26 editor picks in Dubai.
26 restaurants in Dubai, editor-picked for restaurants open monday. Open on monday, the day most kitchens go dark. All restaurants in Dubai.
Al Ustad Special Kabab has grilled Persian skewers in Bur Dubai, Dubai, since 1978, a family run kebab house a short walk from Al Fahidi metro station.
OrderChicken boti, Shish tawook, Chicken saffron
TipLook down as well as up: glass topped tables hold foreign banknotes and the walls carry photos of famous patrons with the late founder.
Zuma in DIFC, Dubai, is a contemporary Japanese robata grill from the global Zuma Restaurant Group, ranked among the MENA's 50 Best Restaurants.
OrderRobata grill skewers, Miso marinated black cod
Ariana's Persian Kitchen at Atlantis The Royal in Dubai is chef Ariana Bundy's Persian dining room, built on family recipes passed down through generations.
OrderThe fesenjoon chicken stew with pomegranate and walnut.
Ravi Restaurant has served Pakistani karahi and kebabs in Al Satwa, Dubai, since 1978, a plain, busy room open from 05:00 until the small hours.
OrderSeekh kebab, Mutton karahi, Chicken biryani
TipExpect a queue at dinner. Communal seating and a fast turnover are part of the Ravi routine.
Bu Qtair has fried whatever the boats brought in behind Jumeirah's fishing harbour in Umm Suqeim, Dubai, since the 1980s, queue and all, no bookings.
OrderFried spiced fish, Fried prawns
TipPick your marinated fish and prawns at the counter, pay by weight, give your first name and wait for it to be called.
Roberto's in Gate Village, DIFC, Dubai, is homegrown Italian fine dining under chef Danilo Valla, with a cocktail lounge and an outdoor terrace.
OrderCrudo bar seafood, Contemporary Italian pasta
Al Khayma Heritage Restaurant occupies an old courtyard house in Al Fahidi Historical District, Dubai, plating home style Emirati family cooking.
OrderLamb machboos, Lamb saloona, Luqaimat
TipPart restaurant, part museum: tables sit under a tree in an air conditioned covered courtyard, and bread is baked in view of the diners.
Hutong in DIFC, Dubai, recreates a Northern Chinese dining hall for Peking duck, with a lunch, dinner and Thursday night dark brunch service.
OrderPeking duck, Hot and sour soup
Din Tai Fung at Dubai Hills Mall is the Dubai Hills branch of the Taiwanese dumpling chain, known citywide for its steamed pork xiaolongbao.
OrderXiaolongbao, Fried rice
Al Fanar Restaurant & Cafe on the Al Seef waterfront serves Emirati seafood and heritage recipes for a brand founded in 2011, and is in the Michelin Guide.
OrderGrilled seafood, Traditional Emirati bread
Shang Palace on the first floor of the Shangri-La Dubai serves Cantonese cooking and a carved whole Peking duck on Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai.
OrderPeking duck, Dim sum
YUi in Dubai Design District bills itself as the region's first handmade ramen house, opened in 2018 with noodles made from imported Japanese flour.
OrderShio paitan ramen, Beef gyoza
TipThe chicken comes from a farm near Dubai and the noodles are made in house from Japanese flour.
Al Mallah has served shawarma and Lebanese street food from a corner of Al Dhiyafa Road, Al Satwa, Dubai, since 1979, and its counter now runs 24 hours.
OrderShawarma, Manakish, Falafel
TipGrab a pavement table and order at the counter. It is a stand-and-eat street corner, not a sit-down room.
Seoul Garden in Al Karama bills itself as Dubai's first traditional Korean restaurant, open since 1999 and cooking bibimbap, galbi and Korean hot pot.
OrderBibimbap, Galbi, Korean hot pot
Karachi Grill on Jumeirah Beach Road in Dubai plates Pakistani kebabs, karahi and biryani in a Jumeirah 2 villa, with a buffet of Pakistani dishes at lunch.
OrderSeekh kebab, Chicken biryani, Mutton karahi
TipA lunch buffet of Pakistani dishes runs alongside the a la carte menu, the easy way to try several karahis at once.
Al Safadi has served Lebanese grills and mezze in Dubai since 2000, from its Sheikh Zayed Road dining room in the Trade Centre area of the city.
OrderMixed grill, Hummus
Aroos Damascus is a Syrian grill house in Al Muraqqabat, Deira, Dubai, serving kebbeh, grills and manakish from breakfast until well past midnight.
OrderKibbeh, Mixed grill, Knafeh
Barrio Fiesta runs a Filipino buffet on Al Rigga Road in Deira, Dubai, one of the few in the city open from late morning until 06:00 the next day.
OrderCrispy pata, Kare-kare, Lumpiang Shanghai, Sisig
Koshary Abu Tarek in Al Barsha, Dubai, plates Egypt's lentil, rice and pasta street dish alongside classic Egyptian sweets and Arabic sandwiches.
OrderKoshary, Egyptian rice pudding
TipThe shop is also a sweets counter, so finish with the rice pudding or om ali listed beside the koshary.
Calicut Paragon in Al Karama, Dubai, cooks Malabari dishes from Kerala's Calicut coast, heavy on coconut, fresh seafood and slow-cooked biryani.
OrderChicken biryani, Chicken stew, Paragon pepper chicken
Saravanaa Bhavan in Al Karama, Dubai, is the local branch of the global vegetarian South Indian chain, serving dosas and idli on steel plates.
OrderMasala dosa, Idli, Filter coffee
Little Bangkok runs seven Thai outlets across the UAE, and its Jumeirah Lakes Towers branch plates tom yum soup, pad Thai, papaya salad and green curry.
OrderTom yum soup, Pad Thai, Papaya salad, Green curry
TipThe chain also delivers across the city on its 800-BANGKOK line.
Karachi Darbar in Al Karama, Dubai, serves affordable Pakistani, Indian and Chinese cooking from 05:00 until the small hours, a busy neighbourhood canteen.
OrderMutton kabab kadai, Karachi tikka kadai, Kebab biryani
Dencio's grills Filipino seafood and sisig on the ground floor of the Asiana Grand Hotel in Al Muraqqabat, Deira, open from noon until 01:00.
OrderCrispy pata, Sisig, Grilled seafood, Buttered garlic shrimp
Bikanervala in Al Karama, Dubai, is the local branch of the vegetarian Indian sweets and snacks chain, serving everything from burfi to full thalis.
OrderMasala dosa, Chole bhature, Assorted namkeen
Al Bait Al Shami on Sheikh Rashid Road in Al Garhoud, Dubai, is a Syrian dining room serving shawarma, grills and mezze from 09:00 into the small hours.
OrderShawarma, Grilled meats
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Experience the magic of the Arabian desert on a private dinner safari to Mleiha.
Day trip · 10 hours
Embark on a breathtaking journey from Dubai to Oman’s stunning Musandam Peninsula with our Khasab Full-Day Dhow Cruise, now including seamless round-trip transfers (SH...
1.5 hours
Feast on a 3-course meal of your choice 50 meters above the streets of Dubai, and enjoy a unique dining experience in the sky. Eat at a table suspended by a crane abov...