AN URBAN AND COSY ASIAN HAUNT IN ABU DHABI

Smoking Doll in Abu Dhabi gets our vote!

Craving Thai food in a fancy modern and sleek decor? Then Smoking Doll is definitely a spot you should try in the Capital whether for a corporate lunch or a night out with friends.

A homegrown brand from Abu Dhabi everything about it works and rocks! Check the black and orange decor as it has been thought out carefully with huge fan-like shaped structures from floor to ceiling dividing the restaurant in different parts, the long orange comfortable leather seats along the wall, the 3D black decor on the walls. The two-toned decor adds an urban and intimate touch with a casual atmosphere.

Once comfortably settled on the bench and facing the open kitchen and the mixologists preparing elaborate mocktails, we immediately felt relaxed and welcome, ready to experience Southern Asian flavors.

For our starters, we ordered the Summer Vietnamese rolls with prawns that were very fresh and colorful on the plates. We enjoyed the Pandan Leaf Chicken, a popular dish in Bangkok. First marinated, the chicken bites are then wrapped and cooked in pandan leaves. A delicious starter to share, it is so playful to open these bites presented in a gift form.

For the mains, the choice is quite extensive and covers everything from curries to noodles and wok dishes. But once we spotted their Singapore Chili Crab that we hadn’t found yet in Abu Dhabi and the whole grilled lobster with three flavors, we admit we couldn’t resist and oh my, it was worth a try!

The grilled whole lobster is a must try that we will surely be returning for. Flavored with garlic and ginger, we fell for the elaborate sauce-a mixture of oyster, black pepper, light soya and hoisin. The lobster meat was very soft and the white onions, spring onions leaves and shiitake mushrooms added more texture and flavors to the meal. Just order plain steamed rice as a side to really appreciate the dish at its best.

The crab was wok-fried with eggs, shallots, ginger, garlic, chilli and spring onions in a hot and spicy sauce, that could have been slightly more spicy to be honest.

Both our crab and lobster portions were generous and the plates came with the lobster and crab shells which were a visual delight.

If you want something sweet to end the meal, just go for their traditional Thai treat : the mango sticky rice. Warm coconut milk is poured on the rice with refreshing mango decoratively sliced and topped with coconut sprinkles.

From the decor, the flavorful and nicely presented food to the efficiency and friendly service, we really enjoyed our experience and will definitely be returning for more.

Not yet in Dubai, we are lucky enough with two locations available in Abu Dhabi, at Boutik Mall on Al Reem Island and at Nation Towers Galleria on the Corniche.

Smoking Doll in Abu Dhabi – 2 locations

Boutik Mall
Al Reem Island
Location Map

Nation Galleria
Nation Towers,Corniche
Location Map

Tel : 600 560 603
Open from 11am to 11pm

 

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