Food & Drink
15 top food trends in Dubai
Thu, March 30, 2023
From Instagram-friendly plates and expert-led masterclasses to innovative vegan menus, Dubai's gastronomic scene always has plenty to astound.
From Instagram-friendly plates and expert-led masterclasses to innovative vegan menus, Dubai's gastronomic scene always has plenty to astound.
Supper club sessions
Show up for superb eat-ertainment

What could be better than a sumptuous dinner at one of Dubai's best restaurants? Adding in the extra draw of a spectacular show. Many venues are specifically designed to display a theatrical on-stage performance, from DIFC's Babylon to Westin Mina Siyahi's Papillon, The St.Regis Downtown's TABU and Address Beach Resort's DREAM joining established stalwarts like Billionaire Dubai, La Casa del Tango and Guy Manoukian's The Theater. And if you're looking for a more immersive retro vibe, then Paramount Hotel's Flashback Speakeasy fulfils a roaring 1920s brief.
Snap up Instagram spots

More greens, please

Many may eschew meat during Veganuary, but plant-based diets are now a permanent fixture for a multitude of diners. It's picking up such momentum that restaurants in Dubai are officially tweaking their offerings or adding special standalone menus. Dubai's eateries have been quickly adopting green-friendly recipes, while dedicated vegetarian and vegan spots like SEVA, Teible at Jameel Arts Centre, Bounty Beets and Comptoir 102 continue to serve up delicious meat-free feasts, packed full of flavour.
Tableside theatrics

Whether it's being sliced, fired up or constructed, restaurants are determined to add drama to your evening by putting on tableside entertainment. Nus.ret's meats get a final buttery flourish after being served, while chefs at Mott 32 slice up their trademark Peking duck in front of your eyes. And DIFC-based Josette adds fancy French flair to proceedings with their signature crêpe Josette flambéed for guests to record.
Burger bonanza

Dubai's appetite for burgers has resulted in a multitude of new spots mushrooming up across the city. From Twice in Al Safa, which specialises in wagyu beef smash burgers, to Asian-flavoured Ugly Burger and Emirati-owned She Burger, there's something for every taste. Other additions include celebrity chef Burak Özdemir's CZN Burak Burger, Dubai Design District's trendy G.O.A.T. eatery, and new High Joint and Pickl branches that cater to a growing legion of fans.
Charcoal bites
Fabulous food halls

Always truffle season

New age blends

Dubai restaurants are not shy to break convention, which is why we’re celebrating experimental mocktails taking a rightful place on menus. Pioneering BOCA was one of the first to adopt refreshing alternatives – try the Alhambra Garden, a standout mix of apple, cucumber, lemon, local mint and elderflower. Most top eateries have similar sophisticated offerings that are worth discovering across the city, including 11 Woodfire that won a 2022 Gault&Millau award for their housemade blends.
Tasting menus
Going global

As chefs' personal and professional journeys take them across the world, they are more and more likely to be adept at mixing flavours, drawing on the multitude of influences that they are exposed to. Chef Kelvin Cheung shows off his ability to mix North African, Far Eastern and Indian recipes at Jun's, while Mohammad Orfali's award-winning eatery defies categorisation, mixing shish barak with gyozas, and adding bonito flakes to his trademark Turkish pides flatbreads. Meanwhile, Moonrise's Solemann Haddad blends Japanese techniques and ingredients with Middle Eastern memories and notes to plate up dishes that have his own stamp.
Back to earth
Although there have been champions of sustainability in the local food scene for some time – LOWE has been serving zero-waste menus on a regular basis and Teible's Carlos Frunze has been an outspoken proponent – an emphasis on using local produce and reducing the industry's environmental impact has been gaining momentum. Local farms are reaping the rewards of more green-focused restaurants and knowledgeable chefs, with consumers making more informed choices when they dine too.
Pop up power
Back to class
