Category: Food & Drinks

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

We don’t have a shortage of burger spots in Kuwait, but a new spot just launched that’s doing things a bit differently. GYU is a Japanese-inspired burger concept that just opened for delivery, and it looks pretty interesting.

The name GYU is the Japanese word for “cow” or “cattle,” and is pronounced like “gyoo”. The team behind GYU are clearly fans of Japanese culture. Their idea was to blend Japanese flavors with classic American burgers and sandwiches, and the result is a menu full of interesting twists like Katsu Sando burgers and sandwiches with umami-packed sauces and ingredients.

They also have a bunch of unique items planned for future phases, including some premium secret menu items that will only be available through their website, GYUKW.com.

For now, GYU are operating as delivery only, but I’m looking forward to trying them out. You can check them out on Instagram at @eatatgyu

Between Kuwait Towers and JŌN on the Gulf Road are three abandoned restaurants that have been sitting empty for years (Google Maps). They’re clustered together in an area that was called “Dhiafa Village.” Back in 2008, three restaurants opened there: Trader Vic’s, Letter D’amour, and Don Mario’s. I always thought the area had a lot of potential, and it looks like it’s finally going to be put to good use.

Dhow Hospitality won the bid for the location and will be opening three major concepts there:

La Petite Maison
3Fils
Matbakhi by Sawsan

LPM is a high-end French Mediterranean restaurant that most people are already familiar with. 3Fils is a Japanese concept that started in the UAE and was recently voted the No. 1 restaurant in the MENA region. Finally, Matbakhi is a local concept by chef @sawsansmatbakhi and is my favorite (and a favorite for many others) when it comes to authentic Palestinian food.

The new name for the village will be “Peninsula,” which makes sense since the property stretches into the sea and is surrounded by water on three sides. I saw renderings of the area and can confidently say there’s nothing else like it in Kuwait right now. The three concepts will have both indoor and outdoor seating, and together should create a very cool vibe.

LPM will take over the first building on the left, Matbakhi the second one on the right, and 3Fils will occupy the third building, which is the closest to the sea.

Construction on the project will start this summer, with openings expected by the end of the year.

OffTheCoal is a restaurant that’s been over a decade in the making. Its owner, Bader AlMutairi, has always had a passion for food and design, and OTC is a combination of all his interests and obsessions rolled into one.

Before my first visit, I had seen photos of the space, but once you’re actually there, it’s a completely different experience. The owner, a fan of the lifestyle and design of the 1920s to 1950s, as well as both Steampunk and Art Deco, worked with @manmade.studio to bring his vision to life. Every corner is filled with quirky details, from vintage gears to bold geometric patterns to a retro-style flap display that shows custom messages. There’s even a miniature train-like mechanism that transports food between the back kitchen and the front bar. The space feels more like a themed movie set than a typical restaurant, and that’s exactly how the owner wanted it.

The restaurant itself is meat-centric. They have a highly specialized smoker that runs 24 hours a day, constantly churning out pastrami and ribs for guests. The pastrami, by the way, is one of the best I’ve had and completely caught me by surprise. The menu is full of fresh, creative, and slightly upscale small dishes, most of which feature smoked or roasted elements.

Going back to the retro-style flap display I mentioned earlier, guests can even request to show their own custom messages on it. That’s just one of the ways they can interact with the space. OTC also has carnival-style coupons and golden tickets that can be used to redeem fun prizes. These touches were inspired by the owner’s love for the 1920s and the nostalgic spirit of mid-century American boardwalk carnivals. It’s a playful reference to that era and a way to make the dining experience feel more personal and engaging. As for the name OffTheCoal? It was inspired by Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall album. That’s another one of Bader’s interests.

OffTheCoal is clearly a passion project, so whether you’re into design, food, or just curious to try some of the best pastrami in town, it’s worth experiencing at least once. Here is their location on Google Maps and they’re on Instagram @offthecoal

Condé Nast Traveler just published their list of “The 11 Best Restaurants in Kuwait” on their website. Here’s what they picked, in no particular order:

• B+F
• Dandoosh Restaurant
• Better Diner
• Milk Bun
• Freej Swaileh
• Lï Beirut
• Selera Kita Restaurant
• Midar
• Cocoa Room
• Amiti Noura
• Shawarma Mishref

Seems like an odd list. I definitely would’ve included Phet Phet, Matbakhi, and Oak & Smoke. Having two burger spots and two shawarma places also feels repetitive for such a short list.

Pictured up top is Li Beirut.