Introducing the Zabadani Cafe Buffet

From its humble beginnings to a new branch at a prime location, Zabadani Cafe has gone a long way. And yet, it continues to draw crowds from the usual suspects (also dubbed as "Zabbers") to new patrons who've been introduced into Zabadani Cafe's cuisines through (mostly) word-of-mouth marketing. For this reason, Wadi (the owner) has concocted a wide range of tricks up his sleeve in order to offer something fresh to its customers.

The latest on offer might be something that few did not expect. But this is not to say an unwelcome surprise either for I'm sure a lot of people envisioned something like this. A buffet of your favorite Zabadani Cafe dishes and offerings? It's finally here!

For those who are interested, check out the end of this post for Zabadani Cafe's contact details in order to place your reservations in advance. Those who reserve in advance will get access to the buffet for only P349 while walk-in customers will be charged P450 for the buffet. The Zabadani Open House is set to take place this Friday, December 20, 2013 from 6PM to 8PM.

To get a glimpse of the items available at the buffet, check this:

Make sure to reserve your tickets now!

==

Zabadani Cafe
The Peak 4th Level Gaisano Mall of Davao, Davao City
(beside Kublai Khan Mongolian Restaurant)
Contact no.: (082) 301-6065

Stay Connected!

Beef Shawarma from Zabadani Cafe

Shawarma might not be that all too alien for most of us, Davaoenos. It's primarily because there are several of these food stalls offering shawarma and shawarma rice dishes that give us the opportunity to sample what is probably the most popular dish to come out of the Middle Eastern cuisine. Thus, I was pleased to sample this dish at Zabadani Cafe on my most recent trip there. And like most of the other dishes I've tried at this popular resto, I became a big fan.

Beef Shawarma from Zabadani Cafe is a pita roll of breast fillet or beef slices laid with fresh cucumber, tomatoes, white onion and lettuce. The meat is then drizzled with generous amount of garlic and shawarma sauces. The sagheer (or small) serving costs PhP 95, kabeer (large) serving costs PhP 180.

The combination of flavor from the beef slices (savory and salty), tomatoes (slightly tangy), and cucumber (neutralizer) helps to achieve balance in flavor. Hence, it is neither too overwhelming nor too spicy.

If you are looking to get a good appetizer to start off your meal, the Beef Shawarma is highly recommended. But if you don't feel like going for a rice meal, it is also a good choice - just don't forget to go for the larger serving.

==

Visit Zabadani Cafe at The Peak Gaisano Mall (beside Kublai Khan), JP Laurel Avenue, Davao City. 

Contact #: (082) 301-6065

Zabadani on Facebook

Stay Connected!

Fish Filfil from Zabadani Cafe

Since my mom had one of her kidneys extracted, her doctors advised her to stay away from a red meat diet and stick to fish instead. Hence, it has been a challenge in the household to come up with different ways to prepare fish to ensure that my mom sticks with her doctor's diet recommendation yet still be able to enjoy her food. A new dish I've tried at Zabadani Cafe just gave me another great idea for preparing my fish that I can do at home. Fish Filfil is a savory dish that also makes for a great comfort food.

Fish Filfil is made with ground Spanish mackerel and seasoned with salt, lemon, fresh parsley, and Zabadani falafel mixture combining various herbs and spices. The ground, seasoned mackerel is then formed into balls and deep-fried until golden brown in color. Voila! You have a simple yet sophisticated dish that will quickly become anyone's favorite!

Don't tell me that doesn't look appetizing. Fish Filfil is available in two serving sizes: P 145 for sagheer or small, P 280 for kabeer or large serving.

Visit Zabadani Cafe at G/F of Gaisano Mall The Peak, JP Laurel Avenue, Davao City.

Stay Connected!

Lemony Chicken from Zabadani Cafe

Since I have been to Zabadani plenty of times before, I make it a point to explore other offerings on the menu. Of course, there are old favorites like the Pita Shateerah and Garlic Rib, but it pays to try something new because you'll never know when you'd stumble on to a new foodie favorite.

Such is the case when I've tried Lemony Chicken for the first time. Given that Zabadani is a Halal restaurant, it is not surprising to find plenty of chicken dishes on the menu! You will be surprised at the many different ways that you can enjoy your chicken!

Lemony Chicken consists of grilled Halal fillets of chicken breast. The chicken fillets are seasoned with a special mix of spices, American lemon, parsley, and sprinkled with more spices for that tangy, smoky and peppery touch to its flavor. The plating of this dish also deserves mention. When you have a dish that tastes good and served in a delectable manner, you can't wait to grab hold of your utensils and start to dig in! That's exactly how I felt when the waiter brought this dish to our table. You can order it for two serving sizes: P125 (sagheer or small) or P240 (kabeer or large).

Lemony Chicken is indeed a must-try at Zabadani Cafe, especially for all the chicken lovers out there!

Zabadani Cafe is located at G/F of The Peak at Gaisano Mall, JP Laurel Avenue, Davao City.

Stay Connected!

Gambas from Zabadani Cafe

Gambas is a world famous dish that traces its origin to Spain and is a personal favorite of mine. Indeed, I have tried gambas from a wide range of restaurants that I have been to because I can't help but order it whenever I see it on the menu. There are a few notable versions of it that I've tried to date such as the one from Salutti and The Bagnetian Kitchen, but the one from Zabadani Cafe might just be my favorite thus far!

The aroma of this dish requires mention because it is very welcoming and appetizing - the first quality that I observed right off the bat when the waiter delivered this order on our table. The spices used on the dish truly makes it inviting even from afar.

However, the aroma is only the tip of the iceberg. The shrimp meat is soft and juicy, which clearly indicates that the shrimps used on this dish were fresh. There is also the right amount of seasoning that is a combination of salty and sweet, but neither taste overpowers the other. I forgot to ask Wadi, the owner, about the spices used on the sauce but I suspect it has crab fat in it, as most other gambas recipes do. And the sprinkling of sliced black olives at the top is the perfect way to serve up this delicious and filling dish!

Want to try out Zabadani Cafe's Gambas? Visit them at The Peak in Gaisano Mall, right beside Kublai Khan.

Like this blog on Facebook or follow on Twitter for more foodie updates and reviews.

Baklava from Zabadani Cafe

When I go on a food trip, I always look forward to the end of each meal because of the dessert. It's a bit appropriate that desserts are served last because it's like ending your meal on a sweet note. Before, though, I tend to associate desserts with chocolate. I know - I have an incurable obsession for chocolates! But over the years, as I've come to explore a wide range of cuisines and restaurants, I've finally opened myself up to trying other desserts, meaning non-chocolate desserts.

One of the desserts that I've recently tried is also something that I've been meaning to for a long time. I don't think we already have an authentic Greek restaurant in Davao so I thought I might have to wait until then to try Baklava. This is one of the most famous dishes to come out of the Greek cuisine and I've been hearing and reading a lot about it.

Thankfully, when I went to Zabadani Cafe one time, I found out that they do have Baklava in their desserts menu. To my delight, I went ahead and ordered it. This dessert is made of several layers of pastry sheets (think lasagna, only that this one is sweet). Every layer consists of a mixture of chopped pistachio nuts that are sweetened with either honey or syrup. The end result? A sinfully delicious treat for your taste buds that combines lots of texture, sweetness, and aroma (indeed, I can definitely smell the pistachio nuts in it!).

I forgot to take note of the price per slice at Zabadani Cafe but it is less than P100. Definitely worth it given how rich and sweet this dessert is! If you're keen on trying out new desserts, be sure to head on over to Zabadani Cafe and ask for Baklava.

To learn more details about Zabadani Cafe, you can check their Facebook page or official website here.

==

Zabadani Cafe
The Peak 4th Level Gaisano Mall of Davao, Davao City
(beside Kublai Khan Mongolian Restaurant)
Contact no.: (082) 301-6065

Like this blog on Facebook or follow on Twitter for more foodie updates and reviews.

Always Keep Coming Back to Zabadani Cafe

I haven't been to Zabadani Cafe in a while but I've never stopped thinking about making a return trip there. Admittedly, this is one of the restaurants I go to when I want to enjoy great food and know that I won't be disappointed. Last week, I finally made a reservation and dropped by for dinner after my session at the gym. And boy, was it a fantastic feast! I just realized they already had an updated menu, which only goes to show that I haven't been here for much longer than I had imagined. At the same time, it is an exciting prospect because I now have more new items to explore. 

new menu

However, E wasn't as into trying new items off the menu as I was. He still went with his old favorite, the Garlicy Rib (P 155). If my memory served me right, he has been ordering this dish since it was made available on the menu. Not that I can blame him. This succulent beef rib that has been marinated in a 7-spice mix and rubbed with plenty of garlic cloves and granules is the best Garlic Rib you can have in this side of the country. The meat is also tender that you get to enjoy more of its flavor rather than trying to wrestle with the meat on your plate.

Another dish that we tried is the Zabadani Prawn Balls (P 145). This dish is a new one and is made out of ground prawns formed into balls and fried until crimson red. Each ball is properly seasoned to a point that you get to enjoy a truly savory meal that is light at the same time. Couldn't have asked for a better compliment to the ribs.

Meanwhile, I had to sample one of their salad dishes - Fattoush. We ordered the small serving (Sagheer), P75, and you can get a decent serving of tomatoes, cucumber, onion, parsley, mint, salt, pepper, and olive oil. The salad also comes with chunks of pita bread on the side. This was the best way to start the meal because the subtle flavors helped to liven up your palate for a more enticing meal ahead. 

We accompanied our dish selections with a refreshing drink in Mango Frullato (P 75) simply because we were craving for a mango shake all week long. This one is a much better and richer version of mango shake. Must-try!

If only I had more room in my tummy for dessert, I would've ordered one. But I guess that's another reason to go back especially since I had a peek into their Dessert section on the menu and it looks pretty tempting! 

 Follow this blog on Facebook and Twitter for more foodie updates and reviews.

Zabadani Participates in the 1st Dabaw Sinugba Festival

The upcoming Dabaw Sinugba Festival on March 14 to 17, 2013 is one of the most awaited events in the 2013 Araw ng Dabaw celebration. This event is ideal for foodies who want to enjoy unlimited BBQ and grilled goodness for only PhP 200. It will be staged at Tienda del Mercado wherein you can enjoy all of your favorite BBQ treats from various participating businesses.

One of those featured at the said food festival is Zabadani. This Halal Middle-Eastern cuisine restaurant will be showcasing some of its culinary specialties to all attendees of Dabaw Sinugba Festival. Make sure to visit the event to taste their mouth-watering Middle-Eastern specialties including their Kabsa, Biryani, Shish, and kababs in saffron rice! If you've sampled any of these dishes, you don't want to miss them on this event!

Zabadani Cafe is located at the Ground Floor of Gaisano Mall The Peak. 
 

 Like this blog on Facebook for more foodie updates and reviews.

Introducing MUSHAK-KAL at Zabadani Cafe

Delectable but reasonably priced food is Davao’s gift to the culinary world. This makes it easy to indulge in your cravings because there are plenty of options for good dining choices in the city without stretching your budget. One example is Zabadani. Since opening their second branch at Gaisano Mall The Peak, there’s been a lot to look forward to.

First off is the Zabain Card, which is a promotional card that aims to reward loyal Zabbers. The more you visit them at the Peak, the more you can get rewards in the form of freebies and/or discounts.

Another irresistible offer from Zabadani Café at The Peak is the Musshakal. It’s described as “an island of scrumptious seafood favorites – large shrimps, squid, and swordfish”. If you’re like me who’s crazy about seafood, this one is for you! There is also a meat version of the Musshakal, which is made up of beef, chicken, and chevon (or lamb). Make sure to bring your friends with you because this is going to be a huge meal! 

This is available for PhP 999.00 for a total value of PhP 1,390. That means you can get up to PhP 391 in savings. Other add-ons that can be enjoyed for free along with your Musshakal platter include 3 pita breads, 3 cups of rice, and a pitcher of iced tea. To try this, you can check out Zabadani Café at The Peak (beside Kublai Khan’s Mongolian Restaurant). For inquiries, you can contact them at the following numbers: +63 (82) 301-6065 / 302-5886

Or like them on Facebook. :)

Zabadani: Now At The Peak!

 
My mind still carries vivid thoughts of that tiny nook in Rizal St. that Zabadani used to call home. I didn't really hold high expectations from Zabadani then, especially since it emerged at a time wherein Davao went through what was basically a coffee shop craze (seriously, there were a chockload of coffee shops opening in nearly every part of the city). So... what could make Zabadani special? 

Zabadani at Gaisano Mall's The Peak

Boy was I in for some surprise. The layered coffee they served were generous in portions and very affordable! It was the only one in Davao. And so, I was really thankful to my friend for introducing me to Zabadani. Ever since then, I've been a loyal patron and still is today. 

When I learned that Zabadani Cafe is opening a branch at the Peak in Gaisano Mall, I couldn't help but gleam with pride and joy knowing that I got to see how it started and grown to what it is today. The dedication that Wadi puts into every dish he serves to his customers is probably one reason why people keep coming back here. And they will no doubt create a new breed of customers as those who get to sample Zabadani's cuisine for the first time will surely get themselves hooked. 

Zabadani Menu

If you haven't been to Zabadani Cafe at the Peak, be sure to visit them when you get the chance. They have an updated menu and you can also avail of new promos that Wadi, the owner, has in store for his patrons (esp. the loyal Zabbers!).