Street Food in Dubai: What to Eat & Where to Find It
When it comes to food, Dubai is perhaps best known for its lavish hotel buffets, boozy brunches, and Michelin-star restaurants, but where the city’s culinary scene really shines is on its streets and humble restaurants. Wander around the more “gritty” areas of Dubai – like Deira, Karama, or Satwa – and not only will you find some of the best street food in Dubai but some of the very best food in the whole city!
As a city comprised largely of expats hailing from all around the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and beyond, you’ll find cuisines from around the world being prepared on the streets of Dubai. From Iranian kebabs and Palestinian knafeh to Emirati rigag, Lebanese shawarmas, Ethiopian beyaynetu, Chinese dumplings, and Filipino halo-halo, it’s possible to eat around the world while wandering around this city’s streets.
If you’re on the prowl for some seriously good Dubai street food, here are a few of the many must-try dishes! For the best street food in Dubai, check out Meena Bazaar in Bur Dubai, Muraqqabat Street in Deira, Karama, and 2nd December Street in Satwa.
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The Best Street Food in Dubai
1. Manakish
Manakish are delicious flatbreads hailing from the Levant region, from Lebanon and Palestine to Syria and Jordan. And they are found everywhere in Dubai.
You’ll usually find manakish topped with za’atar, cheese, lebneh, or bits of meat – or some combination thereof. Although you will find different, less traditional, versions at restaurants around the city with toppings ranging from muhammara (a mixture of roasted red peppers, walnuts, breadcrumbs, and pomegranate molasse) to hot dogs.
But if you can only try one, you can’t go wrong with the za’atar and cheese combo at Al Mallah in Satwa! But wherever you can find it, this is definitely a must-eat Dubai street food.
2. Shawarma
When it comes to street food in Dubai, shawarma is a dish you’d have to try really hard to miss. You’ll see street food stands and restaurants shaving thin slices of expertly spiced meat (chicken, beef, or lamb) off of a spit, loading them onto freshly baked saj or pita bread, and topping it off with garlic sauce, pickles, and even french fries before wrapping it all up.
This Middle Eastern dish may not originate from the UAE, but spend a little time here and you’d never know it! If you find yourself near the Gold Souk, Ashwaq Cafeteria is always buzzing with customers chowing down on shawarmas.
3. Rigag
Rigag is an Emirati dish that’s made from paper-thin rigag bread. The rigag is prepared like a crepe over a piping hot circular pan and topped with ingredients of your choice before being folded over into a triangle. Most places serve it with eggs, cheese, and honey – or a combination of these ingredients – but you’ll find places adding things like Nutella or Lotus, too.
But if you want to try this Dubai street food the way the locals do, seek out Al Labeeb Grocery in Jumeriah. This place prepares it with eggs, cheese, Chips Oman, and hot sauce or fish sauce. Chips Oman are a huge thing in the UAE, and there’s nothing quite like having them crushed up in their bag and poured onto your fresh rigag!
4. Deep-Fried Indian Snacks
Indian food plays a huge role in the UAE’s food scene, so don’t be surprised when you see deep-fried Indian snacks wherever you go – from the delis in grocery stores to casual cafeterias to upscale restaurants.
But if you’re on the prowl for cheap eats in Dubai, head over to Meena Bazaar in Bur Dubai, and you’ll find vendors and restaurants slinging out fresh samosas, pakoras, and more for super affordable prices. Insider tip: When you’re traveling in the UAE and you see a sign reading “cafeteria,” there will be loads of Indian snacks for you to choose from.
5. Karak Chai Tea
Speaking of cafeterias, these are also where you’ll want to stop off to get a fast and affordable karak chai fix. Because once you try this delicious beverage, you’re going to want more! Karak chai is made by boiling milk, sugar, and black tea with cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger, and it’s part of daily existence here in Dubai.
You can easily get a steaming hot cup for just a few dirhams from cafeterias around Dubai. But you’ll find karak on the menu pretty much everywhere in this city, so there’s no excuse not to give it a try!
6. Hummus
Hummus is another ubiquitous dish in Dubai and you’ll find it everywhere, from modest streetside stalls to high-end restaurants. Because this dish is so popular in the Middle East, you’ll find it prepared in a variety of ways in Dubai.
One of the best versions is Hummus Beiruti, which is prepared with garlic, lemon juice, herbs, and spices. But you can also get your hummus topped with lamb, beef, or chicken, or go vegetarian with the addition of pomegranates, pine nuts, or foul (fava beans). And of course there are always going to be creative flavors ranging from beetroot and jalapeño to red pepper and pesto.
For a taste of “authentic Palestinian street food,” try the Palestinian Hummus (and everything else) at Mama’esh!
7. Falafel
If you see hummus on the menu, chances are that you’ll find falafel there too, which is amazing because these two are always a winning combination. You can find these deep-fried morsels of chickpeas, herbs, and spices being cooked fresh at street food stands all across the city.
Whether you prefer them al la carte, dipped in hummus or moutabal, or stuffed in a sandwich with tahini sauce, pickles, and veggies, it’s very easy to find falafel in Dubai. If you want to get your hummus and falafel fix, try Sultan Falafel on Al Muraqqabat Road in Deira.
8. Kebabs
Kebabs are another Middle Eastern delicacy that is prepared differently all over the region. So, like most of the best street food in Dubai, expect to find a variety of kebabs all across the city.
At its most basic, a kebab is ground meat (lamb, chicken, or beef) marinated with a variety of spices before being packed onto a skewer and getting fired up over coals. But depending on which region the kebab recipe hails from, the results can vary widely.
For example, go to Al Ustad Special Kebab to sample Persian chicken and mutton kebabs, stop off at Sirali for a spicy Turkish adana kebab, or visit Sind Punjab to try a Punjabi yogurt-marinated chicken tika – you get the idea!
9. Knafeh
If you’ve never tried knafeh before, you’re in for a treat! Again, depending on where the recipe originated, you’ll find slight variations throughout Dubai. But generally, it is a sugar syrup-soaked pastry filled with hot, gooey cheese and topped with ground-up pistachios.
Dubai locals have serious disagreements when it comes to where to find the city’s best. But if you want to try it for yourself, you can find a wonderful Nabulsi version at one of the many Feras Sweets branches throughout the UAE.
10. Luqaimat
Luqaimat is another Dubai street food that’s perfect for a sweet treat after your shawarma or kebab. These sweet little balls of goodness are kind of like mini donuts drenched in sugar syrup or date syrup. When prepared perfectly, they’re crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and absolutely addictive!
If you don’t come across a vendor selling luqaimat on the streets, you can always pick some up at Feras Sweets!
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