Dubai street food: Top 10 spots to try

Shiraz Nights is one of the top spots in Dubai for traditional Iranian and Persian food. It’s known for its chicken shawarma, Iranian kebabs, Iranian stews, and flatbread with hummus.

Once done with your main course, you can stick around for a bite of traditional Iranian halwa for dessert.

Al Reef is a traditional Lebanese bakery best known for its manakish, a savory flatbread typically topped with cheese, Za’atar, and minced meat.

The bakery has been operating since 1986. And even though manakish is their most popular dish, they also serve a large variety of Middle Eastern pastries such as knafek of baklawa.

When you visit, consider washing down your meal with a glass of fresh fruit juice or a cup of traditional tea.

Pars Iranian Restaurant offers a wide selection of traditional Iranian dishes. It’s especially well known for its kebabs, with over a dozen different kebab options to choose from.

All of them are served with saffron butter rice and some veggies, typically tomatoes, pickles, and chili peppers.

While the portions are quite filling, if you’re feeling extra hungry, you can opt for a feta and mint salad. It’s the perfect combination with pretty much any meaty meal in the restaurant.

If you’re craving Ethiopian food in Dubai, the Al Habasha Ethiopian restaurant is the place to be. The red chicken stew, the national food of Ethiopia, is a must-try.

There are plenty of other meals available, including vegetarian options with chickpeas or lentils.

Food is typically served without cutlery and is meant to be eaten with your hands while cleaning up the plate with some bread.

Raju Omlet is a popular street food chain in Dubai. As the name suggests, it’s best known for its omelets, which are typically washed down with traditional tea.

Try the mushroom and cheese omelet, masala half fry, or egg bhurji roll. Since it’s a fast food chain, you get reasonable prices and the same quality of food at any spot.

Sind Punjab, located in the famous shopping district Meena Bazaar, is the go-to place for chicken tikka in Dubai.

The restaurant has been around since the 70s, serving delicious grilled chicken to generations of locals and visitors in Dubai.

If chicken tikka doesn’t take your fancy, creamy butter chicken and spicy chickpea masala are great options as well.

As you can probably tell from the name, falafel is one of the specialties at Falafel Al-Zaeem. However, the vast selection of delicious falafel sandwiches isn’t the only reason to come here.

In fact, some say that the traditional ka’ak bread is the true highlight of the restaurant. 

Served with cheese, chili paste, and smoked boiled eggs on the side, this sesame-topped pastry is the perfect option for breakfast or whenever you need a quick snack.

Momos are steamed dumplings most prevalent in Nepali and Tibetan cuisine, and Yalla Momos is the first place to bring these delicious bites to Dubai.

The variety of options available here is too large to name, with each being more than worth a try. So make sure to pay a visit and stuff yourself with as much as you can handle.

There’s hardly a more iconic street food in the world than burgers. Shake Shack offers some of the best quality burgers you can get from a fast food chain throughout its 9 locations in Dubai.

Try the Angus beef burgers, chicken burgers, and even mushroom burgers with a side of fries for a quick, filling, and delicious meal.

Arabian Tea House is a popular restaurant and cafe located in the Al Fahidi neighborhood. It serves authentic Emirati food, such as machboos, laham, and deyay.

Don’t be quick to leave once you’re finished with your meal, though, as you can get some of the best traditional Arabic coffee here.