MENA 50 BEST RESTAURANTS 2023 - CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE UAE RESTAURANTS
The secrets are out.
The 2nd edition of the Middle East and North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants was back on Monday, 30th January with a fresh new lineup of the region's best places to dine. Featuring 14 cities and 15 new restaurants included, the 'delicious' roster was announced yesterday at the S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna sponsored event in Abu Dhabi.
Without further ado, here's the tea on which UAE restaurants made the exclusive MENA's 50 Best list.
1) ORFALI BROS DUBAI
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Taste. Texture. Ingredients. The 3 things Orfali Bros stand for. Offering a collection of the experience, skills and vision of every person behind the kitchen door, enhancing the multiculturalism and avant-gardism of Dubai, Orfali Bros' food journey evolved into a work of gastronomical art. Made with love and founded by 3 brothers, Mohammad, Wassim and Omar, the homegrown restaurant in Jumeirah has made its way to the top organically with outstanding cuisine made to please palates.
Contact for reservations: +971 4 2592 477
2) TRESIND STUDIO DUBAI
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The only Indian Michelin-starred restaurant in the UAE (and rightfully so)... Trèsind Studio offers a uniquely captivating dining experience, challenging common perceptions of Indian cuisine by showcasing flavours both new and familiar through a creative lens. The ethos of Studio emphasizes the transformation and amplification of humble ingredients, sourced locally from organic and sustainable farmers in the UAE.
Contact for reservations at +971 58895 1272
4) OSSIANO DUBAI
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Deemed one of Dubai's most romantic restaurants and awarded a MICHELIN star, Ossiano Dubai is a progressive fine dining experience inspired by the ocean and seas. Imagine dining in one of Dubai’s most immersive restaurants, as stingrays, sharks and fish in the aquarium glide right past your table. Aspiring to showcase some of the best produce from around the world, MICHELIN starred-chef Grégoire Berger takes pride in offering guests a unique opportunity to taste exceptional ingredients at their peak, in the heart of Dubai which is itself at the crossroads of the world.
5) 3FILS
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Inspired by Japan and homegrown in the UAE, 3Fils Dubai was founded in late November 2016, 3FILS is piloted by a team who live by a diehard daringness to be different, to offer a story akin to the ‘2 cents worth’ opinion of dining in Dubai’ with every bite. With harbour-side community-style dining, 3FILS serves up premium Asian dishes with a Japanese twist as its focus.
7) KINOYA
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The Kinoya experience is conceptualized based on two vital experiences; Izakaya and Ramen. Kinoya offers an all-encompassing experience of atmosphere and food, by serving everyday Japanese dishes such as Donabe, Onsen Tamago, Dashi, Omurice, and many other authentic delicacies. Every aspect of Kinoya is curated to bring you a memorable experience, set to change the Japanese cuisine narrative in Dubai.
10) MOONRISE
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Moonrise is an Omakase restaurant located on the rooftop of Eden House, a luxury residential tower on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. Led by Solemann Haddad, it is an 8-seater multi-course experience that shines the spotlight on the Middle East’s ingredients & culinary stories. Being on a rooftop, our restaurant overlooks the entire city, from the beaches of Jumeirah to the city’s beautiful skyline – setting the perfect vantage point to experience the diverse stories that our region has to offer.
11) REIF KUSHIYAKI
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REIF Japanese Kushiyaki is not about quantity, it’s about Relationships. A promise from REIF Othman himself. What drives this culinary art process is REIF’s heart & talent. REIF Japanese Kushiyaki’s power is in the merging of two paradoxical worlds. Like with all art, it isn’t just about creating a relationship with the artist, but with the work of the artist, which is always in a state of reinvention and surprise. REIF Japanese Kushiyaki is not a restaurant, it’s an Experience.
13) ZUMA DUBAI
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Zuma Dubai is located in the international financial centre, at the heart of the city. Enjoy contemporary Japanese cuisine in the vicinity of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. The chic Japanese restaurant in Dubai boasts steel and granite decor, serving sushi, grill dishes & sharing plates.
15) LOWE DUBAI
A homegrown ideology, LOWE is a contemporary and experimental dining experience showcasing seasonal produce cooked naturally by fire. The open kitchen centred on a charcoal grill, rotisserie and wood-fired oven celebrates rustic and approachable food. The menu combines traditional techniques and unique flavours to ignite the senses. A part of the Nasab creative community, the relaxed eatery brings food to life in a welcoming environment, with a sense of humour and a touch of nostalgia.
17) GAIA DUBAI
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GAIA aims to showcase the core elements of Grecian culture.
Combining warm hospitality with intricate details and alluring aspects, GAIA creates a journey of discovery in every visit, enticing the explorer within. The homegrown food, beverage and lifestyle concept was born of a collaboration between Evgeny Kuzin and Chef Izu Ani.
21) LPM DUBAI
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Step past the olive trees and lavender into a sun-dappled, bougainvillaea-lined terrace… and let Gate Village and the Dubai International Financial Center fall away behind you. Signature cocktails at the bar, which take up nearly all of one wall, are quite a destination in their own right. Riviera-inspired cuisine prepared à-la-minute. The poulet, les escargots, un autre Tomatini? This place of crackling energy, this celebration of people, this Côte d'Azur, this La Belle Époque, c’est magnifique.
26) HOSEKI
Meaning “gemstone” in Japanese, Hōseki is a minimalist jewel box of a destination where guests can enjoy a one-of-a-kind gastronomic treat by Chef Masahiro Sugiyama. With just nine seats, dining at Hōseki is a unique Omakase experience, the most traditional way to savour Japanese food which means “I leave it to you”. After arriving through a special Tokonoma, or entry room, guests turn their palates over to the whims of the chef. Chef Sugiyama bases his courses on the preferences of those seated at the counter, as well as on the freshest and best ingredients of the day, so no two meals are exactly alike—but every single one is an exceptional journey into the heart of Japan’s culinary tradition.
28) COYA DUBAI
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Born from a spirit of adventure and more than just a restaurant, COYA Dubai is an immersive experience inspired by the vibrant Latin American culture. From the art on the walls to the tribal beats of COYA Music, allow yourself to be taken on a multi-sensory journey from the moment you walk in.
33) COYA ABU DHABI
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Meet the most exciting flavours in authentic contemporary cuisine through a boundless range of options. The menus have been expertly curated by experimenting with traditional Peruvian dishes and using Japanese, Chinese and Spanish cooking techniques. All to be enjoyed amongst the setting of bespoke hand-carved furnishings, Peruvian trinkets and contemporary art.
35) 11 WOODFIRE
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The restaurant's chef, Chef Akmal Anuar, showcases an extensive selection of dishes including meat, vegetable, and seafood options, diners will be hard-pressed to choose at 11 Woodfire. Foodies in Dubai will enjoy flavours such as wagyu kebab with fresh bread and truffle, Australian T-bone steak, and seafood including king crab with lemon butter or sea bass with hay salted crust and tamarind.
43) ZUMA ABU DHABI
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Zuma Abu Dhabi is located at The Galleria on Al Maryah Island, in the heart of the capital’s luxurious new retail and commerce centre. Enjoy a twist on traditional Japanese dining straight from the robata grill accompanied by a beautiful waterfront view.
44) JUN'S DUBAI
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Asian flavours reimagined capturing the nostalgic flavours of North American Asia presented in a modern, progressive format. In the heart of Downtown Dubai on Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard with views of the Burj Khalifa, Jun’s is a space to celebrate coming together. A modern fine dining experience where the food is simple in presentation and massive in flavour where customers come to celebrate their big wins in life and regulars come to celebrate the everyday joys. If it's cocktails you are after we have you covered, our team of award-winning mixologists can cater to your every whim at our fully licensed bar.
49) HAKKASAN ABU DHABI
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Founded in 2001, Hakkasan celebrates Chinese cuisine through traditional techniques, the finest ingredients and contemporary flair. Each kitchen is led by a talented chef whose passion lies in creating uniquely rooted yet modern dishes. With international outposts in some of the world’s most vibrant cities, Hakkasan’s menu is a culinary balance of signature dishes available at any Hakkasan location and dishes curated with local tastes and traditions in mind.