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Orfali Bros Bistro tops MENA's 50 Best Restaurants 2023 - here are all the Dubai restaurants that made the cut
Tue, January 31, 2023
Fifteen stellar Dubai restaurants have been featured on the second edition of the Middle East & North Africa's Best Restaurants list unveiled by World's 50 Best. Here's a look at all the winners, as per their rankings.
Fifteen stellar Dubai restaurants have been featured on the second edition of the Middle East & North Africa's Best Restaurants list unveiled by World's 50 Best. Here's a look at all the winners, as per their rankings.
No. 1 - Orfali Bros Bistro
Three brothers, one dream. At Orfali Bros ‘bistronomy’ the brothers are proud to serve up dishes that reflect their shared culinary passion. You’ll want to factor in repeat visits to try everything on the menu, including favourites such as the shish barak a la sgyoza (beef dumplings with a Middle Eastern twist), salmon with miso and creamy tahini, and Umm Salah torrijas (Spanish-style French toast with a touch of spice). They also support local farming, so look out for homegrown produce across the menu.
No. 2 - Tresind Studio
Chef Himanshu Saini weaves stories with the intricately-plated and expertly-spiced degustation menus he presents in fine dining spot Tresind Studio. Hidden away behind a discrete door off the main Tresind restaurant, this insider haunt seats just 18 at a time and presents a multi-hour extravaganza that unfolds with theatrical flourish. The innovative, Insta-worthy dishes taste as good as they look, and themes change seasonally so fans never get bored. This is must-try for serious foodies.
No. 4 - Ossiano
Enjoy a uniquely Dubai dining experience at the iconic, Michelin-starred Ossiano at Atlantis, The Palm. A rite of passage for the culinary crowd, chef Gregoire Berger helms a kitchen that serves up an immersive, multi-course degustation offering in a grand gold and blue-hued setting, with floor-to-ceiling aquatic views. Specialising in seafood, the plates are as astounding as the surroundings. Perched under glistening chandeliers, watch more than 65,000 marine creatures swimming past your table. It is perfect for a romantic experience mixing fine European cuisine and an adventure into the sea.
No. 5 - 3Fils
This homegrown favourite has long charmed Dubai's foodies and sits on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list for MENA and holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand award. The chic yet casual dining experience, coupled with calming harbour-side views and no-reservations policy, makes this one of Dubai's most unassumingly spectacular dining hotspots. Serving modern Asian cuisine with a Japanese influence, you’ll find tantalising dishes such as salmon carpaccio, wagyu beef, sushi and fire–grilled octopus on the menu.
No. 7 - Kinoya
She started her foodie career with sold-out supper clubs and was the chef behind the @astoryoffood Instagram page, but now Neha Mishra is spearheading her very first Japanese restaurant. Loyal fans flock to Kinoya for a taste of her take on izakaya. Taking the everyday ramen and transforming it to a foodie revelation, everything here – right down to the noodles – is handmade with love, following closely-guarded recipes. This proudly homegrown gem is a favourite, so book in advance to avoid disappointment.
No. 10 - Moonrise
Set at the summit of the luxurious apartment complex Eden House, twelve-seater Moonrise appeals to the serious foodie. Serving a set multi-course degustation menu, with no exceptions or tweaks to the order of service, chef Soleman Haddad heads up a young, dynamic team whose passion shows on the plate and is the reason behind their Michelin star.
No. 11 - Reif Kushiyaki
Known for his kitchen performances at Zuma among other top names, local chef extraordinaire Reif Othman set up shop on his own to massive applause at Reif Japanese Kushiyaki. This casual dining spot in Jumeirah's Dar Wasl Mall serves up Singaporean street food – and it’s fantastic. Whether it's the raw sea bass starter, the luxurious Sanchoku Wagyu 'sandos', silky soft homemade ramen and hearty seabass claypot rice – you’ll want to order it all...and you won't regret it if you do.
No. 13 - Zuma
Zuma is located in the heart of Dubai city at the DIFC and has stood the test of time as one of Dubai's most popular fine-dining destinations. It fuses a mix of a contemporary culinary methods with the comfort of traditional Japanese flavours. Serving Japanese classic dishes including miso-marinated black cod, Chilean sea bass and Boston lobster. Zuma is a multi-award-winning restaurant with a reputation for crafting a meal and atmosphere that exceeds expectations.
No. 15 - Lowe
Everything about this contemporary spot with a sleek open kitchen, pared-down aesthetic and a central wooden fire intrinsic to their style of cooking is absolutely spot on. A quick glance at the menu will do a disservice to what lies within. With amazingly creative concoctions, the dishes here blend heaps of flavours and genres to produce excellent plates that you’ll want to keep coming back for. LOWE also picked up the most sustainable restaurant award for its inventive use of leftovers in the menu.
No. 17 - Gaia
A celebration of all thing Grecian, GAIA is a collaboration between two Dubai homegrown icons – Evgeny Kuzin from hospitality group Bulldozer and celebrated chef Izu Ani. Bringing a sense of conviviality to the table, starters such as the refreshing watermelon salad, smoked aubergine melitzanosalata, stuffed vine leaves and baked feta cheese set the scene for brighter mains like the cooked-to-your-liking fish, lobster pasta, lamb cutlets and more. If dining as a group, consider booking the chef’s table on the lower level beside the kitchen, right where the magic happens.
No. 21 - LPM
Transport yourself to the Cote d'Azur at LPM Dubai — a spot that serves up what many think is the best French food you can find in Dubai. The award-winning restaurant, situated in DIFC Gate Village, focuses on Niçoise cuisine, with Italian flavours coming into play on the Mediterranean dishes that put a spotlight on quality ingredients. The classy restaurant has been winning awards since it opened, which will be no surprise once you’ve tasted the food. Within the high-end hotspot, the cream walls are hung with modern art with tables draped with crisp white cloths and silverware. Fresh tomatoes, lemons and olive oil provide a centre-piece, showing everyone that the focus is on high-quality ingredients.
No. 26 - Hoseki
There are only nine seats lined up at the wooden dining counter at this intimate restaurant at the Bvlgari Resort, where you're treated to a truly traditional Japanese experience. The spotlight is firmly on the sushi with a multi-course menu devised on the day by the chef who determines what's the freshest catch, paired with sharp freshly-grated wasabi. This is one for serious foodies wanting to save themselves a trip to Tokyo.
No. 28 - Coya
One of Dubai's most exciting restaurants, with exotic South American flavours and a happening atmosphere, COYA made a splash on the Dubai dining scene two years after it opened in London. The award-winning Peruvian restaurant's menu is extensive featuring a dynamic twist on South American classics including tacos, skewers and sashimi, providing a meal that's bursting with flavour.
No. 36 - 11 Woodfire
Located along Jumeirah Beach Road, this restaurant is chic but casual, centred around the concept of gathering around a warming fire. The culinary force behind 11 Woodfire is chef and restauranteur Akmal Anuar who showcases a menu filled with simple, natural flavours. Dishes are prepared using specialist grill techniques and different wood types. Try the wagyu kebab, seabass with hay-salted crust and tamarind, and Australian T-bone steak.
No. 44 - Jun's
Drawing on celebrity chef Kelvin Cheung's French training, Canadian roots and Asian heritage, Downtown Dubai-based Jun's has a prime location and proven pedigree. Expect North American comfort food, combined with Asian flavours, served up in an upmarket, chic setting. Top plates include the tempura and sweet potato chaat, sitting alongside his take on a carrot, labneh and furikake 'bagel', spiced garlic prawns with Korean kimchi served on khichdi rice, and the Macau-sauce lobster.
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