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by Barbara Yakimchuk

Dubai Insiders: JP On Finding His Place In Dubai

3 Dec 2025

This is our final episode, where we look at life in Dubai through the eyes of our insiders — and naturally, to wrap things up, we needed someone special. And who better than Chef JP? He is the man behind one of Dubai’s most talked-about Filipino eatery, ready to walk you through the flavours of the Philippines, share a few behind-the-scenes tips from running an Instagram with over 300,000 followers, and chat honestly about the restaurant world here.

Because the guest was unique, the questions ended up being pretty special too. We covered everything from the spicier bits of the profession to the must-try dishes in Filipino cuisine, his go-to food spots in the city (funny enough, not his own!), and his dream location for opening a restaurant in Dubai.

So, if you are a food lover, you are in for a brilliant 25 minutes. And even if you aren't (though honestly — who isn’t?), there is still plenty to enjoy: warm memories of moving to Dubai, a bit of dream-concert talk, reflections on feeling lonely in a fast-paced city, and some of the regular bits — like his three everyday outfit essentials.

Here are four things to discover in our podcast with JP:

  • How he settled into life in Dubai — and why he believes it takes five years. JP shares one of the most thoughtful answers we have had in this series. For him, year one is the honeymoon; year two is when the challenges hit; year three is when you start cruising; year four is the plateau, where you question things; and year five is the moment you decide whether Dubai is truly home. In his case, the answer is yes.
  • His go-to spot for DJ sets. No surprises here: Honeycomb Hi-Fi on Mondays. Slow, relaxed sets, good music, good drinks — the kind of place that feels like a small reward at the end of a long week. And naturally, from there we drifted into his dream-concert fantasies for Dubai.
  • His favourite food spots. Ying Ke Ge in Oud Metha for proper Chinese dishes, Calicut Paragon for the best Southern Indian flavours, and — unexpectedly — a friend’s home, where he is more than happy to cook himself. Sometimes, the best meals really are homemade (especially when you are a chef).
  • And of course, what receiving a Michelin Bib Gourmand felt like. The dream started with a photo he took with the Michelin mascot ten years ago. And when it finally came true, it felt — in his words — like an Oscar for an actor: a moment that validates the long journey and gives you that well-earned pat on the back.

Come for the honest insights about running a restaurant in Dubai — stay for the warm conversations and even warmer memories.

Missed previous episodes? Here you go: