Desi with a twist at Swaadish

Passionate about food since he was a kid, and a part of the F&B industry from the age of 18, the good looking, humble and extremely talented Chef Raza Abbas has more than a few feathers on his cap. After working with different restaurants in Pakistan as a food & hospitality consultant, writing for OK magazine as a food blogger and polishing his chef skills with a certification in Thai cuisine, this entrepreneur restaurateur decided to bring in something quintessentially Desi to the foodcourts in Dubai.

Swaadish is the ideal representation of a good Desi restaurant offering affordable, high quality, and made to order fresh food which is sure to take you back to the lip smacking street fare in Pakistan.

Read more about the cuisine and the man behind the scenes.

Just a little over a month old, Swaadish is already winning hearts and raising loyal patrons.
Focusing on freshness and “made to order” food, Swaadish prepares a lot of their key ingredients in-house.
The pickles and chutneys pictured here offer a creative twist to flavors that are loved and craved by all. If you like it sweet, try out their Apricot & Tamarind or Kiwi chutney. Kiwi chutney! Right?! Who would have thought of that?
Spice lovers will definitely enjoy that classical taste of Mix Pakistani pickle and Lemon pickle.

Talking about street food, Swaadish offers a few tempting salads that not only keep you busy while you wait for your made to order food, but also bring about a lot of nostalgia. Wait up for the next post for more on the legendary Dahi Baray and the crafty Doritos Chana Chaat.

Sweet, spicy, smooth and everything you expect from a Chana Chaat, plus more!
The Doritos Chana Chaat, as the name suggests, comes with a generous topping of crunchy Doritos that adds a whole new texture to this classic street fare. Featuring a mix of tender chickpeas with diced onions, cucumbers and tomatoes, this chaat is garnished with their homemade apricot and tamarind chutney for a tangy finish.
This one will really keep you going back for more. Highly recommended, make sure you get yourself one portion (or maybe more) of the Doritos Chana Chaat.

An absolutely must have, street fare sampling can never be complete without Dahi Baray. These soft and fluffy dumplings made from lentils were perfectly combined with sweet yogurt and spices. What’s more, reliving the authentic Pakistani style, they were topped with a generous helping of shredded onions, carrots and lettuce, plus their house favorite apricot and tamarind chutney.
Offering a burst of flavors, these are such a delight. Make sure you try these alongside the Chana Chaat when you visit Swaadish.
And did you know they have an amazing Ramadan meal for 2 or 4 people? Head over to The Mall opposite Jumeirah Beach Hotel and have your iftar at Swaadish. Take it from a foodie, you won’t regret!

Ramadan & Rooh Afza – these two go hand in hand. And especially when it comes to Pakistani iftars, nothing is complete without a glass of this perfect thirst quenching cooler. These little details are what makes Ramadan so special and Swaadish gets it spot on. Giving this classic their awesome twist, the Rooh Afza Margarita at Swaadish features a mix of the rosy delight and lemons with lots of ice. We were humbled by the hospitality of owner Raza Abbas who made sure we have a glass of this wonderfully refreshing drink the first thing when we broke our fast, before we could decide what to order. Make sure you get your share of this limited edition drink this month while you iftar away!

Moving on to the more delish part of the iftar…

The Chicken Gola Kabab, known for their round-ish shape, offer the perfect combination of texture and flavor. Raza Abbas disclosed his little secret and told us that it’s all about bringing together chicken breast and chicken thighs in the right proportion to create that that tenderness in the mince which eventually leads to this meaty delight.
The kabab were served with their famous masala fries, and wow, am I in love with those fries or what?! They are crisp at the right places and fleshy inside, and the fusion of masalas used to spice the fries are simply lip-smackingly delicious.

Conceptualized in the streets of Lahore, the Spicy Tawa Chicken does complete justice to its name. Spicy in a way that interestingly makes you want to eat more of it, this luscious piece of chicken is marinated with a blend of secret masalas and cooked on a tawa.
Here’s an interesting fact: None of the dishes at Swaadish make use of garam masala. Surprised, right? The recipes and the ingredients that go into making their irresistible seasonings are a well kept secret that Raza has yet to find a successor for!
The spicy tawa chicken also comes along with a portion of their famous masala fries. And if you were to take my advice, make sure you get a portion of these fries to-go, so you can reminisce over the street savvy flavors at Swaadish on your drive back home, one fry at a time.
Did I mention, one portion per person please. I don’t like sharing my fries, especially when they are this good, and neither should you!

The fusion just keeps getting better. We all know Chicken Karahi. And we all know Peri Peri.
Revelling in a cross country bond, Pakistani marries Portuguese in this lovely Peri Peri Chicken Karahi at Swaadish.
Starring succulent chicken pieces, this spotlight worthy dish combines the classic Karahi that we all have grown so fond of, with the spicy Peri Peri that we are so much in love with.
Garnished with ginger and coriander, this rich gravy dish is served with fresh hot nan bread, chutney and pickle.
Here’s another interesting fact: The recipes at Swaadish use very little or no oil. Their secret behind creating these oh-so-delicious items is the use of organic Desi ghee. Surprising, isn’t it? The dishes turn out quite light and don’t leave you feeling heavy or bloated. Now that’s something that deserves an applause!

You can’t really go to a Desi eatery and not have chai, can you? The classic karak chai – also known as milk tea – served at Swaadish brings back sweet memories of ‘maa ke haath ki chai’. This brew is a perfect pick-me-up and offers the much needed caffeine after a day long summer fast.
Just goes on to show, the compact menu at Swaadish brings together a comprehensive collection of kababs, curries, biryani, sides and drinks, all with their own creative touch, such that there’s something for everyone. Moreover, their menu is designed to ensure you get fresh, made-to-order food every single time.
Have you decided to pay them a visit yet our do you need more convincing? Wait up for the next post and you’ll be on your way to The Mall in no time!

And now for the grand finale!
You cannot go to Swaadish and not have their Nutella Samosa!
This signature dessert has got everybody fascinated by its sheer chocolaty appeal.
Fried to perfection like any other variety of samosa, it’s a delight to see how the hot melted Nutella chocolate oozes out of the classic Samosa dough.
This one is definitely a must have, even if you don’t have space for dessert.

One of the best things about Swaadish is that all their items are served in petite brown boxes that can be easily packed and carried to-go incase you don’t end up finishing your food. This means no food is wasted, and the paper boxes make the whole packaging more eco-friendly.
What started as a simple food tasting at this new Desi eatery, has turned me into a fan! Can’t wait to go back and try out everything on their menu!