The best places to have brunch in Dubai

When it comes to brunch, Dubai has elevated the concept to the status of an unmissable city tradition. Eat your way through our list of the best brunch places in Dubai.

Bubbalicious Brunch

If one word could describe the Westin Mina Seyahi’s Friday ‘Bubbalicious Brunch’, then ‘breathtaking’ would be an appropriate choice. What makes it so outstanding is that at Bubbalicious almost every imaginable food is on offer, thanks to the combined forces of the hotel’s three fantastic in-house restaurants. Blue Orange is responsible for both the buffet section and live cooking shows, serving food from Arabic mezze and pastas to Belgian waffles. Spice Emporium is the Asian face of the trio, and takes care of the noodle, sushi and sashimi dishes. Hunters Room is a traditional grill house placed in a tasteful contemporary setting. For those who like to be entertained during brunch, Bubbalicious Brunch provides Chinese acrobats, live bands, a PlayStation room and ‘kids’ corner’, and a petting zoo. Of course, such service comes at a price, but the Bubbalicious Brunch is definitely an experience to try.

Maya Mexican Kitchen + Bar

If you’re looking for a beachside brunch, then Maya Mexican Kitchen might be the place for you. Spearheaded by head chef Richard Sandoval, Maya offers a modern twist on traditional Mexican favourites. Based in Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa, as part of their brunch package, guests have both pool and beach access. So while sampling a plethora of dishes, such as rib-eye steak fajitas and lamb chops marinated in adobo, guests can lounge on the private beach or take a dip in the pool. For a little extra, alcoholic beverages can also be provided. Maya Mexican Kitchen serves up a fantastic brunch with plenty of exciting flavours.

Toro Toro

If you fancy a taste of Latin America in Dubai, then Toro Toro is the restaurant to visit. World-renowned Latin chef Richard Sandoval has brought the hospitality and family-style dining of his native region to restaurants as far afield as New York, Las Vegas and now Dubai. At Toro Toro, he has offered the pan-Latin ‘Hola Hola Brunch’ since 2012, earning the attention and praise of many. The Hola Hola Brunch consists of 45 options of small plates filled with traditional food, including guacamole, yucca fries, chorizo, empanadas, beef-stuffed pastries and crispy calamari. Guests should try to save space for Toro Toro’s delicious churrasco chicken, lamb or beef.

El Sur

El Sur pushes the expectations of what can be done with traditional Spanish tapas. Using the only the finest ingredients, El Sur recreates traditional tapas meals with an artistic, sophisticated vision. With stunning views of the ocean and the opportunity to dine al fresco on their balcony, El Sur is one of the best places in Dubai to eat brunch. Dishes include classic Spanish cuisine such as patatas bravas (potatoes in a spicy tomato sauce) and calamares a la romana con alioli (fried squid with alioli), alongside contemporary meals such as avocado cannelloni with tuna. There is an emphasis on seafood, but the menu also features the likes of Wagyu beef tartare and prime rib-eye steak. With on-site mixologists, there will always be a drink to your liking and guests can also enjoy premium cigars. Reservations at this exclusive restaurant is a must.

Jumeirah Al Qasr

Jumeirah Al Qasr serves up one of Dubai’s biggest Friday brunches. Guests can experience the atmosphere of three different restaurants: The Hide, Arboretum and Al Hambra. Al Qasr translates as ‘The Palace’, which hints at the style of service the hotel aims to deliver.  Al Qasr is an upscale brunch venue with a mighty reputation. It’s a must-visit for brunch fans in the city.

See more: Top luxury activities you should try once in Dubai

Source: Internet

Best specialities you have to try when visiting Beijing

Beijing has so many exceptional dishes and snacks that first-time travelers may not know where to start. To cut through the confusion, we present the must-try local favourites.

Peking Roast Duck at Quanjude

The three things that everyone who comes to Beijing must do: Eat Peking roast duck; climb the Great Wall; and visit the Panjiayuan Antique Market.

Check out Quanjude. Founded in 1864, the restaurant inherited its representational “roast duck in stove” from the imperial court, priced from 238 RMB yuan (36 USD), according to the duck’s quality. Quanjude has nearly 20 locations all over Beijing.

Stewed Liver at the Tianxing Restaurant

Beijingers have a thing for dishes made from intestines. Their famous dishes of pig intestines include luzhu huoshao, baodu and stewed liver. Stewed Pig Liver and Fried Pig Lungs have been around since the Song Dynasty. The stewed pig livers were served in soup thickened with starch afterwards. You can still get the original Huixian taste at the Tianxing Restaurant,.

Xiao Diao Li Tang (Old Beijing Pear Drink)

After having greasy roast duck, how about a refreshing Old Beijing drink? This drink boiled from sweet pears and added edible white fungus, crystal rock sugar, green plums and Chinese Wolfberries is a nutritious drink that is supposed to be good for your throat and lungs. You can try the drink at most of the Beijing cuisine restaurants like Juqi and Xiaodiaolitang, where the drink is served in vintage-style thermos flasks, mostly used in the 1960s.

Qianlong Cabbage

Here’s a must-try dish for veggies. Named after the Qianlong Emperor in the Qing Dynasty, legend has it that the dish was ordered by the emperor at a small, nondescript restaurant during his tour outside of the imperial palaces in disguise and was spoken highly of by him. Though made of cabbage leaves with sesame sauce, vinegar, and honey (and sometimes with black sesame seeds atop the dish), it has been one of the most famous traditional dishes of Beijing and can be found in most of the Beijing cuisine restaurants today.

Zhajiangmian at Hai Wan Ju

Beijing is known for its fried sauce noodles, also known as noodles with soybean paste. It is a dish of thick wheat noodles mixed with sauce made by simmering stir-fried ground pork or beef with salty soybean paste. All locals know Hai Wan Ju has the best fried sauce noodles — you will not only eat the noodles but experience the ritual. It is served in a giant bowl with sauce and garnish, like shredded cucumbers and soya beans, each put in a small plate and laid around the bowl. Compared with this, the DIY burgers they offer are nothing.

The Beijing Mutton Hotpot at Jubaoyuan

If you have taken a stroll in the hutongs in winter, you may have noticed the copper giving off steam in front of some restaurants. Those are the pots that the traditional Beijing Mutton Hotpot uses. If there’s one mutton hotpot restaurant you should go, it must be the Jubaoyuan Restaurant on Niujie. Apart from the top-quality mutton slices, it also offers a limited supply of sesame seed buns. The two Jubaoyuan restaurants on Niujie always have a long queue during rush hour, so you have to make reservations in advance.

See more: Best dimsum restaurants in Beijing

Source: Internet

The best restaurants in Kobe, Japan

Kobe has always been one of Japan’s most cosmopolitan cities, with a culinary scene reflecting its international influences. Yet Kobe is also no slouch when it comes to Japanese cuisine, with numerous restaurants cooking up the city’s biggest claim to fame: Kobe beef. Here’s some of the best restaurants in Kobe.

Hyotan

This no-frills restaurant has been packing in customers for more than 40 years with a single dish: gyoza (Japanese-style dumplings). Hyotan’s dumplings are known for the light texture of their wrappers, which are filled with savory cabbage, minced pork and leek. Tucked beneath the tracks of Hanshin Sannomiya Station, Hyotan has no English sign, but look for the red noren curtains hanging in front of the entrance.

Kitano Club

Located on a hillside overlooking Kobe, Kitano Club is one of the city’s most popular fine-dining restaurants, known for its panoramic views and exceptional French cuisine. Open for more than 50 years, the restaurant’s menu changes monthly, with typical offerings including foie gras, escargot, and dishes featuring fresh fish, roast beef, duck or lamb with seasonal vegetables. The restaurant’s stylish interior is a great spot for people-watching and the separate bar and lounge area is a relaxing place to linger after dinner, offering views of Kobe in the valley below.

Wakkoqu

For many people, the name ‘Kobe’ is inextricably linked to its world-famous beef, and Wakkoqu is one of the best places in the city to give it a try. There are several set menus featuring various cuts of beef, which is cooked directly in front of dinners on large iron griddles. The beef is served alongside side dishes like soup and fried vegetables, and the chefs provide guidance on which sauces and seasonings to add for different flavor experiences.

Nishimura

Opened in 1948, Nishimura is a timeless café that offers more than 20 different blends of coffee, all of which are roasted on-site. Set in a German-style house, its distinct half-timbered exterior has helped to establish it as a well-known Kobe landmark. The interior exudes the same elegant charm, decorated with antiques and beautiful wooden furniture. It was one of the first places in Japan to serve now-popular cappuccinos, Vienna coffees and coffee jelly, earning it a lasting place in Kobe’s coffee culture. Aside from coffee, the café offers a light menu of sandwiches, cakes, and other snacks.

Nailey’s Grill

Nailey’s Grill is a friendly, European-style restaurant nestled down a quiet alleyway. The international menu features burgers, sandwiches, soups, and Kobe beef, but the restaurant is particularly well-known for its Caesar salads. The staff speak both Japanese and English, and the interior is invitingly decorated with warm lighting, comfortable seating and muted pink walls. Jazz music adds to the laid-back atmosphere, making this spot a great place for a meal or post-dinner drinks.

See more: Visit Kobe, a glorious harbor city in Japan

Source: Internet

6 food centres to visit in Singapore

Can’t decide where to start on your Singaporean food adventure? Here are our top 6 picks of hawker centres in the country to check out.

Old Airport Road Food Centre

Built on the runway of Singapore’s old Kallang airport, Old Airport Road Food Centre is a favourite hawker centre for locals to get their fix of cheap good hawker food, though this hidden gem has become increasingly popular with tourists in recent years. There are over 150 stalls to choose from on the first level, and more sundry shops can be found on the second level. Popular picks that see long queues include Nam Sing Fried Hokkien Mee, Xin Mei Xiang Lor Mee and Dong Ji Fried Kway Teow. Each stall has their own opening hours, do your research before you visit.

Maxwell Food Centre

Maxwell Food Centre is one of the more popular hawker centres with both Singaporeans and tourists in the heritage Chinatown district. It garnered international interest thanks to visits by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay to the Hainanese Chicken Rice at Tian Tian Chicken Rice, now a Michelin Bib-Gourmand recipient and a must-try dish at this hawker center. But if you’d rather skip the perpetually long queue, there are plenty of other stalls that locals love, like Zhen Zhen porridge and Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake.

Chinatown Complex

It’s easy to get lost in Chinatown Complex Food Centre, home to the largest hawker centre in Singapore, with over 260 food stalls on its second floor, offering a generous variety of Singaporean street food fare. From the cheapest Michelin meal at Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle, to international craft beer on tap at Smith Street Taps, there is a whole plethora of choice, all at budget friendly prices.

Tekka Centre

Tekka Centre’s first level houses a bustling hawker centre. Located in Little India, naturally you have to try the North and South Indian food stalls here. Allaudin’s Briyani specialises in tasty briyani rice dishes while Sri Tiffin is where you can get your fix of masala thosai. The name Tekka comes from Teh Kia Kah or Tek Kah, a Hokkien name meaning ‘foot of the bamboos’, a reference to the many bamboo plants growing along Rochor Canal.

Tiong Bahru Food Centre

Tiong Bahru Food Centre has 85 food stalls to choose from, with several hawker food stalls awarded Michelin Bib-Gourmand and The Plate awards – just look for the long queues. A breakfast favourite is Jian Bo Shui Kueh, with its steamed rice cakes topped with diced preserved radish and a dollop of chilli. Tiong Bahru Fried Kway Teow, Teochew Fish Soup and Lor Mee 178 are good places to start your eating journey, though Tiong Bahru does have many indie cafes and restaurants to check out as well.

Lau Pa Sat Hawker Centre

The historic Lau Pa Sat or ‘the old market’ in the middle of Singapore’s Central Business District is a tourist favourite hawker centre, both for its convenient location near the attractions in the downtown area, and its unique octagonal shape and wrought iron arches with its iconic clock tower in the center. The small road next to the food centre is blocked off at nights to allow for satay sellers to take over, recreating a once-famous Satay Street under the stars.

See more: The most crowded places in Singapore

Source: Internet

Come to these best bibimbap restaurants in Seoul, Korea

Bibimbap is a healthy, delicious, colorful dish wildly popular in South Korea. Made up of rice topped with seasonal vegetables and with additions consisting of egg or meat slices, this delicacy is served in numerous establishments throughout South Korea. Try one of these popular variations on bibimbap in the culinary metropolis that is Seoul.

Gogung

A popular restaurant for tourists and older generations due to its highly traditional Korean ambiance, Gogung specializes in bibimbap. With live performances of traditional Korean music every evening and staff that dress exclusively in hanbok (the traditional Korean garb), Gogung lives up to its name, which literally translates to ‘old palace.’ Don’t be fooled into thinking that Gogun is your typical tourist trap, however – it’s also regularly frequented by Korean diplomats. Their wide variety of bibimbap ranges from classics, such as Jeonju and dolsot bibimbap to specialty dishes such as nakji (octopus) and yukhoe (beef tartare) bibimbap.

Jeonju Jungang Hoekwan

Despite being a hole-in-the-wall establishment, this restaurant is highly recommended in guidebooks for its bibimbap’s taste – which is richer, slightly sweeter, and certainly more intense than those served in most other establishments. Jeonju Jungang Hoekwan has been around for 46 years and, despite an overwhelming popularity among Japanese tourists, also entertains both locals and Western visitors. Despite being famous for the Jeonjubibimbap, this restaurant also serves up a delicious dolsotbibimbap – consisting of rice made with beef broth and flavored soy bean paste, cooked in a pagodite stone pot until the bottom is slightly scorched.

Walkerhill Ondal

One of just two Korean restaurants to be found in Seoul’s luxury hotels, the Ondal restaurant at the Sheraton Walkerhill Hotel offers a gorgeous view of the Han River on the eastern side of Seoul. This fine-dining restaurant prides itself on its rich legacy, having hosted quite a few politicians and diplomats such as the members of the Korean G20 summit, and basing its menu on the traditional royal cuisine of the Joseon dynasty. Its bibimbap is created with ingredients of the highest quality – all vegetables are fresh and organic – and prepared using a combination of modern and classic techniques sourced from historical research.

Sae Byuk Jib

Sae Byuk Jib literally translates into ‘House Of Dawn’ and, unsurprisingly, given that it is primarily a galbi (steak) restaurant, it specializes in yukhoe – or raw beef – as a topping for bibimbap. Though yukhoe is undeniably an acquired taste, even for Koreans, Sae Byuk Jib’s yukhoe bibimbap is renowned among food critics and locals. The bibimbap also comes with a side of seonjitguk, a soup made from coagulated animal blood – another distinctive, daring dish which richly rewards those bold enough to try it. The menu at this restaurant is offered separately in English for Western tourists.

Mokmyeoksanbang

This gorgeous hanok restaurant was built by the Seoul government in order to promote Korean culture and cuisine. Named after the ancient Mokmyeok, the mountain which is now called Namsan, the traditional wooden house offers a small yet polished interior with warm lighting and a welcoming atmosphere. With metal bowls and wooden trays, the decor is classic old-school Korean, further enhanced by the brass kettles in which Korean teas and makgeolli (rice wine) are served. Eat inside with delightfully friendly service, or enjoy the al fresco dining and the accompanying view of Myeong-dong and the Namsan tower.

See more: What to eat for vegetarians in Korea

Source: Internet

Best local restaurants in Jeju, South Korea

For such a tiny island, Jeju is packed full of specialty dishes. From rich black pork to abalones plucked fresh from the ocean by Jeju’s very own ‘mermaids’, there are plenty of delicacies to try. Here’s a selection of Jeju’s best restaurants to whet your appetite, and our suggestions for places to try them.

Donsadon

Black pork is a specialty unique to Jeju. It’s made from the flesh of domesticated black pigs bred only on the island. If you pass a farm or two, you may well see the small, smooth-skinned pigs snuffling around. Grilled black pork is a dish so well-loved in Jeju that there’s a whole street devoted to it — head to Black Pork Street for pork restaurants galore. If you’re looking to head a bit more off the beaten track, however, Donsadon is an excellent option for fresh, sizzling barbecued black pork.

Myeongjin Jeonbok

Jeju is famous for its abalones, and Myeongjin Jeonbok is one of the most popular abalone restaurants on the island. Abalones are traditionally harvested by haenyeo, Jeju’s ‘mermaids’ — female divers who descend to depths of up to 15 metres to collect delicacies such as octopus, sea urchins, oysters and other shellfish, including abalones. Myeongjin Jeonbok has just four dishes on the menu — abalone sizzling stone pot rice, grilled abalone, rice porridge with abalone and sliced raw abalone. This means that each dish is honed to perfection. The ingredients are fresh and delicious, and the restaurant is good value for money compared to other similar establishments. Expect to wait for a table, as it’s a popular spot.

Deomjang Jungmun

For the Jeju specialty dish godeungeo gui — grilled mackerel cooked to perfection — head to Deomjang Jungmun in Jeju city. The mackerel is served with a wide variety of complementary side dishes, and portions are sizeable and good value for money. Mackerel is particularly well-loved in Jeju because it’s inexpensive, and in the hands of a skilful chef, there is a delicious counterpoint between the fish’s soft, slightly sweet flesh and crispy, sizzling skin.

Samsunghyeol Haemultang

Haemultang is a spicy seafood hotpot, filled with an abundance of fresh seafood. It’s popular all over Korea, but the Jeju version is especially tasty due to the availability of a wide variety of delicious shellfish and other seafoods. The dish is bursting with flavour and healthy vitamins; as well as seafood, the rich broth contains a number of vegetables, and is seasoned with gochujang, a spicy bean paste. Haemultang is the specialty dish at Samsunghyeol Haemultang, and the restaurant also boasts an extensive menu of other seafood options. The seating is traditional Korean style.

Friendship Sashimi Restaurant

Fresh sashimi is a sought-after delicacy all over Korea. Mouth-watering slices of raw seafood are served with side dishes and a mixture of soy sauce and fresh chilli for dipping. Look out for street food tents (or pojangmacha) all over Jeju, or head to a specialty sashimi restaurant such as Friendship Sashimi Restaurant, which has great views over the Jeju seafront.

Manna Sikdang

Hairtail fish, or galchi jorim, is a fish prized by Jeju’s locals. Long, thin and silvery, it’s hard to keep hairtail fish fresh for long once it’s caught, so Jeju — with its ultra-fresh seafood — is the best place to eat this unique fish. It’s normally served in a spicy stew. Many restaurants on the island serve this dish, as it’s now quite famous, but one of the most well-known places to go is Manna Sikdang. Be prepared to wait for a table, and go early, as the restaurant closes once it has sold out for the day.

Guksu Madang

Guksu Madang’s specialty dish is momguk, or gulfweed soup. Pork bones are boiled to make broth, and flavoured with onions, sour kimchi and vegetables. The star ingredient is gulfweed, a seaweed known as ‘mom’ or ‘mojaban’ in the Jeju dialect. Momguk is a dish unique to Jeju, and cannot be found elsewhere in Korea. The dish’s history lies in Jeju’s past: with a climate that included harsh sea winds and cold weather, the island’s crops were vulnerable to failure, and so the Jeju natives turned to seaweed for a reliable source of nutrition. Momguk was traditionally served at family gatherings and events.

See more: 5 most romatic destinations for couples in Jeju, South Korea

Source: Internet

Best dimsum restaurants in Beijing

If you are an authentic Chinese food lover, you must be familiar with dimsums. Here, we pick the best restaurants in Beijing where you can get the best shrimp dumplings, steamed creamy custard buns, and char siu bao.

Tang Palace

Owned by the Hong Kong Tang Palace Food and Beverage Group, the Tang Palace chain restaurant is almost a household name for dim sum in Beijing. With deluxe décor and a spacious dining hall that resembles the traditional large dim sum restaurants in Guangdong, the Tang Palace is popular among customers from Guangdong. It is said that the branch inside the Beijing Tibet Hotel is the best of all, though you have to find out on your own if it’s true.

Crystal Jade Restaurant

The restaurant in the SKP Shopping Mall is on the must-go list of dim sum lovers in Beijing. It not only features the classic dim sum like shrimp dumplings, chaoshan fenguo, and chilled mango sago pomelo dessert, but also the contemporary dishes like the most photographed tomatoes with Japanese sesame dressing – wait, you said you didn’t see the dressing? It’s inside the tomatoes!

Dragon Court

Indeed, it seems that only the dim sum restaurants with deluxe décor can go with such name today. What’s more, the Dragon Court has proved with its food that the name is no exaggeration. Its steamed creamy custard buns are said to be the best in Beijing, because it managed to achieve the just the right consistency of the creamy custard inside the buns, which is quite tricky. You may also try chaoshan casserole porridge and Guangdong dishes other than dim sum here.

Lei Garden

Lei Garden is an old and well-established restaurant brand for Guangdong cuisine, with Michelin-starred branches in both Hong Kong and Shanghai. Its signature dish Cantonese crispy pork belly, with strictly selected top-quality pork and a sophisticated cooking process, is a taste from heaven. Just remember to reserve the dish before you go to the restaurant, because it’s highly possible that the dish will be sold out!

Hengshan Hui

The restaurant has been the favorite of people from Guangdong and Hong Kong who live in Beijing since its opening in 2008. The authentic flavours of its dim sum have made all praises redundant. What’s also special at Hengshan Hui is its down-to-earth atmosphere that reminds people of the local Guangdong restaurants, where guests actually see dim sum as part of their life instead of a special treat.

See more: Discover the traditional Cantonese dishes

Source: Internet

Where to find the most delicious dim sum restaurants in Hong Kong

If there’s one type of cuisine in Hong Kong that you’ll likely want to eat, again and again, it’s dim sum. These delicious bite-size dishes, like a Chinese version, is Hong Kong classic version. Usually served for breakfast or lunch, the difficult part is choosing where to go amid the dizzying number of options.

1. Tim Ho Wan

Ever since Tim Ho Wan was awarded a Michelin star in 2010, they’ve become known as the most affordable Michelin-starred dim-sum spot in Hong Kong. Much to the delight of local diners, they’ve kept their affordable prices (about US$1.30 to US$3 per dish) which is extremely reasonable. They are renowned for their traditional Hong Kong dumplings like siu mai (pork and shrimp dumplings) and, no surprise, they are also renowned for long queues – so best to get there as early as possible.

✔ Central, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong

2. Lin Heung Tea House

For the best traditional dim sum experience, Lin Heung Tea House ticks all the boxes. They specialize in old-fashioned dishes such as Chinese sausage rolls, pork dumplings topped with liver and even juicy chicken feet. If you want to experience a traditional Cantonese dim sum dining experience then look no further. It’s often hot, noisy, crowded and a feast for all the senses, but this is about as authentic as it gets in Hong Kong.

✔ 162 Wellington Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong

3. Lock Cha Tea House

Since the majority of dim sum dishes contain meat, vegetarians often feel that they miss out. However, this is not the case at Lock Cha Tea House who is renowned for their exceedingly tasty vegetarian dim sum. The fried turnip cake and fried squash dumplings are must-try dishes. The added bonus is that Lock Cha is one of the most famous tea houses in town. For those of you looking for a good brew, or are interested to learn more about Chinese tea culture and ceremony, this is the place to come.

See more: Check out Hong Kong Michelin food guides

4. Yan Toh Heen

Eating at Hong Kong’s Intercontinental Hotel is always a classy affair and Yan Toh Heen is no exception. Nothing much else can rival these two Michelin star restaurant. The dim sum here is highly praised and recommended by many of the top concierges in town. The options are vast, but their Superior Dumpling combinations are among the most popular items on the menu. Prices are reasonable given the quality of what’s on offer here. Service is impeccable and to top it off, the restaurant also boasts spectacular view overlooking the Victoria Harbour.

✔ Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong

5. Dim Sum Icon

Playful and creative dim sum is the order of the day at Dim Sum Icon. They specialize in a cheeky take on dim sum classics with dumplings decorated as popular cartoon characters and other imaginative variations. Think chocolate buns with an egg custard that oozes out when squeezed. It’s all in the name of fun. Highly Instagrammable dim sum would best describe it.

✔ L308, 3/F, The ONE 100 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Source Internet