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…
Must-see restaurants in Dubai
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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,…
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…
