May bagong tambayan na sa Abu Dhabi — across from Burjeel Hospital along Najda street. May libreng Zagu sa first 100 customes. Tara na!
ABU DHABI: The UAE’s capital city has finally opened its doors for Al Ahli Holding Group’s Little Manila, the much-awaited first-ever Filipino food court-style restaurant offering delectable Filipino and Filipino-inspired dishes.
Little Manila is born of the need to satisfy the Filipino expats’ longing for food they have grown up with and have always loved back home. There has been a rapidly growing demand for authentic Filipino dishes and delicacies, and Little Manila has successfully responded to it by flying in popular homegrown food brands straight from the Philippines.
Since the Al Rigga flagship restaurant opened its doors, foot traffic has been consistently high. Whether they’re dining in or ordering some takeaways, Filipinos have made it a habit to drop by Little Manila to have their favourites.
The theme restaurant’s popularity has since grown beyond the Filipino market as more and more people from various nationalities are now enjoying the local flavors of the Philippines.
As it expands its presence in the country through its Abu Dhabi outlet, Little Manila is right on track to capturing a significant share of foodies in the UAE, be they Filipinos or of other nationalities.
Foodies, and their willingness to try something new, are redefining the UAE’s F&B industry, marking a growing demand of various international cuisines. A recent survey conducted by the Al Ahli Holding Group has shown that Filipino cuisine, in particular, is gaining traction. More than 70 per cent of the participating UAE expatriates have noted their willingness to try Filipino food, according to the survey with 1,215 respondents.
Parvez Naqvi, General Manager of Food and Beverage Department at Al Ahli Group, said: “Authentic Filipino dishes are very tasty, include a lot of various spices, and are inspired by other international cuisines; hence its appeal to people, no matter the nationality, is undeniable. Aside from that, the network of Filipinos here in the UAE is also growing, thereby influencing the tastes of the country’s expatriates. True enough, our survey has also revealed that the top influencer for expats to try Filipino food is the recommendation of others.”
In the survey, among the Filipino dishes that topped the expatriates’ preferences were: adobo (meat stew with a marinade of soy sauce, vinegar and garlic), sisig (a sizzling, crispy dish made of meat, liver and other innards seasoned with lime and chilies), and pancit (stir-fried noodles).
On the other hand, the Filipino dessert that ranked high on the survey list are: halo-halo (a cup of shaved ice and evaporated milk with a host of sweet delicacies such as boiled sweet beans, coconut, tapioca pearls, tubers and fruits), leche flan (a custard dessert with a soft layer of caramel on top) and ube halaya (boiled and mashed purple yam mixed with milk and butter).
Seventy per cent of the people who already tried Filipino food are open to trying it again, the survey also added.
“People are embracing the authentic Philippine cuisine, and the success of Little Manila’s first shop in Al Rigga, Dubai, is proof of that. As the food hub now expands its presence in the country, more and more people will get to enjoy local Filipino flavours. We are confident that everyone’s going to love it,” Naqvi said.
