Satisfying Dinner in Abu Dhabi

Yesterday we worked late and had no choice but to eat out. Pity my colleagues as they have to be held at the site cause we have only one vehicle for ferrying us to and back from work. One of my colleague suggested to try eating at a new restaurant I've never been to. She says it's in the same direction back home. So every one agreed. However I think we spent nearly 1 hour just to arrive at the location due to my colleague can't remember the exact way and another colleague tried to be Mr. Garmin and brought us to few dead ends.
The restaurant name is Noodles Bowl. A Malaysian restaurant which serves many of Malaysian famous food. I ordered a Flat Noodles in Seafood Sauce (it is Wan Tan Hor if you are wondering ) and Shrimp Chee Cheong Fun. I also managed to taste some Malaysian food that I have been missing for some time like Dim Sum and Fried Kueh Teow.

 

Its been awhile I had such a satisfying meal in Abu Dhabi.

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Wasabi Japanese Cuisine

Last two days ago, me and Furby had our best Japanese meal in Abu Dhabi at Wasabi Japanese Cuisine. We accidentally discover this amazing restaurant after a tiring day of work and crave for some Japanese food. We Googled for Japanese restaurant in Abu Dhabi and Wasabi was one of the first few results displayed. And one of them is a review from Time Out Abu Dhabi saying it was the best Japanese restaurant in Abu Dhabi with plenty of positive comments from people who have tried it. Then Furby suggested checking Trip Advisor if this Wasabi is really that good and turn out the reviews are also similarly promising. Feeling a little confident as previously we had tried some recommended Japanese restaurant and they turn up not so nice, I pick up my hand phone and called Wasabi to book a table.

Wasabi is located at the Ground Floor of Al Diar Mina Hotel. The hotel is on Meena Street. In between Porche's show room and Adnoc gas station. Within 5 minutes walk from Sheraton Hotel Corniche and Corniche Hospital. Once you arrive at the front of the hotel, Wasabi is very easily noticed at the right hand side.


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Wasabi is not a very big restaurant but still decorations in the restaurant is very similar to typical Japanese restaurants with open spaced seats, private room and at the counter. Ambient in the restaurant is great for a having a casual dinner. The selection on their menu is vast. Sake, sushi, sashimi, ramen, udon, bento or dessert is available. One notable mention is they serve PORK! Very rare food in Abu Dhabi. We tried their Chasiu, Makunuochi Bento, Mix Sushi and Ogura Red Bean Ice Cream.

Verdict: Very very nice. Chasiu is very tender and juicy. Makunouchi Bento is a huge meal with plenty of delicious dish. The braised vegetable and chicken is very good. Comes together with very fresh sashimi. Sushi is the best. All the sushi is very fresh and tastes wonderful especially the Salmon Sushi. Very fresh, tender and fat. Ogura Red Bean Ice Cream is on not as good as the others, but still taste great.

Price: Medium high. Hotel food price where two person dinner will cost around AED250 - AED300.

Now lets have a look of the pictures.

Seats at the sushi and sashimi counter where you can see the chef prepares the fresh sushi and sashimi
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Private 2 seat room that for us
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Ready for order from Wasabi's menu
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On the menu's first page, Irasshaimase means welcome
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Green tea to quench our thirst first
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Complimentary maki sushi while we wait for our food
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Furby looking forward for her first bite of sushi
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Appetizer: Chasiu! Pork! Our first time having pork in Abu Dhabi. Yum yum
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Thinly sliced braised pork. So nice...
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Furby is so touched
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Furby's Main Course: Makunouchi Bento
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Makunouchi Bento's appetizer: Salad in special sauce (sesame, lemon and some seafood paste i guess) and Miso soup. Both are very delicious
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Makunouchi Bento (Clockwise from top left): Teriyaki chicken, ginger and pickle, flower shaped rice with sprinkle of black sesame seed, grilled fish on lotus root, edamame (pad bean), fish cake, rolled smoked salmon strip, sweet tamago (egg), grilled salmon, braised vegetable and chicken, tatsuta-age (fried) chicken, fried prawns in sweet and spicy sauce. Very grand bento!
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Makunouchi Bento: tatsuta-age chicken and fried prawns in sweet and spicy sauce in focus
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Makunouchi Bento comes with sashimi too! Very very fresh salmon and tuna.
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My main course: Mix sushi. Specially selected 12 pcs of mixed nigiri and rolls.
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Nigiri Sushi: ebi (prawn), unagi (eel), salmon, squid, octopus, snapper, tuna
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Rolled sushi
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My favorite Salmon Sushi! Tender, fresh and nice feel of fat
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Dessert: Ogura Red Bean Ice Cream
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Perfect closing for a great japanese meal
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Press to have Wasabi's staff come to you and bill please.
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Furby is very satisfied to have her best Japanese meal in Abu Dhabi.
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While waiting, choose a manga from the Manga shelf.
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Selection of Sake and Shochu kept in appropriate temperature
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2007, 2008 and 2009 Abu Dhabi Time Out winner! Truly the best Japanese restaurant in Abu Dhabi.
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Total for the day.
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Please come again :-)
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F&B @ The Andaman

Our experience for F&B in The Andaman was a great one. As mentioned in my previous post, during checking in we are served with a tasty welcome drink at their lounge. Mix fruit juice served in a handcrafted cup holder really cooled us down from the heat of the day.

When we check in at The Andaman, we were not informed by the resort staff that we will get discounted price for F&B like in Westin. But that does not stop us from exploring the dining experience at this marvelous 5 star resort. (Also in the fact that we are in a deserted area of Langkawi, that we will not find any restaurant around in 30 mins driving distance :p) The Andaman have a few restaurants on their Hall of Fame for our selection. And we decided to try their Japanese Restaurant for dinner. We made a reservation in advanced as the resort staffs did advised us to do so just in case the table are fully occupied.

At 8.30pm we presented ourselves at the Japanese Restaurant and we were greeted by their hostess dressed in traditional Japanese Kimono. The restaurant decoration and interior designs are very traditional Japanese style. We are brought to our table and given refreshing towel to cool us down from the humidity. Selecting from their menu will quite difficult as most of the dish name are in romanized Japanese. If you are not used to Japanese food, their waitress are more than helpful to give you explanation and recommendation. Our choice of the day: Teriyaki Chicken Katsu don, Sushi and Cold Soba with Japanese Ice Cream and Banana Crepe for dessert.

Their food is great. The Teriyaki Chicken is very tender and Furby say the rice is just delicious. Sushi is very very fresh and Soba is equally delicious. Yum yum :p Green Tea, Red Bean and Vanilla flavored ice cream is up to our expectation. The crepe is also very tasty. ^.^ The bill is charged to our room and unexpectedly, when we check out the next day we found out that we have 50% discount too ^.^

Pictures says a thousand words:

Welcome Drink at the Lobby Lounge. Tasty fruit mix juice served in handcrafted cup holder.
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Japanese Restaurant
The way that Andaman name their restaurants is very unique. The Restaurant , Japanese Restaurant, Beach Bar, Lobby Lounge to name a few.
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Japanese Restaurant - How it looks inside. Having quite a traditional Japanese interior design.
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Japanese Restaurant - Another view on the interior. There is a section for Teppanyaki.
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Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Green Tea, must have when having Japanese food :-)
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Japanese Restaurant - Tasty grilled salmon with seasoned vege with some special sauce for appetizer.
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Japanese Restaurant - Main course, Chicken Terriyaki Katsu don.
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Japanese Restaurant - Sushi, yum yum. Very fresh.
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Japanese Restaurant - Traditional must try Cold Soba
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Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Ice Cream for Dessert. Flavours: Green Tea, Red Bean and Vanilla. Splendid way to end our meal ^.^
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The Japanese Restaurant - Bibi : Itadakimasu!
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The Loaf, Langkawi

The Loaf is a Japanese style bakery & bistro in Perdana Quay in Langkawi. The Loaf can be found in the row of building in a very European styled architecture facing  fleets of yacht and sails parked at the marina of Perdana Quay. Very relaxing atmosphere where you can enjoy a piece of nice pastry in a tranquil environment. Nothing you can find in busy cities and other popular destinations. The Loaf features a wide selection of world class pastry in traditional and creative style. Also in their menu, they serve fresh and healthy selection of A-la-Cart food and beverage to suite everyone's taste. Little that I know that, the bakery is actually owned by our Former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir. Once you entered the bakery, you will see a big banner Chef Yosuke Imai, Champion of "California Raisin" contest proudly displayed. Truly a world class bakery found only in Langkawi. The Loaf now have several franchises around Kuala Lumpur and Selangor if you are too tight with your schedule and still like to have a taste of their great pastry.
This our second time visiting to The Loaf actually. The first was in 2008 when me and my crazy gang of 13 came and create havoc in Langkawi. Our gang leader Mr. CH Tan and her wifey recommended us to The Loaf. It was really happy trip and also very memorable for me and Furby. ^.^

The Loaf, a Japanese style bakery & bistro in Perdana Quay in Langkawi.
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Furby at the entrance of The Loaf.
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Vast selection of bread freshly baked to suite everyone's taste.
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Nicely arranged and comfortable interior.
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Cozy couches is optional if one is interested for a relaxing treat of delicious bread. This is also the table me and my crazy gang sat the first time we visited The Loaf. Brings back memories.
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My 12-24mm found his distant family members. ^.^
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Lovely Furby waiting patiently for the freshly baked breads to be served.
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Bon Appetit
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My favorite breads - Butter Croissant, Fungi Cheese and Sausage.
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Healthy spaghetti with zucchini, mushrooms and tomatoes in pesto sauce is our choice of the day.
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European styled back streets at Perdana Quay. Furby poses after a delicious meal at The Loaf.
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