Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.

Nolu’s: Californian & Afghani Comfort Food With A Healthy Twist

Whether crunchy, super fresh salads and healthy bowls or traditional kababs and a heartwarming dish that feels like it’s homecooked, the dishes are seriously delicious.

Taking the best of Californian and Afghani fare is an unusual concept, but with over 10 restaurants around Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the pipeline, it’s something Marjon Andesha, Executive Chef and Founder of Nolu’s, has obviously mastered. An Afghani raised in the States, Andesha’s mixed upbringing and having restaurateur genes gave her the edge to launch her unique and wild passion project several years after relocating to Abu Dhabi. And while crafting a menu that incorporates a dash of the casual Californian farm to table flair with time-honoured, smoky Afghani dishes that ooze warmth, her focus has always been on clean eating. American and Afghani chefs in the various kitchens and the relaxed and welcoming ambience ensure authenticity too, making guests come back time and again.

We talk to Andesha about the challenges she faced starting the chain named after her two children, the must-try signature dishes, her cooking philosophy and more.

1 of 8
Which challenges did you face while turning your entrepreneurial dream into a reality?

As I began my journey in the restaurant industry nearly 11 years ago and coming from California, learning the processes necessary to run an operate in the UAE was not an easy one. We are not only running and operating a business, but there is this massive back end you don’t take in consideration. Hiring your staff and handling everything in between. One doesn’t understand how difficult it is to bring staff from abroad and then make sure they have comfortable living standards and then top that with handling their visas and learning all the labour laws. Everyday was a new learning curve for me. It’s like you are running two businesses in one. One day I am a boss and another day a therapist. Unlike the west when you hire someone, none of these issues are dealt with in my industry.

Share Article

Write a comment