7 great cheap eats in Dubai
Eating out in Dubai is a pleasure. There are a multitude of excellent restaurants in the city, many run by top international chefs. To this end, many of the cheaper eateries don't get much press so we thought it was time to round up seven of the best places to go for an affordable and delicious meal.
1. Automatic
The Beach Centre, Jumeirah Street
Tel: 04 434 2355
Daily 10am–midnight
Branch of city-wide budget Lebanese restaurants offering good mezze and grills at very affordable prices. No alcohol. Dress: casual.
2. Saravana Bhavan
Al Kahlifa Bin Saeed Building, about 100 metres east of the Bur Dubai Abra Station, between the HSBC and Bank of Baroda buildings
Tel: 04 353 9988
www.saravanabhavan.com
Daily 7am–11pm
Of the innumerable bargain curry houses in Bur Dubai, this Dubai offshoot of the popular restaurant chain from Chennai is one of the best, attracting a loyal local following for its delicious, bargain-priced vegetarian Indian cuisine. No alcohol. Dress: casual.
Arabian mutton dum biriyani, made with basmati rice, spices. Photo: Shutterstock
3. More Café
Mall of The Emirates, Sheikh Zayed Road
Tel: 04 347 4696
www.altayer.com
Daily 8am–11.30pm
A funky Dutch-owned bistro with a wide range of superior international café fare. A difficult place to beat for its combination of excellent atmosphere, quality, value and service. No alcohol. Dress: casual.
4. Noodle House
Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Al Sufouh Road
www.thenoodlehouse.com
Open 12.00pm until midnight
Something of a local institution, this cheerful noodle bar chain is a kind of Dubai Wagamama, with really good, reasonably priced Thai, Chinese, Malay, Singaporean, Indonesian and Japanese dishes served up at long communal tables. You might have to queue at busy times. There are other branches within the city including at the Dubai International Financial Centre. Dress: casual.
5. Chhappan Bhog
Al Attar Centre, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street
Tel: 04 396 8176
Daily 9am–midnight
The North Indian vegetarian meals served here in the heart of the Karama district are so delicious that they will please the taste buds of even the most die-hard meat eaters. No alcohol. Dress: casual.
A plate of falafel sprinkled with sesame seeds. Photo: Shutterstock
6. Lime Tree Café
Jumeirah Beach Road, next to Jumeirah Mosque
Tel: 04 325 6325
www.thelimetreecafe.com
Daily 7.30am–6pm
Set in an attractive modern villa, this neat little café offers a classic slice of expat Jumeirah life. Healthy specialities include outstanding carrot cake, tasty wraps and delicious smoothies. There are other branches in Sheikh Zayed Road (open until 9pm) and Al Quoz near Times Square Center (open until 6pm ). Dress: casual.
7. And finally there's the Friday brunch...
While not especially cheap per se, the all-you-can-eat (and often drink) aspect to the Dubai Friday brunch means it's great value for money. The Friday brunch is somewhat of a city institution, equivalent to the British Sunday roast and is hugely popular with the city's expats. Brunch usually kicks off around midday, and can last for the remainder of the afternoon. At various hotels throughout the city on Fridays. Dress: casual.
Ready to take a trip to Dubai?
Our local experts can help you to plan and book unforgettable trips to Dubai. Simply get in touch to let us know your ideas for the trip and when you would like to travel. We will then create a personalised itinerary that you can amend until you're completely happy with every detail before booking. Take a look at our existing itineraries for inspiration, and keep in mind that they can all be tailored to meet your own specific needs.
