2 Best Restaurants in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

For a feast costing only around 35 dirhams, this is a great choice in the otherwise pricey Jumeirah district. As the name would suggest, the dum biryani is your best bet. Served in a terra-cotta pot, the dish is covered with pastry, which you must crack open to a rush of steam. They are usually enough to feed two, especially if you add some of their decadent dal makhani or butter chicken (great salads and chaat are also available as lighter options). The venue is clean and contemporary but tiny, and more diners take out than sit in. There are still pleasant places to sit, though, especially when the weather is not too hot and the terrace is open. No alcohol served.

Close to the Karama shopping district, many like to come here for thali, a south Indian meal involving bottomless refills of vegetarian curries, rice, and condiments, but we suggest you opt for their superb appams (lacy, bowl-shape rice crepes), and dip them in a mild and coconut-flavored prawn moilee. Other favorites include pandan chicken, mango fish curry, and frappes. Service is not perfect—you may have to ask for things several times, but the food makes it worth it. No alcohol served.