Category: Food & Drinks

Ora has been one of my go-to Japanese spots since they first opened over a decade ago. They also happen to be conveniently located in the same building as my office in the City, so they’re also my favorite quick escape for lunch.

One of the things I love about Ora is how they give their interior a makeover and launch new menu items every season. And it’s that time again, they just launched their new Winter Menu.

The Winter Menu created by Ora’s head chef Mohammed Ansari, features 15 dishes that capture the essence of the season, with ingredients that highlight the rich, warming flavors of winter in Japan. From hot tapas to delicate sushi rolls with a winter twist, each dish is thoughtfully crafted to provide a cozy, satisfying experience.

Along with the winter menu, Ora will be introducing a new seasonal interior installation designed to complement the winter-inspired dining experience. If you’re a fan of their creative take on Japanese cuisine, head over to @ora.kw and experience the new winter offerings.

Thanksgiving is coming up so I’ve put together two lists, one of restaurants that are serving Thanksgiving dinner, and the other of restaurants that have Thanksgiving dinners to take home. Last year there were more options for dine-in but this year, as of now, it looks like it’s only Radisson Blu. Update: More dine-in options have been added.

If there is a place you know serving Thanksgiving dinner that I haven’t listed, let me know so I can add it to the list:

Dine-In
Little Ruby’s
Radisson Blu
Santolina at SVN (for members and their guests)

Take-Out
Baker & Spice
Dean & Deluca
Four Seasons Hotel
Little Deli
Madison & Heig
Monoprix
Paul
Radisson Blu
Santolina at SVN
Sawsan
Sultan Center
Symphony Style Hotel

This is a collaboration we didn’t know we needed. CAF and KDD have come together to bring a new drink called the Chocolate Latte. The drink combines everyone’s favorite KDD Chocolate Milk with CAF’s signature coffee and is available as hot or iced.

This isn’t the first time CAF has collaborated with KDD. Their first partnership in 2016 featured the KDD Ice Cream Sandwich, and to date, over 2 million of them have been used.

The new Chocolate Latte is available today in all 21 CAF branches. @cafcafe

Barbacoa is a steakhouse that opened earlier this year, but their story is actually older than that.

Yaqoub AlWazzan, chef and owner of Barbacoa, got into barbecuing as a hobby to entertain his friends. He started with grilling, but one day bought a used smoker to try his hand at smoking. As he honed his skills, his friends encouraged him to turn his passion into a business. Yaqoub started small, working from home and offering delivery only, before eventually opening a smokehouse called Meat Pirate (I love the name). Living by the sea in Khiran at the time, he drew inspiration for the name from his surroundings. Meat Pirate quickly gained popularity, catching the attention of an investor interested in partnering with Yaqoub to open a restaurant—leading to the creation of Barbacoa.

Barbacoa is a fire dining experience located in Shuwaikh, with a space designed around the art of grilling. One wall is lined with shelves holding firewood for the grills, while the bar area wraps around a massive Santa Maria grill that feels straight out of another era. There’s also outdoor seating available, which opens up during the cooler months.

As you’d expect, the menu is packed with a variety of meats—lamb, beef, chicken, duck, and even some seafood—all grilled over a wood fire in front of you, or smoked in the back inside their custom-built smoker. Dishes are divided into small, medium, and large plates, so you can easily share a lamb rack or keep the Steak Frites all for yourself. More importantly, the menu was put together by someone who loves and is passionate about the food he’s serving.

Barbacoa also have BBQ nights taking place every Wednesday with a special menu filled with favorites like Brisket, Short Ribs, and their very own homemade Chorizo sausages.

If you want to pass by Barbacoa, they’re located in Shuwaikh, inside Lot90, the same complex that has the Italian restaurant Cantina, and the coffee shop Altitude Roasters. They’re open daily from 2PM to 10:30PM with the BBQ Nights being held every Wednesday. Check them out @barbacoa.kw

JON is a new experience by the sea that launches today. The project is by Gastronomica, the same group behind a lot of our favorite food brands like OFK, Burger Boutique, Cocoa Room, Lazy Cat, and Slider Station, so you can expect an elevated experience.

The location is stunning. I first visited last week while it was still under construction, and returned yesterday at sunset to experience the play of light and shadows. JON was built right next to the water, so once you’re inside get an uninterrupted view of the sea.

The place is divided into two main areas:

Al-Qarya
Meaning the village, this first area at JON is both a retail and culinary spot. There are a number of retail shops located in this space as well as an art exhibition space. Al-Qarya also has two dining concepts, the first is BRW, a coffee and bakery concept, and the second is Fat Pie, a new pizza concept offering artisanal pizzas.

OFK
The second half of JON is taken up by their sophisticated dining experience, OFK. OFK at JON will feature a new innovative menu different from their existing menu at their Al Hamra location, but in addition to food, OFK will also have live musical entertainment.

To get access to JON, you need to make a reservation through their website. Al-Qarya is free to access daily from 8AM to 4PM, but still requires registration due to the limited number of guests the area can take. If you want to access Al-Qarya between 4PM and 12AM, then the price of entry is 10KD. This includes a 5KD entry charge, with the remaining 5KD usable as credit within the venue.

Accessing OFK requires a different reservation. OFK opens from 6PM to 12AM and it’s 30KD per person. The 30 KD is credited toward your dining experience, which is à la carte rather than a set menu.

JON is located near the Kuwait Towers, right next to where Trader Vic’s used to be (Google Maps). If you’re interested in reserving your spot, head to jonkuwait.com

For more photos, check out my Instagram @248am

Lucky Manca came to life in a very organic process. The owner, Awce, used to make cookies, brownies, and other simple comfort treats for his friends and family. After a lot of encouragement, he took his first step and launched a home business with one product, a box of mini brownies.

Eventually, his home business gained so much popularity that demand outgrew his abilities. So, he put the concept on hold, rebuilt it as an official business with a team and large kitchen, and relaunched last month.

With the relaunch, he also expanded the menu to include brownies, cookies, and his special chocolate crunch. Awce also introduced limited items from the test kitchen like the crack cheesecake which is on the menu right now.

Lucky Manca also have an item on the menu called the Lucky Trio. It’s a box that contains all three of their main items which makes it a great dessert to take to gatherings.

If you want to try them out, they’re available on @bilbayt, @itslocals, @deliveroo_kw and their website luckymanca.com. For more info and photos, head to @luckymanca.xyz

A few days ago The Avenues announced that AlBaik was opening in phase II, and I’ve now got a date. According to my contact inside The Avenues, they’re expecting AlBaik to open at the end of December, give or take a week depending on if any issues pop up. So, it’s coming up soon—less than two months away.

If you’ve never heard of AlBaik, it’s a popular Saudi fried chicken concept that’s been around since 1974. Their first location outside of Saudi Arabia opened in Bahrain in 2020, followed by the UAE in 2021. The new Avenues location is in Food World, right next to the entrance of Magic Planet.

I pass by The Avenues at least once a week and often spend quite a bit of time there, which usually leads to lunch or dinner. I have about four or five favorite spots I like to eat at in The Avenues, and Tatami is one of them whenever I’m in the mood for Japanese.

I’ve previously posted about Tatami at The Avenues since a friend of mine (Studio Nesef) designed the interior while my wife (From Mud) created some of their ceramic dinnerware. This is Tatami’s third location, and my favorite design wise for obvious reasons. The first thing that catches your attention is the large, suspended Moon light pendant that is surrounded by intricate wooden joinery inspired by the Japanese cidori system. The restaurant is also located in The Gardens area of The Avenues which is my favorite for dining especially during the day since tons of natural light fills the space.

I know the Tatami menu by heart, as it’s my go-to for Japanese delivery. My must-order dishes include the Sesame Nori Chips, Salmon Tacos, Norwegian Salmon Roll, and Exotic Roll. When dining in, though, I tend to go for some of their hot items, like the torched nigiri or Wagyu Sando.

Another reason I really like Tatami is because they make everything in-house instead of using readymade items. So, things like their Nori Chips, Gari (ginger), gyozas, and even their black sesame and green tea ice cream are all made from scratch.

The vibe in The Gardens area of The Avenues is much more laid back than the rest of the mall, I think because it’s tucked away like a secret, up in the far corner of the mall. So it feels like a nice break from shopping when you’re up there, and then once you’re done with lunch or dinner, you head back down to the mall again. It’s like a little getaway.

To get to The Gardens area, either take the curved escalators up at the end of the Prestige section or head up the escalators on the right of the Mercedes dealership. Tatami is open from 12PM to 10:45PM and if you want to check out their menu or some more pictures, head over to their Instagram account @tatamirestaurant

According to a source familiar with the project, Popeyes, the popular fried chicken chain, is opening their first location in Kuwait at the end of this month. I sadly don’t have an exact date, it was hard enough to get just this info from them.

Tanmiah, the Saudi food company that owns and operates Popeyes in Saudi Arabia are opening two branches to begin with, one in Divonne Complex in Abu al-Hasaniyah, and the other in Sky Mall in Dhajeej.

Popeyes used to operate in Kuwait until they closed down back in 2014, so it’s been nearly a decade since they were last here. The new Instagram account isn’t live yet, but I’ll update this post once it is.

I’ve been a fan of A’s Chicken since 2014, so when they approached me for this promoted post, I knew it would be an easy writeup. I can’t remember how I first heard about them, but I do know their taouk sandwiches were what got me hooked initially. Since then they’ve kept improving, first with a major rebrand followed by an updated and expanded menu as well as more delivery locations.

What I like the most about A’s Chicken is that I can have them when I’m trying to eat clean, but also on my cheat days, and that’s because they have both grilled and fried chicken options.

They have grilled chicken and taouk platters, but you can also get the taouk sandwich which is what I usually order. If you’re craving fried chicken, then they have fried bone-in chicken, fried chicken sandwiches, and fried chicken wraps, popcorn and wings. I don’t eat bone-in chicken, but my wife and best friend both love the A’s Chicken one, and it’s become their weekly goto option since the boycott of brands started (she also says to make sure you order it with a side of Angry Honey Sauce). When I’m cheating, I personally go for their Nashville Chicken Sandwich and Royal A’s Junior Sandwich.

A’s Chicken have multiple delivery kitchens around Kuwait to ensure you get your food fast and hot. They’re on all the major delivery platforms including Talabat, Deliveroo, Cari and Jahez. They also have their own website which is aschicken.co, and you can follow them on Instagram @aschicken_kw

The restaurant Select just opened its new location at The Avenues, designed by the Turkish-based studio Gulmen Interiors.

Gulmen wanted to evoke the charm of classic theater stages with their design. From the moment you walk in, you’re transported, forgetting the time and place. They blended Art Nouveau lines, plush velvet fabrics, distressed wood panels, and bold colors, to create a cinematic dining experience.

The style isn’t what I typically go for, but that’s what I love about it—it’s different. If you want to check it out in person, the new Select is located in the Grand Avenues, right next to the Cheesecake Factory. To check out more interior shots, click here.

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).

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A post shared by Patti (@pattiandmore)

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