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!

Oh sweet Lilou and Valentines

Cafe Lilou - Adliya 338

 

Valentines. No we did not plan this. We simply decided to have lunch, got the Lilou pick, and it happened to be Valentines. As you can see above, we ordered some sort of crab meal, which was not worth it at all. It had maybe three crab shells, which were loaded with some sort of cream or cheese and a few pieces of crab meat that had to be hunted for. The mashed potato that so generously came with this crab dish was too moist and felt ... undone. The highlight of this meal is that tiny portioned Bokchoy they so graciously placed in the middle of the plate, which took me a while to realize.

The risotto on the other hand did way better than the crab. Not particularly a fan of the weird taste associated with it. There's not much to describe it. My colleague explained that it was too rich, however I believed that it was okay. There's not much explaining to do.

The menu overall supposedly tried to provide a variety however it proved difficult for us. Prior to attending, we only had this idea that Lilou's only served over priced pastries ... it may have been something we've come across in the past. Perhaps the sandwiches would have been a better pick ... for another time.

The drinks was okay, Iced coffee tasted like coffee gone cold. I might be a bit unfair with the descriptions.

To make up for the food, the view and feel was wonderful. The chairs not comfortable though I assume they were going for that Paris look (oh how cultured of me). This particular branch was at Adliya, among the restaurants that herd around the well-known 338 area. I believe there is another branch in the Seef district that is connected to the AlAali Mall. The interiors are stunning adorned with wonderful chandeliers or those wall lamps. The walls are adorned with pretty colors that captivates the European imagination, especially with the sunlight through the full-length windows. We however decided to sit outside under the cool breeze and sun.

We may sound like we are complaining but I believe people with more experience could make better picks. Check out their Facebook photos and you'll see the dilemma I struggle with for this particular place. However overall I believe I've had better for a much less rate.

Crab Thermidor 8.0
Chic Risotto 4.8
Iced Coffee 1.6
Iced Chocolate 1.6

Service 2.385
Total 18.290


Lilou's received an OFS of 3.4.

Vapiano's - a mixture of feelings

Vapiano - Bahrain City Center

So we decided to go to Vapiano at City Center on January 31st, a Friday night. I forgot it was Friday and did not understand why the mall was packed. Anywho, we decided to give Vapiano a visit. 

We ordered Pesto Con Spinaci pizza (BD 3) and bruschetta (BD 1.25). I've been to this place before and ordered their pasta, and concluded that their pizzas are amazing. However, that day, the pizza was not so good. It was missing some sort of zing, that in the past gave it its unique-must-come-again taste. The pizza had the description of spinach, pesto cream sauce, tomatoes and mozarella.

The bruschetta, on the other hand, just two pieces (ugh), made up for it. It had this amazing not too cold, twist of lemony and moist feel that was within the core of each tomato chunk, especially when you add lemon grass to it. The bread itself was fresh and not too hard. Bruschetta basically consisted of toasted bread, tomatoes, garlic and olive oil.

Amidst our excitement, we forgot to take pictures. So here is a half eaten pizza, and no bruschetta.

The first thing that came to mind was fresh, healthy and natural. I understood it to be Italian. The place welcomed the feel of fun and comfort. Though the high chairs and tables may not be favorable to many, they have the option of the low seating that gives the restaurant its feel of diversity. 

Setting wise, I always enjoyed eating at their tables. It felt like they brought back the classic diner feel, but with a modern twist. Looking around, the walls were adorned with drawings and doodles of food, writings and utensils. There are fresh plants on each table, which I was told can be used for food but I wasn't brave enough to do so.

Another plus point to any restaurant were the open kitchens where you get to see your food in the process. The staff are nice, friendly and helpful. The buzzer is a great way to indicate if you're food is ready or not. Everything is perfect except for the coca colas which I noticed are priced at almost one dinar. Yes, that part crazy.

Address: Bahrain City Center
Cuisine: Italian

Opening Times: WED. 11.00 - 22.00, THURS-FRI. 10.00 - 24.00Contact: +973-1749 1391

Website: http://vapianobh.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VapianoBH

E-MAIL: vapbcc@fakhro.com

Date of Visit: Friday January 31 2014

Pesto Con Spinaci pizza (BD 3)

bruschetta (BD 1.25)

Today Vapiano received an OFS of 4!