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TEXT MATTHEW LEE
Dubai is one of the world’s most international cities, so when it comes to eating out, authentic dishes from the world over compete for your attention. The possibilities are almost endless, but here are 10 places to get you started
THE ULTIMATE SHAWARMA
Al-Mallah
Under Al-Mallah’s famous green neon signs, the humble shawarma reaches its zenith. A team of skilled knifemen shaves chicken and lamb from super-size skewers before wrapping the meat in flatbread with salad and pickles, and drizzling the whole thing in tahina (crushed sesame seed paste). Wash it all down with an AlMallah Special – a preposterously large mixed fruit juice. Al-Dhiyafha Road (+971 4 398 4723). Open 6am-4am Sat-Thur; noon-4am Fri
THE SINFUL DESSERT
Café Chic
No one does desserts like the French and no one in Dubai does French like Café Chic. Inspired by Michelin-starred consultant chef Philippe Gauvreau, Le Meridien’s elegant bistro is a big hit with the Emirate’s sweet of tooth, for whom the volcanically oozy chocolate soufflé is the undisputed star of the show. Savoury highlights include the duck breast with snow peas and the morel mushroom stuffed with frog’s legs and crayfish. Le Meridien Dubai (+971 4 282 4040). Open 12.30pm-2.45pm, 8pm-11.30pm daily
THE VEGGIE OPTION
Magnolia
Dubai is a city with a distinctly carnivorous bent, which means vegetarians often feel short-changed. But the recent opening of Magnolia, the UAE’s first meat-free fine dining restaurant, is changing local perceptions of veggie food. The pick of the innovative dishes, made mostly from certified organic ingredients, is a wondrously flavoursome spinach risotto. Talise Spa, Madinat Jumeirah (+971 4 366 8888). Open noon-3pm, 7pm-11.30pm daily
THE CELEBRITY CHEF
Verre by Gordon Ramsay
When Verre arrived in 2001, it set a new standard in Dubai dining. Many excellent restaurants have opened in the intervening years, but Gordon Ramsay retains the edge over the competition by hiring world-class chefs and only using ingredients of the highest quality. The food is always dazzling. Don’t leave without trying the line-caught halibut with lobster or the oven-roasted guinea fowl. Hilton Dubai Creek (+971 4 227 1111). Open 7pm-11.30pm daily except Sat
ARABIAN NIGHTS
Al-Hadheerah
With horses, falcons, camels, henna tattooists, belly dancers and whirling dervishes on show, it’s tempting to view this restaurant as a Disneyesque theme park. Yet there’s nothing gimmicky about the food. It’s one of the few restaurants in Dubai to serve traditional Emirati dishes such as ouzi makhmour, but make sure you save room for the fresh seafood and Lebanese mezze. Jumeirah Bab Al-Shams Desert Resort & Spa (+971 4 832 6699). Open 7pm-11.30pm daily
THE MESSIEST MEAL
Peppercrab
Unless you’re a baby, it’s considered poor form to wear a bib at a top-end restaurant, but the Grand Hyatt’s much-loved Singaporean eatery is an exception to the rule. Once the mud pepper crab has arrived at your table, and the accompanying bread, fried rice and vegetables are in place, arm yourself with a scalpel and a nutcracker and get grappling with the tastiest crustaceans. Just check your bib’s firmly in place. Grand Hyatt Dubai (+971 4 317 1234). Open 7pm-midnight (7pm-1am Thurs & Fri)
THE JAPANESE RETREAT
Miyako
A tranquil haven from the bustle of the Deira streets outside, Miyako is an elegant Japanese restaurant boasting some of the best sushi in town. The bento boxes come with a little bit of everything and offer great value for money, while the shabu shabu is a cook-it-yourself hotpot full of melting meat and vegetables. Hyatt Regency Dubai & Galleria (+971 4 209 1100). Open 12.30pm-3pm, 7pm-midnight daily
THE CHINESE REVOLUTION
Zheng He’s
With a menu that reinvents Chinese cuisine, a spectacular terrace, an open kitchen and beautiful displays of lanterns, crafts and traditional clothing, Zheng He’s is one of Dubai’s most individual and charming restaurants. Highlights from the France-meets-China menu include punchy squid ink dumplings, a curry of scallops with black truffle and white asparagus, and lobster dishes cooked to perfection. Mina A’Salam, Madinat Jumeirah (+971 4 366 8888). Open noon-3pm, 7pm-11.30pm daily
THE PERFECT CURRY
Ashiana
On a small stage, cross-legged ghazal singers perform music so mesmerising it threatens to divert attention from the main event. But nothing can steal the limelight from Ashiana’s magnificent curries. A silky fish number, sarson ka hammour tikka and a succulent chicken kebab, murg barrah, are among the numerous highlights. Sheraton Dubai Creek (+971 4 228 1111). Open 1pm-3pm, 7.30pm-11.30pm daily (closed for lunch Fri)
LEGENDARY STREET FOOD
Ravi Restaurant
An unprepossessing Pakistani restaurant, Ravi’s nevertheless enjoys a stellar reputation, with everyone from ravenous cab drivers to Bollywood starlets hitting its roadside tables for cheap kebabs, curries and breads. The adjacent roundabout instigates a fair bit of road rage, so it’s not the place for a romantic meal under the stars. Satwa Roundabout, Satwa Road (+971 4 331 5353). Open 5am-3am daily
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