Best Restaurants in Dubai
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Dubai’s dining scene has matured significantly in recent years. International restaurant groups, celebrity chefs, and a genuinely diverse population of over 200 nationalities have built one of the world’s most varied eating cities. The challenge is not finding good food — it is knowing where to look.
Budget Eating (AED 15–60/person)
Ravi Restaurant, Satwa: A Dubai institution since 1978. Pakistani cooking — karahi, biryani, dhal — served in a no-frills setting at no-frills prices. Karahi from AED 25, full meal around AED 40. Open daily.
Al Ustad Special Kabab, Deira: Iranian kababs, stews, and rice dishes in a famously old-school setting. The koobideh kabab with rice and salad is around AED 50. Lunch is the best time to visit.
Al Reef Lebanese Bakery, various locations: The best manakish (flatbread with za’atar or cheese) in Dubai. Open from early morning. Around AED 10–15 per manakish.
Deira fish and vegetable souks: Not restaurants, but buying fresh fish at the souk and having it grilled at the adjacent canteen-style stalls is a quintessential Dubai experience. Expect to spend AED 30–60 depending on what you choose.
Emirati Food (AED 60–150/person)
Finding authentic Emirati cooking requires a specific search — restaurants that serve it are not on every corner.
Arabian Tea House, Al Fahidi: One of the most accessible and tourist-friendly Emirati restaurants. Breakfast dishes (balaleet sweet vermicelli, chebab pancakes, or eggs with camel’s milk) run AED 30–55. Full Emirati lunch or dinner AED 80–120 per person. The courtyard setting is pleasant.
Al Fanar Restaurant & Café, multiple locations: Emirati coastal dishes served in a setting designed to evoke a 1960s UAE fishing village. Good machboos and harees. Approximately AED 100–160 per person.
Logma, various mall locations: A modern Emirati café chain — very popular with young Emiratis. Good for a quick lunch. Dishes AED 40–80.
Mid-Range (AED 80–200/person)
Bu Qtair, Jumeirah: A semi-legendary fish restaurant near the sea. Order your fish by weight at the counter; it comes fried or grilled with rice, salad, and a spiced tomato sauce. Expect to queue on weekends. Around AED 90–130 per person.
Comptoir 102, Jumeirah: A stylish café-restaurant focusing on organic, locally sourced ingredients. Good for brunch or lunch. Main courses AED 65–95.
3Fils, Jumeirah Fishing Harbour: A small, high-quality Japanese-inspired restaurant with a dock-side location. The rice bowls and sushi are excellent for the price. Approximately AED 100–170 per person. Book ahead — it fills quickly.
Seva Table, various locations: Ayurvedic and plant-based food in a calm setting. Popular with health-conscious expats. Around AED 80–120 per person.
Upscale (AED 250–500/person)
Zuma Dubai, DIFC: Consistently the most booked restaurant in Dubai. Japanese robata and sushi in a dramatic double-height dining room. Around AED 350–450 per person for a full dinner with drinks.
Nobu Dubai, Atlantis The Palm: Robert De Niro’s Japanese-Peruvian concept has translated well to Dubai. Omakase menus from approximately AED 650 per person; à la carte around AED 350–450.
Trèsind Studio: The city’s most creative tasting menu, exploring Indian culinary heritage through a modern fine-dining lens. Around AED 600–800 per person. One of Dubai’s Michelin-starred restaurants.
Hakkasan Dubai, Jumeirah Emirates Towers: Cantonese food in a dramatic underground space. Dim sum lunch is better value than dinner — approximately AED 200–300 per person. Dinner from AED 400.
Dubai Friday Brunch
Friday brunch is a local institution. The all-inclusive format (food + soft drinks or alcoholic drinks) at hotel venues runs roughly 13:00–16:00 and costs typically AED 250–500 per person depending on the property and drink package.
Popular options include Wox at Atlantis (AED 350–500), Penthouse at Five Palm (AED 350–500), and Mango Tree at City Walk (AED 200–280, no alcohol). Read our full Dubai Friday brunch guide for more options.
Practical Notes
- Most upscale restaurants require advance booking, particularly for weekends
- Service charge (10%) and VAT (5%) are typically added to bills — the displayed menu price is not the final price
- Alcohol is only available at licensed venues (hotels, some standalone restaurants)
- During Ramadan, many restaurants do not serve food or drink during daylight hours
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is traditional Emirati food like?
- Emirati cuisine centres on rice, slow-cooked lamb and fish, and spices including saffron, cardamom, and dried limes. Signature dishes include harees (slow-cooked wheat and meat), machboos (spiced rice with meat or fish), and luqaimat (honey dumplings).
- Where is the cheapest area to eat in Dubai?
- Deira, particularly along Al Rigga Road and around the fish and vegetable souk, has the highest concentration of budget restaurants. South Asian, Filipino, and Iranian restaurants here serve full meals for AED 20–40.
- Are there Michelin-starred restaurants in Dubai?
- Yes — Dubai received its first Michelin Guide in 2022. Starred restaurants as of 2026 include Trèsind Studio, Stay by Yannick Alléno, and 11 Woodfire, among others. The Guide also highlights many Bib Gourmand (value) restaurants.
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