Going on a diet as part of your new year’s resolution to loose that flabby tummy, but love eating out? In Dubai you do not to miss out on eating out, even if you are on diet. Dubai’s versatile food industry is out and about to serve the health conscious, on diet and vegan customers with appetising food which looks as good as it tastes and does not send you on a guilt trip for eating out. This month, we have rounded up some of the city’s top healthy concept restaurants, which offer food which won’t let you ditch the calorie count per day. Some are even offering monthly meal plans and send all the prepared meals to your door, so you don’t need to worry about your calorie count as you cook, as they do it for you. Last but not least, new vegan restaurants making sure that you don’t miss those meat flavours at all.
Al Botanica
Recently opened and located at Jumeirah Golf Estates clubhouse, Al Botanica offers healthy breakfasts of açaí or avocado on toast. For lunch, the cafe offers a wide range of lighter salads to more substantial meals. The cafe takes a lot of pride in sourcing local ingredients and cooking up only seasonal dishes with a healthy, and homemade twist. Al Botanica's dishes are sugar-free, gluten-free and vegan. Some of the vegan dishes include: nutella, chia and almond milk pudding with berry compote, acai bowl with yoghurt and fresh berries and crunchy homemade granola.
www.jumeirahgolfestates.com
Comptoir 102
It’s safe to say that no one pays more attention to food than Comptoir 102, each ingredient undergoes age old techniques that have been generally abandoned by the culinary world such as pre-soaking, fermenting, cooking at low temperature, steaming and dehydrating. Comptoir 102 changes their menu daily according to the harvest, that’s how you know that every single ingredient is fresh. Fancy a taste of real love? Check this place out!
www.comptoir102.com
Daily Harvest
Calling your health conscious friends at home for lunch or dinner? Don’t look beyond Daily Harvest, a new delivery only concept that pack a number of bite sized, wholesome and flavourful foods prepared with fresh ingredients, together and deliver the box to your doorstep. Bringing a difference to the catering industry, the crafted healthy collection boxes at any private party can win you the title of the best host. The healthy collection box includes different salads, nut bowls, smoothies and healthy bars.
www.dialyharvest.ae
Eat Well
If you want tasty food, that is also very good for you, Eat Well have created a menu that is dense in nutrients, and is filled with ingredients that will give you a natural health boost. The restaurant offers paleo, vegetarian, and vegan options and makes ordinary dishes for the health conscious. Ingredients are, where possible, organic, seasonal and locally sourced from suppliers who are ethical and environmentally responsible. The cafe can be located at Dubai Herbal and Treatment Centre, near the Dubai-Al Ain Road, Za’abeel. The menu consists of healthy breakfast options, salads, mains, organic teas and gluten free desserts.
www.dubaieatwell.com
Flow
Located at Jumeirah Emirates Hotel, Flow offers food that energises the body and mind. The cafe is working its way up to make healthy eating a lifestyle change. It sources healthy, natural, organic fruit and vegetables to prepare a vast number of dishes on the menu. Alongside delicious food, the cafe also offers specialty coffee in partnership with The Espresso Lab. Some of the tempting and great looking healthy dishes on the menu include vegetable omelette, gluten free pancakes, variety of toasts and baked salmon.
www.flowdubai.com
Kayo Poké And Sushi
This new healthy concept restaurant now open at Al Wasl 51 combines two healthy food dishes, Hawaiian poke bowl and Japanese sushi. The restaurant aims to create a beautiful generation of diners who believe in eating fresh and healthy ingredients. You can choose from wide range of poke bowls in addition to sushi, soups and guilt free desserts. Some of the signature poke bowls are the kayo special, salmon classic, kayo veggie , kai loa poke and vegan poke. What you would not want to miss is create your own wholesome rainbow colour poke bowls from fresh ingredients.
Call 04-3444486.
Kcal Life
Kcal Life is synonymous with heathy eating and diets, but mainly known for home delivery. It is a dine in restaurant of typical restaurant food, with a healthy and ethical twist. A menu of tasty and nutritious food is on offer, made from locally sourced fruit and vegetables, and where possible, organic. The menu offers a range of high protein dishes, low in carbohydrates and gluten free, and every dish prepared in its gluten free kitchen is made completely from scratch. Each dish comes with nutritional information, including a calorie count so you can keep a tab on your daily intake.
www.kcallife.com
Krave
Krave makes you eat everything from a burger to burrito and a cheesecake without going on a guilt trip. The restaurant has created fantastic light and low-fat versions of our favourite comfort foods which are so hard to leave. But why ditch our ‘Kravings’ when we can just head to Krave and pick our comfort food from the menu which also tells the exact calorie count of each item. Vegans, you have been well looked after as well at Krave as you can choose from their special vegan menu. The cafe can be spotted in Barsha Heights, DIFC and now Motor City.
Call 04-584-7227.
Pineapple Express
As a highly recommended breakfast spot, Pineapple Express starts your day just right. The menu is packed with yummy treats that focus on being ‘good for your insides’ and keeps you feeling great all day. Whatever your diet or lifestyle choice, this spot caters with fresh salads, wraps, paleo treats, acai bowls and so much more. Some of the tempting and healthy food items on the menu include, gluten free waffles, pineapple fruit toast, smashed avocado and customisable poke bowl.
www.pineappleexpress.ae
Poke And Co.
Poke and Co. opened its doors in 2016 in Jumeirah Lakes Tower, and under three years, it has expanded to open two more outlets in DIFC and Business Bay, and a new one in Motor City is coming soon. The founders are passionate about delicious and healthy food, and that’s the reason to visit this restaurant. Whether you are looking for breakfast, lunch or a post-workout meal or you simply have a sweet craving, Poke and Co. has got you covered. Some of the must try dishes include super food smoothie bowls which are perfect breakfast treats as well as can save you from your sweet tooth cravings. Then, there are poke bowls, and a range of dessert options which are dairy, gluten and sugar free.
www.pokeandco.com
The Farm
Founded in 2012 and set within the green surroundings of Al Barari, The Farm is more than a restaurant, it is a culinary, leisure and social hub for UAE residents looking to spend quality time and enjoy great food with family and friends. The Farm’s philosophy is simple, to serve high-quality, wholesome food the way nature intended, in a relaxed and tranquil setting. The flavours of The Farm are inspired from around the world, from Thai and Mediterranean to Middle Eastern, Indian, and Asian. The Farm is a culinary haven in Dubai.
Call 04-3925660.
The Hippy Deli
Available by delivery through food app Deliveroo, The Hippy Deli is proving that plant-based food is equally as delicious as its counterparts, The Hippy Deli serves up delicious, wholesome ingredients that look just as good as they taste. The Hippy Deli encourages vegans as well as non-vegans to check out the treats on offer. You can order banana oats, vegan French toast, veggie chickpea scramble, vegan benedict, vegan meatballs, vurgers and a lot more. Food delivery for vegans has become super exciting with this new venture.
www.hippydeli.com
The Retreat Palm Dubai
If brunch is your thing and you still want to go healthy, the new Detox Brunch is for you. Held each Saturday at Vibe restaurant at The Retreat Palm Dubai MGallery, this family friendly brunch offers a feast of nourishing and healthy dishes including meat, pescatarian, vegetarian, vegan and paleo varieties. The drinks are healthy too with a range of cold pressed juices, smoothies and naturally infused water. No brunch would be complete without dessert, and here you can end the meal with a selection of homemade ice cream, along with a range of raw fruit desserts.
Under 500
The food at Under 500 is not sinful but it looks and tastes as sinful as it can. As the name suggests, all dishes on their menu are under 500 calories. The thought behind this concept is to introduce a fresh thought-wave that says healthy eating is fun, and delicious food is guilt free. Some of the delicious and tempting looking items worth sharing on your Instagram feed include avocado smash, Mediterranean omelette, teriyaki chicken, kale and lentil soup, spinach soup, grilled chicken burger, super bowls and a slimmed down brownie that has only 286 calories. We are eating a brownie tonight.
www.under500.com
Urth By Nabz & G
Located in Jumeirah Lakes Tower, Urth by Nabz & G is a completely vegetarian and vegan friendly spot. The concept behind the restaurant is to help spread awareness about the positive energy that comes from eating great, wholesome food. With so much on the menu, Urth by Nabz & G offers so much more than great food, with attention to detail that is consistent in making diners feel nothing but good vibes. Some of the healthy items on the menu include veggie tofu bowl, miso tofu bowl, carrot mint soup, and yoga bowl salad.
www.nabzandg.com
Wellness Menu By Al Diwan At Al Maha, A Luxury Collection Desert Resort And Spa
This luxury hotel in Dubai does not let you loose the count of your calories even on when vacation mode. The hotel was quick to identify the lifestyle shift of their guests towards healthy eating habits, and voila, they have a special wellness menu at Al Diwan restaurant to help their guests continue their healthy lifestyle. The three course wellness menu includes cold mezze platter and kale and quinoa salad for starters; a choice of mains from fish fillet, organic grilled chicken breast and pumpkin and green beans tagine and a choice of healthy desserts from quinoa and oats tart and banana chia pudding. Happy healthy vacations where you don’t need to hit the gym after its over.
Call 04-8329900.
White And The Bear
White and the Bear is a children’s restaurant with a healthy and nutritious children specific menu that has been co-created by children’s food expert, Annabel Karmel. Located on Al Wasl Road, the concept restaurant offers delicious and healthy food for little ones and adults alike with the touch of over the top adorable interiors. The menu includes a variety of breakfast items, salads, mains and dessert options. It prioritises on using healthy ingredients that are simple and wholesome.
Call 04-3395911.
Wild And The Moon
If you are a Dubai resident with an Instagram account, you have probably heard of Wild And The Moon. Located in the hippest of venues, Alserkal Avenue, DIFC and Business Bay, Wild And The Moon offers plant-based food made from whole, ethically sourced ingredients - vegetables, fruits, super foods, wild food and absolutely no processed food, gluten, refined sugars or dairy products. Make sure to fire up your camera, because the food looks as gorgeous as it sounds! Do not forget to eat the vegan brownie.
www.wildandthemoon.com
Zerofat
Located on Al Wasl Road, Zerofat caters to people who are health conscious but do not want to sacrifice on the taste. Besides offering a selection of healthy food options, diners can customise their meal plans or can choose from the given meal plans for weight loss, boosting metabolism and for building muscle.
Call 04-3300066.