KHAMSA asks chefs their favourite dining hotspots.
KHAMSA‘s Chef’s List is a fresh addition to our culinary exploration, where we delve into the minds of regional chefs or food enthusiasts, seeking out their top dining destinations. They respond with their favourite one that ticks all the boxes in our query. As such, whether you are looking for an all-round dining place or something that caters to a very unique niche, you have come to the right place.
This Chef’s List is brought to you by Chef Lee Kok Hua. Chef Lee is Executive Chef at Michelin-star Hakkasan Abu Dhabi. A master of his craft, Chef Lee is a Hakkasan man through and through, having worked at the London branch for six years and then for more than a decade at the Abu Dhabi branch. Coming from a family of chefs, he knows a thing or two about culinary bites, discipline, and hotspots.
KHAMSA had the pleasure of asking Chef Lee for his expert opinion on various dining spots across Abu Dhabi. Please have a look at his choices and make sure to visit them!
١. Your favourite restaurant?
“Niri in Mamsha Saadiyat – where the sushi is so good, I might just hang up my apron and move in.”
٢. Your favourite bar?
“Zuma Al Maryah. The vibe is so amazing, it makes my cocktails taste even better.”
٣. Your favourite restaurant growing up?
“Antonia at Mamsha Saadiyat. Amazing food!”
٤. Your favourite bakery/sweet shop?
“L’eto, Al Maryah Island. This is one place where I can have my cake and eat it too….”
٥. Your favourite burger joint?
“Salt at Umm Al Emarat.”
٦. Your favourite spot for a first date?
“First date?! That was 25 years ago! But if I had to pick, I’d recommend Sir Bani Yas Island. Nothing like a little wildlife to break the ice.”
٧. Your favourite spot to work and get a coffee?
“Ritual Café & Studio at Reem Island. Great coffee.”
٨. The restaurant you’d take your parents out to dinner at?
“Craft by Side Hustle at the Rosewood Hotel.”
٩. The birthday bash paradise for your yearly celebrations?
“Mina Fish Market – it’s an absolute treat to indulge in all the fresh seafood.”
