Dubai is a food paradise for British Muslims, offering a world of Halal options that you can’t find back in the UK. But with so much choice of restaurants, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
After living in Dubai for almost a year, I’ve put together a list of 20 must-try places.
From fine-dining to local favorites, burgers to desserts and breakfast joints, I’ve covered it all.
Join me in exploring Dubai’s amazing food scene!
1. 3 Fils
My current favourite restaurant in Dubai – voted no.1 restaurant in MENA. Serving a variety of Asian dishes with Japanese influence, very reasonably priced too – just be prepared to queue, as they have a “No reservations” policy.
2. Al Ustad Special Kebab
A very well-known Dubai establishment, visited by every celebrity you can think of – with their photos all over the walls. A very affordable and tasty mixed grill, make sure to get some of their yoghurt dip. Mixed Grill for 2 comes to around 100 AED (~£22).
3. Sirali
My favourite Turkish restaurant in Dubai. On the pricey side, but very well plated dishes, a lot of which are served with a little presentation.
4. Parker’s
A restaurant which doesn’t need much introduction as everyone has seen their Matilda Cake on Instagram/TikTok. I’m personally a bigger fan of their food than their desserts, and they also do a great Karak Chai. If the queues are too long – Mara Lounge next door do some fantastic desserts too (probably even better than Parker’s IMO)!
5. Sal @ Burj al Arab
If you want to visit Burj Al Arab, but don’t want to break the bank – then this is the option for you! They have a minimum spend of 250 AED per person (~£55), I’d refcommend booking an evening slot and getting some mocktails and desserts to share.
6. Pickl
One of my top 3 burger spots in Dubai – the others are Lento and Jailbird, but these 2 are in less touristy areas, so I’d recommend a visit to Pickl if you’re craving a good smash burger. They’re also on all the delivery apps (Careem, Talabat, Uber Eats, Deliveroo) if you don’t want to leave your hotel.
7. Brunch and Cake
A very Instagrammable brunch spot – I’m not a big fan of the drinks here (coffees and juices both), but they do some great food here – my favourites are the Nutella French Toast and the Omelette Croissant.
8. Hashmi’s
My number one restaurant in Dubai. In the almost-one-year that I’ve been here, I visit at least twice a month – and I’ve never had a bad experience. Have been dining with them since back when they were based in Nairobi. Must try: Choosa Chicken and Pili-pili fries.
9. Boho X
Sister-restaurant of Trove (which is another great spot if you’re after some good food in Dubai Mall). Boho X is the cafe you’ll have seen on Instagram/TikTok with the huge croissants and coffee. They do a great 3-course lunch menu for 120 AED. Must try their Beef Udon Noodles, and they do some great drinks too – my favourite is their Iced Spanish Latte.
10. Mandi Man
If you want to experience a good Mandi, then this is the spot to try. They have a mixture of table-seating and floor-seating, as well as private booths. I’ve tried a few Mandi spots around Dubai, but this is my favourite. Must try their Lamb Shoulder Mandi.
11. Hampstead Bakery and Cake
Another great option for breakfast/brunch, located just outside Dubai Mall.
12. Ravi’s Restaurant
Must-try Pakistani restaurant, famous for their collaboration with Adidas (yes – you heard that correctly). I’d visit the Satwa branch (they have two), grab some seats outside in the evening, and be sure to get their Mutton Peshawari and some of their grills.
13. Orijins
Best coffee in Dubai. I’ve only tried the Iced Spanish Latte, but it’s fantastic, like a solid 10/10.
14. Cheesecake Factory
I’m sure everyone already knows about Cheesecake Factory, but definitely worth having on your food itinerary. Be warned though, the mains are all very large – you can easily share two mains between three people. An especially good idea if you want to have room for cheesecake!
15. The Meat Co
One to save for a special occasion. Probably my favourite Steak in Dubai, closely followed by Nusr-et. It’s also on the Entertainer App (worth looking into if you’re here for over a week), so you can get half price on your meal.
16. Sushi Samba
One of the most commonly asked questions is “Do you know any restaurants with a really nice view?” This is definitely one of them! Overlooking the palm, with a great selection of items – and you don’t have to ask what is/isn’t Halal like you do in the London branch 🙂
17. Chocomelt
Was torn between Home Bakery and Chocomelt for my final dessert recommendation. Both are great – but Chocomelt has a lot more options, and Home Bakery always has a long queue.
18. Time Out Market
Great option if you’re all craving different things, as there’s around 20+ vendors here. Just a disclaimer, in the evenings it has a very Boxpark-like vibe, with lots of people drinking, so you may prefer to visit during the day.
19. Five Guys
Yes – you already knew about this place, and it’s already on your list. Just as reminder in case you’d forgotten about it.
20. Acai Berry
First tried Acai in Dubai, and didn’t even know it existed before. But now I order one of these pretty much every week. My favourite is their “Dubai” Acai bowl. THey have a branch in Dubai Design District which is well worth the visit.
That brings me to the end of my 20 recommendations. There are so many more that I wanted to add, like you HAVE to pay PF Chang’s a visit, but I tried to prioritise things that you can’t get Halal in the UK. Enjoy!