The honest list

The one Dubai food list nobody paid for.

Every “best in Dubai” list is quietly sponsored. This one is not. Here are the 44 S-tier and 147 A-tier spots across 34 cuisines, graded honestly, no restaurant paying a cent.

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The full list

Dubai’s S and A tier, by cuisine

Brunch

Full brunch guide →

A
Zuma · DIFC
The foodie benchmark
A
Saffron · Atlantis, The Palm
The big party blowout
A
Reif Japanese Kushiyaki (Buranchi) · Wasl 51
Best food, no gimmicks
A
Folly by Nick & Scott · Souk Madinat Jumeirah
Best food-per-dirham
A
Traiteur · Park Hyatt, Dubai Creek
Grown-up and food-first
A
COYA · Four Seasons Resort, Jumeirah 2
Atmosphere and Peruvian plates
A
Cé La Vi · Address Sky View, Downtown
The skyline view
A
Jazz@PizzaExpress · JLT & Dubai Marina
Best value and budget

Burger

Full burger guide →

S
Smash and Sear @ Maxzi · Al Quoz + JVC
The all-round champion
S
Orfali Bros (OB Cheeseburger) · Wasl 51
The taste-test winner
A
Jun’s · Downtown Dubai
Wagyu, done right
A
Eleven Green · Al Wasl
The critics’ repeat winner
A
11 Woodfire · Dubai Design District
Wagyu and woodfire
A
High Joint · Al Manara + Al Khawaneej
Best value, zero pretense
A
JUBN · Multiple locations
The people’s #1
A
Meat Avenue · Multiple
The underdog smash

Shawarma

Full shawarma guide →

S
Automatic · Al Rigga, Deira (+ citywide)
The all-round benchmark
S
Al Mallah · Satwa
The Satwa institution
S
Mashawi Al Halabiya · Al Barsha
The perfectly balanced wrap
S
Belad Al Sham · Al Qusais
Best budget quality
A
Laffah · Al Barsha (+ branches)
Crispy pressed wraps
A
Aroos Damascus · Deira
The old Damascene standard
A
Shiraz Night · Baniyas St, Deira
Iranian-style heat
A
Al Ijaza Cafeteria · Jumeirah 1
Honk-to-order at midnight
A
Beirut Streets · Behind Mall of the Emirates
Lebanese beef done right
A
Ikea · Festival City + Jebel Ali
The AED 5 wildcard

Pizza

Full pizza guide →

S
L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele · City Walk + JBR + Dubai Hills
The most authentic Neapolitan
S
Pitfire Pizza · JLT + Dubai Hills + Time Out Market
The best crust in the city
S
'Za 'Za Slice · Jumeirah Garden City + Creek Harbour
Best cheap slice, late night
A
Rossovivo Artisan Pizza · Internet City + Al Quoz
The Italian crowd's pick
A
Blu Pizzeriá · Umm Suqeim Harbour
Pizza by the sea
A
FALCONE · Galleria Mall, Al Barsha
The Al Barsha local pick
A
Moon Slice · Al Wasl Road
Inventive slices
A
Akiba Dori · Dubai Hills + JBR + Dubai Design District
The most distinctive dough
A
Il Motto · JA Ocean View, JBR
Wood-fired with a view

Steak

Full steak guide →

S
Prime68 · Business Bay (JW Marriott Marquis, 68th floor)
The benchmark, with a view
S
Carna by Dario Cecchini · Business Bay (SLS Dubai, 74th floor)
Real butcher credibility
A
CUT by Wolfgang Puck · Downtown (Address Downtown)
Wagyu connoisseurs
A
Seafire Steakhouse · Palm Jumeirah (Atlantis The Palm)
Classic steak-and-seafood at a resort
A
Hunter & Barrel · Vida Emirates Hills
Best quality for the money
A
The Ninth Cut Butchery & Steakhouse · Dubai (butchery + dining room)
Most steak per dirham
A
Rowley's Steakhouse · DIFC (Central Park Towers)
Honest British steak-frites in DIFC
A
Beefbar Dubai · Umm Suqeim (Jumeirah Al Naseem)
Modern, design-forward beef

Sushi

Full sushi guide →

S
Hoseki · Bvlgari Resort, Jumeirah Bay Island
The definitive Dubai omakase
S
TakaHisa · Bluewaters Island
Toyosu-grade edomae sushi
A
Tomo · Raffles Dubai, Wafi (17th floor)
Real sushi, less spectacle
A
KIGO · Four Seasons DIFC
Seasonal kaiseki and omakase
A
Zuma · DIFC
The reliable benchmark
A
Nobu · Atlantis The Palm
The signature-dish pilgrimage
A
KEN by Kamatsuda · The Dubai EDITION, Downtown
The new high-end omakase

Restaurant

Full restaurant guide →

S
Tresind Studio · St. Regis Gardens, Palm Jumeirah
The most decorated tasting menu
S
Orfali Bros Bistro · Wasl 51, Al Wasl
The best restaurant in Dubai, full stop
S
FZN by Bjorn Frantzen · Atlantis The Palm
Nordic fine dining at the very top
A
Ossiano · Atlantis The Palm
A view spot that actually earned a star
A
Row on 45 · Grosvenor House, Dubai Marina
The rising two-star tasting menu
A
Il Ristorante - Niko Romito · Bvlgari Resort, Jumeira Bay
Benchmark Italian fine dining
A
STAY by Yannick Alleno · One&Only The Palm
Two-star French classicism
A
Kinoya · Wasl 51, Al Wasl
Top-ranked comfort Japanese
A
Jun's · Downtown Dubai
Modern Asian-American storytelling
A
3Fils · Jumeirah Fishing Harbour
The best value fine food in Dubai

Biryani

Full biryani guide →

S
Khadak · Business Bay
The fancy biryani actually worth it
S
Pak Liyari · Meena Bazaar (Al Fahidi Street)
The best cheap mutton biryani
A
Ravi Restaurant · Al Satwa
The tourist-famous Satwa institution
A
Jaffer Bhai's Delhi Darbar · Karama + Naif, Deira
Rich Mumbai-style dum biryani
A
Gazebo · Karama + Deira
Mughlai dum-pukht, sit-down
A
Calicut Paragon · Karama + Al Barsha
Kerala Malabar biryani
A
Student Biryani · Karama + Al Nahda + Deira
Nostalgic Karachi-style, cheap

Breakfast

Full breakfast guide →

S
21grams · Umm Suqeim (Jumeirah)
The all-day cafe breakfast with a Michelin nod
S
Arabian Tea House · Al Fahidi (Old Dubai)
The iconic Emirati breakfast spread
A
LOWE · Al Barari
A grown-up seasonal breakfast
A
Josette · DIFC
French pastries and a proper coffee
A
The Sum of Us · Trade Centre
The benchmark homegrown cafe breakfast
A
The Espresso Lab · Dubai Design District
Serious specialty coffee

Mall Dining

Full mall dining guide →

A
Din Tai Fung · Lower Ground, Waterfront Atrium
The best-value proper meal in the mall
A
Cipriani Dolci · Fashion Avenue
Polished classic Italian
A
Gia · Fashion Avenue (fountain terrace)
A fountain-view lunch worth the markup
A
OPSO · Fashion Avenue
Modern Greek with a view

Marina Dining

Full marina dining guide →

S
Row on 45 · Grosvenor House, 45th floor
The one world-class occasion
A
Indego by Vineet · Grosvenor House
Refined modern Indian
A
City Social · Grosvenor House tower
A grown-up tower-view dinner
A
Atelier M · Pier 7, 7th floor
A rooftop dinner that delivers

Mall of the Emirates Dining

Full mall of the emirates dining guide →

A
XU · Kempinski Hotel, Level 2
The one destination meal here
A
Din Tai Fung · Level 2, near VOX Cinemas
The best-value proper meal
A
Cipriani Dolci · Fashion Dome, under the glass dome
Polished Italian and a Bellini

Festival City Dining

Full festival city dining guide →

A
Pierre's TT · InterContinental, Creek-facing
The one destination meal here
A
Al Fanar · Festival Bay, waterfront
Proper Emirati food by the Creek

Madinat Jumeirah Dining

Full madinat jumeirah dining guide →

A
Rockfish · Jumeirah Al Naseem
The best seafood, view included
A
Pierchic · Al Qasr, end of the pier
The famous over-water date night
A
Pai Thai · Al Qasr, reached by abra
Dinner with an abra ride

Souk Al Bahar Dining

Full souk al bahar dining guide →

A
Time Out Market Dubai · Level 3, Souk Al Bahar
The best food and value here
A
The Meat Co · Fountain-view terrace
A steak with the fountain view

Karama Dining

Full karama dining guide →

S
Calicut Paragon · 20B Street, Karama
The Malabar feast worth the trip
S
Karachi Darbar · 31B Street, Al Wasl Building
A charcoal feast for almost nothing
A
Saravanaa Bhavan · Zabeel Street, opposite Karama Park
A benchmark dosa and thali
A
Aryaas · Zabeel Street, Karama
A Kerala-leaning veg spread
A
Chef Lanka · Al Khazana Centre, opposite Karama Park
Proper Sri Lankan kothu and curry
A
Bulwagan · Karama
A Filipino turo-turo feast
A
Bikanervala · Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Road, Karama
Chaat, sweets and a quick thali

JBR Dining

Full jbr dining guide →

A
Ronin · FIVE LUXE, northern JBR
The one destination meal on the strip
A
Black Tap · Rixos Premium, The Walk
A burger and a shake done well

Wafi Dining

Full wafi dining guide →

A
Wafi Gourmet · Wafi Mall
A proper Lebanese mezze spread
A
Carter's · The Pyramids
Well-priced pub plates and a carvery

Satwa Dining

Full satwa dining guide →

S
Ravi Restaurant · 2nd December Street, Satwa
The AED 35 legend, open late
S
Al Mallah · 2nd December Street, Satwa
The city's best shawarma and a juice
A
Automatic Restaurant · 2nd December Street, Satwa
Rotisserie chicken and garlic sauce
A
Kusina Natin 'To · Al Badaa Street, Satwa
Late-night Filipino home cooking
A
Scantic Restaurant · Al Satwa
A cheap Kerala thali

Iftar

Full iftar guide →

S
Seven Sands · JBR, The Walk
Traditional Emirati iftar, great value
S
Al Khayma Heritage Restaurant · Al Fahidi
Atmospheric heritage iftar
A
Asateer Tent, Atlantis The Palm · Palm Jumeirah
The iconic Ramadan tent
A
Al Fanar Restaurant · Al Seef + Festival City + Al Barsha
Nostalgic Emirati iftar
A
Al Majlis, Dubai World Trade Centre · Trade Centre
Value tent with live oud
A
Ninive · Jumeirah Emirates Towers
Stylish Levantine majlis

View Dining

Full view dining guide →

S
Al Muntaha · Burj Al Arab, 27th floor
The special-occasion view with the food to match
S
Ossiano · Atlantis The Palm
A once-a-year underwater tasting menu
A
Pierchic · Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah
A proposal-level sea view
A
Al Mahara · Burj Al Arab
An aquarium-side seafood dinner
A
Prime68 · JW Marriott Marquis, Business Bay
A skyline steak dinner that delivers
A
SUSHISAMBA · Palm Tower, 51st floor
A lively Nikkei dinner with a Palm view
A
Tasca by José Avillez · Mandarin Oriental Jumeira
Sea and skyline in one sitting

Cheap Eats

Full cheap eats guide →

S
Ravi Restaurant · Satwa
The benchmark cheap curry
S
Al Mallah · Satwa (Al Dhiyafah Rd)
The pavement shawarma
S
Bu Qtair · Umm Suqeim (fishing harbour)
Fresh fried fish by the water
A
Al Ustad Special Kabab · Bur Dubai (Al Mankhool)
Iranian kebab with history
A
Qwaider Al Nabulsi · Al Muraqqabat, Deira
Late-night Levantine plus kunafa
A
Al Damyati · Karama
Egyptian food at AED 4 prices
A
Saravana Bhavan · Karama (+ branches)
Reliable South Indian veg
A
Mama'esh · Multiple
Fresh-baked manaeesh
A
Food Masti 108 · Karama
Unlimited AED 10 breakfast
A
Al Ijaza Cafeteria · Jumeirah 1
Honk-to-order at midnight

Hills Mall Dining

Full hills mall dining guide →

A
Eataly · Ground Floor
The destination Italian
A
Vietnamese Foodies · Ground Floor
Fresh homegrown Vietnamese
A
Iran Zamin · First Floor
Persian, done properly
A
Pincode by Kunal Kapur · First Floor
Chef-led modern Indian
A
Sushi Library · Ground Floor
The better sushi counter

Açaí

Full açaí guide →

S
Oakberry · Dubai Festival City Mall (+ branches)
The specialist benchmark
A
Projeto Açaí · Marina, Sheikh Zayed Rd, Motor City
The most authentic Brazilian blend
A
Comptoir 102 · Jumeirah 1, Beach Road
The prettiest sit-down bowl
A
Wild & The Moon · Alserkal Avenue, Downtown (+ branches)
Organic and plant-based
A
Leen's · Emirates Towers, DIFC
The DIFC value bowl

Lunch Buffet

Full lunch buffet guide →

S
Kitchen6 · JW Marriott Marquis, Business Bay
The standout hotel spread
A
World Street Food · Dusit Thani, DIFC
Best-value hotel buffet
A
Rajdhani · Karama
Unlimited Gujarati thali
A
Bulwagan · Karama
The Filipino buffet institution
A
Lokmet Gibran · Dubai
Value Lebanese spread
A
Dhaba Lane · Karama & Al Garhoud
Punjabi unlimited thali

Deira Dining

Full deira dining guide →

S
Qwaider Al Nabulsi · Al Muraqqabat
The knafeh institution
S
Aroos Damascus · Al Muraqqabat
The Syrian value feast
A
Al Safadi · Al Rigga Road
Rigga Road Lebanese
A
Samad Al Iraqi · Al Muraqqabat Road
Iraqi masgouf
A
Ashiana by Vineet · Sheraton Dubai Creek
Creekside Indian fine dining
A
Afghan Khorasan Kabab House · Naif
Afghan charcoal kebabs
A
Sultan Dubai Falafel · Al Rigga
The famous falafel stall

Hills Dining

Full hills dining guide →

S
Avatara · Dubai Hills Business Park
The destination tasting menu
A
DUO Gastrobar · Dubai Hills Business Park
Michelin-verified value
A
REIF Japanese Kushiyaki · Dubai Hills Business Park
Chef-led Japanese skewers
A
Revelry · Dubai Hills
Modern Indian with a bar

JLT Indian

Full jlt indian guide →

S
Shamiana · Taj JLT, Cluster A
Special-occasion Indian
A
Rohini by Little Miss India · Movenpick JLT, Cluster A
Modern Indian and cocktails
A
Dhaba Lane · Cluster D
The value thali
A
Via Delhi · Concorde Tower, Cluster H
The most-tested all-rounder
A
Memsaab Curry & Tandoor · J2 Tower, Cluster J
The neighbourhood institution

Al Quoz Dining

Full al quoz dining guide →

S
Middle Child · Alserkal Avenue
The Bib Gourmand destination
A
Window · Alserkal Avenue
Live-fire fine dining
A
Nightjar Coffee Roasters · Alserkal Avenue
Specialty coffee and brunch
A
Project Chaiwala · Cinema Akil, Al Quoz 1
Homegrown karak
A
21grams · Alserkal Avenue
Balkan comfort food

Al Barsha Indian

Full al barsha indian guide →

S
Calicut Notebook · Lulu Hypermarket, Al Barsha
The busy Kerala favourite
A
Gharana · Holiday Inn Al Barsha, SZR
The occasion dinner
A
Jaffer Bhai's · Al Barsha
Mumbai-style biryani
A
Sri Krishna Bhavan · Al Barsha 1
Value pure-veg dosa
A
Apna Kebab Rolls · Barsha Business Square
Cheap kebab rolls

Discovery Gardens Dining

Full discovery gardens dining guide →

S
China Bistro · Zen Cluster, Building 19
The top-rated sit-down
A
Super Bowl Asian Cafe · The Pavilion
All-you-can-eat value
A
Swades Vegetarian · Zen Cluster
Value vegetarian and dosa
A
Taste of Lahore · Building 15
Lahori karahi and paya
A
Amma's Restaurant · Building 13
Chettinad and ghee roast

DIFC Dining

Full difc dining guide →

S
Zuma · Gate Village
The consistent top-tier splurge
S
La Petite Maison · Gate Village
French-Med at the top
A
Hutong · Gate Building 6
Northern Chinese and a value lunch
A
Mina Brasserie · Four Seasons DIFC podium
A food-first brasserie
A
Il Borro Tuscan Bistro · Gate Village
Tuscan and wine
A
The Guild · ICD Brookfield Place
Steak and seafood

Dim Sum

Full dim sum guide →

S
Hutong · DIFC, Gate Village
The best dim sum, bottomless
A
MiMi Mei Fair · Address Residences, Downtown
Upscale weekday dim sum
A
Shang Palace · Shangri-La, Sheikh Zayed Rd
Premium Cantonese dim sum
A
Nonya · Taj JLT, 44th floor
Midweek dim sum with a view

Mirdif City Centre Dining

Full mirdif city centre dining guide →

A
Gazebo · Ground Floor
Mughlai biryani
A
Bosporus · Level 1, East Walk
Turkish mezze and grills
A
The Butcher Shop & Grill · Ground Floor
A proper steak dinner
A
Cupagahwa · Mirdif City Centre
Emirati coffee and karak

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