This Thai-inspired restaurant arrived quietly at Jumeirah’s Wasl Vita Mall and, within five months, earned a Michelin star. Conceived by Dubai-born chef Abhiraj Khatwani in collaboration with his mentor, Chef Mohamad Orfali, the restaurant feels immediately welcoming. The city’s noise fades into a dining room of vinyl, art, and earthy hues, where soft lighting and old-school hip-hop records add to the easygoing mood.
The highlights
Sunday lunch is served à la carte and designed for sharing, with the Khanom Krok as an opening bite that stays with you long after. Traditionally sweet, here it’s taken in a savoury direction with warm coconut custard inside a crisp fermented rice cracker, topped with Alaskan king crab. It’s creamy, faintly salty and sweet. The kind of dish that leaves a lasting impression long after the meal. Chicken skewers are doused in coconut bisque, finished with crisp shallots and paired with mint chutney. The Spicy salad is laden with textures, bringing together kohlrabi, roasted rice, tangled herbs and peanuts, coated with a punchy fish sauce that is softened by bursts of sweet grapes.
Another memorable plate is the Sticky rice roti, the soft and chewy base with a slight tang is stacked with melt-in-your-mouth coconut-smoked short rib. Kaffir lime relish cuts through the richness – it eats like a Thai-style taco, balancing acid, fat and smoke.
The meal shifts into fuller, heartier territory with the mains. Crispy seabass, fried whole, opens to moist, flaky flesh beneath its golden crust. Dressed with spicy chilli sauce, and fresh mango salad, it plays beautifully alongside the Stir-fried beef with holy basil, which delivers that smoky breath of the wok. Spicy and juicy, every mouthful is incredibly satisfying. Steamed jasmine rice is the perfect canvas that ties everything together, especially with the comforting Yellow curry of prawns, where coconut milk and cumin leaf form the aromatic gravy that clings to plump, sweet shellfish.
Innovation at Manāo extends far beyond the wok. Drawing from Orfali Bros’ renowned fermentation philosophy, the team integrates sustainable techniques while honouring Thai roots, most notably in the beverage program, which features refined zero-proof pairings infused with tea and tropical notes.
Dessert arrives in the form of mango sticky rice, Thailand’s ultimate comfort sweet. Here, it’s served with shaved ice for temperature contrast and coconut ice cream, easing you through the end of Sunday lunch.
Book now
Visit manao.ae or contact +9714 272 2389.