Dubai Restaurants

  1. Asha's

    Namesake of owner Asha Bhosle of Bollywood fame, Asha's packs a see-and-be-seen crowd of rich Indian expats into its sexy, low-light, tandoori-orange dining room, with ethnic-fusion dance music playing in the background. On our last visit, we had a gorgeous meal of spicy-ginger-garlic marinated prawns, followed by a gorgeous muscat gosht (tomato-and-butter-braised spicy lamb) - both Asha's personal recipes.

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  2. Ashiana

    In a town that knows good Indian, Ashiana's stands out as one of the best. Presentations of the northern Indian fare are brilliant: dum biryani is cooked in a pot sealed with bread, elegantly perfuming the meat. Sophisticated, complex curries justify the prices, as do the solicitous service, atmospheric dining room and live sitar music. Plan to linger long. Good vegetarian food too.

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  3. Bombay

    It's worth a detour deep into Deira for Bombay's orthodox North Indian cooking. Come hungry and start with the kebab sampler (mutton, chicken, fish), then move onto mint-marinated fish cooked tandoori style, or a cardamom-rich saag gosht (lamb and spinach). There's lots for vegetarians. The French-style service by tuxedo-clad waiters is a surprise at this price, but we're not arguing. We're just happy they serve beer.

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  4. Coconut Grove

    Fragrant curries and biryani pack in regulars who love the authentic Keralan and Goan cooking - the Goan fish curry is thick, creamy and spicy, with hunks of supple and tender fish. Alas, waiters are pushy, always trying to upsell and force more beer on you. Overlook this in favour of the stellar rooftop views and reasonable prices. Call early to book a window table.

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  5. Gazebo

    You'll forgive the unexciting interior when you taste the brilliant North Indian cooking. Standouts on the huge menu include a great tawa lobster masala, with succulent chunks of lobster, black pepper, tomato and rich masala sauce; Banjara Gosht, mutton in masala gravy, rose petals, cashew nuts and tomato; and Gosht Achari, mutton in coriander, tomato and pomegranate. Good value. Note: vegetarians should hop next door to Kamat, its sister restaurant.

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  7. Govinda's

    Jains (no-kill-anything) run this Gujarati-Indian restaurant that uses no onion or garlic in its all-vegan food, but the cooking is rich in character, with intense flavours and heady perfumes. The staff couldn't be friendlier. Save room for homemade ice cream from the adjacent, affiliated ice-cream parlour.

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  8. Mumtaz Mahal

    One of our favourite North Indian eateries, the tandoor specialities, excellent service and in-house Indian band and dancers make for a fun night out. While any of the smoky-flavoured specials that come out of the clay oven are excellent, we especially love the lamb dharba masala.

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  9. Nina

    Floor-to-ceiling purple fabric, sexy red-orange light, and beaded curtains set a seductive backdrop for Nina's dynamic cooking. The chef combines Indian with a touch of Thai, and tempers it with European technique.

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  10. Rangoli

    There's not a Westerner in the house at this all-vegetarian Gujarati Indian eatery, with a take-away window on the sidewalk. Inside there's a tiny cafeteria jammed with tables. Fill your tray with rice, daal (lentil broth), potatoes, curry and bread - filling, satisfying, cheap. Afterward, wander the hub of Dubai's Indian community and shop for fabric and spices. NB: tricky to find, but locals will direct you. No credit cards.

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