The last time I had a plastic bib on and devoured delicious crab in a shallow metal bucket, our date night bill went up to a whopping 200 AED... and even more if we didn't use a buy1get1 voucher! Then, a couple of weeks ago, I discovered a new seafood restaurant with almost the same unique concept, but with more affordable items on the menu! Imagine, a deep bucket full of sweet chili crabs for just 21 AED!
Seafood in a Bucket is a new concept brought by ASAP in House Restaurant in Karama. Though the restaurant is not visible along the main road, it is the power of social media that has made every seafood-lover searching for this latest dine-out spot.
Tuck inside Al Attar Business Center, beside Karama Metro Station, is a simple restaurant with graffiti walls and unusual light fixtures. Seafood is not the only thing in a bucket in this one of a kind restaurant, even the ceiling lamps are! It is always jam packed during the weekend, so we went a little past 5pm on our two consecutive visits, to make sure that we can immediately have a spot.
 |
| a cool seafood restaurant |
Seafood in a Bucket gives every diner the freedom to create a specialty meal. Ordering is so much fun and confusing (in a good way). They have seven kinds of seafood to choose from. For those who are allergic to seafood, don't fret as they also have chicken wings! After choosing which "fruit of the sea" to devour, pick a sauce that would match your choice. Then, decide which level of spice you can handle. For those who love fancy extras, you can have your meal served with corn on a cob or onion rings! To complete a hearty meal, there are very affordable coolers and desserts to choose from.
 |
| Seafood in a Bucket's menu |
Our fun-dining began as the wait staff placed wax paper sheets instead of plates on our table. Then, the coolers in HUGE glass jars arrived! I was still in awe with the size and the refreshing taste of my 5 AED apple-cucumber drink when a bucket of complimentary crackers was given to us. That moment, I was already saying "I love Seafood in a Bucket" at the back of my mind.
 |
| big jars of apple-cucumber cooler and lime cooler |
 |
| complimentary starter in a bucket |
 |
| savoring the cheapest and the biggest glass of beverage in Dubai |
Then, our seafood and rice were brought to our table... of course in metal buckets too. We put our vinyl gloves on and began our hearty seafood dinner! We had the tilapia in black pepper sauce. The tilapia fillets were wrapped in thin crispy coating and drizzled with sweet soy sauce. Best fish fillet ever!! The steamed crabs were wonderfully paired with sweet chili sauce. It was less meaty than the exquisite varieties, but it's the joy of cracking, eating with hands and the zest of the sweet and spicy sauce that made the dish extraordinary!
 |
| must-try: Tilapia in black pepper sauce |
 |
| a hefty serving of crab in sweet chili sauce |
 |
| Ed is very happy with the meal... and the bill! :) |
 |
| Fun-dining: the joy of cracking crabs and eating with hands |
It is only at Seafood in a Bucket that seafood and budget-friendly dining go along. We fell head over heels in love with the concept, the food and the prices, so we immediately went back a week after our first visit to have shrimps in garlic butter sauce and calamari in our favorite black pepper sauce. This time, we also left a little extra space in our tummies for dessert!
 |
| steamed shrimps in light garlic-butter sauce served with corn on a cob |
 |
| Black pepper sauce goes so well with fried seafood! Here's the calamari with a kick of spicy black pepper sauce. |
Still sticking on the creative concept, Seafood in a Bucket serves the desserts in cute glass jars! For only 10 AED, we got a jar of delicious Oreo Cheesecake topped with maltesers and oreo cookies!
Seafood in a Bucket brings a bucket load of happiness! It can make you forget about mud crabs and king prawns. You wouldn't look for the lavish tableware and wouldn't mind getting messy either! This restaurant is not about fancy fine-dining. It's all about the things that can tickle your fancy, but won't leave you broke!
The budget-friendly prices:
Crabs in sweet chili sauce: 21 AED
Tilapia in black pepper sauce: 18 AED
Shrimps in garlic butter sauce: 27 AED
Calamari in black pepper sauce: 12 AED
Shrimps in garlic butter sauce: 27 AED
Calamari in black pepper sauce: 12 AED
Lime cooler: 5 AED
Appe-cucumber cooler: 5 AED
*All dishes are served with unlimited rice!
Location:
Seafood in a Bucket by ASAP in House restaurant
Al Attar Business Center (beside Karama Metro Station)
21 Blogger Comments
WT... Unlimited rice?! Why oh why!!! I love their drinks on the jars. So cute!
ReplyDeleteCheers to the Unli Rice! hahaha! :)
DeleteThis is what i miss living in Karama / Bur Dubai area. The dining options are endless and yet you always leave with a happy wallet.
ReplyDeleteI have yet to try chili crabs that that one in the bucket seems to be calling my name!
Visiting from http://www.mrspinkihan.com
You must bring the family at this resto soon. :) They have added lobster on the menu recently.
DeleteWow! I already in love with place.. Makahanap nga ng inexpensive seafood this week.. I just ate by the way after seeing your post gusto ko ng kumain ng seafood..heheh:) Happy New Year:)
ReplyDeleteWhoops! Sorry. This post can ruin a diet, I know coz I do feel that way too whenever I see the pics.
DeleteOMG! I seriously love seafood, especially crabs. I also like the concept of drinking in jars ah. :)
ReplyDeleteVery unique noh? :)
DeleteWow! That is so cheap! I love crab, so I am really happy to read your post about this place! Can't wait to dine there:)
ReplyDeleteREMINDERS:
ReplyDeleteDISAPPOINMENT LANG MARARANASAN NYO KABAYAN..
1. Strategy nila gutumin yung customer kaya sobrang tagal ng service. Walang hindi masarap sa taong GUTOM.
2. Ang mga manager at crew mga hambog. Pag me magandang babae dun laging pacute ang mga ungas!
3. Marami na daw nabiktima sa nakaklimutan ang order.
We drove all the way from AUH to DXB pra mkakain, 11am andun kmi so naghintay ng 1 hr pra sa pag open. At 12pm kinuha order nmen after 1pm lahat ng bago dating naserve na foods nila. Tpos ngreklamo kmi, sabi ng manager nakalimutan daw kmi at kinuha ulet yun order. After 30mins kinukuha ulet order nmen kc daw nkalimutan nanaman. Wla man lng pahumanhin,,ok na yun isa o dalawa..MAHIYA NAMAN KAYO SA PANGATLO!!! BUNTIS ANG KASAMA KO TPOS PAGHINTAYIN NYO KMI NG 2 ORAS.. DUN SA ME MARAMING BABAE NA MAGANDA DUN KAYO UMAALIGID..SINAYANG NYO LANG ORAS NMEN SA PAGHIHINTAY!! MAGSARA NALANG KAYO!!
Hello po. I'm not affiliated with seafood in a bucket. I am a blogger and I wrote about my experience in all honesty. I do respect your opinion and I think it would be better if you place this comment at the restaurant's facebook page.
DeleteBinubura ho nila comment namen at DI lang nman pla kmi yun nabiktima.
ReplyDeleteI feel so sorry for you. I was surprised with your comment because we never experienced those on our two visits (late December and January 1st). There was no queue and the service was good! Btw, I dined as a regular customer and never received special treatment nor fees.
DeletePerhaps the quality suffers due to the sudden increase of customers. I hope Seafood in a Bucket can work on that soon.
I've only tried a few & have liked them all. The crispy battered fish fillets are easier to fix compared to fish sticks (takes longer to turn them all over :)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.neworleansbarandgrill.com/
Fascinating blog, Lady! Thanks for connecting with us on Twitter! Keep up the great work and travel safe!
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by! :) Happy and safe travels to you too.
DeleteGood day,
ReplyDeleteI just been here earlier around 3pm with my fiance, and everything was excellent! Quick and reliable service! thanks for this blog! I definitely find something irresistible :)
I'm really glad this post was able to help. :) Thanks for the visit. :)
DeleteAnd thank you for your detailed and mouth watering descriptions! I visited the resto again! I'm getting fatter but happier! :)
ReplyDeleteWe come from Abu Dhabi and were in Dubai over the weekend. With all the hype that we've heard we've decided to give it a try. The concept was interesting although NOT ORIGINAL. It reminded me of Shrimp Bucket in Bonifacio Global City (which I must say a better version of Seafood in a Bucket)
ReplyDeleteYes, we've waited for 30mns or so and our orders were taken. I do have some comments which I believe should be taken constructively. First the resto is not family friendly, no high chair for little kids, tables are next to each other (you can rub elbows with the person sitting behind you), cleanliness is not their top priority (I don't know why but in Abu Dhabi there are stricter rules with comes to managing a restaurant) they did not live up to that standard because the floor was too dirty. Scattered left overs and dirty foot prints on the floor. Trash bin was next to a table where people are dining. Pantry items are on display. Music was so loud like I was in a bar but that's very Pinoy I guess.
OK lets get into the quality of the food. I'm happy to see the cheap prices on the menu so that is a plus point. The quality is just average. See the seafood are just steamed. Sauce are ok, just average. Garlic and butter, teriyaki, asian bbq, sweet chilli - you can buy those in bottles in supermarkets. It lacks the taste that you are looking for and that you'll be returning for. The chicken wings are not well done. Still red blood was inside - not a standard in resto. Unli rice covers up with the downbeat.
Overall, it was worth the first try but on the second. Personally I will not be a returning customer. It did not live up to the hype and it is overrated. Many improvements could be done which I believe will earn them more happy customers.
Hi Sahara! Thank you for the visit, for reading and for leaving a comment. :) I am happy to receive messages from my readers, however in this case, it is best to get in touch with Seafood in a Bucket directly. As I've said in a previous comment, I am not associated with Seafood in a Bucket I am very sorry that your dining experience isn't as good as mine.
Delete