The Bedouin Foodie’s Guide to Dubai

“I was born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and today I am living and working in Dubai which is my second home,” the world-traveling foodie begins his tale. “Prior to Dubai, I moved around like a Bedouin, having lived in London, Boston, New York, Paris, Bali and Singapore,” he continues before the conversation very quickly turns to food.

“My father was a major gourmand and my mother learned all her incredible recipes from her mother.  I grew up eating the best Middle Eastern food at home. My palate started to develop at the age of 9,” he recalls extremely vividly, “when my parents started to take me with them to Europe on business trips and on summer holidays in France. My first ever Michelin starred meal was at La Serre restaurant in Paris at age 10”

Hani started his Instagram account to share his experiences in food, travel and food culture. For him, this is beyond a passion.  It is an obsession! An obsession he loves to share with the world. And with you. Here are Hani’s top five recommendations for Middle Eastern food in Dubai, the city he calls both home and one of the most interesting culinary cities in the world.

Al Safadi  

127 Sheikh Zayed Rd - Trade CentreDIFC - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Al Safadi, to Hani, the expert on the subject, is the best source of Lebanese food in Dubai. They have several branches, but when asked,  he states he prefers the one near the Metropolitan Hotel.  Lebanese food is the most refined of the levantine cuisines, he argues, and here dishes are perfectly prepared with great attention to detail in flavor and presentation.  

Al Safadi is also his absolute go-to place for shawarma sandwiches. Both the meat and the chicken shawarmas are delicious, so make sure you have one with your meal!  

Go here for: Hummus, mutabbal (aubergine dip), tabbouleh and fattoush salads, shawarma, of course, and kibbeh Nayyeh. Kibbeh Nayyeh is an Arabic steak tartare made from raw lean lamb meat mixed with bulgur and spices. It is an extremely delicious and traditional treat, and Hani swears by the Al Safadi version.

Bait Maryam  

Lake City Tower - Cluster D - Jumeirah Lakes Towers - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

According to Hani, it is almost impossible to beat owner-operated restaurants. Bait Maryam, owned and operated by Chef Salam Dakkak, makes the top of Hani’s comfort food list as it is exactly like eating at homecooked meal. The flavors, the dishes, the setting and the atmosphere are exactly like being in a Levantine home.  Chef Dakkak herself is in the kitchen every day and on Instagram you can watch her cooking the daily special dishes every morning. 

Go here for: Hummus, hurra osbao (lentils), falafel, kabab Maryam, and chef Dakkak’s specialty dish, Mansaf, served every Friday at lunch. Mansaf is a real bedouin dish that originates in Jordan and is made from rice, lamb and a special sauce made of jameed, dehydrated yoghurt from Jordan.

Al Mashawi Al Halabya

Jamal Abdul Nasir Street - Sharjah - United Arab Emirates

If you are not scared of a bit of a drive, Al Mashawi Al Halabya is well worthy of a small detour as it is situated in Sharjah, 25 minutes outside of Dubai.  In English, the name translates into “Aleppo Grills” which should hint at both the origin of the cuisine and the type of food served. The Syrian city of Aleppo, according to Hani, is a very special city that has for centuries seen Muslims, Christians and Jews living side by side, and it is also generally recognized as having the best kitchen in the region.

As the name indicates, Al Mashawi al Halayya specializes in grilled meats.  The food is uniquely seasoned and balance is key along with great attention to detail in the fat to meat ratio and the entire grilling process. 

Go here for: Kabab halabi, shawarma meat, kibbeh and sasijo, a traditional Syrian type of sausage.

Mama’esh  

For locations see: https://www.mamaesh.com/our-branches/

Mama’esh is a Palestinian bakery specializing in some of the most famous breakfast foods from around the region.  They make favorites like manaesh (thyme pizza), lahm bil ajeen (spiced meat pizza) and small spinach pies.  They also make an amazing eggplant dish, Magdous; baby eggplants stuffed with walnuts and garlic and then cured in olive oil.  

Go here for: The tangy lemony and beyond delicious Satey.  Another of their best dishes is Foul, the Arabic name for garbanzo beans.  They serve it in two ways: hot and cold. Get both and eat them with the amazing freshly baked bread.

Somewhere 

Unit FF - 305 Level 1 New Extension, The Dubai Mall - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

While the name Somewhere might seem a bit funny and odd, there is absolutely no funny business about the food.  The best way to describe this gem is as modern Lebanese.  Now, people of the region do not usually enjoy having their traditional foods messed with, Hani states in no uncertain terms. But at Somewhere they do just that. And it works. Simply because they stay true to the recipes. The flavors and aromas are all incredibly true to the original recipes.  The upstyle presentation and combinations is what makes it modern and worth of a visit.  

Go here for: Falafel salad, chicken musakhan rolls, guacamole hummus, shawarma, and chicken rice.