Dubai is a culinary haven, offering a wide variety of cuisines from around the world. When choosing which foods in Dubai to try out, here are some of the best:
Shawarma
Thinly sliced marinated meat (typically chicken or lamb) wrapped in warm pita bread with garlic sauce, pickles, and other toppings.
Falafel
Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, these deep-fried balls or patties are made from ground chickpeas or fava beans. They’re usually accompanied by tahini sauce and freshly baked bread.
Arabic Mezze
Next up is Mezze, a term used to describe a range of little appetisers and dishes that are commonly served in the Middle East. Hummus, tabbouleh (a salad composed with bulgur, parsley, mint, and tomatoes), and falafel are all must-tries. Fattoush (a delicious salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumbers and crunchy bread) with baba ganoush (smoky roasted eggplant dip) are also not to be missed.
Mandi
A tempting combination of seasoned rice, tender slow-cooked meat (typically chicken or lamb), and a blend of aromatic spices. It is frequently then topped with fried onions, raisins, and almonds.
Emirati Cuisine
Try real Emirati delicacies like Machbous (spiced rice with pork or fish). Then there is Harees (a slow-cooked dish made from wheat and meat), and Luqaimat (sweet dumplings drizzled with date syrup).
Arabic Sweets
Try Baklava (layers of filo pastry filled with nuts and sweet syrup), and Kunafa (a cheese-stuffed pastry soaked in sweet syrup). Umm Ali (a creamy bread pudding with nuts and raisins) is another choice among the Arabic sweets available.
Iranian Chelo Kebab
Dubai has a sizable Iranian population, and as such there is good Persian cuisine available. Chelo Kebab is a popular dish that consists of saffron-infused grilled meat (usually lamb or chicken) eaten with buttery basmati rice.
Seafood
Seafood is abundant and particularly tasty in Dubai due to its coastal location. Freshly caught fish, prawns, crabs, and lobster are prepared in a variety of ways, such as grilled, fried, or in rich curries.
Emirati Breakfast
Traditional Emirati breakfast foods include Balaleet (sweet vermicelli sprinkled with saffron and cardamom). There is also Chbaab (thin Emirati pancakes), and Chebab (a fatter form of pancakes). This is frequently then served with Khaleeji tea, a sweetened cardamom-infused tea.
Global Cuisine
Dubai is well-known for its expansive international food scene. Explore a variety of cuisines, including Indian, Pakistani, Lebanese, Turkish, Japanese and others at a variety of fantastic restaurants. Remember that these are only a few ideas, and when contemplating foods in Dubai to try, there is a diverse range of cuisine options to suit all tastes and interests. Have fun with your gastronomic experiences in the city!
