Where have you been eating lately in the UAE? Share your finds

Food & Dining
1

Okay so I’ve been meaning to start this thread for a while because I feel like we all have those little gems we never tell anyone about and then they quietly close and you’re devastated.

I’ll go first. I’ve been living in Dubai for a few years now and lately I’ve been really into exploring areas beyond the obvious spots. This past week I ended up at a small Sri Lankan place in Deira that a colleague recommended. Nothing fancy at all, plastic chairs, a ceiling fan doing its best, but the rice and curry was genuinely one of the best meals I’ve had this year. Total bill for two people: under 40 AED. I almost cried.

I’ve also been revisiting some of the older neighborhoods for iftar-style spreads that some places still run even outside Ramadan. Good value and you get to try a lot of things at once.

Some things I’m personally curious about right now:

  • Authentic South Indian food (not the tourist-facing versions)
  • A good Filipino breakfast spot
  • Any hidden gem in Sharjah or Ajman worth the drive

This thread is basically your space to share whatever you’ve been eating, whether it’s a fancy brunch spot, a canteen near your office, a food court discovery, or a home chef you found on Instagram. All welcome.

So tell me, what’s the best thing you’ve eaten in the UAE recently, and where was it?

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That Sri Lankan spot in Deira sounds exactly like the kind of place this thread needs. Under 40 AED for two is almost unreal by Dubai standards now.

A few recent finds worth mentioning:

For South Indian (genuinely authentic, not dressed up): the area around Al Rigga and the streets behind Al Ghurair have small Keralite places where the dosa batter is clearly fermented overnight. You can tell. Ask for the fish curry if it’s on the board.

Sharjah tip: the Industrial Area has some brilliant Pakistani and Afghan spots that are completely overlooked. Mantu dumplings for almost nothing.

Filipino breakfast: I’d honestly check with the Filipino community groups on Facebook, they usually know exactly who’s doing tapa and garlic rice on weekends, sometimes home-based.

The iftar-style spreads outside Ramadan are such a smart move for variety and value.

What neighbourhood in Deira was the Sri Lankan place exactly? Happy to go find it myself.