Anyone in the UAE can vouch for kunafa being a very popular sweet dish found in the Middle East.
Kunafa is made with two layers, cheese at the bottom which consists of cream, akkawi or nabulsi cheese, and semolina or shredded phyllo dough to make the top layer. The dish is served hot and is topped off with sugar syrup to give it its distinctive taste, along with either pistachios or hazelnuts.
The sweet treat originated in the city of Nablus in Palestine which to this day, is still known for the delicious dish, however now with multiple variations made around the Middle East.
If on the hunt to find this mouthwatering dessert around the UAE, then Connector has come up with some spots to definitely check out.
Al Samadi Sweets
Al Samadi Sweets, with three branches in the UAE, two in Dubai in Deira and Al Quasis Industrial Area 4 and one in Al Majaz in Sharjah, is a brilliant place to enjoy delicious Lebanese kunafa. The restaurant has been bringing amazing tastes of Arabic sweets to the UAE since 1872, and diners can tuck into options including kunafa in kaak which is the cheese pie served in a sesame bun, kunafa bil kishta made with semolina or kunafa nabulsia made with nabulsia cheese.
www.alsamadisweets.ae
Al Baba Sweets
Located at Al Barsha and Al Wasl in Dubai, Al Baba Sweets is the place to enjoy mouthwatering kunafa. Made with semolina and cheese, the kunafa is available either per kilogram, by the plate or as a bun. The family-run business has been serving diners delicious sweets in Lebanon since 1950, before branching out to the UAE.
www.albaba-sweets.com
Firas Sweets
Firas Sweets, with three branches in Dubai in Al Diyafah, Al Warqa and Al Quasis, is a lovely chain that has been serving a delicious Arabic sweets since 1993. Delight in options including kunafa kheshneh cheese made with phyllo dough, kunafa naameh cheese which is made with semolina, kunafa bain narain which is a sandwich kunafa stuffed with either cream or cheese, and kunafa mabroomeh that are small kunafa rolls made with phyllo pastry and stuffed with cream.
www.firassweets.net
Basbousa
Basbousa is a brilliant Arabic sweet shop to tuck into tasty kunafa. Enjoy bites of kunafa, as well as kunafa asabe which is cut into thin slices. There are three branches in the UAE, one in Al Barsha in Dubai, and two on Muroor Road and in Al Khalidiya in Abu Dhabi.
www.basbousasweetsandpastry.com
Wafi Gourmet
Bringing the taste of Lebanon with delicious sweets to the UAE, Wafi Gourmet has three Dubai branches on Oud Metha Road, and in Sunset Mall and The Dubai Mall. Operating since 2001, tuck into two different options of kunafa, one made with phyllo pastry and cheese, and the other called kunafa kashtal, made with semolina.
www.wafigourmet.com
Sultan Saray
Sultan Saray on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai and at Ajman Beach in Ajman, is a great restaurant to enjoy tasty kunafa. The restaurant serves authentic Turkish cuisine and diners can delight in choices including cheese kunafa, kunafa stuffed with pistachios and kunafa topped with ice cream.
www.sultansaray.ae
Aroos Damascus
Aroos Damascus is a spot to check out for great kunafa. Tuck into delicious kunafa, with two options, one made with cream cheese and the other with string cheese. The restaurant specialises in Syrian food and has both indoor and outdoor seating. Aroos Damascus has three branches around the UAE, two branches in Dubai on Sheikh Zayed Road and in Deira, and one branch at Al Qasimia in Sharjah,
www.aroos.damascus.com
Qwaider Al Nabulsi
Looking for a spot to delight in delicious kunafa and Arabic sweets? Qwaider Al Nabulsi is the place to visit. Opt between tasty kunafa bites made with phyllo pastry with cheese, and kunafa nabulsia served with nabulsia cheese. There are three branches in Abu Dhabi in Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Al Nahyan and Ali Bin Abi Taleb Street in Al Ain and one in Dubai in Deira.
www.qwaidernabulsi.com
Feras Hanoun Sweets
Feras Hanoun Sweets is an amazing place to tuck into mouthwatering kunafa. The restaurant has been open since 1984 and offers dessert lovers a variety of kunafa options to choose from including kunafa naama cheese made with semolina, kunafa ben naren cheese served with phyllo pastry, kunafa in kaak made with sesame bread, and kunafa with ice cream. The restaurant has nine branches in Dubai, four in Sharjah and Ajman, two in Ras Al Khaimah, one in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah.
www.ferassweets.ae
Nablus
Nablus at Al Seef is a great place to enjoy kunafa, inspired by the city where the dish originated in Palestine. The restaurant serves authentic dishes from Palestine and has a rustic look, that transports diners to the streets of Nablus. The nablusi kunafa is a must-try, made with cheese and phyllo pastry, reminiscent of the dish where the sweet treat was created.
04-4548611