Living in the UAE, the love for delicious Middle Eastern food knows no bounds.
With so many flavours and dishes included, there is always something to enjoy for every mood.
As there are many hotspots to enjoy mouthwatering Middle Eastern food, here is a round-up of just some of the amazing stand-alone restaurants to stop by and enjoy a great meal.
Al Fanar
If you are looking for a place to delight in amazing Emirati cuisine, Al Fanar is a great place to visit. With three locations in Dubai in Al Barsha, Al Seef and Dubai Festival City, the restaurant takes you to the 60s with authentic local cooking. Delight in tucking into food from the Michelin Guide 2022 listed restaurant with dishes including kofta samak, lentil soup, grilled jumbo shrimp, saloona laham badaweya, thereed laham, kebab Emarati, Vimto cheesecake and more.
www.alfanarrestaurant.com
Allo Beirut
Lebanese street food is the name of the game and Allo Beirut is the winning spot. Located on Hessa Street, City Walk and Al Warqa City Mall, it is the perfect stop to enjoy great comfort food. Delight in a wide range of great dishes at the restaurant including mixed grill, stuffed lamb, dynamite shrimp, falafel saj sandwich, chicken shawarma and more.
www.allobeirutstreetfood.com
Bait Maryam
Located at Jumeirah Lake Towers Cluster D, Bait Maryam is a small homegrown concept. Named after the owner's mother, the restaurant serves diners scrumptious Levantine dining. Winning big at the Michelin Guide 2022, the restaurant won the Welcome and Service Award and was one of those selected to get a Bib Gourmand. This place is a must-visit. Delight in dishes including zaatar and cheese manakeesh, grilled halloumi qallayat, lamb chops with honey, shish tawook and more.
04-2418447
Al Safadi
Al Safadi has been bringing the taste of Lebanese food since 2000 to five branches in Dubai including Al Rigga, Sheikh Zayed Road by Dubai World Trade Centre, Umm Al Sheif, The Pointe at Palm Jumeriah and Motor City. Tuck into amazing flavours with dishes including hummus with meat and pine, fried sujouk, calamari, grilled salmon, kabab orfali and more.
www.alsafadi.ae
Al Khayma Heritage Restaurant
The Bib Gourmand winner at the 2022 Michelin Guide, Al Khayma Heritage Restaurant, is an amazing spot to enjoy delicious Emirati food. Located at Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, the restaurant is a celebration of Emirati culture. Enjoy appreciating Emirati heritage at the museum and delight in tasty dishes including seafood soup, fried squid, lamb biryani, grilled lamb chops, uzi chicken, vegetable saloona and more.
055-1802080
Al Ustad Special Kabab
Located on Al Mussallah Road near Al Fahidi, Al Ustad Special Kabab is a great place to enjoy authentic Iranian cuisine. Delight in amazing dishes from cholo kabab, tahdeek, falafel, khorak barg, mixed grills and more. One of the oldest restaurants in Dubai opened in 1978, the food will definitely have you coming back for more.
04-3973330
Al Beiruti
Al Beiruti, with two branches in Dubai at The Pointe at The Palm and at Umm Al Sheif on Sheikh Zayed Road, is a great spot to transport yourself to Beirut and enjoy amazing Lebanese food. With a captivating ambience, diners can enjoy a breakfast menu with a mixed cheese platter, eggs and potato, grilled potato and more, as well as main meal dishes including spinach pie, cheese rolls, falafel, fatteh with meat shawarma, grilled jumbo shrimps and more.
www.albeiruti.com
Orfali Bros Bistro Restaurant
Orfali Bros Bistro Restaurant in Jumeirah 1 is a homegrown concept by three brothers from Syria with a love for food. Adding a spin to traditional Middle Eastern flavours, the restaurant serves diners with a wide variety of innovative dishes including caviar bun, corn bomb, cheese pide, ultimate burger and more.
04-2592477
Zaroob
Zaroob with branches in Dubai Marina and on Sheikh Zayed Road is a lovely place to enjoy delicious Levantine street food. Start the day with breakfast with dishes including shakshouka, meat fatteh, labneh, eggs and soujock and more. The restaurant also serves dishes like chicken shawarma rice bowl, beef and mushroom skillet, hotdog and kashkaval, dynamite chicken shawarma and more.
www.zaroob.com
Mama’esh
Comfort food is always something we all gravitate to and Mama'esh with multiple branches in the UAE is definitely the one-stop destination to enjoy authentic Palestinian street food. While at the restaurant, delight in hummus with meat, vine leaves, fatayer, mashed potato and minced meat pan, labneh and za'atar manakeesh and more.
www.mamaesh.com
Barbar
Bringing the taste of Beirut to the world since 1979, the restaurant is a great spot for delicious Middle Eastern dining. With two branches in Dubai at Bay Avenue Mall at Business Bay and on Hessa Street, the restaurant serves diners the best Lebanese comfort food. Delight in dishes including turkey and cheese manakish, kebbeh, roasted chicken, kebab eggplant sandwiches, shawarma platter and more.
www.eatbarbar.com
Zaatar w Zeit
If you are looking for a laid back ambience to enjoy a tasty meal with friends or family, Zaatar w Zeit is the place to be. With serving some of the best Lebanese street food at its centre, relish in dishes like Rocca and cheese salad, chicken boom burger, mighty kafta wrap, light halloumi pan, baked potato and cheese and more. The restaurant has around 12 branches making it easier to grab a bite wherever you may be.
www.zaatarwzeit.net
Manoushe Street
If you are on a quest to find delicious Lebanese food, Manoushe Street with multiple branches in Dubai is the place to be. From tucking into tasty dishes including hummus chicken shawarma, kafta and cheese manoushe, hot dog and cheese manoushe, Lebanese pizza, chicken spinach fatayer and more, the restaurant will surely have you coming back time and time again for more soul food.
www.manoushestreet.com