Yummy not so yummy Thai - Salt to my Heart

Muay Thai - Juffair

While trying to decide what restaurant to go to, we stumbled across this little place in one of those turns from the American alley. We were debating on unfounded reasons as to whether we should go in or not but the cheap menu prices immediately convinced us that it might be a good idea.

The food was not exactly satisfying, and the servings too small for people like us. You get what you pay for so in that regards, I refrain from complaining. We ordered a set, an appetizer and a dish thinking it would satisfy us but it was just average. The taste of fast food service definitely lingered on our tongues and some of the dishes were too salty.




The interior was similar to Magic Wok, the little Chinese fast food place in the alley. It had those wobbly tables and unsanitary looking chairs that made you hesitant to sit on.

But it was a good experience. It may have been my first time experiencing such a hardcore fast food vibed Thai restaurant. I think the friend rice was not too bad and the veggie parts are always a delight.

Fried Rice + Fried Wonton + water = 2.8
Fish Cake = 1.9
Chinese Kale spicy = 2.4

Muay Thai gets a rating of 3.1!

One set of Traditional Bahraini please!

Saffron by Jena Bakery, Al Qassriyah, Muharraq

Arabic: Zaafaran

I once read in one of those airplane magazines that there was an old Bahraini house somewhere in Muharraq that was transformed into a restaurant that served traditional Bahraini food while retaining its old structure with glass floors. I first thought that there must have been a mistake or that the magazine is too old because I've never heard of this place from people before. Over the course of time, maybe even a year later I started hearing people speak of a place called Zaafaran. I decided to give this a try and asked people for directions with very little success. My blogging friend's dad however has an idea of where this place was. We followed the signs that led to qassriya market and fortunately took the right turn. We missed the restaurant on the first try but later noticed it on our right side. Parking is terrible on normal days but there are times when you are blessed with tremendous luck and a parking spot right by would open up.

Let's get back to the restaurant. According to my what I was told, Saffron (the official name in English) serves Bahraini traditional food, some papa roti bread I think and a few deserts. They also informed me that they serve Biryani chicken with rice for lunch. Although the selection is quite limited, I believe the lightness, simplicity and environment is what attracts its customers back again.

The interior is clearly refurbished, with decors depicting traditional times. The decor items are much like those in my memory as a child at my grandma's house (they are now replaced with items from Lifestyle). They tried their best to show the flooring by placing a glass floor.

The space is cozy, the tables are not too far spaced and you can have people from two to a small family of six share a table. The glass floors even has as a table on it.

The place doesn't have a menu, so you should already know what you want. It's either one-two-etc set(s) of breakfast, some roti, desserts or whatever drinks you want. They have fresh juices and karak tea. 

We opted for one set of breakfast which costed around BD 6. The set included four small servings of two types of foul (beans), scrambled eggs with tomato and hummus beans. The set comes with a basket of plain bread (khubbuz) and zaatar (oregano) flavored bread. There is also a plate of four small buns which are either filled with cheese/pineapple sort of flavored (or something similar) or falafel. They also give you a small bowl of balaleet with eggs.

The food was delish. Although you could easily whip this up at home from canned products, the eggs especially had a hint of something I can't put my finger on. It was light and flavorful. I believe that a set could satisfy even three people.

Finally, you wash away the food with a shot of saffron - Bottoms up!

All in all, Saffron is a great place to visit to lighten the mood on a weekend morning. It's a place I'd like to walk to as a change of atmosphere. Muharraq is a nice place to go to, and this is a good reason if you don't live there.

Saffron gets an OFS of 4!

Good Affordable Thai food in Budaiya

Lana Thai - Budaiya

So my blogging partner told me about this place she saw at the side of the main Budaiya road called Lana Thai and we thought of giving it a try since we don't normally hang at Budaiya. The road was not too easy to get too, or it could be we just didn't know the main way of getting there. Instead of parking at the paved parking closer to Lana's entrance, we brilliantly (sarcasm) drove over the rocky road towards the front-side of the restaurant.

The inside was quiet and cozy. I can't quite remember when we went here but it must have been a weekend night. You walk across a bar area and into another room with tables and spaces below to dangle your legs.

We ordered very little probably because we were full for something, or just broke. We chose a mixed vegetarian dish, some sort of chicken with soy sauce and flat won ton. My vague description is due to the fact that I'm writing this after a year. I barely remember the names but I definitely remember that the food were not too warm, they were affordable and the taste was worth a second visit.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LANNA.THAI.RESTAURANT2014
Address: Budaiya Highway, Jannusan 504
Telephone: 1759 3940

Lana Thai gets 3.6!

Unwinding after work at the Dome

Dome - Juffair

This fine afternoon, we decided to unwind at the Dome in Juffair, a little before the American base. We've been craving to eat their food since the last time we visited. Again, like Vapiano, we forgot take pictures and were able to catch a half-eaten meal and no carrot cake at all.

The place is very pretty. There's some sort of classic diner music that's played outside right before you enter the front doors, you can actually hear it while just passing by the place on the outside. The interior gives you this fast-comfy feel and their couches are to die for. We usually sit on the top floor because you get to sit by these full length windows and watch the American Alley where you can poke fun at a couple of funny characters. The place overall has dim lighting unless you're sitting upstairs by the open windows, and almost the entire area is brown to give you this classic vintage feel.

The menu will drive you crazy. I'm gonna take a wild unsupported guess and say that the food tastes as good as the pictures. Their selection is great, a lot of choices and a lot of flavors. Definitely a place for breakfast and good coffee. Otherwise they have a great variety of pasta, burgers, desserts, sandwiches ....

*sadly we lost the pictures...*

We decided for today to share a meal, Chicken Piccata. In our hurry, we forgot to take a picture before we began but what we have will give you an idea. The rice is sort of in the middle between risotto and normal rice, without any moistness to it. The chicken was actually not too bad, and had a flavorful mix of spice to it. The portion is not too bad. It's not significant but is enough for one person. It seems like a lot because the plate is the size of your face and most of it is covered with veggy leaves (decorations, I assume).

You take a bite, savor it a bit, a second and then you say ... hmmm not bad. That's how it was.

And the carrot cake ... oh the carrot cake.

Chicken Piccata (yellow rice) 3.9
Baby Cino 0.3
Carrot Cake 2.0

Baby cino is like a mini version of over-sweetened cappuccino, or simply a Milo rip off, as my colleaguepointed out to (the rip off was my addition).

I don't think Dome is too overpriced. They're very reasonable, their venue is crazy comfortable, and the view is not too bad. They get an OFS of 4.14, booyah!

My step-by-step guide to making BokChoy!

Just so we have something close to home, here is a recipe (influence by an online recipe) that I use every time I make Bokchoy. This is for all the Bokchoy fans out there, this is for you ...

I usually make some when I want to have it along with a meal. One head is too little but it depends on the portion you want. Follow me through these wonderfully illustrated pictures of how-to-bokchoy.

So here, I call this one head of (fake) bokchoy. Oh so sorry. Sometimes when I don't have moneys I buy this identity-stealing bokchoy-lookalike veggie, I remember the lady referred to it as Pedchai. You can find the real ones at Rachanee in Adliya, it's a Thai supermarket close to AlJazeera, and sometimes they have them at Lulu, sometimes. Otherwise the substitutes are widely available everywhere.

Make sure you clean it, and separate the whites and greens. I usually cut each in half again, unless you like it really choppy or in wholes.



Also make sure you get a clove or half a clove of garlic, chopped and ready.

What I usually do is place two spoons of oil in the heated pan. Then I fry the garlic pieces for a while just to get them soft but not at all burned. I will later throw in the whites and stir for a while. I'll give it a minute and then mix in the greens.

Once the greens are moistened by the oil, which is another minute or half a minute, I'll put in two tablespoons of oyster sauce (just for measure). I'll mix it real fast and then put it less than quarter a cup of water. 

They should be mixed well then covered and left until the liquid looks like sauce.

And this is the final product. Yum.

Thickest Tom Yum soup I ever had!

Da Rae Jung Korean and Thai Cuisine - Adliya

We actually decided to go to this restaurant to try out the Korean food but could not decide what to order and so fell back to our comfort zone, which was the different Tom yum soup, egg, fish with cabbage and some either Japanese or Korean appetizers. 

Address: Bldg.865, Road 2717, Block 327, Manama
Cuisine: Thai / Korean
Contact: +973-1700 2490
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Da-Rae-Jung-Korean-Thai-Cuisine-Adliya/211852248897510

Date of Visit: August 2014

Da Rae Jung received an OFS of 3.1!

Grabbing a bite at EZ's

EZ Burger - Juffair

I am actually coming back to this post after a long while. I can't remember the prices of our orders but I believe you can find their range of selection with the prices on their website at http://www.ezburgerbh.com/. 

If memory doesn't fail me, then I remember I was not in awe over the first bite of their wraps. I opted for the chicken wrap because I did not eat beef, while my friends went for the beef burger with extra beef bacon. I slightly recall their expressions of happiness however I really don't think they exceeded the taste of any other burger joint on the island. The food costed an average of around BD 2 each I believe and looking at the pictures, I have the urge to try it out especially since I found out that they now have a chicken burger with mushroom option.

Address: Al Shabab Avenue near Manama Club (or American Alley)
Cuisine: American maybe
Contact: +973-17382777, 17241111
Website: http://www.ezburgerbh.com/

Date of Visit: July 2014

EZ Burger received an OFS of 3.1!