Foodle

A new London opening, Impala by chef Meedu Saad is the type of restaurant that Dubai both lacks and needs. By type, I mean a homegrown licensed establishment serving a modern interpretation of cuisine from the wide Arab world. Something I have preached for a while, ever since Q’bara sadly shut shop a decade ago. A game-changing restaurant that was ahead of its time and hindered by an inconvenient location.

Why?

Let’s take an example. When travelling to Japan, for instance, we prioritise Japanese fare at casual izakayas and ramen bars right through to upscale sushi omakase restaurants, like residents do. To ensure that both Dubai visitors and us dwellers seek out culinary traditions and innovations from the UAE* and wider Middle East, we need a diverse collection of restaurants championing regional cuisine at all levels, in particular licensed - the gap in the market. Shawarma joints, as good as these may be, will not suffice alone.

To clarify, I certainly don’t want Impala imported to Dubai, however budding restaurateurs here would do well to take inspiration from the overall concept and its immediate success.

Whilst researching restaurants for my recent London trip, Impala topped my list, and when reservations went live four weeks in advance, I managed to secure a table for two at this busy, hyped Soho establishment.

All explained in my longform review. Plus several more recommendations from a summer visit to the capital, along with my personal Google maps link of 80+ restaurants. Link in bio. Or comment and I will DM you the link.

* Note: this post addresses broader Middle Eastern cuisine which includes Emirati fare, but for my musings specifically on the latter, I have linked into another review.

So do you think Dubai’s restaurant scene would benefit from this kind of novel concept? Or are we missing something else? Pray tell 🙏🏼

#UAERestaurantsUnite #foodiva London Restaurants Dubai Restaurants @impala.soho @meedu_saad @super8restaurants Less

I’ve been wanting to try Chef @dibartolo’s cooking for a long time, so I was really happy to finally make it to @ernestosnyc.

With the launch of their new brunch service, I finally had the chance to make it in.

Ernesto’s draws inspiration from the Basque region of Spain, with a menu that’s centered around seasonal ingredients and simple, honest cooking. It’s the kind of food that doesn’t need a lot of fuss because the ingredients and technique speak for themselves.

Safe to say this won’t be my last visit. Dinner is definitely next, and @bartolonyc is officially on my list too.

Swipe through for a look at what I tried!

#ernestosnyc #nycbrunch #spanishfood #twobridges

Anchoa con Roquefort y px

Conservas y patatas chips - housemaid potato chips, mussels, razor clams, anchovies

Pan con tomate

Bocadillo de tortilla de patatas - tortilla de patatas, aioli, tomato

Bocadillo de calamares - fried calamari, Jimmy Nardello peppers

Huevos Fritos con Chorizo y Patatas - two fried eggs, patatas fritas, chorizo

Revuelto con Verduras - soft scramble of eggs, romano beans, spring onions

Pluma Iberica - grilled Iberico pork, patata fritas, piquillos

Pan con chocolate - dark chocolate, fried bread

Tarta de Queso - Basque style cheesecake

Bar Less

If you’re in Williamsburg and in the mood for Chinese food, @antidote__nyc is serving dishes inspired by the flavors of Sichuan and Shanghai.

The menu has a little bit of everything, from dim sum and dumplings to roasted meats, noodles, and classic regional dishes, so it’s an easy place to visit with a group and share a variety of plates. The cocktail program is also worth exploring if you’re into fun and creative drinks.

I also like the wide open space of the dining room. It has a relaxed feel that makes it just as fitting for a casual dinner with friends as it is for a date night.

Swipe through for a look at what I tried.

#antidote #williamsburg #brooklyneats #chinesefood #sichuanfood

Crab and pork soup dumplings

Spicy cabbage - cabbage, chili, mixed vegetable purée

Pork dumplings in chili oil

Tea

Plum jelly tomato - cherry tomato, plum, sugar, vinegar

Cocktail

DanDan Noodles - sesame sauce, minced pork, peppercorns

DongPo Pork - eight hour braised pork belly, bok choy

Crab tofu - soft tofu, salted egg yolk, crab

Garlic sautéed pea shoots

Fei Hong Spicy Prawns - tiger prawn, spicy pepper, peanuts

Egg lava buns - custard and salted egg yolk

Pyramid - chocolate mousse on sponge cake base with crunchy gianduia Less

Today, I got to cross two things off my bucket list. Meeting one of my favorite Yankees of all time, Mariano Rivera, and finally making it to @rokstarchicken.

Mariano was there celebrating the launch of his new hot sauce, @mosheatsauces, and getting the chance to meet someone I grew up watching was a pretty special moment.

I’ve also been wanting to try Rokstar Chicken for a while now, so it was the perfect opportunity to finally stop in. If you’re a fan of Korean fried chicken, this is some of the best in the city and their sides are just as amazing.

If you haven’t been yet, I definitely recommend you checking it out! Swipe through for a look at my visit.

#rokstarchicken #marianorivera #mosheatsauces #koreanfriedchicken #noho Less

@jua.nyc continues to be one of my favorite restaurants in NYC.

I’ve been coming here for years, and I still think it’s one of the best tasting menus in the city. At $150, it also remains a really fair price for the quality of the cooking and the experience.

Chef Hoyoung Kim’s menu is rooted in Korean flavors and ingredients, and meal after meal, JUA continues to remind me why I’ve loved this restaurant for so long.

Swipe through for a look at my latest visit.

And a special thank you to my dear friend @yourhospitalityattorney for treating me to such a wonderful birthday dinner. 🙏🏻❤️

#juanyc #koreanfood #tastingmenu #michelinstar

Caviar Kim

Caviar Kim cross section

Uni Kim

Uni Kim cross section

Mulhoe

Jook + abalone

Branzino

Tenderloin

Chan

Strawberry dessert

Goguma Juak

Goguma Juak Less

If you’re a fan of Japanese BBQ, @motoishi_newyork is a new spot to keep on your radar.

Originally from Korea, Motoishi recently opened its first New York location in NoMad. The menu centers around premium A5 Miyazaki wagyu and American wagyu, with the team grilling each cut tableside so you can simply sit back and enjoy the experience.

I also like that you can choose how you want to dine. Whether you go with one of their set menus or order à la carte, it’s an easy place to explore a variety of different cuts at your own pace.

Swipe through for a look at what I tried.

📍 7E 30th Street, NYC

#motoishi #yakiniku #wagyu #nomad

Beef tartare with seaweed crisps

Potato sarada (salad)

Choregi salad

Sides

Chawanmushi

Omakase Set

Egg and scallion rice bowl

Soft tofu stew Less

It’s never easy saying goodbye to a restaurant you genuinely love.

Last night marked the final service at @odre_nyc, and I can’t think of a more meaningful way to close this chapter than with a collaboration alongside @oilje_official.

The evening centered around Miyeokguk, the Korean seaweed soup that’s long been a symbol of love, care, and family. It’s the first meal many mothers eat after giving birth and a dish that returns every birthday as a quiet reminder of where life begins. I thought it was a beautiful choice for a final service because, in so many ways, that’s what restaurants are about too. They’re places where people come together, create memories, and care for one another through food.

A huge thank you to Chef @chunongpapa and the entire Odre team for so many memorable meals over the years. Your cooking, hospitality, and passion left a lasting impression on so many of us, and I’m grateful I had the chance to experience it.

Wishing you nothing but success in whatever comes next. I have no doubt this is only the beginning.

Swipe through for a look at one final unforgettable meal.

#odre #oilje #seaweedsoup #Miyeokguk #handhospitality

Snack - gim bugak, corn chip, daechu maejakgwa

Salada - apple, cucumber, kiwi, orange, grape, dill, cabbage, potato, mayo dressing

Squash Japchae - abalone egg, dried chewy tomato, pickled salsify, pine nut

Spicy beef jjim w/ baechu jeon

Chef Changki Kang

Miyeok Guk set

Miyeok Guk - seaweed with bone broth, perilla powder

Baby octopus jeotgal

Kimchi

Dipping sauce

The best white rice

Gelato - almond and coconut milk, crispy rice

Dan Ahn, Chef Changki

ODRE Less

I’ve known @Lucas.Sin for almost a decade, and it’s been really special watching his journey over the years.

From cooking at a fast casual spot in Greenwich Village to introducing Cantonese cuisine to a much wider audience on YouTube, it’s been exciting to watch him continue to grow while staying true to the food and stories that inspire him. His latest project, @lokkee.nyc .nyc, is a Cha Chaan Teng pop-up currently taking over M Star in Manhattan’s Chinatown.

For anyone unfamiliar, Cha Chaan Tengs are Hong Kong-style cafés that blend Chinese and Western influences into comforting, everyday dishes. There’s something nostalgic about the experience, and it was a fun way to spend an evening in Chinatown.

Congratulations, Lucas, on another exciting chapter. If you’re curious about Hong Kong café culture, Lokkee is running as a limited-time pop-up in Chinatown.

Swipe through for a look at everything we tried.

📍 19 Division St, NYC

#lokkee #chachaanteng #chinesediner #chinatownmanhattan lucassin

M Star Cheung Fun

Borscht & barley soup

Wood ear salad

Shrimp stuffed chicken

Typhoon shelter crab fat noodle

Salt and pepper trio

Yin Yang fried rice

White curry pork chop

Water spinach and coconut

Almond tofu

Horlicks French Toast

Lucas Sin

M Star Care

Be respectful Less

Last night’s KJUN GUKJIP dinner brought together two top chefs to explore the intersection of Korean and Chinese cuisine.

Gukjip translates to “Chinese house,” and for one evening, @kjunnyc became exactly that. Chef @meilin21 created dishes with her own Korean interpretation of Chinese cuisine, while Chef @chefjaejung approached the menu from the opposite direction, giving her dishes a Chinese interpretation.

It was a really fun dinner and a great opportunity to see two talented chefs explore the same idea from different perspectives.

Swipe through for a look at what we had!

#kjun #gukjip #chefjaejung #chefmeilin Less

There’s something reassuring about returning to a restaurant and finding it every bit as good as you remembered.

Dinner at @icavallinibk was another reminder of why I enjoy coming here. The food is consistently delicious, beautifully prepared, and executed with so much love. It’s the kind of place where every visit leaves me looking forward to the next.

Thank you, Chef @nickcurtola, for another wonderful dinner and for the warm hospitality. It was great to be back, and I can’t wait to return.

Swipe through for a look at what we enjoyed.

#icavallini #williamsburgbrooklyn #italianfood

Sawara with champagne grapes and pickled coriander

Sea bream carpaccio with heirloom tomato and oregano

Nervetti with onions and chive blossom vinegar

Japanese sardine with datterini tomatoes and cultured butter

Japanese sardine with datterini tomatoes and cultured butter

Squid (compliments from the kitchen)

Spicy bluefin tuna crostini with date butter

Grilled tripe w/ salmoriglio, fried potatoes and maionese

Fried squash blossoms with basil and green onion honey

Sungold tomato risotto with ricotta salata

Malloreddus with royal red shrimp, corn, uni butter

Farfallone with Calabrian chili butter and smoked pancetta

Roasted heritage chicken with slow cooked garlic

Tilefish with zucchini, cerignola olives, and tomato brodo

Snap peas with fennel, mint, and sarvecchio

Grilled Berkshire pork chop with preserved cherry glaze

Apricot kernel gelato with biscotti zabaglione

Salted milk gelato with chestnut flower honey Less