I know I have mentioned countless of times already that although I have been calling Dubai my second home for two years now, my heart still definitely belongs to my original home and my love for Filipino food will never be replaced. And that is also the reason why I feel very proud knowing how the number of Pinoy restaurants have grown in the emirate, Little Manila, being one of the many options.
Mark and I were actually invited when Little Manila was launched late last year. I was personally not impressed which brought about my personal choice not to write about it. I was meaning to give the restaurant a second chance, however, I was taken aback by the number of negative reviews which stormed online.
And admittedly, when I got an invite from the brand manager just this July to try out their new and improved offerings, aside from the fact that my schedule won't always permit, I was very much hesitant because of my personal experience.
I checked for reviews online and saw more positive ones, especially from bloggers whom I have personally known, so there, along with my gym buddies, I finally went back to reconsider and give Little Manila a second chance.
Located Deira, which we can literally call "Little Manila" as this is where most Filipinos reside, Little Manila is not an ordinary restaurant. It's more of a mini food court with eight brands under one roof, offering appetizers (Kwekie Bites - street food), breads (Bread Shop - freshly-baked pandesal and ensaymada), mains (Jay-j's - grilled dishes and Binalot - Pinoy faves wrapped in banana leaves), desserts (Mochi Creme - Japanese mochi ice cream), and beverages (Zagu - pearl shakes, Fruitas - fresh fruit shakes, and Fiftea - milk teas), making it a one-stop haven for Filipino favorites.
Apart from the diners which are mostly Filipinos, the ambience exudes the Filipino vibe starting off with a jeepney which will welcome you when you enter the restaurant. The walls are embellished with graffiti showcasing Filipino culture and bamboo poles and lamps also adorn the ceilings.
Just as how the never-say-die spirit is inculcated in every Filipinos, Little Manila took the negative reviews as an inspiration to get back up and bring satisfaction to their diners. They enhanced the recipes, improved their customer service, offered more quality dishes, and introduced boodle fights which are currently their best-sellers!
Being with three men with huge appetites, Ken, the brand manager, challenged us to win a fight like no other, the Kalayaan Boodle Fight from Jay-j's, that is. :p
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| With my Gym Buddies :D |
The Beef Barbecue, Chicken Barbecue, and Crispy Shrimps are my top picks from the Kalayaan Boodle Fight. The beef belly was so tender we all mistaken it for pork. The Chicken Barbecue was cooked just right and I love the charred flavor of it. The shrimps were so crunchy you can eat everything, yup, even the shell and head. I loved dipping them all in the spiced soy-vinegar. Yum!
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| Kalayaan Boodle Fight - AED 199 |
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| Bulalo |
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| Kare-kare, Bulalo, and Melons |
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| Zagu Chocolate, Cookies and Cream, and Ube |
This was actually my first cheat meal, after three weeks of strict low-carb-high-protein diet. So was it worth it? A big fat yes! Suffice to say, I must give it up for the whole Little Manila team for doing such a good job. My friends and I may have lost the boodle fight, but Little Manila definitely won our hearts and tummies back. :)
There's no place like home. Glad that we can now enjoy a taste of the Philippines here in Dubai! Tweet
Be sure not to miss their boodle fight offerings. And oh, the Ensaymada from Bread Shop is love!!! Tweet
LITTLE MANILA
K6 Building, Next To West Zone Supermarket
Al Muraqqabat, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
+971 (0)4 2999315
www.littlemanila.com
*Table booking recommended.
We were guests at Little Manila and our meal was complimentary, but as always, this post is sincerely written and all views and opinions are my own.
sweetnothings.kriskamarie
@kriskamarie
@kriskamarie
Kriska Marie
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