QAT: Bandar Aden Restaurant

First time having Yemeni cuisine!

Going to war-torn Yemen for leisure is out of the question at the moment, though I'm really praying for peace to return to the country soon. I had the opportunity to try Yemeni cuisine at Bandar Aden Restaurant, which is situated within the Souq Waqif area in Doha, Qatar.

Have you tried Yemeni cuisine before?

Condiments

Two types of condiments were given at the beginning. One of them was a thin version of tahini (Middle Eastern sauce made of sesame paste, garlic, lemon juice and water). The other one was akin to tomato salsa with a tinge of spiciness.

Flatbread

What took me by surprise was the provision of two big flatbread pieces free-of-charge as there were two of us. They were crispy and flaky.

Chicken Mandi QAR 20.00 (~S$7.45)

Taste: 7.5/10

A dish that originated from the Hadhramaut region in Yemen, the roasted chicken dish turned out to be such a huge portion. The chicken had a pleasant smoky aroma, but it'd be better if the meat were more succulent. The fluffy long-grain rice was mildly seasoned with spices.

Saltah QAR 20.00 (~S$7.45)

Taste: 7/10

Although each region has its own version, saltah is considered by many to be the national dish of Yemen. The minced meat stew flavoured with tomatoes, chilis, garlic and herbs also came with potato cubes and scrambled eggs. It tasted pretty mild with a hint of fenugreek. 

Fish Ogda QAR 30.00 (~S$11.15)

Taste: 8/10

Literally meaning 'knot' in Arabic, ogda is a dish made from tying and mixing all the ingredients together. The restaurant didn't bother to do the tying, but the resulting dish was bursting with flavours nonetheless. The fish was big and fresh, swimming in a broth that was thick with a sweet and sour balance.

Masoob QAR 15.00 (~S$5.60)

Taste: 7.5/10

Masoob is a heavy dessert item that'd probably pass off as a power breakfast dish, consisting of overripe bananas, dates, cheese, bread, cream and honey. Served warm, it wasn't overly sweet, which I was certainly thankful for. I could use less cream and more cheese.

Melon's Rating

Taste: 7.5/10

Ambience: 6/10

Service: 6/10

Overall: 6.5/10

Yes, we over-ordered for lunch, so we only had a very light dinner of a bun and a packet of date milk each before the day ended. Pika's advice: Lamb lovers may want to order a Yemeni stew called Fahsa, which is priced at QAR 30.00 (~S$11.15).

Bandar Aden Restaurant

Abdullah Bin Jassim Street

Doha

Qatar

(Sat-Thu: 8.00am - 11.00pm;

Fri: 12.30pm 11.00pm)

http://www.bandaraden.com/

*Prices quoted are nett prices.

Have a nice meal,

Cliff(y)