The new restaurant opens in Wasl Vita.
Dubai is home to world-class restaurants, from celebrity chefs to MICHELIN-starred venues. Now, it is set to welcome a new Thai restaurant, Manāo. Located in Wasl Vita, Juemeira 1, the opening date has not yet been confirmed, but here’s what we do know.
So far, we know that Manāo’s will showcase Thai food, although the full menu has not yet been unveiled. In Thailand, the word manao refers to a lime or lemon, so we are expecting an added zest of freshness to the dishes and décor.
The homegrown concept is brought to life by Chef Abhiraj Khatwani of Yellow Monkey and his mentor, Chef Mohamad Orfali of the FACT award-winning Orfali Bros. The restaurant reimagines Thai cuisine through the lens of Abhiraj’s personal journey. After leaving the fine-dining world, the chef spent time in Udon Thani, learning from Thai locals and shaping his interpretation of Thai cuisine.
On Instagram, the brand has been teasing us with the name’s brand written in English and Thai. One post shows an image of a lemon covered in droplets of water and leaves in the background. The posts are building suspense, as one reads “tick tock”, and another reads “opening soon”.
The restaurant will offer a selection of bite-sized, sharing dishes and a special chef’s menu, alongside non-alcoholic juice pairings in collaboration with Orfali Bros’ fermentation lab.
When Manāo opens, it will be able to count a range of cafés and restaurants as its culinary neighbours. Wasl Vita Mall is home to a range of cafés and restaurants, too. The concepts include the pizza place, Brick Overy Eatery; dessert spot, Chocolate Molecule; charming café, Jewels; Japanese spot, Kobeya; dessert café, Molten Me; healthy hotspot, Protein House; and Japanese eatery, Rayu Japanese Restaurant.
Plus, on Al Wasl Road, you can find Around the Block, Brunch & Cake, Dishtrict, Goldfish Sushi & Yakitori, La Fabrica Italiana Focacceria, and the FACT award-winning Orfali Bros and YAVA Restaurant.
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GO: Follow @manao_dubai on Instagram for more information.
