There are so many *seriously* good places to eat in Dubai, and there are multiple, comprehensive guides on where to eat to look at before your trip. Try TimeOut Dubai and Savoir Flair for two of the best places to look for recent reviews and openings.
But whilst the UAE’s population is about 85% expat – mostly from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt and the Philippines – many “best eat” lists focus on British and American cuisines. Don’t get me wrong, there is mostly definitely a place in your itinerary for one of the famous, extravagant and utterly fabulous Dubai brunches and there are some truly world class restaurants here. But I think it would be a shame not to make the most of the chance to sample amazing, authentic cuisines from all around the world in one place.
I am not therefore going to try and replicate a list of all the best places to eat in Dubai and create a full foodie guide – for one, the internet already has this very comprehensively covered! Instead, my suggestions below focus on some of my favourite lower key, and generally more affordable choices, that you might not find on the usual Dubai highlight guides.
Have a look at my guide to Dubai for other ideas on how to plan your time in this Arabian metropolis.
DUBAI FOR THE SERIOUS FOODIE
If you are looking to more comprehensively explore Dubai’s international foodie culture, I would strongly recommend the Frying Pan Adevnture tours, run by sisters Arva and Farida Ahmed. For 395 AED (£90) they offer walking tours through Bur Dubai and Deira, sampling an array of delicious cafes and tiny hole in the wall eateries you would be unlikely to find on your own.
WHERE TO EAT IN DUBAI
INDIAN/PAKISTANI
Bhukkad Café – fabulously colourful, pop art filled café serving excellent Indian street food. Get the vada pav – so spicey, so soft and so delicious.
Nihal Kokiwala – great any time of the day, but the best flaky, warm parathas make for one of best, and cheapest, breakfasts in town. Often a long queue and once the food is all gone, it is shut until the next day!
The Desi Circle Café – comforting, home cooked Punjabi flavours. Friendly service, casual dining and super affordable.
Ravi’s – a Dubai icon. Founded by Pakistani expat Chaudary Abdul Hameed in 1978, it has been hugely popular for its cheap and delicious Pakistani dishes ever since.
EAST ASIAN
Little Lamb Hotpot – if you have read my guide to Xi’An, you will know that I love hotpot! The Little Lamb Mongolian Hot Pot Dubai has multiple branches around the city and offers a quintessential hotpot experience.
Wokyo – casual noodle joint, serving “customisable” noodles. Choose your noodles, protein and sauce to make up a bowl of steaming, comforting yumminess to your own taste! It is only small so you will sometimes need to wait for a table.
Châteraisé – adorable Japanese bakery serving the fluffiest souffle cheesecakes amongst other sweet treats for reasonable prices. Some very limited seating available, but more of a takeaway situation than dine in.
Din Tai Fung – certainly not a hidden gem, and one of my favourite places to eat anywhere they have a franchise in the world. The Dubai outlet of this famous dumpling house is surprisingly affordable for Dubai, and considering that the original Hong Kong eatery has a Michelin star.
MIDDLE EASTERN
Al Ustad Special Kebab – family run for over four decades, this Iranian restaurant is hard to beat. Portions are generous and very affordably priced. Famous for their tender, yoghurt marinated kebabs.
Al Ijaza Cafeteria – the best shawarma in Dubai! Always busy – and for very good reason! – so expect to queue.
Aroos Damascus – long cherished as one of the best Syrian eateries in Dubai, the huge spread of indoor and outdoor seating will be buzzing until the early hours of the morning making it as atmospheric as it is tasty!
Arabian Tea House – the most touristy pick of this bunch. This was once a bit of a hidden gem, but it is now a regular feature on most suggested itineraries. But the food is still fantastic and the décor nails the vintage vibe. Expect Middle Eastern-mezze style patters, grills and salads. Share one of the trays – they are more than enough for two people.
Al Fanar Restaurant and Café – Emirati cuisine served in dining rooms aiming to transport you back to 1960s Dubai, when the city was little more than a small fishing port. Bring a friend to share the generous Emirati breakfast platter (85AED/£20).
Allo Beirut – large menu of Lebanese classics at good prices.
AND THE OTHERS!
Comptoir 102 – a boho chic haven, including a healthy living focused café, small shop and daily yoga classes.
Risen Dubai – light filled, airy cafe close to Dubai Marina. Friendly staff serving breakfast and brunch style menu, as well as an artisan bakery offering.
High Joint – in my humble opinion, the best burgers in Dubai. The menu is simple, only offering four beef burgers, two chicken burgers and wings. But they are seriously excellent burgers! Whilst there is not much on offer for vegetarians, the loaded fries can be served without bacon.
Café Khachapuri – I would not have expected to find such great, authentic Georgian food to eat in the centre of Dubai Marina. Have the khinkali (Georgian dumplings) and of course the cheesy khachapuri (somewhere between a pastry and a bread, and all round wonderous).
Boston Lane – this Aussie coffee shop (and super cute shop) is a great breakfast choice – not least as they serve great Turkish Eggs, one of my favourite breakfast dishes in the world! For lunch their garlic and cheese toasties are a must.
Bu Qtair – no menu and no glitz, just amazing seafood. Choose your whole fish or prawns from that day’s catch, and have it served simply with a spicy curry sauce and rice. Prices are calculated by weight so the value gets better the more of you there are.
Eat Greek Kouzina – I adore Greek food, and Eat Greek Kouzina does not disappoint. On the pricier side, but fresh, delicious and big portions.
SWEET TREATS
Al Samadi Sweets – the original shop opened in 1872 and has been serving traditional Arabic deserts ever since. Try the maamoul, a spiced date cookie, or the bukaj, a cashew nut-stuffed baklava.
Mirzam Chocolate – artisan chocolate maker with a factory, shop and café. They are famous for their rose hot chocolates, and also sell beautifully packaged, single-origan-bean-to-bar chocolate bars with Emirati-inspired flavours including camel milk and luqaimat.
Birch Bakery – tiny space serving some of the best artisanal baked goods in Dubai. The burnt Emirati honey and sea salt croissant is not to be missed. Pick up and go, or have flaky, buttery delights delivered to your hotel for breakfast.
Graffiti Kunefa – debate rages about whether knuefa, a gooey baked cheese pie usually infused with rose or organe syrup, originally came from Turkey or the wider Middle East (Egypt and Palestine are the top claimants). Either way, it is one of my favourite deserts and this is the place to have it in Dubai! Far from the most authentic, but definitely the most varied. You can choose from a veritable booklet of options – including by location, meaning you can eat your way around the region’s kunefa traditions all whilst sat in an air conditioned booth!
DUBAI DRINKS
Non Muslim visitors are permitted to buy and drink alcohol in licensed venues, such as hotels, restaurants and clubs. It is a punishable offence under UAE law to drink or be under the influence of alcohol in public. If you want to buy alcohol to drink at home, tourists visiting Dubai can get a temporary liquor licence for two official liquor distributors in Dubai. You just need to visit a store with your passport and Dubai entry stamp. You will be given a code of conduct document and required to confirm you understand rules and regulations in relation to purchasing, transporting and consuming liquor.
Sipping a cocktail looking out at the twinkling city lights is great way to get a taste of the Dubai high life, at a cheaper rate than splurging on a mega expensive hotel room. Definitely worth splashing out! As alcohol is very expensive in Dubai, I would definitely encourage you to take advantage of happy hours. Here are a few of my favourites, offering amazing views, killer cocktails or the best atmosphere.
Eve Penthouse and Lounge– rooftop bar (on the 34th floor) of the Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights. It has 360° views over the city, and half price drinks between 4:30pm and 7pm.
Treehouse – views over Downtown from The Taj Hotel. Book to get a good table, away from the busy restaurant and closer to the view. Service could be slicker.
Hopefully this has given you a head start on where to eat in Dubai. Don’t forget have a look at my guide to the city to plan the rest of your trip. There are also lots of tips for travelling elsewhere in the Middle East if you want to extend your visit, and plenty of ideas for wonderful places to eat around the world if you like to let your stomach take the lead!
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