Zomato is one of the most established food platforms in the world. Since 2008 it has built a vast directory of restaurants with menus, photos, reviews and reservations, and in the UAE it runs restaurant discovery and a dining-discounts membership. For sheer coverage, it is hard to beat.
cravd does a smaller, sharper job. It is a curated Dubai food list where every spot is graded S to C by people who actually eat here, and no restaurant can pay for a place or a better rating. The tiers come from friends you follow, so a pick means someone you know would send you there.
Here is the honest side by side.
| cravdBuilt for Dubai | ZomatoGlobal food directory | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Dubai edgeDubai, a curated local food list | A global directory, born in India; in the UAE, discovery and dining discounts |
| How you trust a pick | Dubai edgeS/A/B/C tiers, one honest call from the friends you follow | An aggregate rating out of 5 from the crowd, with the formula undisclosed |
| Paid placements | Dubai edgeNone. No restaurant can pay for a spot or a rating | Runs restaurant advertising on the platform (since 2014) |
| Local Dubai depth | Dubai edgeDeep: Karama and Satwa institutions, Emirati and South Asian spots, curated S/A/B/C guides | Broad listings across the city, with no curated tiers |
| Breadth | Curated picks with real depth | A vast directory with menus, photos, hours and reservations |
| Delivery | Not a delivery app | In the UAE, delivery moved to Talabat in 2019 |
| Dining discounts | Not a discounts app | Yes, through a paid Gold and District membership |
| Price | Free | Free, with a paid membership for discounts |
| Platforms | iPhone now, Android in testing | iPhone, Android and web |
| Maturity | New, built for Dubai | Established since 2008, operating at large scale |
Zomato details from its Wikipedia entry and public reporting, October 2026. Zomato sold its UAE food delivery business to Talabat in 2019 and now runs restaurant discovery and dining discounts in the UAE.
Which one is for you
Choose cravd if
- You want an honest call from friends you trust, graded S to C.
- You want picks that no restaurant can pay to influence.
- You want Dubai depth, the Karama cafeteria and the Satwa legend included.
Choose Zomato if
- You want the biggest directory, with menus, photos, hours and reservations.
- You want dining discounts through a paid membership.
- You want it on Android or the web today, or you are eating outside Dubai.
The Dubai depth, already live
cravd already maps the city, honestly
You do not have to take our word for the depth. cravd already publishes honest Dubai tier lists, graded S to C and weighed against value, where a five-dirham wrap can outrank a tower with a view. Start with the best biryani in Dubai, the best shawarma in Dubai, or the honest Dubai food list.
Inside the app, you save spots to your Cravings, rate meals S to C, follow friends, and see their honest tiers on a map of the city. The tier system explains how a grade is set.
Eat in Dubai
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Frequently asked
Is cravd a good Zomato alternative in Dubai?+
For deciding where to eat, yes. Zomato is a huge directory with crowd ratings, menus and discounts. cravd is a curated Dubai list graded S to C by friends you trust, with no paid placements, so a pick reflects the honest taste of people you know.
Does Zomato still do delivery in Dubai?+
No. Zomato sold its UAE food delivery business to Talabat in 2019. In the UAE it now focuses on restaurant discovery, reviews and a dining-discounts membership. For delivery you would use Talabat, and for an honest take on where to eat you would use cravd.
What is the difference between cravd and Zomato ratings?+
Zomato shows an aggregate rating out of 5 from the crowd, and it does not publish how the figure is calculated. cravd uses S/A/B/C tiers, one honest call per spot, from the friends you follow, so the grade reflects taste you actually trust.
Does Zomato take money from restaurants?+
Zomato runs restaurant advertising on its platform, which it introduced in 2014. cravd takes no money from restaurants at all, and no spot can pay for a place or a higher tier.
Is cravd free?+
Yes. cravd is free, and you do not need an account to browse the guides. You only sign in when you want to save a spot or post your own tiers.
Is cravd on Android?+
iPhone is live now, and Android is in testing. On an Android phone, tap any Get the App button and leave your email, and we will send your invite the moment Android opens.
Built for where you actually eat
Free. No account needed to browse.