2:48AM - Entertaining Kuwait since 2003
Yesterday Starbucks posted its quarterly results and sales were down again. According to Starbucks, their sales in North America dropped by 6%, and sales in their second largest market which is China dropped by 14%. They don’t mention the boycott as one of the reasons, but it has to be having an effect as well.
Overall their stock is up 2.79% since the boycott started last year, but they’re currently down over 4% before the market opens today.
Farida is a new Persian restaurant that opened a few weeks ago in Salmiya. It’s a small, cozy spot with just seven tables and a homey atmosphere. The restaurant is named after its owner, Farida (@faridah88), a Kuwaiti nutritionist with Persian roots.
The interior feels like a childhood memory of an old family home to me. From the nostalgic diamond-shaped ceiling moldings and chandeliers, to the crochet tablecloths and grandma-style dinnerware, the space is charming and welcoming. It really didn’t take any effort from my end to find beautiful interior moments to capture for this post.
The menu is small and filled with dishes you wouldn’t typically find at most Persian restaurants in Kuwait. Farida wanted to share unique and interesting recipes from Iran, which I appreciate since it encourages people to step out of their comfort zone and try something new.
I went there with a friend and we ordered the classic Shirazi Salad along with the Zucchini Shallot Yogurt to start with, followed by Farida’s Ghaymen Pollow which we shared for the main course. The Ghaymen is a tomato based lamb stew mixed with orange zest and nuts served with saffron rice. Everything was delicious and very flavorful including the two desserts we ordered when done, the Persian saffron ice cream and the Rollet Khamaaei, a moist cake filled with fluffy rose water whipped cream.
The next day, I was already planning my second visit with the same friend, deciding what we’d order when we went back. The experience was that good. The only downside is that the place is small, and their opening hours are short, so you’ll likely have to wait a while to be seated. They don’t take reservations, only walk-ins. The first time I went a couple of weeks ago, I thought I was being clever by arriving just as they opened, but the place filled up before I managed to get a table. The second time, I arrived early, put my name on the list, and waited for them to open. It’s inconvenient, but at least there’s Gia and Boost cafe next door to hang out at until they call you up.
Prices of the food we ordered was as follows:
Shirazi Salad KD1.80
Zucchini Shallot Yogurt KD2.00
Farida’s Ghaymeh Polow KD7.75
Saffron Bastani KD2.75
Rollet Khamaei KD2.25
Farida is currently in their soft opening phase so they’re only open from 3PM to 7PM in the middle of the week, and 2PM to 7PM on weekends. They’re located in Al Khalid Complex in Salmiya (Google Maps) and their Instagram is @farida.kwt
Patti & More has been around long before smashed burgers became a TikTok trend, and they’ve now launched a new burger that pokes fun at the whole truffle burger craze.
The new burger is funnily enough called ‘Not Truffle’, and it’s their new limited release burger featuring their exclusive home-made sweet and tangy sauce. What else is inside? You’re going to have to discover it for yourself (although the pictures might spoil the surprise).
The new ‘Not Truffle Burger’ is available via delivery, pick-up & V-thru. Check them out @pattiandmore
EDO, one of my favorite sushi spots in Kuwait (Kei and Tatami being the other two), just reopened after closing down for renovations. They’re still in Al Khalid Complex in Salmiya, but they took over the location next door and completely revamped the interior.
Since leaving their villa location in Shaab back in 2014, they’ve moved a few times, but I think this latest version is their best since the original. The previous space before the redesign was tiny but cozy. The new, expanded space still feels cozy, but can now fit more people and has a much more upscale vibe. They also have an upstairs area with even more seating as well as a new private room.
If you’re a previous EDO customer I’d be curious to know what you think of the new place, I personally like it. They’re open daily from 1PM to 11PM and are located in the Al Khalid Complex, the same complex that has Gia and Anaar in Salmiya. @edo_restaurant
When I first saw the TopBrewer a while back at an office I was visiting, I was intrigued. I didn’t know what it was back then, I just noticed there was an iPad with a bunch of drinks on it right next to a tap. I later found out that it was the office coffee machine, the whole unit was hidden under the counter with just the tap and iPad showing.
The TopBrewer is a Danish designed coffee machine for home and commercial use that can be built into any tabletop. The main unit is hidden under the counter or behind a wall with just their patented stainless steel tap visible. This allows you to have a very clean minimal looking space without having a large and usually ugly coffee machine taking up precious real estate. You can then choose to have a tablet near it with your drink options, or you can just run the coffee machine app from your phone or even Apple Watch. Place a cup under the tap and just select the drink you want and that’s it.
The TopBrewer can be used to make both hot and cold coffee drinks, hot chocolate, and it can even be used as a water tap providing you with either cold, hot or even sparkling water. The unit has a built-in grinder that will grind your coffee beans fresh and serve you the perfect cup of espresso in just 25 seconds. The unit also has a number of cool features like recognizing you when you come close, and asking you if you want your usual drink, it also self cleans so you don’t have to.
Some of TopBrewer local customers include Asnan Towers, Boubyan, Kuwait Airways, Porsche and Zain, but internationally TopBrewer customers also include Adobe, Visa, Microsoft, and Apple. If you want to check out TopBrewer in person and get a demo, you can reach out to the dealer by visiting their instagram account @topbrewerkw or website scanomat.com
Beefbar, the renowned Monte-Carlo meat-focused restaurant, is opening in Kuwait next week, and I got an exclusive sneak peek. Known for its global accolades, including a Michelin star for its Hong Kong location, Beefbar offers a diverse menu with street food, main courses, and sides, categorized into three sections: Beef, Reef, and Leaf.
Beefbar is opening at JACC in Kuwait where they’ve taken a large location near the breakfast spot, Cocoa Room. When I visited, workers were still busy getting the space in shipshape for next week’s opening. Most of the furniture was covered to protect it from dust, but I managed to uncover a few pieces to try and capture the vibe of the place accurately.
When they open next week, they’ll start with dinner service only, with lunch service to follow later. The seating looked incredibly comfortable, with soft, and luxurious feeling materials. There’s also a private room that accommodates up to 14 people.
The owners of Beefbar in Kuwait are the same group behind other high-end international concepts, including Ferdi, Philippe by Philippe Chow, and the upcoming Novikov, set to open early next year.
If you’re looking to book dinner, reservations for Beefbar will open this weekend, with the announcement to be made on their Instagram account @beefbar.kuwaitcity
update: Here is the bookings link
One of the oldest Korean restaurants in Kuwait, Korea Gwan (previously called Koryokwan), has opened a second location in Kuwait City, inside Al-Tijaria Tower.
I haven’t passed by the new location, but based off the photos, I feel like the original location (pictured on top) looks cozier and has a bit more soul. The original location inside Carlton Hotel is not closing btw, they just opened a second location although not sure why still in the city. @koreagwan_kuwait
Today is the grand opening of Wimpy’s brand-new location at Sky Mall. The new store is Wimpy’s first dine-in location in Kuwait, and features a sleek, modern design with an open kitchen so you can watch the chefs prepare fresh meals right in front of you.
They’re going to have an exciting event where you’ll be able to indulge in Wimpy’s legendary burgers and wraps. But, it’s not just about the food, there will also be live music, a thrilling magic show, and incredible giveaways, including a chance to win 33 grams of gold.
Wimpy pioneered Kuwait’s love for burgers when they launched the original Cheeseburger in 1969 – the very first in Kuwait! A few years ago they went through a full rebrand and they’ve now taken their classic burgers and remastered them and made them even better.
Wimpy’s vision is to offer better-for-you choices, with everything made to order. Wimpy uses clean ingredients, with beef free from additives and colorants. The chicken contains no preservatives or antibiotic growth hormones, and all vegetables are delivered fresh daily. The potato buns are additionally produced locally in Kuwait.
I also discovered that the Wimpy (GCC and Egypt) is locally owned by investors from Saudi Arabia and UAE.
This event is your chance to taste the new remastered burgers yourself, and enjoy great entertainment. Sky Mall is located in Dajeej and the event is taking place from 5PM to 7PM.
Also for the next 45 days they have a buy one get one free offer, so if you don’t pass by today you can still take advantage of their offer. @wimpykwt
Not sure how many people remember this, but the Italian restaurant Lorenzo was originally located on the corner opposite Sheraton Hotel in a now-demolished building in Kuwait City. I didn’t know much about the place back then, but I always noticed the cool cars parked outside—red and yellow Ferrari 355s, or a purple Lamborghini Diablo. It definitely intrigued me.
Eventually, in the mid-2000s, a friend invited me to lunch there, and it was my first time seeing the place from the inside. I remember it felt very fancy, and I felt out of place. It was also my first time trying their famous chocolate cheesecake. That location closed when the building was set to be demolished, so they relocated across the street from Salhiya.
Lorenzo originally opened in 1993 under a different name—’Salumaio di Montenapoleone.’ In 1997, the name was changed to Lorenzo. Both the first and second locations were designed by American architect Richard Davidson from Alamosa Design. However, my favorite Lorenzo was in Al Khalid Complex, designed by Atelier Aziz Alqatami.
In 2019, Lorenzo finally closed after 23 years in business.
I had a tough time finding photos of the original Lorenzo, but eventually, I reached out to the family that owned it, and they graciously searched for and shared what they had. The photo of the Salhiya location is from the Almosa Design website, while the Al Khalid Complex location photos are from Aziz Alqatami’s website. To check out all the photos, click here.
WK is a popular local burger concept, known for their viral ads as much as for their delicious burgers.
They’re always trying to up their game which is why they just launched their new cheeseburger priced at just 649 fils while still managing to retain their high-quality ingredients. If you love the cheeseburgers of the other brand which can’t be mentioned, then you’re going to love these because they taste pretty much the same, cost 1 fils less, and have the advantage of being local.
WK is available for delivery on all the popular platforms, but the cheeseburger is only available for pick-up. However, WK has multiple locations across Kuwait, including:
Ardiya
Fahaheel
Jahra
Khiran
Sabah Alsalem
So check them out at @wkwk.965
Beak is a local fried chicken concept that launched in 2017, and one of the things they pride themselves with is the fact that their chicken is locally sourced, organically fed and never frozen.
Before opening, the partners made a decision to prioritize quality which is why they chose to source fresh chicken rather than using frozen ones. Essentially, as a customer, you’re getting chicken straight from the farm directly to your table, always fresh and never frozen.
Another thing that makes Beak special is their love for limited-time-only items. They’re constantly innovating and releasing new items, with the Mini Fillet being their current LTO sandwich.
Beak currently have two locations, a dine-in location in Al-Masayel, as well as a pick-up location in Hawally. They’re also available on all the popular delivery platforms including Talabat, Deliveroo, Cari and Jahez. So if you’re craving some fried chicken, check them out @beak.kw
Marks & Spencer recently opened their new location in The Avenues. It’s located in Phase II in place of where Baroue used to be located. The new store also has their food range and an M&S Cafe.
I just found Nando’s on Talabat. Not sure when they started since they don’t seem to have mentioned it on their instagram account but that’s pretty cool.
I have a Nando’s near me in Salmiya so I usually just pop over, but now I can just order to my place when I’m feeling lazy.
Chipotle is opening up their second location in Kuwait next week at The Walk Mall in Ardiya. I’ve never been to that mall and so had to google it now to figure out where it is.
Not sure why you’d want to go there unless you live near it, but if you really dislike The Avenues and want to have Chipotle somewhere else, you’re in luck.
So many places have closed down in T4, in fact, once you pass security the only places with food still left open are Raising Cane’s, Shake Shack, Starbucks, McDonalds and Al Rifai nuts. So if you’re boycotting brands, your only option for food and coffee is basically Al Rifai.
