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…
Must-see restaurants in United Arab Emirates
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…
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…
Bur Dubai
Egyptian flavours reign supreme here with tajines, mashawi (roasted meat), stuffed pigeon and a juicy bamia (okra casserole), although there are some…
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…
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…
Deira
The big draw at this handsome restaurant dressed in sensuous silks and embroidered tapestries is the yum cha (dim sum) buffet served nightly and at…
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…
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…
Deira
One of Dubai's oldest Japanese restaurants (since 1987), Miyako now flaunts a post-facelift contempo look while retaining its three-way split into…
Deira
This oldie but goodie serves modernised Indian fare in an elegant, dimly lit dining room that radiates the intimacy of an old private villa. The menu…
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:…
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…
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,…
Deira
In fast-moving Dubai, this restaurant has defied the odds and stayed popular since 2006. That's largely because of its legendary Friday Champagne brunch…
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…
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…
Deira
Big hunks of meat – mutton or chicken – charred on foot-long skewers are paired with Afghan pulao (rice pilaf), chewy bread and homemade hot sauce. That’s…
Deira
If you are strolling from Naif Market to the gold souq and beyond, consider taking a refreshing lassi sidestep. Plain, mango, strawberry, mixed fruit and…
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…
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…
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,…
Deira
With dishes from China, Japan, India, Italy, Mexico and Mongolia, plus seafood and loads of desserts, this been-here-forever buffet restaurant delivers…
Fujairah City
A branch of the popular Sadaf franchise, this always-busy eatery serves up traditional Iranian fare, including grilled kebabs and delicately spiced…
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…
Deira
In a prime people-watching spot near the Gold Souq, wallet-friendly Ashwaq may be just a hole-in-the-wall with a few pavement tables, but its shawarma is…
Deira
Though not as dynamic or sophisticated as some Asian restaurants, Yum! is open plan–informal and a good pick for a quick bowl of noodles when you’re…
