Akbar

In business for 25 years, Akbar serves mostly Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani dishes, but there are a few Arabic ones available, too.

The food: If Middle Eastern food isn’t really your thing, this place can help out with its wide variety of food from the Subcontinent. The special tandoori mix (B350) and vegetarian thali (B250) provide a good mix of foods in big portions, sure to fill up anyone. If you’re not quite ready to eat that much, the murgh makhani (tandoori chicken cooked in mild spices with a tomato and butter sauce, B180) is also recommended.
• 1/4 Soi 3, 02-650-3347, 02-255-6935, 02-253-3479. Open daily 10:30am-1:30am.

Al-Iraqi

Who would have thought that a combination of Iranian and Iraqi food would be the main feature on a restaurant’s menu? It is here, and we discovered that you can have the best of both countries.

The food: Kebabs and barbecued meats are the main components of this restaurant’s menu: fish, lamb, chicken, ribs and prawns. The restaurant has a bit of a hotel atmosphere as the location doubles as a guesthouse. Try the Iraqi kebab (B160) or kebab with rice (B200).
• 8/17-18 Soi 3/1, 02-655-5357, 02-251-8810. Open daily 9am-3:30am.

MehMaan

Like its neighbor Akbar, MehMaan serves Indian, Pakistani and Arabic food in a dining room featuring a giant picture of the late Yasser Arafat.

The food: If you feel hungry enough to eat one of the horse statues outside, perhaps the tandoori sampler is for you: It contains a number of assorted kebabs and comes in small (B340) and large (B650) sizes. Also popular are the lamb vindaloo (B250), chicken tikka masala (B220) and the ubiquitous garlic naan bread (B50).
• 69 Soi 3, 02-253-4689. Open daily 10:30am-3am; 5:30pm-12:30am.

Nefertiti

Shisha is hot at the moment, and this is one place in the area where you can come and smoke to your heart’s content. Just don’t tell your significant other that you’re “going to use a hookah.” They might misunderstand.

The food: Where else can you find an Egyptian restaurant that is open 24 hours every day? You can drop in for a few puffs of shisha while you relax and watch the world go by.
• 4/8 Soi 3/1, 02-655-3043, 02-255-7107. Open 24 hrs.

Petra

For Thai food we have rice; for Arabian food there is naan bread. The cooking area is at the front, and you have to walk past a clay oven—where bakers are baking naan—to enter this little Lebanese eatery.

The food: In addition to Lebanese dishes, there are also many Arab and Yemen specialties on the menu. Chicken curry (B150) is especially good when combined with fresh bread. The slowly cooked naan, baked to be crisp outside and soft inside, brings out the best of the flavorsome spices that are present in the curry. Many lamb dishes—such as lamb kebab (B130), barbecued lamb, and lamb ribs (B150)—are also popular.
• 75/4 Soi 3/1, 02-655-5230, 02-254-9226/-7. Open daily 8am-3am.

Shahrazad

With a display case full of animal parts (including various organs), and, if you arrive early enough, skinned lamb carcasses hanging from hooks, Shahrazad is hard to miss. With arguably the best food in the area, Shahrazad is also known for its waitresses in matching green hijabs and prayer room upstairs.

The food: Start your meal off with some Middle Eastern appetizers: hummus (pureed chickpeas with sesame seed paste, B80), mutabbal (a.k.a. babaganoush, pureed eggplant with sesame seed paste, B80), lemony parsley and bulgur wheat salad (B80) and hot-from-the-oven naan (B20). For heartier appetites, try the leg of lamb (B200), the lamb chops or anything else made of lamb—it’s all excellent, tender and not gamey. For the daring, try heart, head or testicles (and let us know what they’re like). For dessert check out the Arabic custard (made with fresh milk, coconut and almonds, B70).
• 6/8 Soi 3/1, 02-254-7392/3, 02-251-3666. Open daily 10am-3am.

No-name shawarma stalls

There are several—at least three—dedicated shawarma stalls (as well as restaurants that serve shawarma). By far the busiest and the best is on the corner of Soi 3 and a Soi 3/1 subsoi, next to the Grace Hotel. It’s loud, hot and stressful, and you’ll probably end up sitting next to some questionable characters (if you can get a seat), but well worth it. For B50 you get a choice of grilled beef or chicken in flatbread with veggies and your choice of yogurt or chili sauce. (You can also get it with the bread on the side.) A tip: place your order in Thai and you’ll get faster service.
The above-mentioned stall is a nighttime affair, so if you want your shawarma for lunch, try the shop next to Nefertiti, which serves them from 11am. They actually open at 7am serving a selection of Thai food.

Thai Restaurant and Seafood

Slotted into a small niche between Arab eateries is this small but cozy restaurant that is good for a quick meal of halaal Thai food.

The food: Thai dishes such as tom yum goong (B110), pork and chicken fried rice (B60), and grilled fresh fish (B180) are the most popular.
• Next to Petra Restaurant, 08-1859-0418. Open daily 10:30am-1am.

How long have you been at Fat Radio?
For about a month now, which is only like four times because I am only doing it on Sunday.

What is the concept of your show?
As it is on a Sunday, the show is based around a relaxing atmosphere but with a touch of fun. During the show I also give information for any upcoming concerts or interesting things that are happening around town.

What does Fat Radio mean to you?
Fat Radio is a radio station for fun-loving fat people—ha, ha, ha—but skinny people can have fun, too. I consider Fat Radio to be like a regular station but with an extra range of music, which makes it that much more interesting for listeners.

What are the challenges of being a DJ?
The most difficult aspect would be arranging the show, like things to say and what subject to discuss. It is very challenging to make it short, compact and to the point but also make it fun for the listeners.

What made you decide to become a radio DJ?
Many of my friends always said that I am a good talker and I have a wide knowledge of music, so being a DJ is something that I always wanted to try.
Is the music you play on your show the same as what you personally listen to?
My range of music is very wide; I love to listen to all types of music.

What’s the difference between being an artist and being a radio DJ?
Being a singer and a DJ at the same time, I feel that I can introduce my listeners to many different types of music and present them in a more interesting way.
 

You’ve seen them, you’ve talked about them, and if you’re “lucky” (or thirsty) enough, you might have even tried them. Known simply as RTD (Ready To Drink), these bright, neon colored brews are all over the place. Most of us can safely say that our personal alcohol consumption consists of a mixture of carbonated drinks and a type of liquor, most notably whisky—so why turn to RTDs? Maybe you’re not ready for the hard stuff, maybe you like the lower alcohol content, or maybe because you want to try the vast new selection of flavors—we’ll leave it to you to decide.

Zearch Cocktail Alcohol Volume: 5% Taste: As the name might suggest, this one is for when you are “Zearch”-ing for the perfect RTD. A blend of Sprite-like flavor with a twist of lime, it might sound appealing at first, however, on the aftertaste it will start to sound more like a chemical’s acronym. Whatever you were “Zearch”-ing for, it ain’t here. Price: B45
Nite Eden Apple Alcohol Volume: 5% Taste: You can be blindfolded and still know what this drink’s flavor is. Extremely artificial in the flavor department, it makes you wonder how many apples it takes to get drunk. Unfortunately for those who are serious about drinking, there is not a trace of alcohol flavor left as it is killed off by the hyperactive apple flavor. If artificial is your thing, this is for you. Price: B43
Cruiser Berry Boysenberry Alcohol Volume: 5% Taste: A pure lady’s drink, Cruiser is sweet to the core with no trace of any alcohol in the drink whatsoever, other than the strange tangy feeling you get in your mouth. You are guaranteed to think of it more as a fruit juice than an RTD. Our verdict—let those girls have what they want. Price: B55
Vodka Mudshake Cappuccino Alcohol Volume: 4% Taste: Need a little extra elegance while you are walking around a club and just can’t settle for a regular fruit flavored drink? Then this is your thing, and as the price clearly shows, it might help to elevate your status. Mostly just eye-catching and nothing else, the Mudshake succeeds in tasting exactly like coffee. Price: B75
Spy Screwdriver Alcohol Volume: 5% Taste: A screwdriver is simply vodka and orange juice—no funny business. Spy got the orange juice part right, but not so much the alcohol, as this libation tastes more like a soft drink. Nice as a refreshing starter, but probably too subtle to last you the whole night at the club, even for lightweights. Price: B35
Spy Kamikaze Alcohol Volume: 5% Taste: This secret agent is not what one would expect when ordering a kamikaze. It’s sweet but lacks the true feel of the cocktail that inspired it. For the most part, its taste is a minor letdown, which may be due to the fact that they were trying too hard (or not hard enough) to get the flavor right. Being too synthetic, Spy lost all the spirit a true kamikaze can offer. Price: B35
Bacardi Breezer Raspberry Alcohol Volume: 5.6% Taste: In the world of RTDs, Bacardi Breezer has always been at the forefront of things, delivering a rainbow of flavors. This is a new one that comes with a Cherry-Aid cough syrup taste that you would only want to drink on one occasion—when you are sick. Price: B49
Smirnoff Black Ice - WInner Alcohol Volume: 7% Taste: Probably the best bet among the available selection of RTDs, Black Ice is nice and simple with no unwanted extras. It delivers a distinctive taste of lime with enough kick to actually let you know that you are consuming alcohol—and, unlike just about everything else on the market, it’s not too sweet. Black Ice is somewhat a letdown, however, if the strong medicine-like elixir is not served extra cold, as suggested on the label. Price: B55