Dubai is a cosmopolitan city with a mix of all cultures, lifestyles and people. It is one of the hottest tourist destinations of the world and therefore has to cater to its mixed bag of visitors with the best of local and international cuisines. It surely does not disappoint in this area. There are a number of food 'hot-spots' in this part of the world serving some of the following popular cuisines:
Arabic Cuisine- A Local Delight
Dubai offers a diverse range of cuisine as its population constitutes a heavy mix of foreign visitors and local population. The local cuisine is indeed the best from the Arab world. Savoring the exotic local dishes of Dubai is one thing which is high on the wish-list of its visiting population. These dishes are mainly prepared from fish, meat and rice. Arabic bread which is freshly baked in clay ovens and served with curries is also very popular part of Dubai's rich cuisine.
The festive delicacies prepared around the holy months of Ramadan, Eid and social gatherings like weddings have their own charm.
The Most Unique Stuffed Camel A Festive Delicacy
'Stuffed Camel' is one of the prominent items in the weddings of Sheikhs and their family members. The Guinness Book of World Records has listed this item as- “The largest item on any menu in the world is roasted camel, prepared occasionally for Bedouin wedding feasts. Cooked eggs are stuffed into fish, the fish stuffed into cooked chickens, the chickens stuffed into a roasted sheep's carcass and the sheep stuffed into a whole camel.”
Al Harees Main Course of Wedding
This is one of the most popular festive dishes coming from the local kitchen and involves a lengthy preparation. It is mainly made from meat & wheat and is a must-have for the festive seasons and social events like wedding parties.
Apart from the above specialty dishes, the regular dishes of Dubai include-
Falafal - mashed peas and sesame seeds rolled into chicken balls & deep fried.
Hareis - a rich delicacy of slow-cooked wheat and tender lamb.
Matchbous - this dish is made of spiced lamb with rice.
Mehalabiya - a pudding sprinkled with rosewater and pistachios.
Shawarma - A traditional Middle Eastern snack is the Shawarma . It is made of grilled shavings of lamb or chicken, mixed with salad and rolled inside an Arabic bread . This specialty is sold in many small outlets around the city.
Most Popular Arabic Eating Joints
Dubai offers a wide array of cuisine from all over the world. Local Arabian dishes are very popular with the visitors. There are several restaurants in Dubai which cater to the inquisitive appetite of the visitors especially looking for the traditional Arabic food. There are a number of places in Dubai offering popular Arabic delicacies, prominent amongst them are Biella Caffe, Al Diwan, Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant, Al Iwan, Al Khaima , Al Khan and Al Khayal. These restaurants offer mouth watering local dishes like mehalabiya, haeis, kebabs, shawarama at a reasonable price.
Other Famous Cuisines of Dubai
Iranian Cuisine
The Iranian cuisine has had a touch of the Persian flavor in most of its dishes. Iranian food is known for its distinct flavor and style. Spicy rice dishes are the major highlights of Iranian cuisine. Iranian dishes are usually served with lettuce, cabbage, tomato, onion and minty yogurt sauce. Some of the famous Iranian dishes served in Dubai restaurants are Chelo Kebab, Fesenjan, Abghousht and Shirin Polo which is a very famous traditional wedding dish prepared with rice, almonds, pistachio nuts and orange peels.
Iranian bread or Naan as it is often called has many variants which are popular worldwide and are one of the most requested items in the food menu. Lavash is one of the widely used forms of Naan. Prominent Iranian restaurants in Dubai include the Pars Iranian Kitchen in Al Dhiyafah Street, Satwa and Al Borz Restaurant which is inside the Al-Durreh Tower.
Asian Cuisine
Dubai's population has a large chunk of the Asian population. The cuisines of Asia have deep roots in several culture and Dubai has also not been untouched and has included the best dishes from Asia into its Food & Cuisine. It is home to some of the best Asian restaurants serving popular Indian, Pakistani, Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine. Anyone coming to Dubai and looking for traditional food delicacies from the Asian sub-continent will most certainly not feel let-down by what Dubai has to offer in Asian cuisine. Mughlai, Awadhi, Punjabi, Sindhi and Pashtuni cuisines are some of the variants of Asian cuisine which are in huge demand by one and all.
Some of the famous restaurants serving the best from the Asia are Karachi Darbar (Deira), Silver Eagle Restaurant (Deira), Sarvana Bhawan (Al Karama, Dubai), Casa Goa (Palm Beach, Rotana Inn, Dubai) and Kitchen Restaurant (Diyafah Street, Dubai).
International Food Chains - European Cuisine
Dubai is a place thronged by its visiting western population and therefore European cuisine is one of the most asked for as well. There is a huge demand for American and European cuisine in Dubai. Like its Asian counterparts, meat is a popular element in most of its dishes like Pasta, Pizzas, Fried Scampi, lambs, beefs, etc. European cuisine is also well-liked by the local population of Dubai.
Dubai houses some of the best European restaurants and some very popular international food chains like Mc Donalds, Starbucks Coffee, Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken. The most-visited restaurants serving European cuisine in Dubai are Bateaux Dubai (BurDubai), Arboretum (Jumeirah, Dubai), Midnight Cafe (Opposite municipality, Al Karama) and Entre Nous (World Trade Centre, Bur Dubai, Dubai).
