Bambooda is a Thai fusion restaurant at the Movenpick Hotel, promising to take diners on a 'culinary journey to Thailand' - an apt metaphor given that the restaurant is right next to Dubai Airport. The restaurant has traditional Thai-inspired decor, intended to recreate the look of a Thai village. There's lots of dark wood, green plants and terracotta roofs over some tables, as well as a stream with live koi fish that can be crossed on a wooden bridge.
The restaurant serves a range of Thai favourites, with the menu mainly featuring classic fare. Appetisers include chicken satay skewers, homemade dim sum (prawn and crab meat parcels), vegetable spring rolls and Thai prawn cakes. Soups on the menu include traditional Tom Yum soup and chicken and coconut soup. There are also a range of salads, including a green papaya salad, a grilled beef salad and a seafood salad.
The main courses include tamarind beef spare ribs, green chicken curry, prawn and pineapple red curry, and grilled Tiger prawns with garlic and spicy lime sauce. The vegetarian options are wok-fried noodles with tofu and vegetables, and vegetable red curry. The must-try dishes on the menu are the Bamboo fried rice, jasmine rice with egg, prawns and vegetables, or the whole steamed sea bream with white cabbage, Thai celery, lime, chilli and garlic. Or try Chef Amara's signature dish, Lon Goong - diced prawns cooked in coconut milk sauce, with shallots, chilli and tamarind. All of the food is beautifully presented on ornate dishes, which, in conjunction with the Thai-inspired decor, creates an authentic Thai dining experience.
The desserts on offer are classic Thai dishes: mango sticky rice and water chestnuts with coconut milk and crushed ice.
This restaurant is perfect for a pre-flight meal if you don't fancy eating at the airport, serving traditional Thai food in a beautiful setting.