Must-see restaurants in Dubai

  • Hot Fish

    Bur Dubai

    The sister restaurant of the fabled Bu Qtair sits on the corner of a lone gentrified block in working-class Karama, with plastic chairs and tables spread…

  • Last Exit E11

    Dubai

    This corporate take on the street food truck craze comes complete with a kids' playground, prayer rooms, ATMs and other infrastructure and makes a good…

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    Feras Aldiyafa Sweets

    Dubai

    Close to the Mall of the Emirates (next to a Holiday Inn), this local favourite is famous for its kunafeh (cheesy pastry in sugar syrup). Before the sweet…

  • Shimmers

    Dubai

    With a simple whitewashed wood pavilion set right on the beach in the shadow of Burj Al Arab, Shimmers is big on atmosphere. The homestyle Greek cuisine…

  • Elevation Burger

    Downtown Dubai

    This Virginia-based chain proves that there is such a thing as guilt-free fast food by serving burgers made entirely from organic, grass-fed and free…

  • Bait Al Wakeel

    Bur Dubai

    Teeming with tourists lured by the romantic Creekside setting, this restaurant occupies one of Dubai's oldest buildings, a 1930s shipping office, and has…

  • Jaffer Bhai's

    Bur Dubai

    Jaffer Bhai, the self-crowned 'biryani king of Mumbai', now feeds his soulful fare to adoring crowds in this modern Karama eatery decorated with a…

  • Lebanese Village Restaurant

    Bur Dubai

    Look beyond the sun-bleached photos of dishes: the menu may have few surprises but does staples like grills, hummus and tabbouleh (salad of tomatoes,…

  • Massaad Barbecue

    Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah

    At this teensy country-style eatery most of the fresh ingredients – from lemons to chickens – are sourced from growers based in nearby Al Ain. Barbecued…

  • Yalla Samosa

    Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah

    Only in Dubai. Yalla specialises in quirky samosas, but its recently released 24-karat-gold concoction certainly crowns the list: it's a king-size bite…

  • Blue Orange

    Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah

    The Westin's all-day buffet restaurant has dishes that aim at pleasing all, in an airy setting with citrus-coloured furniture on a white tiled floor and…

  • KHOFO

    Bur Dubai

    Egyptian flavours reign supreme here with tajines, mashawi (roasted meat), stuffed pigeon and a juicy bamia (okra casserole), although there are some…

  • Chicken Tikka Inn

    Dubai

    This multi-branch staple hasn't lost a step since first firing up that charcoal grill in 1972. Chicken tikka and various kebabs are all tickled to…

  • Awtar

    Bur Dubai

    Locals love the opulent Bedouin tent–style ceiling of this formal Lebanese restaurant in the Grand Hyatt hotel, complete with belly dancer and live band…

  • Bubbles & Boba

    Downtown Dubai

    There's nothing like adding a little texture to your cuppa courtesy of a sprinkling of slightly sweet and gummy tapioca. Originally a Taiwanese treat…

  • Thiptara at Palace Downtown

    Downtown Dubai

    Thiptara means 'magic at the water' – very appropriate given its romantic setting in a lakeside pagoda with unimpeded views of the Dubai Fountain. The…

  • Zaatar W Zeit

    Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah

    This is the Lebanese fast-food favourite among locals, with high-quality Levant street food at heart-warmingly low prices. Stick to what they do best:…

  • Karachi Darbar

    Bur Dubai

    A favourite pit stop of expats and Karama Market shoppers with an eye for a biryani bargain, this local chain puts tummies into a state of contentment…

  • Noodle House

    Downtown Dubai

    This multibranch pan-Asian restaurant is a reliably good choice for a casual lunch or dinner. There’s great variety – from roast duck to noodle soups,…

  • Noodle Bowl

    Dubai

    Noodles are prepared here in every style imaginable – braised, tossed, fried, added to soups and paired with seafood, beef, chicken, duck or tofu. Service…

  • Al Fayrooz Lounge

    Dubai

    We rarely get excited about lobby lounges, but this elegant symphony of one got our attention for including a Middle Eastern breakfast in its greet-the…

  • Pars

    Bur Dubai

    The original branch of what has evolved into a shopping mall mainstay, Pars serves Iranian classics like chelo kebab (kebab with rice) and khoresh-e…

  • Al Mallah

    Dubai

    Locals praise the chicken shawarma and grilled chicken at this traditional joint (which started life as a juice bar some 30 years ago). It is located on…

  • Rhodes W1

    Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah

    Michelin-decorated chef Gary Rhodes is famous for bringing British cuisine into the 21st century. At his plant-filled white-and-citrus-hued Dubai outpost,…

  • Kabul Darbar

    Bur Dubai

    Follow Afghan tradition: find a spot on the carpet, order lots of food and eat with your hands. All dishes are served with a soup, bread and salad, making…

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