Best restaurant in the UAE, best restaurant in MENA 2025: Orfali Bros Bistro

The 4th Middle East & North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants awards, hosted in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT), has crowned Orfali Bros Bistro No. 1 for the 3rd consecutive year.

Founded in 2021 by Syrian-born brothers Mohammad, Wassim, and Omar Orfali, Orfali Bros Bistro - which also has a 2024 Michelin star - blends Aleppian heritage with Dubai's dynamic dining scene. The venue was ranked 46th on The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2023. 

Source: 50 Best via PRNewsfoto: Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 unveiled with Orfali Bros Bistro as the reigning No. 1 restaurant in the region.

Its web page notes: "We’re constantly pushing the boundaries of cooking to discover new flavours and sensations to our food and pastries...Some of our dishes and desserts we have made them again and again, food that we love to eat. We serve them because they link us to our past and remind us of who we are."

Trèsind Studio in Dubai retained its No. 2 spot, followed by Dubai's Kinoya at No. 3.

William Drew, Director of Content for MENA's 50 Best Restaurants said of Orfali Bros Bistro: "Its enduring success is a testament to the talent and passion of the Orfali brothers, whose dedication has earned them a loyal following both locally and internationally. We are also excited to see restaurants from 11 cities represented on this year's list, showcasing the rich variety of cuisines across the region."

- Omar Shihab of Boca won the Icon Award while Boca received the Sustainable Restaurant Award

- Tala Bashmi was recognised as the Estrella Damm N.A. Chefs' Choice 

- Carmen Rueda Hernandez claimed the Middle East & North Africa's Best Pastry Chef Award

- Row on 45 in Dubai was named the Highest Climber, rising 24 spots to No. 17

- Dara Dining by Sara Aqel in Amman, No. 18, also received the Highest New Entry Award.

Details

Browse the list at https://www.theworlds50best.com/mena/en/lists/1-50

Nuodle to take halal beef noodles and more to Dubai

Nuodle, Singapore's first and only halal beef chain of quick-serve restaurants, has announced plans to open its first overseas outlet in Dubai this year. The outlet will be directly owned and managed by the Nuodle team from Singapore. Beef used in Dubai outlets will be sourced in-country.

"We believe that our brand represents Singapore, and itis time to share our passion for food and our heritage with the world. We are thrilled to open our first branch in Dubai, and we are confident that our customers will appreciate the authentic taste of our halal beef noodles," Nuodle's founder and MD Jerry Liao said.

The company recently added mala beef lamian (mala beef noodles, S$8.85) and classic fried bee tai mak (S$7.50) to its menu.

Source: Nuodle. Mala flavoured beef noodles.

The brand was set up to showcase Chinese cuisine, with a focus on the relatively rare Lanzhou beef noodles. Since the opening of the first Nuodle outlet at Singpost in 2017, Nuodle has served more than 1 million bowls per year of affordable Lanzhou beef noodles in Singapore.

Liao subsequently added sweet-and-sour dumplings from Xi’an, Hunan vermicelli fish soup, and spicy gizzard dry sauce noodles from Sichuan. A mala dish was added to appeal to those who like spicy food.

The mala flavoured beef noodles feature Nuodle's tender mala beef, made from a secret recipe, as well as Nuodle's homemade beef broth. Other ingredients include Shanghai greens, coriander, and garlic sprouts. According to Nuodle, the beef and broth are stewed for four to five hours before serving.

Nuodle's other new dish, classic fried bee tai mak, fuses Chinese cuisine with Singapore tastes. Nuodle uses a secret recipe for the sauce, which is fried with chewy bee tai mak, chicken thigh meat, cabbage, capsicum, onion, and Shanghai greens.

"The history of noodle-making is an integral part of our brand, and we are proud to continue this tradition in a modern halal setting. The unique aroma and flavour of beef and noodles in our carefully brewed clear broth, made with clean white turnips, brilliant red chili oil, green cilantro, and a blend of traditional Chinese spices, is a taste that everyone should experience,” Liao suggested.

Nuodle also introduced the concept of hand-pulled noodles to complement its beef noodles. Five types of hand-pulled noodles are available at Nuodle flagship outlets at SingPost Centre, Our Tampines Hub, and Compass One. The broth is prepared with halal beef, beef bones, beef liver, and seasonings.

Nuodle further plans to open its first overseas outlet in Dubai this year. The outlet will be directly owned and managed by the Nuodle team from Singapore. Beef used in Dubai outlets will be sourced in-country.

"We believe that our brand represents Singapore, and itis time to share our passion for food and our heritage with the world. We are thrilled to open our first branch in Dubai, and we are confident that our customers will appreciate the authentic taste of our halal beef noodles," Liao said.

Explore

Nuodle has 20 outlets in Singapore, including three cloud kitchens that can provide island-wide delivery. More pictures are on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=singaporerecommends&set=a.640341198102196 

Nuodle members receive privileges such as discounts on dishes.

Hashtags: #nuodle, #halalsg, #halalfood, #nuodlesg, #nuodleasia, #halalfoodsg, #sghalal

Dubai's Kinoya bags One to Watch Award 2022 from MENA's 50 Best Restaurants

Middle East & North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants has named Dubai's Kinoya as the winner of its One To Watch Award 2022. The accolade recognises a rising-star restaurant within the region which 50 Best believes has the potential to break into the list in the years to come.

Kinoya's founder and Ramen Queen Neha Mishra opened Kinoya after a wildly successful supper club she ran from her home, called A Story of Food. Kinoya was initially conceptualised as a ramen shop, but finally took the shape of an izakaya to showcase more of Mishra's Japanese technique. 

Source: MENA's 50 Best Restaurants. Chef Mishra's Kinoya has won the One to Watch Award 2022.

Kinoya is divided into multiple sections – a ramen counter, an open seating area, a bar, a chef's table and two tatami rooms for private dining. Its warm, welcoming atmosphere is matched with a menu featuring classical Japanese dishes and other delicacies, as well as a large selection of ramen and a strong robata section. According to MENA's 50 Best Restaurants, Kinoya "is egalitarian and offers excellent value in terms of price point and accessibility".

Chef Mishra said: "We are humbled by the recognition and are delighted to be the winner of the first One To Watch Award at MENA's 50 Best Restaurants. The award is a credit to my team and everyone's hard work; we are just starting out on our journey, but this award shows us we are on the right path."

The award will be presented to Chef Mishra at a gala ceremony for MENA's 50 Best Restaurants 2022 in Abu Dhabi on 7 February.

Burger Federation, Spizzico open at Hamad International Airport

Source: Qatar Airways. Spizzico is one of two new restaurants in the North Node at Hamad International Airport.

Qatar Duty Free (QDF), in partnership with HMSHost International, which provides dining experiences for travel venues has announced two new restaurants in the North Node of Hamad International Airport (HIA) in Doha.

Burger Federation, a casual dining concept, opened its doors to travellers in the North Node of HIA’s main terminal. The restaurant serves burgers that have been reinvented as contemporary gourmet cuisine. HMSHost responded to customers’ growing demand for high-quality meat with a menu of locally and internationally-inspired burgers made from premium Angus beef and fresh toppings.

Guests are welcome at Spizzico, a quick-service, contemporary bread and pizza bakery offering an assortment of gourmet pizzas, freshly-baked paninis, pastries and salads.

Senior Vice President, QDF, Luis Gasset said: “We invite travellers to try Burger Federation and Spizzico located at the North Node as well as the more than 30 restaurants and grab-and-go-style establishments offering an extensive selection of cuisine from all corners of the globe, strategically placed across the South and North Duty Free Plazas and along Concourses A, B, C, D and E.”

Walter Seib, CEO of HMSHost International, said: ”After the opening of Doha’s first Harvest Market restaurant in HIA in January, we are thrilled to announce the opening of two more restaurants that will appeal to hungry travellers. The strategic partnership with one of the fastest-growing airports in the Gulf, helps us in delivering our mission and conveying our promise of Feeling Good while on the move. Also, this partnership enables us to grow our footprint worldwide with our mixed brand portfolio.”

HMSHost operates international brands and proprietary concepts in more than 100 airports around the globe. Through its HMSHost International division, the company has food and beverage operations in 21 airports across the Middle East, Asia, and the Asia Pacific region.

QDF is a duty-free operator in the Middle East, offering its customers an extensive range of international brands including Moncler, Bally, Burberry, Coach, Hermès, Hugo Boss, Rolex, Bulgari, and Harrods.

Muslims in Malaysia want halal-certified eateries

Muslims are often unsure of patronising cafes and restaurants which do not have formal halal certification as there is always the possibility that ingredients used in the food may not be halal. A recent controversy about Auntie Anne's, the pretzel chain, erupted in October 2016 when customers heard that its application for halal certification had been rejected.

A representative from Auntie Anne's then said that the Islamic Development Council JAKIM  had taken issue with the menu, which includes pretzel dogs (items containing sausages), and had requested that the item be renamed, further fanning discussion; but JAKIM later went on record to say that Auntie Anne's paperwork had been incomplete, and it had nothing to do with its pretzel dogs.

YouGov, the global market research firm, conducted an online survey from 21 to 24 October 2016 to investigate how Malaysians feel about halal certification and hotdogs. Of the 941 people polled in Malaysia, over 60% are Muslim. It found that:

Source: YouGov infographic. Ninety percent of Muslims only patronise halal-certified restaurants.

Nine out of 10 of Muslim respondents say they only visit halal certified restaurants when they dine out. This result shows the importance for halal certification when it comes to attracting Muslim customers, YouGov noted.

Asked whether Muslims felt that there are enough halal-certified restaurants, 71% said that there are enough such restaurants in the country whereas 20% feel that there could be more.

As for the term 'hotdogs', 'sausages' was considered a better alternative. Over half of all respondents prefer 'sausages' (52%) while 13% of respondents prefer 'pretzel sausages' and 12% preferred 'frankfurters'.

As for Auntie Anne's, its submission for halal certification continues to be under processing. A letter on its Facebook page states that food ingredients used in the preparation of menu items are all halal-certified.

Source: Auntie Anne's Malaysia Facebook page. Letter assuring customers that it uses halal-certified food ingredients and is looking to become halal certified.

Interested?

View the complete infographic

*Data from the research was collected among YouGov’s panelists during 21 to 24 October 2016 and was weighted to be representative of the online population. The sample size was 941 with 53% male and 47% female.

Familiar homecooked tastes, only better at GwaKu in central KL

Source: Gwaku's Facebook page. The famous ayam percik.

GwaKu, a restaurant in Q Sentral near KL Sentral, keeps office workers in the neighbourhood guessing what's for lunch. The restaurant does not have a fixed menu for lunch specials, changing daily. It might be ayam perchik on Monday and lamb stews the next week.

GwaKu serves mainly Asian dishes, like nasi lemak, rendang chicken, asam pedas, roti jala and kari chicken, without MSG, food that is familiar to many Asians, especially Malaysians."Our tagline is 'familiar taste, only better'. We pride ourselves by serving dishes that are familiar to many but somehow taste better," Mike Ibrahim, founder of restaurant GwaKu said.

The restaurant also offers international dishes such as roast chicken, pastas and couscous, and traditional authentic Malay kuehs like tepung talam, kueh lapis, talam berlauk and bingka ubi.

"We try to use local produce as much as possible and those that are in season to ensure the quality and the freshness of the produce. Plus if they are in season the price would be cheaper and we can then transfer that to our customers so that they don't have to pay an arm and a leg for a nice quality delicious meal," said Mike.

Mike left the corporate life to pursue his passion for food and cooking. "I love to eat and to cook and love to see people enjoying the food that I prepare for them," he said. "There's more to life than meeting quotas."

Mike recommends two dishes that those new to GwaKu should try. "Dish one would be the ayam percik - grilled whole leg of chicken marinated with coconut milk, coriander, galangal, lemongrass, palm sugar and grilled to perfection, served with a trio of black, brown and red rice and pickled cucumber, pineapple and chilli," he said.

"Another one is kueh pulut kacang or at Gwaku we nickname it 'ulat bulu' or the 'caterpillar'. Not many places offer this kueh - sort of a Malaysian mochi, a black glutinous rice dumpling with mung beans filling, covered with freshly grated coconut, and topped with toasted sesame, crushed peanuts and brown sugar! Yummy!"

Interested?

GwaKu is open 7.30am to 5.30pm Mondays to Fridays.

Hashtags: #gwaku2016, #gwakufoodrocks, #familiartasteonlybetter, #KLsentral, #qsentral

Come and get your Malay kuehs for your afternoon tea folks! Thanks @simonkhosillustration for the wonderful shot #kuihtraditional #klsentral #qsentral #platinumsentral #familiartasteonlybetter #gwakufoodrocks

A photo posted by GwaKu (@gwaku2016) on Aug 22, 2016 at 10:45pm PDT

Ramadhan at Mint Leaf of London, Dubai

Mint Leaf of London in Dubai is offering fine Indian cuisine with a contemporary twist for iftar and suhoor. The restaurant, on the 15th floor of the Emirates Financial Towers, South Tower in the heart of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), offers views of Downtown Dubai, with Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building at the forefront.

Can you smell the weekend #Dubai We're OPEN ALL DAY from 12noon +97147060900 #MintLeafDXB #MintLeafDubai #DIFC #mydubai اقتربت العطلة، نفتح أبوابنا طوال اليوم من الساعة 12 ظهراً للحجز اتصلوا على 0097147060900 #مينت_ليف_دبي #مينت_ليف_أوف_لندن_دبي #مركز_دبي_المالي_العالمي #ماي_دبي

A photo posted by Mint Leaf of London Dubai (@mintleafdxb) on Jun 24, 2016 at 1:00am PDT

Interested?

Mint Leaf of London is open from 12 noon till late. Iftar is at AED135+ per person, while suhoor costs AED160+ per person. Call +971 4 706 0900 for reservations or book online

Hashtags: #MintLeafDXB, #MintLeafDubai, #DIFC, #mydubai, مينت_ليف_دبي, #مينت_ليف_أوف_لندن_دبي, #مركز_دبي_المالي_العالمي, #ماي_دبي

IDAM in Doha offers Ramadan Experience Menu

Source: Museum of Islamic Art website.

Enjoy Arabian ambience at IDAM in Doha with the Ramadan Experience Menu, QR285. IDAM is Alain Ducasse’s first restaurant in the Middle East. Philippe Starck designed the décor for this restaurant, which has seating for 60.

The experience begins with the Mezze Collection, a selection of three dishes, followed by a choice of two main dishes featuring the finest imported produce or a local fish. Choose dessert from the sweet trolleys, which include contemporary signatures with an Arabic twist and local desserts revisited. A

Dedicating special attention to crafting non-alcoholic beverages, the barman works alongside the chef in creating the perfect drink to complement the menu. The use of local flavours bursting with fresh chamomile and rosemary, spices, and fruit offers a whole new tasting experience.

IDAM means 'generosity'. IDAM's menu is about refined Mediterranean cuisine with a touch of influence from the Middle East: tender octopus, potatoes infused with saffron, marinated bonito from the Arabian Gulf, lemon and gold caviar; the local catch with crunchy-creamy Egyptian rice, roasted blue lobster, “zaalouk” squash with stuffed squash blossom; camel calf, foie gras with truffles, souffléed potatoes, pastille milk dessert, tea and mint granite.

Interested?

IDAM is at the Museum of Islamic Art, 5th Floor, Corniche Promenade, Doha, Qatar. It is open Wednesdays to Mondays (closed Tuesdays), 6pm to 11pm. Call +974 4422 4488 to make a reservation.

Download iftar menus for
1 June - 13 June (PDF)
15 June – 20 June (PDF)
22 June – 27 June (PDF)
29 June – 4 July (PDF)

posted from Bloggeroid

Celebrate Ramadhan at Jumeirah Beach Hotel

Source: Jumeirah Beach Hotel website.

Jumeirah Beach Hotel welcomes guests to enjoy the traditions of Ramadhan at the Majlis Al Safinah and Latitude restaurant.

The Majlis Al Safinah in the Safinah ballroom blends Jumeirah hospitality with culinary excellence. The ballroom can seat up to 400 guests and offers eight additional Majlis areas, or rooms - enabling gatherings of 10 to 20 guests.

The buffet includes hot and cold mezze, salads, meat and seafood dishes and Middle Eastern desserts. 

Families looking for a staycation or getaway during Ramadhan can enjoy special room rates starting from AED 850* including unlimited access to Wild Wadi Waterpark and complimentary breakfast or suhoor in-room dining from a set menu.

The Ramadhan stay offer includes:

• Suhoor in room dinning or breakfast at Latitude
• Unlimited access to Wild Wadi Waterpark
• Access to Sinbad's Kids Club
• Access to a kilometre of private beach and six swimming pools
• Access to Talise Fitness and Talise Spa facilities which include an outdoor training zone
• Discover Scuba Diving session in the hotel pool

Interested?

Iftar at Majlis Al Safinah costs AED210 per person and takes place every evening from sunset until 8.45pm. Suhoor is served ala carte from 9pm to 3am. A minimum spend of AED100 is required for Thursday and Friday. Live entertainment will also be offered during suhoor. 

Guests can also dine on traditional Arabian cuisine served across three rooms at the Latitude. Iftar at Latitude is priced at AED210 per person and will be served from sunset until 8.45pm. Doors open 15 minutes before iftar is served. Guests can enjoy suhoor for AED250 per person from 9pm to 11pm.

For iftar and suhoor group bookings please contact +971 4 406 8599. For individual and iftar bookings of up to 19 people in Majlis al Safinah or Latitude please call +971 4 432 3232. 

Read more about Ramadhan on the Jumeirah Blog: A Cultural Guide to Dubai

Taiwan welcomes Muslim visitors

The Muslim travel booth at the Taiwan travel fair in Singapore.

Taiwan is wooing Muslim visitors with information on how the island is catering to Muslims. The island has mosques, Muslim-friendly hotels and halal food, though not in great numbers. Most of the food is not for Chinese cuisine, but there are some where Muslim visitors will be able to try Taiwanese food, such as at the halal Muslim Beef Noodles Restaurant and Muslim-friendly Chang Beef Noodle Shop for Taiwan beef noodles (台湾牛肉面).

There are Muslim-friendly or halal establishments in major cities and counties, with the most in the capital Taipei. Counties are typically larger than cities.

Districts can be relatively far from each other so it may be more convenient to pick a hotel that is in the same district as the food. Vegetarian restaurants are quite common but wine is sometimes used in Chinese cooking so diners trying vegetarian food should check if the food has wine in it.

The accommodation and restaurants include:

Taipei - Muslim-friendly accommodation

City Suites Taipei Nandong, which offers Chinese and Western group meals, breakfast and accommodation, Songshan district, certification expiring September 2016 for both accommodation and the Maduro restaurant
台北城市商旅南東館, 台北市松山區南京東路五段411號
+886 2 2742 5888/5798

Ambassador Hotel Taipei, a five-star hotel which offers Western set meals, breakfast and accommodation, Zhongshan district; certification expires March 2017 for both accommodation and the Ahmi Cafe
台北國賓大飯店, 台北市中山區中山北路2段63號
+886 2 2551 1111

The Landis Taipei Hotel, a five-star hotel which offers Chinese and Western group meals, breakfast and accommodation, Zhongshan district; the Le Salon function room is listed*

+886 2597 1234

Palais de Chine Hotel Taipei, a five-star hotel which offers Chinese and Western group meals, breakfast and accommodation, Datong district, for accommodation and the Le Palais and La Rotisserie restaurants**

台北君品大酒店, 台北市大同區承德路1段3號
+886 2 2181 9999/9950

The Regent Taipei, Zhongshan District, for five-star accommodation, and Western set meals and breakfast at the Azie Grand Cafe, as of April 2016 the certification was under negotiation*

台北晶華酒店, 台北市中山區中山北路2段39巷3號,  +886 2 2523 8,000

Atami Hotel, a three-star hotel which offers Chinese and Western group meals, breakfast and accommodation, Beitou district, certification expires March 2017 for accommodation and the Zolang Hung Mall restaurant

台北熱海大飯店, 台北市北投區光明路258號

+886 2 2891 5161

Amba Taipei Ximending, Wanhua District, for accommodation plus Western set meals and breakfast at the Chiba Restaurant, certification expires August 2016

台北西門町意舍吃吧, 台北市萬華區武昌街二段77號5樓

+886 2 2375 5111

Taipei - halal dining

Alibaba Indian Kitchen, Zhongshan district, certification expires January 2018

台北阿里巴巴的廚房, 台北市中山區南京東路2段56號2樓

+886 2 2567 7163

Kunming Islamic Food, Zhongshan district, certification expires June 2016

台北清真昆明園餐廳, 台北市松山區復興北路81巷26號

+886 2 2751 6776

The Best Pakistani and Indian Halal Restaurant, Zhongshan district*

+886 2 2773 3227

Halal Bismilla Restaurant (Thai food), Songshan district, certification expiring January 2018

台北泰鄉雲店餐廳, 台北市松山區北寧路40號

+886 2 2577 9271

Hui Guan, Songshan District, not clear what type of cuisine is served, certification expires August 2017

台北回館餐廳, 台北巿松山區八德路三段12巷51弄9號,

+886 2 2577 9851

Yunus Halal Restaurant (Thai food), Songshan district (a few doors away from Halal Bismilla), certification expires January 2018

台北清真泰富豪餐廳, 台北市松山區北寧路36號

+886 2 2579 0528

Casablanca, Zhongzheng District, for Moroccan cuisine

台北卡薩布蘭加餐飲店, 台北市中正區忠孝西路1段49號微風2樓, certification expires May 2017

(mobile number available only)

Muslim Beef Noodles Restaurant, Zhongzheng district, certification expires September 2016

台北清真黃牛肉麵館, 台北市中正區延平南路23號

+886 2 2331 8203

Toko Sakura, Zhongzheng District, for Indonesian snacks (serves a maximum of 20), certification expires March 2018
台北加福堂餐飲店, 台北市中正區辛亥路一段27號
+886 2 2364 3765

City Kebab Turkish Shawarma, Da An district, certification expires October 2017
台北CityKebab 土耳其沙威瑪, 台北市大安區師大路45號之1
(mobile number available only)

Pharoahs – Egyptian Restaurant & Cafe, Da An District*
+886 2 3365 3397

Taj Indian Restaurant, Da An district, certification expiring February 2018
台北泰姬印度餐廳, 台北市大安區市民大道四段48巷1號
+886 2 8773 0175

Tajin Moroccan Cuisine, Da An District, certification expires March 2017
台北塔吉摩洛哥料理, 台北市大安區基隆路二段144巷3號
+886 2 2732 7296

Toko Sakura, Da An District, for Indonesian snacks (serves a maximum of 20), certification expires March 2018
台北加福堂餐飲店+, 台北市大安區新生南路二段74號
+886 2 2391 6011

Taipei - Muslim-friendly dining

Chang Beef Noodle Shop, Zhongzheng district (a few doors away from Muslim Beef Noodles), certification expires February 2017

台北張家清真黃牛肉麵, 台北市中正區延平南路21號

+886 2 2331 2791

Ice Monster, Da An District, for iced desserts, certification expires March 2017

台北冰館, 台北市大安區忠孝東路四段297號

+886 2 8771 3263

Really Good Seafood, Da An district, certification expires August 2016

台北真的好海鮮餐廳, 台北市大安區復興南路一段222號

+886 2 2771 3000

Dingxian 101 (seafood), Taipei City, certification expires September 2016

台北頂鮮101景觀餐廳, 台北市信義區信義路五段7號86F

+886 2 8101 8686

Silks Palace at the National Palace Museum (Chinese food), Shilin district, certification expires September 2016

台北故宮晶華餐廳, 台北巿士林區至善路2段221號

+886 2 2882 9393

New Taipei City - Muslim-friendly accommodation

Fullon Hotel Shen Keng, a five-star hotel which offers Chinese and Western group meals, breakfast and accommodation, Shenkeng district, for accommodation and the Happy Garden restaurant, certification expiring August 2016

新北深坑福容大飯店, 新北市深坑區北深路三段236號

+886 2 2662 0088

Pa Fan Ken Homestay, offering breakfast and accommodation, Ruifang district, certification expires August 2016 for accommodation and the restaurant

新北八番坑舊道口民宿, 新北市瑞芳區輕便路43號

+886 2 2497 5291

Wulai Pause Landis Resort, offers Chinese and Western group meals, breakfast and accommodation, for accommodation and the Marble Restaurant*

+886 2 2661 7772

New Taipei City - halal dining

Thai Wang Muslim Thai Food Restaurant, Zhonghe district, certification expires December 2016

新北泰旺泰式餐廳, 新北市中和區南華路50號1樓

+886 2 2242 6188

Taoyuan County - Muslim-friendly accommodation

City Suites Taoyuan Gateway, offers seafood group meals, breakfast and accommodation, Dayuan district, certification expires September 2016 for accommodation and the B1 Restaurant

桃園城市商旅航空館, 桃園市大園區中正東路442號

+886 3 385 3017

Chuto Plaza Hotel, a four-star hotel that offers Western set meals, breakfast and accommodation*

+886 3 376 5077

Taoyuan County - halal dining

Different Muslim Restaurant* for Thai-Myanmar meals, seats a maximum of 20 people, certification expires June 2016

桃園不一樣小吃店, 桃園市中壢區龍東路46號

+886 3 436 9474

Taoyuan County - Muslim-friendly dining

Dennis Deli at Taoyuan International Airport, certification expires January 2017

桃園桃機丹尼斯小廚, 桃園機場第二航廈3樓出境區C9

+886 3 393 2968

Hsin Tung Yang Middle East Halal Kitchen at Taoyuan International Airport, certification expires March 2017

桃園桃機新東陽, 桃園機場第一航廈B1美食廣場

+886 3 383 3116

Ferris Wheel Restaurant at the Window on China Theme Park, Longtan township, for fast food meals, certification expires June 2016

桃園小人國主題樂園, 桃園市龍潭區高原村橫岡下60之2號

+886 3 471 7211 extension 358

Hsinchu City - Muslim-friendly accommodation

The Ambassador Hotel Hsinchu, a five-star hotel, for Western set meals and breakfast at the Promenade restaurant, and accommodation. Certification expires August 2016

新竹國賓飯店, 新竹巿中華路二段188號

+886 3 515 1111

Hsinchu County - Muslim-friendly dining

Aladdin Restaurant at the Leofoo Village Theme Park, for Middle Eastern cuisine, Guanxi Township, certification expires September 2016
新竹六福村阿拉丁餐廳, 新竹縣關西鎮仁安里拱子溝60號,
+886 3 547 5665 extension 3401

Miaoli County - Muslim-friendly accommodation

Zhuo Ye Cottage, for Chinese set meals, breakfast and accommodation, certification expires in September 2016
苗栗卓也小屋, 苗栗縣三義鄉雙潭村崩山下1-9號
+886 37 879 198

Champs Friendship Room at West Lake Resortopia, for Chinese and Western group meals, breakfast and accommodataion, Sanyi Township, certification expires in August 2016
苗栗西湖渡假村, 苗栗縣三義鄉西湖村西湖11號
+886 37 874 656

Taichung City - halal dining

Anatolia Turkish Restaurant, West District, certification expires January 2018
台中安拿朵利亞土耳其餐廳, 台中市西區精誠路150號
+886 4 2320 2186

Little India Muslim Restaurant, three outlets in West District, certification expires November 2017
台中小印度清真餐廳博館, 台中市西區博館三街60號
+886 4 2326 1425

台中小印度清真餐廳精誠店, 台中市西區精誠路 103號
+886 4 2326 5411

台中小印度清真餐廳健行店, 台中市西區健行路 1017號
+886 4 2326 7075

Little India Muslim Restaurant, North District, certification expires November 2017
台中小印度清真餐廳育德館, 台中市北區育德路60號
+886 4 2206 6639

Nantou County - Muslim-friendly accommodation

Tai-Yi Ecological Leisure Farm, Red Maple Boutique Hotel, a four-star hotel offering Chinese and Western group meals plus breakfast at its South Garden Banquet Hall, and accommodation, Puli Township, certification expires June 2016
南投台一休閒農場, 南投縣埔里鎮中山路1段176號
+886 49 299 7848

Fleur de China, a five-star hotel offering Chinese set meals, breakfast at its Rainbow Cloud restaurant, and accommodation, Yuchi Township, certification expires August 2016
南投雲品溫泉酒店, 南投縣魚池鄉日月潭中正路23號
+886 49 221 2999

Nantou County - Muslim-friendly dining

Sen Shi Ba Leisure Farm's restaurant has Chinese set meals and Chinese group meals, Mingjian Township, certification expires October 2016
南投森十八休閒農場, 南投縣名間鄉田仔村田仔巷16-8號
+886 49 227 3797

Taitung City - halal dining

ETaiwan Restaurant for Middle Eastern and Chinese group meals, Taitung City, certification expires March 2018
台東益台灣餐廳, 台東縣太麻里鄉太麻里街575號
+886 89 383 969

Taitung City - Muslim-friendly dining

Formosan Naruwan Hotel & Resort Taitung, for its Jade Garden restaurant, Chinese and Western group meals, Taitung City, certification expires September 2016
台東娜路彎大酒店, 台東縣台東市連航路66號
+886 89 225 000

Taiwan also has six mosques, two in the capital Taipei alone: the Taipei Grand Mosque at 62, Xinsheng South Road Section 2, Da An district, and the Taipei Cultural Mosque, at 3, Lane 25, Xinhai Road Section 1 in the Zhongzheng district of Taipei. Taoyuan county, in the outskirts of Taipei, hosts Long Gang Mosque at 216 Longdong Road, Zhongli City.

The remaining mosques are in Taichung, 457 Dadun South Road, Nantun District, in Tainan at 12, Alley 34, Lane 77,  Zhonghua East Road Section 3, Eastern district, and in Kaohsiung, at 11 Jianjun Road, Lingya District.

Interested?

The Chinese Muslim Association (traditional Chinese only) maintains a list of Muslim-friendly and halal hotels and restaurants***. The association suggests reserving Muslim meals three days in advance at Muslim-friendly establishments to ensure availability. Call +886 2 2392 7364 with questions from 9am to 5pm Mondays to Fridays.

Enquiries can also be made at the Taiwan Visitors' Association offices in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, as well as at the Taiwan Strait Tourism Association offices in mainland China.

*No details are available online from the Chinese Muslim Association as of the time of writing. Please call to check.

**This establishment was marked as in the midst of extending its certification as of April 2016. Please call to check.

***The list, in Excel format, is in traditional Chinese only. There is a list of names, addresses and phone numbers, plus dates of expiry for certification. The serial numbers of the certifications are in the columns marked 友善餐旅 - Muslim-friendly dining and travel; 友善餐廳 - Muslim-friendly dining; and 清真餐廳 - halal dining. MR= Muslim restaurant; MFR= Muslim-friendly restaurant; MFT= Muslim-friendly tourism.

posted from Bloggeroid

Ramadhan at 21 On Rajah in 2016

Source: 21 on Rajah deconstructs nasi ambeng Mediterr-Asian style for Ramadhan
this year. 

The halal-certified 21 On Rajah, under the stewardship of Chef de Cuisine, Faustino Picardo Ines Jr along with Executive Chef Melvin Lim and their team will be rolling out an all-you-can eat deconstructed ‘Mediterr-Asian’ nasi ambeng family dining experience for Ramadhan this year.

Taking its cue from the celebratory Malay dish from the '80s, both chefs are planning a huge comeback for this dish.

Platters fit for four persons or more will be placed in the middle of the table for guests to share a buffet spread with friends and family. Start off the iftar meal with dried dates, then consider the seafood on ice counter, featuring selections such as tiger prawns, Boston lobster and snow crab legs.

Design your own tapas at the antipasti station, then pick from familiar favourites like ayam panggang (grilled chicken), sambal prawns, beef rendang, nasi minyak, mee siam goreng, slipper lobster in chilli crab sauce, lamb moussaka and the Ramadhan special, bubur lambuk, a slow-cooked, light and soupy porridge, for the platters. Complement these delights with 21 on Rajah's own signature rice dishes, the 21 spiced Basmati and sultana saffron rice.

New this year will be a unique rendition of Maggi goreng (fried instant noodles), cooked a la minute! Another highlight of the buffet will be the signature carving station, featuring crowd-favourite slow roasted NZ prime ribeye with 21 On Rajah’s Signature homemade sauce and roasted yoghurt-marinated lamb shoulder with mixed herb couscous.

End off this feast than with desserts such as homemade gelato and assorted pastries. The cream of the crop goes to the fondue station, which will include rosehip bandung and Milo lava fondue.

On weekends, 21 on Rajah ups the ante on the live stations with the addition of a DIY kebab station, featuring both chicken and beef ragouts with a selection of accompaniments. A churros Station with a selection of vanilla, red velvet and pandan flavours will be added on weekends as well.

Looking for a more private place for a celebration? The Private Dining Room with a picturesque view of Zhongshan Park is an ideal space for family and friends to gather. The room can hold up to 35 persons and is strictly by reservation only. Prayer rooms are available at Days Hotel Singapore At Zhongshan Park.

As the Ramadan period comes to an end, 21 On Rajah will ring in the festivities with a Hari Raya Puasa special of 50% off for the second diner, valid from 6 July to 31 July 2016.

Interested?

Source: 21 on Rajah. The Rijsttafel Lunch Buffet spread.

Dates & times	Meals & pricing
Ramadan 6 June – 5 July 2016, 6pm – 10.30 pm	Mediterr-Asian Nasi Ambeng Dinner Buffet Weekdays (Monday to Thursday) Adult: S$50++; Child (5 - 12 years old): S$25++ Weekends (Friday to Sunday) Adult: S$55++; Child (5 – 12 years old): S$27.50++
Hari Raya Puasa 6 – 31 July 2016 Lunch: 12pm – 2.30pm 50% off 2nd diner (limited to maximum eight discounted diners per bill per reservation)	Weekday Rijsttafel Lunch Buffet (Monday – Friday) Adult: S$30++; Child (5 – 12 years old): S$15++ Weekday Mediterr-Asian Dinner Buffet (Monday – Thursday) Adult: S$40++; Child (5 – 12 years old): S$20++
6 – 31 July 2016 Brunch: 12pm – 3pm (weekends) 50% off 2nd diner (limited to maximum eight discounted diners per bill per reservation)	Weekend Mediterr-Asian Brunch Buffet (Sat, Sun & Hari Raya Public Holiday) Adult: S$40++; Child (5 - 12 years old): S$20++
6 – 31 July 2016 Dinner: 6 pm – 10.30pm 50% off 2nd diner (limited to maximum eight discounted diners per bill per reservation)	Weekend Mediterr-Asian Dinner Buffet (Fri – Sun) Adult: S$44++; Child (5 – 12 years old): S$22++

For reservations, call 21 On Rajah at +65 6808 6847, or book online

Read the Suroor Asia blog post about 21 on Rajah's Rijsttafel Lunch Buffet

Hashag: #sghalal

Socialbakers reveals Indonesia's and Turkey's most popular eateries on Facebook

Source: Socialbakers website.

The fastest-growing restaurant and cafe Facebook pages in Indonesia include The Duck King, Potato Head Garage, and Kudeta, according to Socialbakers, which tracks and benchmarks social media profiles across major social platforms. The most popular Facebook pages for dining in Indonesia are Excelso Coffee, with nearly 52,000 fans, Kudeta with over 44,500 and The Duck King Group with over 10,500.

Source: Socialbakers website.

For Turkey, the fastest growing dining-related Facebook pages include KasapDoner, WOW Bodrum Resort and Anjelique. The most popular pages are Melekler Kahvesi with 294,600+ fans, Karakoy Gulluoglu with 78,000 fans and WOW Bodrum Resort with just under 78,000 fans.

Interested?

View the latest Socialbaker statistics for restaurants and cafes in Indonesia and in Turkey
Read reviews of Melekler Kahvesi

1 Market buffet more than satisfies

Diners pay before entering and get a
stamp on their arms for re-entry.

1 Market at Plaza Singapura bills itself as "the first big halal-certified buffet restaurant in Singapore by a celebrity chef". There are certainly other halal-certified buffets, but yes, there is only one Chef Wan, a celebrity chef from Malaysia who has also written by cookbooks and appeared on TV.

On researching this restaurant you will see quite a few negative reviews - on the overcrowding, food presentation, variety, freshness and quality of the food, that it is not value for money, basically everything that a buffet restaurant should be good at. All I can say is perhaps I am more easily pleased because I didn't find any of the above to complain about - and we paid full price, not by Groupon.

It took me a while to visit the restaurant because it was always fully booked in the past, and full-house when I finally did get a reservation. This second visit, on a Thursday evening, revealed much fewer diners, with one section closed off. I called on Wednesday at lunch time, and secured the reservation for dinner the next evening. I didn't try everything but what I did have was good.

Food presentation was average, but this is fine when I am more interested in how the food tastes. There were complaints online about the way the sashimi had been presented, but I didn't see anything out of the ordinary that evening. The lighting at all the tables could have been brighter though - I could have taken better photos then.

There was quite a bit of variety, with a sushi and sashimi section, cold seafood section, Hong Kong dimsum, a salad section, main dishes, drinks, desserts and special counters for Asian favourites - Teochew porridge, Hainanese chicken rice, prawn mee, and DIY fruit rojak. There was ice cream and a chocolate fountain as well.

Most of the dishes - in keeping with Asian cuisine - are heavy on the carbs and can be very filling very quickly, so pace yourself. Bargain hunters can fill up on the seafood and sashimi, neither of which I tried. 

The beef rendang was tender, fragrant, and
smothered in a rich, thick gravy.

I do recommend the satay, beef rendang, and Penang char kuay teow. I also like the Teochew porridge though there wasn't much of a choice for dishes so others might disagree.

The fruit rojak is a favourite for me, but then I like fruit. The dessert spread included durian and mangosteen. There were a lot of pastries for the chocolate fountain. What I especially liked is a chocolate ganache dessert they had in clear plastic containers, with a little bit of fruit at the top and I think brownies as the base. It is very rich and best shared. The custardy bread and butter pudding was also quite nice, especially accompanied by warm vanilla sauce, the kind that has real vanilla seeds in it. 

The Penang char kuay teow had a good amount of seafood in it and the kuay teow was just the right firmness for me. 

From left: mutton satay, chicken satay and beef satay with a drizzle of peanut sauce. The mutton was my favourite, but all were tender and juicy. Some bits are a bit on the charred side so choose your sticks carefully. This is hands-down the best satay I've had in recent times.

The fruit rojak before mixing. I didn't take any of taupok or the sambal, but did have, from 12 o'clock, pineapple, jambu, starfruit, turnip, green mango, and yew char kuay, plus ground peanuts and the rojak sauce. There is one more fruit that I don't remember around 2 o'clock - possibly apple.

If there is anything to complain about, it is that a lot of the sauces are sticky and one serviette may not be enough. I had extra tissues with me but wet tissues would have been so much better.

I left satisfied and would go again. It's possible that detractors were comparing how much you pay for Asian dishes at a traditional food centre and how much more you would pay to eat the same food in the comfortable, air-conditioned surroundings of a buffet restaurant in Orchard Road. Most of that food would however not be halal which is the key draw for 1 Market, and it's unlikely that you can get all of the same dishes at the same high quality in one place. I certainly hope 1 Market survives for a long time to come.

Interested?

1 Market is at Plaza Singapura (Dhoby Ghaut MRT station)
68 Orchard Road #04-45 to 49 (new wing)
Singapore 238839

Make a reservation at +65 63419159
Lunch: 11.30am to 2.30pm

Dinner: 6pm to 10pm (food will not be replenished after 9.30pm)

Weekend high tea: 3pm to 5.15pm 

Check out the promotions
Read the Suroor Asia review on Asian Market Cafe, another halal buffet in Singapore

Tanzanite Nader open for suhoor

Omani restaurant Tanzanite Nader has soft launched and is posting daily suhoor menus for Ramadhan.

The fine dining restaurant is open from 9pm to midnight at Beach One, Shatti Al Qurm, Muscat.

Western and Japanese food is available, depending on the menu for the day. Mains cost RO3.9 to 10 and appetisers from RO1.6.

The chef also runs the Tanzanite catering business.

Interested?

Follow the Tanzanite Nader Instagram account
Call +968 9788 9009 for reservations.

posted from Bloggeroid

Viceroy Yas Abu Dhabi details Ramadhan offers

Source: Viceroy Yas Abu Dhabi website.

The Viceroy Yas Abu Dhabi has a number of offers over Ramadhan and through to Eid.

Feast on Arabian delicacies at Origins with trackside views of Yas Marina Circuit. An iftar buffet for AED 175* per person at the Origins restaurant includes Ramadan juices. Kids under 12 dine free with an accompanying adult.
Iftar is available daily during Ramadan, from sunset to 10pm. Shisha is available for AED 100*.

Those who prefer to dine at home can order an iftar buffet for takeaway. The minimum order is for five people, at AED 150* per person. Orders must be placed 24 hours in advance and collection is between 5pm and 6.30pm on the day.

Viceroy Yas Abu Dhabi also caters to suhoor with late night àla carte experiences. Suhoor is available daily during Ramadhan from 10pm to 2am. Shisha is available for AED 100*.

And to celebrate Eid Al-fitr, Origins will offer a different international buffet each night of the Eid weekend.

Opening hours for the restaurants at the hotel during Ramadhan are:

Amici | Italian Cuisine
Daily, 12:30pm to 3:00pm (à la carte lunch); sunset to 11:00pm (à la carte dinner)

Latitude | Pool Bar
Daily, 8am to 10 pm; food from 12pm to 8pm

Longitude | Closed

Noodle Box | South East Asian Cuisine
Daily, Sunset to 11.00pm

Origins | International Cuisine
Daily, breakfast: 6.30am to 10.30am, sunset to 2am for Iftar and Suhoor.

Yas Lounge | Café Patisserie
Daily, sunset to 11pm

Angar, Atayeb, Kazu, Rush | Closed

Skylite | Bar & Lounge
Daily 8pm to 2am, snack menu available

Interested?

View the Iftar Buffet at Origins Sample Menu
View the Iftar takeaway menu

View the suhoor menu

For reservations please call: +971 2 656 0600.

*All prices subject to 10% service charge and 6% tourism fee.

The iftar buffet at Straits Kitchen, Grand Hyatt Singapore

Source: Grand Hyatt Singapore website.

This Ramadhan, StraitsKitchen at the Grand Hyatt Singapore invites guests to enjoy diverse flavours from Asia with an iftar buffet spread of dishes from countries including Indonesia, India, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, in addition to the usual Singaporean favourites. The food is freshly prepared in halal-certified theatre kitchens.

From the Middle East, expect Saudi Arabian roasted leg of lamb, Lebanese samke harra (grilled fish) and shawarma meats, Moroccan mezze and traditional desserts including baklava, basbousa and kanafa bil cream.

Fresh, sustainably sourced seafood dishes will also be a highlight of the menus across the various theatre kitchens including Bengali machi (fish) curry, udang lemak nanas (Peranakan curry prawns), mini salmon skin with yellowtail maki, Alexandria-style mixed seafood and a crustacean bar with poached tiger prawns, clams, mussels and oysters.

From countries closer to Singapore, the Chef’s specialties include mini double-boiled superior ‘Buddha jumps over the wall’, Hyderabadi biriyanis (basmati rice with lamb or seafood), wok-fried crab with salted egg and nasi kambing herba (slow-cooked herb mutton rice).

The buffet also features a variety of desserts and six fine date selections: ajwah, barhi, sokari, kholas, khidri, and segai; ice creams and sherbets such as fig, honey and walnut ice cream, Arabic coffee ice cream and mango sherbet, plus umm ali, and more.

StraitsKitchen will serve the iftar buffet from 6:30pm to 10:30pm, priced* at S$68++ for adults and S$38++ per child. The meal includes selected free-flow of juice, lassi (Indian yoghurt drink), tea and coffee. 

The hotel offers prayer rooms for diners to perform the Maghrib prayers. The sunset call to prayer is broadcast through the audio system.

Interested?

For reservations, call +65 6732 1234. Club at the Hyatt cardholders can enjoy a 15% discount. 

*All prices quoted are subject to a 10% service charge and prevailing government taxes.

Bangi Golf Resort Restaurant's Buffet Ramadhan returns this year

Source: BGR.

For the month of Ramadhan, Bangi Golf Resort Restaurant (BGR) presents their signature Buffet Ramadhan from 21 June 2015 to 15 July 2015. Bangi Golf Resort is one of the very few golf resorts in Malaysia to have a restaurant with halal certification by JAKIM.

Says Executive Chef Kamaruddin: “BGR’s Buffet Ramadhan has always been a favourite choice for families, friends and business entertainment during the month of Ramadhan. We are constantly introducing new dishes to ensure we offer a variety but at the same time, we work hard to maintain the consistency and flavour of traditional favorites. Buffet Ramadhan last year was a great success and we are excited to welcome back familiar faces this year.”

BGR’s Buffet Ramadhan offers up to 200 sumptuous selections, including Malay, Western and Oriental favourites. The open kitchen concept will allow guests to watch chefs prepare the dishes and interact with them. At the same time, a four-­piece band will entertain guests with live Malay traditional music from 6.30pm to 9.30pm daily.

Source: BGR. Satay.

This year, guests can look forward to the Cooking Showcase, where the highlight is the kambing bakar (lamb slow-roasted on the spit) and sup kambing mamak (Indian style mutton stew). At this station, chefs will serve freshly carved roast lamb and piping hot bowls of mutton stew. Guests can also enjoy freshly grilled beef and chicken satay with homemade satay sauce and condiments; fried kway teow and fried mee mamak, all prepared 'live’.

At the Western appetiser section, savour cream of smoked chicken with roasted onion focaccia and sous vide eggs with mushroom espuma. The Beef Lasagna and grilled boneless chicken with creamy mushroom sauce are highly recommended.

For Malay and Oriental main courses, the kitchen team has butter prawns, teriyaki chicken, black pepper beef and fish fillet with Lemongrass sauce, as well as Malay favourites such as sambal sotong kembang, ayam masak ros and rendang daging tiak minyak.

Source: BGR.
Churros.

Desserts to try include Pacojet ice-­cream in the unique flavours of teh tarik, honeydew and bunga kantan (torch ginger flower). Guests can also finish their meal on a sweet note at the Spanish churros with thick chocolate sauce live station. There will also be a selection of homemade kuehs, puddings and fruit. New for 2015 is a tea-infused chocolate ganache tartlet.

Prices start at RM55 for adults and RM27 for children. Bangi Golf Resort also offers 800 complimentary parking lots as well as male and female surau (prayer rooms) for guests' use.

Interested?

Look for the Bangi Golf Resort at GPS coordinates 2.95716N, 101.76518E
Make a reservation at +60 3 8925 3728 or +60 3 8210 0265

The best halal restaurants in Singapore

Hungrygowhere has a list of suggestions on where to go for iftar in Singapore during Ramadhan. Its halal picks for early July are:

Beirut Grill along Bussorah Street for Lebanese
Carousel, a buffet restaurant at Royal Plaza at Scotts hotel
Fika, a Swedish restaurant at the corner of Beach Road and Arab Street
J's, a Latin American restaurant in Purvis Street
Rasa Istimewa at Woodlands Waterfront Park for seafood
Warung Lele for Indonesian food in Shenton Way

Fika's meatballs are highly recommended.

Churros at J's.

Burpple's newly updated guide to the best halal restaurants in Singapore also lists J's, in addition to 20 other restaurants, including:


Pastilla Cafe, a Moroccan restaurant along Changi Road;
The Royals Cafe in Upper East Coast Road for the mee siam and the chocolate truffle cake; and 
Pho for All, Vietnamese food at Jalan Pisang.