Dubai stands as a vibrant playground for food enthusiasts, where culinary adventures await at every turn. The city's dining landscape is a rich tapestry of global flavors, featuring Emirati, Iranian, Indian, Filipino, Levantine, and European cuisines, often coexisting harmoniously on the same bustling street. With expatriates comprising nearly 85% of its population, Dubai's food culture reflects a microcosm of the world itself, offering an unparalleled gastronomic journey.
From Humble Eateries to Luxurious Dining Experiences
Dubai's culinary scene caters to every preference and budget, ranging from no-frills, hole-in-the-wall spots to mid-range cafés that fuel the popular brunch culture, and Michelin-starred establishments that define its global prestige. During a recent visit, a local at a community table humorously remarked that it would take 75 years to fully explore Dubai's food offerings—a statement that felt remarkably accurate. This guide navigates between everyday delights and occasional splurges, ensuring a comprehensive taste of the city.
Street Eats: Affordable and Flavorful (AED 10-50 per person)
While chef-led fine dining often captures attention, Dubai's street food scene unveils a democratic and delicious side through iconic dishes like falafel, shawarma, biryani, and flatbreads. Deira, located in Old Dubai, emerges as one of the most rewarding neighborhoods for a street food crawl.
On Muraqqabat Street, Sultan Dubai Falafel reigns as a local favorite. Their falafel is crafted from a vivid green chickpea paste blended with fresh parsley, coriander, and dill, shaped using an aleb (mould) that deftly flicks the mixture into hot oil. Each bite is elevated with tangy sumac and fiery shatta hot sauce, delivering a memorable punch of flavor.
Adjacently, its sister restaurant Qwaider Al Nabulsi specializes in Jordanian and Palestinian classics. Must-try dishes include mansaf, featuring meat slow-cooked in preserved yogurt and served over buttery rice, and kunafa, the iconic cheese dessert soaked in aromatic sugar syrup.
Old Dubai's tiny Afghani and Pakistani bakeries also deserve exploration. Abdul Rauf bakery in Hor Al Anz is renowned for its breads stuffed with creamy cheese and za'atar, offering a simple yet satisfying treat.
Neighborhood Favorites: Casual Dining Gems (AED 60-150 per person)
Dubai's malls and residential areas unveil a rich casual dining scene, spanning global comfort food to lesser-known community cuisines. In Dubai Marina, Kooya Filipino Eatery stands out, helmed by chef J.P. Anglo, a former judge on the Filipino edition of MasterChef. The menu blends Filipino comfort fare and street-food favorites, with highlights like the rich and savory chicken sisig made from wings, tail, skin, and pâté. Equally compelling are the grilled chicken inasal, beef-belly caldereta (a fiery stew), and crispy pancit canton (a fried noodle dish).
Balkan cuisine remains under the radar, but 21 Grams in Meyan Mall, Umm Suqeim 2, is changing that perception. Founded by Stasha Toncev, it is celebrated for its crispy phyllo pie with creamy spinach or goat's cheese, and desserts like honey and thyme cherry with vanilla ice cream. Breakfast is a particular highlight, featuring the komplet egg served with sunny-side-up eggs, homemade bread, cheese, sour cream, and beef jus.
Alserkal Avenue offers a unique blend of art and food. Lila Molino + Café serves house-made tortillas crafted from heirloom Mexican corn, alongside dishes like creamy green enchiladas suizas filled with shredded chicken or cheese. Nearby, Middle Child combines casual dining with a cookbook shop and gourmet grocery, centered around a coveted communal table. Recommendations include sour cream and onion dip with Ritz crackers, a generously layered club sandwich with turkey, beef bacon, and boiled eggs, and an indulgent cheesecake to finish.
Fine-Dining Picks: Culinary Excellence (AED 350-1,000 per person)
In 2025, Dubai awarded 19 Michelin stars across the city, including three-star recipient Himanshu Saini's Trèsind Studio and single-star Dinner by Heston Blumenthal. However, the fine-dining scene extends beyond these accolades, with many exciting openings debuting recently.
Three Bros, an experimental concept from Orfali Bros Group in Jumeirah's Wasl 51, leads the charge. With only 22 covers, it is notoriously hard to book. The playful menu features comfort dishes like the OB cheeseburger, ama ebi shrimp in olive oil and tomato pulp, and creamy morel chawanmushi (a Japanese savoury egg custard).
Mamabella at Kempinski The Boulevard brings rustic southern Italian dining to Dubai. Handmade pastas, Sicilian pizzolo (stuffed flatbread), scrocchiarella (thin Roman-style pizza), and oven-baked sea bass in a salt crust anchor the menu. Its unique selling point is a rotating cast of Italian nonnas, invited monthly to cook family recipes.
Jun's in Downtown Boulevard is also making waves with chef Kelvin Cheung's 13-course tasting menu centered on "third-culture cooking." Drawing influences from Chicago, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Yunnan, and Amman, highlights include pani puri with butter-poached lobster and a playful Garrets popcorn "Chicago Mix" dessert with popcorn mousse, burnt caramel ganache, popcorn sponge, four-cheese ice-cream, and kaluga caviar.
Meanwhile, New York-born Carbone at Atlantis The Royal channels 1950s Italian-American glamour. While introducing new dishes, it retains signatures like linguini vongole, veal Parmesan, and spicy rigatoni. Reservations well in advance are essential for this coveted experience.
Geetika Sachdev, a Delhi-based lifestyle journalist, captures the essence of Dubai's culinary diversity in this comprehensive guide.
