Liberty Samonte Galang is the owner of NaDerang Restaurant in UAE. JONATHAN YBERA/EXPAT MEDIA
Filipino restaurant NaDerang Restaurant is celebrating another major milestone with the opening of its third branch in the UAE and its first outlet in Ajman on Saturday (August 1).
The new restaurant, located inside Metro Manila Supermarket in Ajman, marks the latest chapter in an inspiring journey that began with a modest food stall at the Sharjah Fish Market just five years ago.
Today, NaDerang has become one of the UAE’s favourite destinations for authentic Filipino comfort food, earning a loyal following for its home-cooked Kapampangan dishes and warm family hospitality.
From fish market kiosk to restaurant chain
For restaurant owner Liberty Samonte Galang, becoming a restaurateur was never part of the plan.
In 2020, she was temporarily covering for her sister, who was on maternity leave from her job at a honey kiosk inside Sharjah Fish Market, when she noticed several vacant retail spaces. “The management was looking for Filipino food vendors because many Filipinos shopped there,” Liberty told Expat Media in a previous interview.
Her mother, Brenda, a proud Kapampangan known for her cooking, immediately recognised the opportunity. “She cooked porridge, veggie okoy, cassava, puto, kutchinta. Everything was sold out by 11am!” Liberty said with a laugh. “Even our customers started calling others to buy from us!”
The family’s tiny food stall quickly became a favourite among shoppers, laying the foundation for what would eventually become NaDerang Restaurant.
Encouraged by the overwhelming response, the family expanded beyond the market stall and opened its first full-service restaurant along King Faisal Road beside Lulu Hypermarket in Sharjah.
A second branch soon followed at Sahara Centre, allowing the restaurant to serve even more customers looking for authentic Filipino flavours.
Now, with the opening of its Ajman branch, NaDerang is bringing its signature dishes to another growing Filipino community in the UAE.
For Liberty, however, every new branch represents more than business expansion. It reflects years of sacrifice, perseverance and the unwavering support of her family, whose passion for cooking transformed a simple opportunity into a thriving restaurant brand.
Serving the community beyond the dining table
NaDerang’s growth has also been defined by its commitment to giving back.
Earlier this year, the restaurant partnered with the Philippine Business Council – Dubai and Northern Emirates (PBC-DNE) for the Bayanihan Meal Program, providing free meals to members of the community in need.
The initiative reflected the same Filipino values of generosity and bayanihan that have shaped the family business since its earliest days.
Customers may first visit NaDerang for its well-loved Kapampangan dishes, but many return because of the welcoming atmosphere that makes them feel at home. That sense of community has become one of the restaurant’s defining ingredients. PIA/Expat Media
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