I have this hunch that there's a bit of a consensus among Metro Manila dwellers that the Hossein line of restaurants is the standard for Middle Eastern and Persian food when it comes to quality. I myself am a fan, that's why it's nice to see Shomal; a Hossein restaurant around my area. I've dined here a few times and the quality is as good as the more popular branches in Makati or Taguig. it's also a personal "safe haven" when Trinoma gets too crowded, especially when I'm there on weekends. There's always enough space and "room to breathe" in Shomal. The side dining areas are also nice and cozy with all sorts of curtains hanging from above. The service is also always on-point. Some of the things I usually enjoy here: the ox brain, hummus, and any of the kebabs.

From the Arabian Nights theme to the authentic taste of the Middle East, you wouldn't go wrong with Shomal by Hossein when you want something different and unique. Their excellent restaurant setting, wherein you'll feel like an Arabian princess when you sit on one of their semi-private tables at the left side, creates great impact when you finally get a taste of their dishes. Start your meal with an order of their famous pita bread appetizer, but remember not to go full just by eating those. Order the Lamb dish, and you'll reach seventh heaven.

I had a kabab phase. Everybody's had a kabab phase at least once, don't lie. It was yesterday's "ramen" thing, or is ramen even still "today"? Anyway, at that point in time, i tried most every place that served kabab. And there were quite a few because as a city, we had that phase too. But nothing came close to this place. It was Manila's best attempt at Persian fine dining, and they didn't disappoint. You know how we have instant frozen tocino and tapa in the supermarket? Did you know that the middle east has the same for their kababs? And did you know that most of the cheaper places actually serve it? Well, not Shomal. At first sight, the irregularities of the kabab would definitely tell you that it was hand made and store marinated. It was a burst of flavor at first bite, with their artisanal yogurt sauce, was definitely a fresh experience and a welcome one. We did order a couple of other curry dishes that were quite enjoyable with the flat bread, but it was definitely the kabab and the keema that too my breath away. Sometimes, my only worry is that not enough people eat here so i dont actually know how quickly their stocks move, but otherwise, everything seemed perfect and fresh. A must try for persian cuisine lovers! Oh, and did I say shisha? I didn't? Well, there. Shisha.