* Popular homegrown Thai food concept, Sticky Rice to launch a new brand alongside its Abu Dhabi restaurant
* Kew’s will serve-up tallow fried chicken to create unmatched and unique flavours with its Thai inspired dishes
Abu Dhabi, UAE-: Popular Thai homegrown concept Sticky Rice, famed for its authentic taste and humble beginnings is expanding its offerings with the launch of a tallow fried-chicken joint named Kew’s, set to open alongside the Yas Mall store on the 17th of April 2025.
As the first concept of its kind in the Middle East, Kew’s fried chicken is cooked in all-natural, premium beef tallow—a game-changing approach that delivers unmatched flavor and an irresistible crunch. This distinctive frying method sets Kew’s apart, as no other fried chicken establishment in the UAE currently uses beef tallow, making it a standout selling point in the regional market.
Kew’s is set to introduce a host of mouthwatering plates alongside its irresistible fried chicken (all of which are free from seed oils), inclusive of the chicken sandwich in Hokkaido milk bread, crispy tallow fries made in house and much more. Diners can choose from a number of crowd favourite coatings such as their famous Sticky Tamarind and Kong Kang, in addition to Thai BBQ; and when it comes to sides and drinks, there’s the option to try sour mango slaw, Hainanese rice and coconut milk-based shakes.
Sticky Rice is a family-ran business originally curated back in 2018 by Amena Rakkuson and her son Mo (who himself is half Emirati and half Thai) with the launch of the brand’s first eatery in JVC, a restaurant known for its big personality, passion and award-winning bona fide Thai food. Adding a meaningful touch to the business, the new brand is named after Sticky Rice’s mascot Kew – a ‘kew-t’ yellow duckling, which also just happened to be the late founder, Amena’s (Mama’s) favourite animal.
Mo Abedin, Co- Founder & Owner – Sticky Rice and Kew’s, said: “The launch of Kew’s is something that has been in the pipeline for quite some time and we as a brand couldn’t be more ecstatic that the time is finally here to launch our much-loved fried chicken recipe to customers, both existing and new in the UAE. We are extremely grateful for all the support we’ve received for Sticky Rice and believe this new addition to the portfolio will only further cement the brand’s authentic positioning and unique edge in the market even more so. We’re very excited for you all to try our tallow-fried dishes, believe me it won’t be like anything you’ve tried before!”
Sticky Rice, which is now led by Mo – a concept known for its Hainanese style chicken and rice created from a recipe that was crafted more than 45 years ago, has grown from strength to strength after extending its reach to Abu Dhabi through the launch of its Yas Mall store in 2023. The vision is to eventually expand Kew’s into Dubai, helping to cater to that wider UAE market and increased demand.
