Hawkerboi: Parathas Worth Crossing Town For

Not the first time we have visited Hawkerboi and it certainly won't be the last.

We went on a Saturday evening at 6pm, still light outside, with a view of JLT The Park through the window. Residents were strolling, kids playing football on the green, the everyday life of the neighbourhood unfolding while we settled in. Hawkerboi holds a 2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand, and one bite tells you exactly why. This is the kind of place that earns its stripes through pure cooking quality rather than spectacle. No gimmicks, just exceptionally good food served by people who genuinely care.

We went for a selection of plates and one roasted meat. The plates arrive when they're ready, so they come out at different times, which is perfect for grazing. The server will check in about when you want the roasted meat, so be sure to tell them if you'd like it shared alongside the small plates rather than after. The restaurant was fairly quiet when we arrived at 6:30pm, but it soon filled up as the evening kicked in.

The Angus beef skewers are a headline act. Butter-soft Angus concertina'd onto a skewer and toasted on the robata, finished with fine fried onions, a drizzle of tamarind juice, and a burnished lime on the side. The meat is extraordinarily tender and super juicy. They usually come as a trio, but ask nicely and the team will make it four (for an add-on fee). A small touch that tells you a lot about how they operate.

The beef potstickers with Wagyu fat are stunning. Munch them while they're hot. They melt in your mouth and feel like a journey through the flavours of beef. Still decent when cold, but at their peak fresh from the kitchen, when the fat is still doing its thing.

The parathas at AED 15 are an IYKYK shout. These are proper, meaty parathas, not the thin, paper-wafer nonsense you get elsewhere. The accompanying dips are banging: a homemade chilli sauce and a tamarind that breaks the rules. It's not sticky. It has almost a blended water texture. Both are worth getting creative with.

The baby chicken is fantastic. Simple as that. Just the right amount of char, super juicy and delicious packed into one of those parathas.

The smashed cucumber salad is very good but comes with a warning: it is blow-your-head-off spicy. Moreish if you can handle it, punishing if you can't. Cool, juicy cucumber meets a crazy spicy sauce, chunky nuts, soaking up all the juice, and tomatoes. It's a really good salad, very punchy, and you need to be prepared for the heat.

The service is super attentive in the best way. Subtle. You never feel watched, but the moment your glass is running low, somebody is there to top you up. Impressive without being intrusive.

After the meal, we finished our wine then moved to the bar for a nightcap. Our table was booked after us, they're that busy, but the request to move was handled with genuine warmth. The cocktail bar servers know their stuff. We were tempted by a cherry concoction in a teeny glass that was nothing short of yummy. It's worth lingering at the bar even if you've finished eating. The vibe shifts from dinner to drinks seamlessly, and the team makes you feel like you've got all the time in the world.

Special shout out the DJ who was blasting out 90s and 00s hits. Backstreet Boys with Britney? Yes please.