Taste your way around the city as food explorer Arva Ahmed reveals the best ethnic eateries, old-school favourites and hole-in-the-wall culinary secrets.
- Sultan Dubai Falafel for Palestinian-style falafels
Tucked away on a nondescript corner in Deira is the city’s best Palestinian falafel and hummus spot. No ordinary dry brown-bellied falafels here, the fryers at Sultan Falafel churn out moist, vibrant green falafels loaded with parsley, coriander and dill. The fresh baked puffy pita (khubz) from their sister restaurant next door is the perfect excuse to play sandwich artist.
2. Falafel Alzaeem for smoked eggs and freshly-baked ka’ak
Funnily enough, the claim to fame of this popular haunt in Deira is actually not the falafel. It’s their fresh-rolled Jerusalem-style ka’ak bread dusted with heaps of crunchy sesame seeds. Try a fresh loaf smeared with cheese, lots of tart chilli shatta, herby za’atar, and boiled eggs that have been smoked in a bed of wood chips for six painstaking hours.
3. Sind Punjab for the best chicken tikka since 1968
4. Rangoli for delicious Indian street food
This old-school Indian vegetarian restaurant may be a little light on ambience, but Indian families who know their chaat (street food) will swear by the pani puri here. These one-bite globes (puri) of crunchy dough are filled with mung beans, spicy chili water (pani), and sweet date and tamarind chutney.
5. Hor Al Anz Bakery for fresh cheese and zaatar bread
6. Al Habasha Ethiopian Restaurant for comfort food from Africa
You’ll find this place bustling with Ethiopian diners – an excellent sign for a restaurant that serves authentic Ethiopian fare in Hor Al Anz. Al Habasha is owned by the effervescent Sara, who sources choice ingredients like butter and traditional fermented bread (injera) from her home country.
7. Foul Abu Abbas for fava favourites
8. Spice Souk cafeteria for eggy rolls with Chips Oman
9. Shiraz Nights for fantastic spicy chicken shawarma
10. Sadaf Iranian Sweets for irresistible Persian treats
Run by the immaculately groomed Mr. Reza, this Iranian shop is a treasure trove of exotic Persian goods. Order a scoop of bastani, a stretchy Iranian ice cream dotted with pistachios and scented with the most expensive of spices, saffron.