When you think of dining in Dubai, you think of the glitz and glamour restaurants in tall skyscrapers. You think of boozy brunches and the Michelin-star restaurants. But if you want to know where to find authentic food in Dubai, you’ve come to the right place.
It might seem hard to believe, but Dubai does have some wallet-friendly places to eat. And this is where we spent most of our time whilst in Dubai.
You’ll know by now that we started our backpacking journey in Dubai, with 48 hours to explore this incredible city. But on a very tight budget.
Below are two authentic restaurants I can’t recommend enough in Dubai, UAE. For the best Middle Eastern food that won’t break the bank.
Top tip: for mobile data in Dubai, we used the Airalo eSim which was super handy and easily installed onto our phones as soon as we landed in Dubai airport!
Related blog posts to read:
- 48 Hours in Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Travel Guide
- Checking In: Copthorne hotel, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- I’ve Quit My Job and Left London For Good
- The OC Backpacking Diaries: Week one
- 15 Packing Mistakes I Made Backpacking Asia You Can Avoid
You can see all of these restaurants and the food we had in each in my Dubai YouTube vlog below:
1. Al Ustad Special Kebab
Address: Metro Station – Al Mussallah Rd – near Al Fahidi – Al Hamriya – Dubai
Al Ustad Special Kebab was our favourite place to eat when we visited Dubai. We had a late dinner after arriving to Dubai from Bucharest, Romania. Sitting down to eat at 10pm, we were only one of two tables occupied in the restaurant.
Serving traditional Persian food, this is the oldest Iranian restaurant in Dubai. And trust me, the kebabs are incredible.
We shared a platter of different meats that came with bread, chips, rice and salad and I could have ate there every day afterwards.
Cheap, authentic and plentiful portions. You can also celebrity-spot from the pictures all around the restaurant as it attracts celebrities from all over the world.
2. Ravi Restaurant
Address: 7HQQ67MH+CJ – 8 9th St – Al Satwa – Dubai
Located in the Satwa district of Dubai (Old Dubai), Ravi Restaurant serves traditional Indian and Pakistani cuisine.
This is a very unassuming restaurant from the outside, that looks more like a local diner than fancy establishment. It wouldn’t be my choice for a first date. But for great food and low prices, head here.
The food is great, but the vibe is definitely more ‘rough and ready’ than pristine sophistication. I’d highly recommend!
Bonus: 3. Eggspectation
Address: Shop # 1406, Roxy Cinema Building – Dubai
If you don’t know, I’m a brunch fiend. So I had to add in a brunch recommendation if you’re planning a trip to Dubai soon.
Eggspectation came highly recommended by a friend that lives in Dubai and it did not disappoint. This spot can be found in JBR and is the perfect spot to start your day.
With a view of JBR beach, the Dubai eye and the glorious sunshine, I could happily start every day at this restaurant. This is also one of the best spots to people watch too!
Related blog posts to read:
- The Best Brunch Spots in Liverpool
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- Five Breakfast Spots in Dublin
