Affordable places
Street fast food
Stalls with fast food are everywhere in Dubai. It’s the perfect place for the first national AED food experience.
Many tourists are afraid to eat at such places because the meat lies under the burning sun all-day. But you shouldn’t worry about that: the quality of Dubai food is strictly controlled by the authorities.
Stalls that don’t comply with the sanitary, are fined and closed.
The most popular dish on Dubai streets is shawarma. It costs 6—10 AED. Shawarma is cooked from chicken, pork, and lamb.
Meat is always marinated in some special way, cookers make some seasoning, vegetables and garlic sauce are added. By the way, they always serve pickles. The lines for good shawarma are usually very long. Shawarma costs 5—6 AED.
Even if you are not vegan, make sure to try Dubai falafel. Falafel is a snack from chickpea mash with spice. The dish is served with sauces and thin bread. Falafel costs 3—4 AED.
Manakish is another popular dish in Dubai. That’s the name of bread consisting of dough topped with thyme, cheese, or ground meat. It costs a little more than the rest of the fast food: the price of manakish varies between 12-14 AED.
Market
The market in Dubai is not only a place to eat cheaply. It’s also a real attraction. Every day thousands of tourists come here for a unique oriental flavor. The Dubai market is thousands of different products, salesmen and… The prices are several times higher.
Harrypic, a user of tripadvisor site, advises you to haggle and tell you how much money you can save:
It is expected in the souks and is part of the buying process…..start at 70% off and settle on: 30% off if you not good, 40% – 50% off if your average, 60%+ if your really good. It’s a game and can take a while..If you pay first price then your just a mug.
There’s a lunch break at the Dubai markets. It usually lasts from 13.00 to 16.00, but it is better to specify the time on the spot.
The Deira fish market is particularly interesting for tourists who is interested in what to eat in Dubai.
Suzzette Agustin, the author of blog.sujatravel:
Now, lets talk about the meat, oooops fish, so to speak. Here we have competitive prices and every kind of fish imaginable from baby sharks, to kingfish, top prawns. You think of it…it is Here ! You can get the fish cleaned and cut, the way you want, for a nominal charge. The market is connected to Dubai Creek, so you can see fresh fish arriving.
In 2017, the market moved to a new, modern building and can be found at the Deira Enrichment Project, Al Khaleej Road, opposite the hospital.
There are Pakistani, Indian and Thai cafes on the territory.
For example, at Yahya Seafood, for 25 AED/kg, you will receive fish and seafood purchased at the market.
Dubai cafés like this, where migrants cook their national cuisine, are also found in the city. Especially in the Deira area.
Foodyguydubai, a user of zomato website, recommends the popular Asian chain cafe Golden Fork and tells you what to try there:
Good food at affordable rates. Visited here recently with my family where the service was amazing and the food was delicious. We ordered the Salmon which was super delicious and a must try.
Soup in Golden Fork costs 25 AED, mix-grilled seafood – 55 AED.
Food truck parks Last Exit
These are public spaces on the outskirts of the city where you can not only eat, but also relax with your family. Food is sold from food trucks, but there are also some classic indoor Dubai cafes. Each truck specializes in one dish: somewhere they only make fresh juices, somewhere they fry steaks, and somewhere they cook shawarma.
MaraMandapat, a tripadvisor user, tells why you should visit the place:
Fast food is served from trailers and cars styled after a post apocalyptic event. Several food trucks are available with burgers, Mexican, and Asian fast food. A few outdoor games are available for kids to win prizes (basketball hoops, and milk bottle tosses). The inside dining area is air conditioned and continues the apocalypse. Worth the visit to experience the metal creations.
A full meal at the food truck park costs 30-35 AED.
Supermarkets
If you are tired of spicy Dubai food, go to your local supermarket. Here you can buy familiar products: bread, milk, eggs, European sweets. Be prepared for high, by European and American standards, prices.
Most travelers choose these supermarkets:
- Union Coop. They work from 07.00 to 01.00 or 02.00.
- Carrefour. They are open from 06.00 to 02.00.
Many supermarkets are open 24 hours a day.
Dubai restaurants
If you don’t just want to eat, but also to enjoy the excellent service, go to a restaurant.
Bird’s-eye view
At.mosphere, a record-breaking restaurant, is located on the 122nd floor of Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. Here you can have dinner at an altitude of 442 meters. There are a lot of people who want to get to this Dubai restaurant, so book a table in advance.
The deposit for a table by the window is 880 AED. The price of hot dish is around 250 AED. The average bill is 1000 AED.
At.mosphere has a dress code: you have to dress in a classic style.
Ffa1986, a user of tripadvisor, tells how not to be left without dinner because of “wrong” clothes:
The message to anyone considering this venue is be very careful how you dress. My son, who was dressed in Van shoes, was being refused admittance. My wife had to kick up a big fuss and make a complaint. We did subsequently get an apology, but it did spoil our experience somewhat.
Fairytale adventure
Chillout Ice Lounge is the first ice bar in the Middle East.
Everything, including walls, furniture and even utensils, is made of ice. The average temperature inside the bar is 6 ° C below zero.
Entrance will cost 80 AED for an adult and 40 AED for a child. The price includes a 40-minute stay and one hot beverage.
Chillout Ice Lounge also serves delicious sandwiches and a variety of European desserts. This is a really good place for everyone who is looking for what to eat in Dubai, but prefer snacks and bright emotions to a full meal in a traditional atmosphere.
Arab traditions
Welcome to the classic Al Hadheera open-air restaurant. It is located right in the desert at the five-star Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa.
Al Hadheera is a small copy of the medieval Arab medina. The restaurant’s interior is in the spirit of the famous collection of fairy tales “A Thousand and One Nights”. Here you can try Middle Eastern dishes prepared according to old recipes.
Al Hadheera’s owners have made sure that guests are not bored: every evening there are music, dance and camel shows in this Dubai restaurant.
The dinner price starts at 100 AED.
What to bring from Dubai
Of course, dates! The Arabian Peninsula is the birthplace of the date palm tree, and this useful fruit can be bought everywhere in Dubai.
Travelers recommend buying Sukkari dates. This date was loved by Arabs mainly due to the gentle, but at the same time semi-solid texture. As this variety is quite sweet, it is eaten together with strong black tea without sugar. Sukkari dates are considered to be one of the most valuable, they are not cheap and they are eaten on special occasions and celebrations. No wonder they are also called royal.
Here’s what else to bring as edible souvenirs:
- Camel milk. For centuries, the Bedouins of the Emirate have eaten camel milk, and today it is still part of the local diet. Fresh milk will spoil on the way home, so pick up pasteurized food from the supermarket. The price is 17 AED per liter.
- Spices. Besar is a traditional UAE spice blend. It consists of cumin, coriander, fenugreek, dill, chili pepper, turmeric, cinnamon. It is sold in supermarkets and markets.
- Sweets. Treat your loved ones with a real baklava, lukum, halva and sorbet. You can buy them in any supermarket. Don’t worry about safety: oriental sweets have a long shelf life.
Conclusion
Dubai has a wide range of cafes, buffets and restaurants for every taste and wallet. If you want to save money, you can eat in the street cafes. If you want to feel the Arabic flavor, go to a Middle Eastern restaurant. If you love exclusive – choose a place in one of the skyscrapers. And don’t forget to bring something delicious to your family!
