Two Kitchens: One Truth

Hawkerboi

JLT

Perched above Splendour Fields in JLT’s The Park, Hawkerboi channels the raw energy of Southeast Asia’s street-food scene, with a menu built around fire, smoke, and spice. Dishes like roast duck with traditional fixings, grilled Burmese lake fish wrapped in banana leaf, and beef massaman curry layered with lemongrass and caramelised coconut speak of late nights, roadside grills, and time spent wandering the backstreets of Bangkok or Yangon.

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Inside, the mood is warm and unfiltered. Red neon glows against the open kitchen, where steam and flame do the talking. The bar serves up cocktails and cold beers, while two terraces catch the breeze. It’s not about polished formality here – it’s flavour-forward, loud enough to stay late, and just quiet enough to linger. Hawkerboi isn’t trying to impress. It’s trying to feed you well – and maybe remind you of a place you’ve never been but somehow already miss.

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Lila Wood-Fired Taqueria

Jumeirah

Lila brings a thoughtful, ingredient-led take on Mexican cuisine to Dubai – bold in flavour, but grounded in tradition. The focus here is on technique, regional recipes, and the kind of cooking that tells a story without needing to explain itself. It’s not a theme or fusion experiment, but a carefully built menu that respects the roots of its dishes. 

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As you'd expect, there's a lot to explore. Two-piece ribeye tacos, inspired by Mexico City’s Michelin-starred El Califa de León, are seared to order and gone when they’re gone. Marinated lamb rotates on a spit until sliced thin and piled with grilled pineapple. Prawns come butterflied, smoky, and bold, best eaten with fingers and lime-garlic mayo.

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Lila’s atmosphere is pared back, warm, and gently buzzing – a space where good food meets good timing. It’s not trying to be trendy. It’s trying to be true – and that makes all the difference.

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