya. I actually prefer this new location because it’s walking distance from my place, like literally a 10 minute walk which is great. The restaurant is small but cute, with a good amount of seating for the space, including some seating outdoors.

We were a total of three so we ordered a bunch of things to try:

Crispy Chili Potato KD 1.850
Veg Juma (Vegetarian Sausage) KD 1.850
Chicken Momo (Dumpling) KD 1.850
Beef Momo (Dumpling) KD 1.950
Kewa Datshi (Potato Chili Cheese Stew) KD 1.750
Norsha Pat (Stir-fried beef) KD 2.650
Steamed Rice KD 0.750
L&L Signature Fried Ice Cream KD 2.650

For some reason my food photography skills seem to get worse with age, but trust me, everything looked great and tasted even better. Like, unexpectedly delicious. It’s been a while since I last had their food, so I’d forgotten how good it was. Everything was full of flavor and by the end I couldn’t decide what I liked most. The sausage I think really surprised me with how good it was, but I’d say the beef dumplings were my favorite dish. The cheese stew was my least favorite but even that wasn’t bad, it’s just everything else was much better.

I try not to post about food unless it’s something special, and L&L is definitely special. Even if you’ve never had Bhutanese food before, their dishes feel approachable and not at all intimidating. They had some unusual items like noodles with laban, which I’m saving for my next visit, but the dishes I mentioned above are all pretty beginner friendly.

We were three people and the bill came out to KD 13.650. They gave us the dessert on the house.

If you want to check them out, Lepo & Lemo open from 3PM to 11:30PM and are located in Salmiya right behind the 4th Ring Road fire station (Google Maps). They’re also on Instagram @lepo.lemo

Deliveroo just did something pretty cool and fun. They took four of Kuwait’s favorite chefs and sent them abroad to cook, learn and trade recipes with some of the world’s top chefs.

The Kuwaiti chefs that took part in this program were:

Faisal Al Nashmi (Table Otto, San Ristorante, and more)
Ghalia Hayat (Oh G!)
Khaled AlBaker (Little Ruby’s, Young Po, and more)
Sawsan Daana (Matbakhi by Sawsan)

The idea? Bring back the secrets behind viral global dishes while sharing Kuwait’s own flavors with the world. They sent Faisal to Rome, Ghalia to London, Khaled to Seoul and Sawsan to Athens. Think of it as a culinary exchange program and going by the videos Deliveroo have been publishing, it looked pretty fun.

The chefs are now back in Kuwait and they’re each working on creating a dish based on their experience abroad. These 4 new dishes are going to be exclusive to Deliveroo, so you won’t find them anywhere else. To find out when they drop, make sure you are following @deliveroo_kw

Frankie’s was one of my favorite breakfast spots in the city before they went on hiatus 3 years ago. Now they’re back after finding a new home in Cantina. Previously, Frankie’s would pop up in the mornings at Little Ruby’s, and now they’ll be popping up at Cantina in the mornings.

Some of the original signatures will still be on the menu, like their French toast and breakfast tacos, but I’m looking forward to the new items specially the Steak & Eggs which look amazing in the photo. Chef Basmah also mentioned the new menu will feature Palestinian za’atar and family heirloom recipes.

If you’re looking for a new breakfast spot to try, Frankie’s will be serving breakfast from 8AM to 12PM starting this Friday and Saturday. @cantina_kw

It’s been a few months since Jar’s, the pizza spot, opened and today marks the start of their next chapter.

I’ve posted about the owner of Jar’s, Abdullah AlJarallah twice so far (here and here). Initially when he was making and delivering pizzas out of a commercial kitchen as a side hobby, and then again when he eventually opened his spot in Hawalli. It was a small cozy hole-in-the-wall that just made pizzas and had a set menu. Now Jar’s is expanding with more seating, a larger menu and they’re making a few other changes as well.

In addition to pizzas, Jar’s is now introducing two highly requested items, steaks and pastas. With these new additions, they’re moving away from the set menu, so you can now order freely without limitations. Like with their pizzas, they’re using top quality ingredients and making as much as possible in house. So fresh tomatoes, and plenty of good aged cheeses. All your favorite pizzas are still there as well.

The second biggest change is the addition of more chairs and tables. Jar’s outgrew the small space, so what used to be indoor seating is now a larger kitchen with a small gourmet merch section, while a new seating area was built outside. With the addition of more seating, you no longer need a reservation, you can just walk in.

Since I’ve been posting about Abdullah and his pizzas from the very start, it feels like I’ve become his official documentarian along the way, and it’s been fun watching Jar’s grow. Swipe left to check out some photos of the new items and then make sure you head over to his Instagram account @atjars

I’m a fan of Jimmy’s smashburgers, but I was never into their old location. It reminded me too much of Supernova’s interior in London and it was also tiny. Their new spot, on the other hand, is hot.

Jimmy’s just opened a much larger branch in Shuwaikh and it was designed by TWENTYONE Architects. TWENTYONE gave the brand a completely new look that is an elevated take on the American diner. The heart of the space is the open bar where you can watch them smash and cook the burgers for you. Part of the reason for the open bar is also for the sounds and smells, they want the customers to hear the sound of the grill and smell the meat as part of the experience

I love the checkered flooring and the warm walnut wood, and I think the space finally matches the quality of their burgers. If you want to check out more photos of the interior, click here.

Photos were taken by Sarah Jamaan.

The Chinese food delivery service Keeta launches in Kuwait today, taking on Talabat, Deliveroo, Jahez, and Cari.

Keeta is the overseas brand of the Chinese company Meituan, the world’s largest food delivery platform. They launched in Saudi Arabia last year and it took them just four months to become the third-largest food delivery platform there. So I’m very curious to see how they’ll perform locally.

At launch, they’re offering a discount on your first order plus free delivery. After that, you’ll continue to get free delivery on all orders of KD3 or more (with no subscription needed). @kw.keeta

If you’re looking for something different to add to your Friday rituals, Altitude Roasters have a weekly event dedicated to crafted cocktails.

Altitude Roasters started out as a roastery back in 2020, and one of the things that set them apart from much of the local coffee market was their approach to roasting. They leaned toward lighter profiles at a time when that wasn’t common in Kuwait, and that quickly became their signature. They carried that same approach over to their coffee shop when they eventually opened it last year.

Their coffee shop is one I’ve been meaning to feature under my design highlights. It was designed in collaboration with the local creative Studio Nesef and has a retro-futurist, 70s-inspired aesthetic. That 70s vibe is also what inspired their Cocktail Fridays.

Cocktail Fridays is their way of creating and introducing new altered coffee drinks. The menu changes slightly week to week, but three of their most popular drinks are The Marlon, The Jetson, and The Ron.

The Marlon: a refreshing sparkly coffee cocktail with mixed berries and cold brewed coffee.

The Jetson: a seasonal latte made with a Kuwaiti farm produce infusion.

The Ron: a deep burgundy shot of espresso paired with the juice of the best red grapes.

If you’re into experimenting with coffee or just want something new to do on a Friday, Cocktail Fridays at Altitude are worth checking out. They’re located in LOT 90 in Shuwaikh and are open 7AM to 10PM on weekdays, and 9AM to 10PM on weekends. @altituderoasterscafe

Sealed is a Kuwaiti dessert brand that specializes in molten cakes. They’ve been operational for only seven months, but they’ve been doing extremely well, to the point of having sold over one million molten cakes since launch. That’s pretty crazy.

They have two kinds of molten cakes, the Chocolate Molten and the Cookie Molten. Both are really good, but the Chocolate Molten is my personal favorite. Last month they also launched a new item, the Molten Ice Cream. They had the launch event in Spain, popping up inside the trendy lifestyle store Homiés Marbella. They are now working on another pop-up project, but they wouldn’t tell me which country it’s in. If someone knows, mention it in the comments.

The coolest thing about Sealed, besides their desserts, is their packaging. I think they have some of the best looking delivery packaging in the market right now. The desserts all arrive inside silver metallic boxes that are enclosed in silver pouches that look like shipping parcels. The whole look fits perfectly with my apartment, which has concrete floors and silver aluminum furniture. It’s a very futuristic vibe.

If you want to try their molten cakes, Sealed is available on all the major delivery platforms and they’re open 24/7. Check them out @sealed.kwt or head over to their website and order directly sealedkwt.com

The team behind the popular fried chicken brand BEAK just opened their second concept, a sliders brand called Anji.

Like with BEAK, they’ve kept the focus on sourcing the best ingredients. But, what also makes them stand out is that they’ve perfected the beef-to-bun ratio, so you get the experience of a full-size burger in slider form. And if you like your burgers meaty, you can stack up to four patties in your slider.

Anji’s branding looks pretty cool and so does the store which has indoor seating. Their first location is in Kaifan, right outside the Kuwait Sporting Club. They’re not on any delivery platform yet, just pick-up and dine-in. Check them out @anjisliders.

One of the best things about having so much competition now in food delivery is that everyone is upping their game. Talabat I realized have been adding a lot of new features recently and the latest one is for their Pro customers and is called “On-Time Guarantee”. If your order is delayed more than 15 minutes beyond the estimated time, then you’ll be eligible for a compensation from Talabat:

15 Minutes Late = KD 1 voucher
30 Minutes Late = KD 1.5 voucher
45 Minutes Late = KD 2 voucher
60 Minutes Late = KD 2.5 voucher

On more than one occasion when an order of mine has been late I’ve had to completely cancel it. Not because I’m trying to be a dick or anything but sometimes I have to be somewhere and if the food is delayed I’ll have to leave the house. I’m talking like estimated delivery time of 20-30 minutes and an hour later still not getting my food. In those situations Talabat have canceled my ordered and refunded me the full amount, so I’m hoping that won’t change now that they’ve introduced this compensation fee.

According to a reliable source, Spinneys, the popular supermarket chain, might be coming to Kuwait and partnering up with Alshaya.

Spinneys is considered a premium supermarket and is popular in the UAE and Lebanon, with locations also in Egypt, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. In the UAE, Spinneys also operates the Waitrose brand.

This isn’t the first time Alshaya has been in talks to partner with a supermarket chain. Back in 2011, they were reportedly in talks with Tesco before that deal fell through. At the time, I was told Alshaya was looking to replace Carrefour in The Avenues with their own supermarket concept. I have no idea if that’s still the case, but I’d imagine that would be the most likely scenario.

I’ve posted about Deboned before since they’re my go-to spot when I want to eat clean or healthy. I like their grilled chicken because it’s packed with flavor, and since they have branches near me, delivery is always quick. To keep things exciting, they’re constantly introducing new flavors, and yesterday they launched their latest one, Sweet & Chili.

The new Sweet & Chili flavor is available across all their chicken dishes, including Shawarma, Wings, and of course, the Half and Whole Chicken options, served with either oven-baked fries or rice.

Their Friday Meal Boxes are also available with the new Sweet & Chili flavor, and they’ve introduced a new Mango flavor for their Rice Pudding dessert.

The last time I posted about Deboned I found out they had branches in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. For now, the Sweet & Chili flavor is only available in Kuwait and for a limited time only.

If you’ve never tried Deboned before, or if you want to try their new flavor, head over to their Instagram page for more info @deboned.kw or order directly from debonedkwt.com

I don’t usually post about new coffee shops but this one opened in my neighborhood so figured I’d give it a shout out. Cuppa Joe just opened today and although it’s fairly small, it still has quite a lot of seating and a cool minimal interior that gives off a bit of a Scandinavian vibe. The owner Abdullah mentioned he was going for an American coffeehouse look with subtle Asian aesthetics but I just felt it leaned more towards Scandinavian.

Whatever the intention, the space feels relaxed and easygoing, which is exactly the vibe he was aiming for. He wants it to be a neighborhood hangout where friends can meet up or people can get work done while having a coffee.

If you want to check it out, it’s located in Ras Al-Ard, Salmiya (google maps), behind Asnan Tower and the other chill coffee spot Sluggish. They’re currently open from 5PM to 11PM since the owner has a day job, but those hours might change later so check their Instagram before heading there. @cuppajoe.kw

The popular London burger spot Supernova is coming to Kuwait. Supernova is part of BVC Hospitality, the same group behind other hit brands like CRÈME, NAC and Barnaby (my favorite).

Supernova is being brought to Kuwait by Gulf Food Enterprises Co., the same company bringing NAC, which will be opening in the Hessah District. The first Supernova location is set to open at Tilal Complex around September or October.

I tried Supernova in London last March, back when it was all over TikTok. I think I waited around 45 minutes in line? Back then it felt like I had stepped into real life TikTok since I had watched so many videos of it before. It felt weird being there in person, like I was inside TikTok. The burger was a good smashed burger, but not really worth waiting in line for. It would be a good no-frills, get your burger and leave kind of spot.

Supernova Kuwait isn’t the first Supernova outside of London, they recently opened in Bahrain.

via Dahan Fitout

It’s ridiculously hot in Kuwait right now, so the timing couldn’t be better for Ciervo’s new Summer Iced Tea lineup.

They’ve introduced three refreshing flavors, all made using premium teas from their sister brand Genuine Tea (@genuineteame). They’re crafted with natural ingredients and have zero added sugar, which makes them perfect for a guilt-free summer cool down.

Here are the flavors:

Cranberry Iced Tea
A herbal blend of hibiscus, cranberry, and apple, infused with natural passion fruit juice. Fruity, tart, and super refreshing.

Mango Pineapple
Organic sencha green tea mixed with natural mango and pineapple juice. Light, tropical, and easy to sip on a hot day.

Dragon Peach
Organic Ceylon peach and apricot tea, finished with natural dragon fruit juice. A juicy, mellow blend that’s surprisingly addictive.

They’re also still serving their popular açaí bowls, made with açaí sourced directly from their partner farms in Brazil. Another great option to cool off with.

Ciervo is a local café that’s been serving nutritious, fast-lifestyle-friendly options since 2018, with seven locations across Kuwait. If you’re looking to hydrate in this heat, check them out @ciervocafe