Let’s make something clear. If you’re a vegetarian, this list isn’t for you. But, it’s a carnivore’s delight because we’ve rounded up some of the best steakhouses in Dubai.
The City Grill
Labelling themselves a ‘carnivore’s choice’, this South African restaurant at The Atrium (Al Habtoor City) prides itself on being able to offer diners a generous selection of premium beef served with intense flavours. The South African prime ribs are highly recommended, though service staff are more than capable of making suggestions to suit your palate. Open from 5pm to 2am. Call 04-4370088.
The Rib Room
Be it a flavourful Chateaubriand or an Oakey Angus Reserve Tenderloin, you can be assured it will be prepared with equal flair. Guests of this fine dining restaurant at Jumeirah Emirates Towers can even have their steak knives engraved with their names and displayed in the restaurant as a reminder of their flawless dining experience. Open from 12pm to 3pm and 6pm to 11.15pm. Call 04-3198741.
Hunters Room & Grill
Putting a modern take on the traditional steakhouse, Hunters Room and Grill at The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi is known for its minimalist décor, open kitchen and no-frills atmosphere. If you’re after a quiet dining experience, this place won’t disappoint. Expect damn good food - bone-in ribeye with a side of truffle fries to be precise. Open from 6pm to 10.30pm. Call 04-5117373.
West 14th Steakhouse
You’ve got two options for everything at this Oceana Beach Club restaurant - you can either sit in a jazz club like setting indoors or overlooking the horizon pool outdoors and you can choose between the prime cuts or butcher’s choice. If you’re not one to experiment and prefer the tried and tested route, the tenderloin cut of the 450-day grain-fed Australian wagyu is ace. Open from 11am to 11pm.
Call 04-4477601.
Asado
This fine dining restaurant at Palace Downtown, in the heart of Downtown Dubai, impresses from the minute you walk in. You’re treated to outstanding views of The Dubai Fountain and Burj Khalifa, the service isn’t intrusive and cuts are shown to you at your table. On your plate, you receive perfectly cooked meat bursting with flavours. Open from 7pm to 11.30pm. Call 04-4287888.
JW’s Steakhouse
A firm favourite with long-time residents, this award-winning steakhouse located in old Dubai resembles a gentlemen’s lounge with its oversized armchairs and mahogany bar. Touted as JW Marriott Dubai’s star, the restaurant’s recommended options are the steak of the month or the premium Japanese Wagyu, but the wagyu sirloin is just as good. Don’t forget the side of mashed potatoes served with a hint of garlic. Open from 6pm to 11.30pm. Call 04-6077977.
M’s Grill
Located close to the airport at Le Meridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre, M’s Grill is popular with those on a short layover in Dubai. The menu offers a selection of meats, with most diners favouring the ribeye, complemented with sides such as potato gnocchi with herb butter, crash potatoes (yes, that’s what they call it!) or mushroom risotto. The meal isn’t complete until you’ve wiped out the crème brûlée. Open from 12.30pm to 11pm. Call 04-2170000.
The Butcher Shop & Grill
Four branches across Dubai (JBR, Mall of the Emirates, City Walk and City Centre Mirdif) makes The Butcher Shop & Grill a preferred option for a decent steak in casual settings. The Johannesburg import’s menu has one section catering to the ‘true carnivores’ and another to the ‘real connoisseur’ in addition to plenty of seafood and veggie options. Open from 12pm to 11.30pm. Call 04-2840740 (MOE branch).
J&G Steakhouse
With cattle bred exclusively for J&G, we don’t need to explain why this is the only place you should come to when the steak craving kicks in. To say the meat at this St. Regis restaurant is outstanding would be an understatement, especially the bone-in ribeye. If you’re not someone with a huge appetite, ditch the appetisers for the tuna tartare) from the raw bar instead. (You’re welcome.) Open from 6.30pm to 12am. Call 04-4355577.
The Meat Co.
Madinat Jumeirah isn’t short of dining options, but if you’re after something that will leave a lasting impression…make your way to The Meat Co. The South African chain’s striking décor is not the only thing worth talking about. From its newly launched menu, our vote’s shared between the Prime Tomahawk Steak - herb and mustard crusted steak grilled and then oven roasted - and the Japanese Hokkaido F1 Crossbred Wagyu topped with shaved black truffle carpaccio. Open from 12pm to 12am. Call 04-3686040.
Roda Grill
Forgive yourself for thinking you’ve stepped in to a New England dining room when you set foot in this steakhouse at Roda Al Bustan. Let’s move away from the hardwood floors and wooden panelling in the interiors and talk about the food instead. If you’ve ever dreamed of tenderloin cooked to perfection, this place will make it a reality - its called ‘Chairman’s reserve’ on the menu. Between all you order, don’t go home without a taste of the signature steak tartare which is prepared at your table. Open from 6.30pm to 11.30pm. Call 04-2820000.
The Hide
There’s not much to fault about this American eatery in Jumeirah Al Qasr. The casual space, created with polished wood and exposed brick pillars, gives red meat the attention it deserves. Its menu is vast but focuses on the ‘forgotten cuts’. Whether you choose the flat iron steak with a Korean marinade and kimchi; the hanger steak with caramelised onion and fried duck egg; or the flank steak with thyme Portobello mushrooms, you’ll just be glad you dined here. Open from 6pm to 11.30pm. Call 04-3666750.
Seafire Steakhouse
Housed in Atlantis The Palm, Seafire is one of the more sophisticated steakhouses this city has to offer. The award-winning restaurant lives up to its promise of serving ‘plump and juicy steak, ready to be devoured, on every plate’. The showstopper here is the Atlantis signature certified grain-fed beef, with the fillet being the most popular. Finish it off with the Seafire chocolate fondant, served with peanut butter ice cream. Open from 5pm to 12.30am. Call 04-4262626.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
A quick browse on the internet and you’ll learn this American brand has 140 locations worldwide and like the rest, this one at Dubai Marina delights. Buzzing on most days of the week, the restaurant’s dinner tables are dressed in white table cloths, furniture is dark and lighting is dim. What do you need to know about the steaks here? They serve only the finest aged, corn-fed USDA prime beef with a cooking process that involves broiling it in a trademark 1,800 degrees oven and then serving it on a plate heated to 500 degrees. Open from 5.30pm to 2am. Call 04-4549538.
SoHo Bar & Grill
The New York-style bar and grill at Century Village has dished out some award-winning food (i.e: steaks). A casual space that offers al fresco dining in the winter (with Jenga blocks on each table), SoHo’s menu is sure to bring a smile to any meat-loving person’s face. What sets this place apart though is its SoHo Stone offering where diners can cook the meat to their liking at the table. Open from 12pm to 1am. Call 04-2868520.
Entrecôte Café de Paris
Don’t expect an extensive menu. Entrecote Café de Paris, set amid the waterfalls at The Dubai Mall, offers diners a set menu that includes 200g of steak (your choice of New Zealand, Australian Angus or Wagyu beef), a green salad and homemade fries. The highlight of the meal is the secret sauce that covers the steak. From what we know…it is flown in from Geneva, the city where the brand was born. Open from 12pm to 12am. Call 04-4340122.
Prime Steakhouse
If you want to ‘celebrate over steak’, Prime Steakhouse ticks all boxes. The elegant venue at The Meydan Hotel offers fantastic cuts of meat in a beautiful setting (some seats offering views of the race course). Not only is the quality of the meat top notch, it tastes delicious too. If there’s something we’d come back for, it would be the Chateaubriand steak. Open from 7pm to 11.30pm. Call 04-3813111.
Prime68
The highest steakhouse in Dubai, Prime68 sits on the 68th floor of JW Marriott Marquis and has been designed to impress. It offers panoramic views, private booths and an elegant private dining room that can fit a maximum of 12 diners. Win brownie points with your better half by dining there on Sundays. For Dhs 695 per couple, you get 20oz of Prime Rib (each), with a side of baked potato, horseradish cream and jus. There’s a bottle of red or white to match. The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach after all. Open from 6pm to 12am. Call 04-4143000.
The Exchange Grill
The New York-inspired venue at Fairmont Dubai is known for its high-quality food. It serves up signature offerings such as premium gold Angus beef and succulent Stockyard Wagyu beef. Before you begin feasting on steak that will melt in your mouth, a few starters are a good idea - namely the crab cake and the Kobe steak salad. Open from 7pm to 12am. Call 04-3118316.
Legends
The iconic venue, boasting views of Dubai Creek, is strong on its steak game. We assure you the French Charolais will never let you down, with the Aussie wagyu a close second. For tableside theatrics, order the steak Diane as it’s flambéed at your table. The experience is complete with extremely high service standards - chances are you’ll want to go back just for the way you’re treated. Open from 7pm to 12am. Call 04-2956000.