Background:
Hello everyone,
It’s currently 1:46 in the morning, and I’ve been applying to jobs for the past few hours. I came across an editorial assistant position for a restaurant guide, The Infatuation. Their application required a short, five restaurant guide for any city besides NYC and LA in their style. I didn’t know five restaurants outside of NYC, so I decided to research the cuisine of the most random place I could think of: Socotra. Socotra is an island off of the Horn of Africa in the Indian Ocean. It has an interesting local culture and pristine beaches. Because of its unique landscape and wildlife, it’s known as the most alien place on earth! There aren’t many well-known restaurants there, so this wasn’t easy. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Review:
Were you planning on visiting the remote desert island of Socotra this summer? You know, the land time forgot? The island that’s known as the most alien on earth? The place with such wonders as the dragon’s blood tree (yes, that’s a thing), pristine desert beaches, rolling white dunes of sand, and goats? I wasn’t, but you obviously are, since you clicked this. Come, walk with me. Take off your shoes and let’s feel the warm sands beneath our feet in Hadiboh, Socotra.
“The first stop on the crazy caravan is Taj Socotra, which was ranked “#1 of 1 restaurants in the city of Hadiboh” on TripAdvisor. Be warned, this place is usually bustling with activity, but the staff is quite accommodating for large crowds. As you walk in, they will greet you and seat you. Be prepared for the friendly neighborhood goats as they frequently attempt to raid the restaurant. No one seems to mind the free entertainment, as they are easily shooed away (plus they’re pretty cute). Taj Socotra offers a variety of local dishes including seafood, chicken, and the tasty local unleavened bread. Of course, they also serve goat. That’s one way to solve their problem, I guess? Ok, time to go now. All aboard!
The next must-see place in this trip is the Socotra Tamam restaurant in the Musakabin area of Hadiboh. This cozy restaurant has cool stone walls and thatched windows that let in warm slivers of golden sunlight. It’s a great place to stay in the shade, and you’ll find many thirst quenching refreshments, including freshly made yogurt, juices, and Yemeni coffee. If you hadn’t heard, Yemeni coffee beans are known as one of the best varieties of coffee bean in the world, so try it! The restaurant also contains a traditional lounge with elevated floors and carpet seating. Relaxed yet? Let’s head to the next stop on this wonderful island.
Would you like to try Socotra’s take on modern cuisine? The Summerland Hotel is definitely worth a visit. As the only four-star hotel on the island, it hosts an exquisite restaurant with an experienced chef. Their food is infused with several other culinary traditions of the Indian Ocean, which makes sense since the chef hails from the Philippines. As far as amenities go, the restaurant is replete with air conditioning, television, and western style bathrooms. If this place is too pricey for you, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
An alternative hotel with tasty food is the Socotra Tourist Hotel. An affordable location, it features quintessential Socotri seafood, including lobsters and the local catch of the day. It also specializes in several unique bean meals. Though lacking in variety, the Socotra Tourist Hotel makes up for it in service and price. It is also quite convenient if you choose this hotel for your stay in Hadiboh.
The final stop on this journey is Adib’s Eco-Lodge. The restaurant lies within a comfy thatched hut on the blue beaches of Hadiboh. Here, the idea is to be immersed in nature, so everything is freshly grilled on an outdoor fireside. Adib’s features dishes such as grilled kingfish, which is seasoned in a menagerie of local spices and herbs, including cinnamon, coriander, and date honey. Not sure what date honey is? Neither am I, but it sounds delicious! Come chill on a hammock and enjoy some skewered goat. No seriously, please. You’d be helping the locals with their goat problem and enjoying a wonderful sea breeze experience. Well, that’s all folks. Jokes aside, I hope you enjoy your visit to this island. Please keep this pristine island clean, there isn’t anywhere else like it in the world!
Note: I chose Socotra because it’s one of the most remote and unique places on earth. I haven’t been there myself, so I relied on the following sources for information. It wasn’t easy to find restaurants there, but it sure was fun to write on!
Taj Socotra: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1156345-d4341099-Reviews-Taj_Socotra_Restaurant-Hadiboh.html
Socotra Tamamhttp://socotra.info/our-new-project-a-restaurant-on-socotra.html#.WsRPY4jwaM8
Summerland Hotel, Socotra Tourist Hotel: https://www.socotra-eco-tours.com/products/where-to-stay-on-socotra/
Adib’s Eco-Lodge: https://www.thedailymeal.com/travel/25-best-hard-get-restaurants-worth-trip-slideshow/slide-15“