Did you know that if you visit Dubai, you could literally taste the globe in a mere week? The city is home to a wealth of authentic and traditional restaurants representing most countries of the world.
So if you are heading to Dubai for a week, this is our special handpicked selection of seven authentic international restaurants to try out for each day of your trip:
Day 1: Ravi (Pakistan)
Many people love Indian food, but have you ever considered going to a Pakistani restaurant? We think you should. Nestled along Satwa neighborhood is Dubai’s oldest and most famous Pakistani restaurant, Ravi. Behind this eatery is Chaudhary Abdul Hamid, the owner of Ravi, who brought it to life back in 1978.
Can you imagine that this very spot was hit up by everyone from Snoop Dog and One Republic to some of the biggest Bollywood stars?
At this dining spot, you can have an entire feast for under 100 dirhams. You’ll devour the finest daal fry, butter chicken, and paneer bhurji (scrambled Indian cottage cheese (paneer), onions, tomatoes, and spices).
Day 2: Al Ustad Special (Iran)
So we already introduced you to the oldest Pakistani restaurant in Dubai but how about the oldest Irani restaurant?
Opening its doors back in 1978 at Bur Dubai, Al Ustad Special Kabab set its roots and spread its wings. On entering, you won’t know where to look as its walls are entirely covered in thousands upon thousands of pictures of some of its most prominent visitors.
That is how much it is loved not just in Dubai but across the globe. Get this: everyone from Salman Khan to Cristiano Ronaldo ate within the walls of Al Ustad. Why, you may ask?
It is because this special eatery serves up the best Iranian kebab in all of Dubai and does so at the most affordable prices. From their succulent, divine yogurt-marinated kebabs to zereshk-topped rice platters done the Iranian way, they bring true flavor to a plate.
Day 3: Bait Maryam (Lebanese)
If you are a foodie who loves to follow chefs and food influencers online, then you’ll probably have heard of Salam Daqqaq, the Lebanese chef and owner of Bait Maryam, who excels at serving up the finest Levantine cuisine through homestyle dishes and sharing her creations on your Instagram channel.
Along with that, you yourself can get a taste of her food by heading to her restaurant at JLT.
There, you have to try her hummus with meat, fried kibbeh and Fatet Maryam Muskhan, offering the purest and most authentic dishes that exemplify the beauty of Lebanese cuisine.
Day 4: Yun Xi Lou (Cantonese)
Within the most impressive mall in the city, Dubai Mall, sits the equally most impressive Cantonese restaurant called Yun Xi Lou.
This eatery is home to a team of chefs with years of experience in Michelin-star kitchens. That is why you’ll get to eat the most exquisite Cantonese dishes within its walls.
We are talking top-of-the-line peking duck, roast goose and their hamour with fresh Sichuan chili, they do it all. This is the place to go for a taste of Cantonese luxury.
Day 5: Donaza (Uzbek)
Many of the cuisines we’ve covered so far are pretty popular and well-known. To change things up, we want to introduce to you a cuisine that you may not have thought of. Al Nahda’s Donaza is one of the few restaurants that serve some of the most authentic Uzbek cuisine.
When you go to Donaza, you get to eat the must-haves from Polav, the one-pot meal made of long grain rice slow-cooked with meat, onions, and carrots served with a slither of fat to their freshly baked Samsa bread.
Did you know that you can watch their samsa bread get made?
The light, crusty bread filled with meat and onion is stuck to a wall of an oven and baked until it is golden brown. Beyond bread and one-pot meals, they also serve up pelmeni dumplings (pasta pockets filled with beef, pork, and spices) and juicy kebabs. You can’t get more authentic than that.
Day 6: Moroccan Taste (Moroccan)
Tucked away within the courtyard of an apartment complex at Jumierah is a true hidden gem, a restaurant known as Moroccan Taste.
Dining at this restaurant gives you the chance to devour authentic Moroccan cuisine. The tagine is known as their star dish, and it comes in a multitude of varieties. Whether it’s topped with beef and dates or grilled with vegetables, each dish is exceptional.
Along with the tagine, you can order their most authentic dishes, including the chicken pastilla with almond, which is a pie made in a skillet that blends together both sweet and savory flavors.
Day 7: Asian Street By Thai (Thai)
Picture this: a humble and adorable team of Thai chefs who spend hours every day in the kitchen whipping up their Thai family recipes and serving them to the masses. That is the kind of spirit you’ll find at Asian Street By Thai at JLT. When you arrive at the restaurant, you’ll get the chance to get a true taste of Thailand.
One of their best dishes is their Thai green curry. Their Panang beef curry is also special because it is richer and thicker than a traditional red curry.
For the soup lovers out there, try their Tom Yum Goong (hot and spicy creamy prawn soup). Then, cool off with their mango sticky rice.
In one week, you’ll travel the world and embark on the coolest culinary journey Dubai has to offer. Tell us which restaurant you are most excited about and why!