Dubai is known for many things. It is known for its luxurious lifestyle, for having the tallest building in the world, having more (much more) migrants than citizens, and so on. It is, however, not necessarily known as a budget-friendly destination, especially for foodies. After all, you have all seen Instagram posts full of steaks covered in gold flakes, and Turkish coffees topped with real gold dust. You probably watched YouTube videos where the vloggers pay anywhere from fifty to five hundred USD to enjoy a seemingly luxurious meal atop a skyscraper somewhere in the city. While all of this is true, there is a different side of Dubai that goes somewhat unnoticed. Given how the city is home to an enormous migrant workforce, most of which comes from Asia and cannot really be described as rich, there are plenty of options for the working people of Dubai who also wish to eat well. While many seem to prefer cheap American fast-food franchises, of which there are many, and which I will cover in another dedicated article later on, some prefer more authentic spots. You can find some of the best eateries in Dubai that certainly did not put too much strain on my bank account below but know that this is only scratching the surface for a city of Dubai’s size. This is to say, rather than seeing the list below as a checklist you have to complete, see it as evidence for the abundance of tasty food at affordable prices all around Dubai.
Al Ijaza Cafeteria – https://www.instagram.com/alijazacafe/
Let us begin with one of my favourite establishments in all of the UAE, a local franchise called Al Ijaza Cafeteria. Such cafeterias serving up simple looking yet delicious fast food is ubiquitous in this beautiful country. However, some are classics, like this one. The seafood sandwich I ate here was not only tasty, but at only around 4 USD, and coming with some delicious pickles on the side as usual, this was one of the cheapest meals I had anywhere in the world for a while now. Frankly, I also ordered a fresh juice to go alongside my sandwich, which came to a bit less than 5 USD on its own, but it did taste divine to say the least. People here are friendly, and the food is tasty, so while some of its branches may be outside of the locales you will be frequenting during your stay in Dubai, it is well worth your time to pay Al Ijaza Cafeteria a visit if you can find the time for it.
Aroos Damascus Restaurant – https://www.instagram.com/aroos.damascus/
Yet another local franchise, this one specializing on Syrian food, surprised me with their pricing policy. Aroos Damascus Restaurant is not a cafeteria, it is a massive restaurant as its name clearly mentions. The service is friendly and fast, and the food is good. After seeing the cafeteria like low prices on the menu, I assumed that the portion sizes would be small given how I was sitting at a restaurant. Well, I was quite wrong. I managed to finish what I ordered, but frankly even a 6 AED mankosha here can sate some appetites with ease, especially if they still bring a side of pickles for free even if you order just a “side dish” like mankosha. On a side note, I really loved their milk with tea. While it was not karak chai, it certainly was not any ordinary tea as well. In short, a visit to Aroos Damascus Restaurant is bound to make most people’s stomachs sing with joy.
Koshari Abu Tarek – https://maps.app.goo.gl/5Fn2VdLrFjxSwgwv8
After enjoying the Egyptian koshary for the first time in Abu Dhabi, I knew that I had to try it again as soon as possible elsewhere. Unfortunately, I have to say that the one I tried in Koshari Abu Tarek was nowhere near as good as the one I had before. The tomato sauce was not as fragrant, the hot sauce tasted and felt more like a pepper mix, and the pasta itself was cooked a bit more than I wanted. With all of that being said, this is where I got to try yet another Egyptian delicacy for the first time, om ali. This basic dessert, consisting of some flaky bread doused in sweet milk and topped with a few nuts and raisins tasted far above my wildest expectations. I should say that I do prefer milky desserts, and thus this review may be a bit biased. However, I would try it again later on in Ras Al Khaimah and would enjoy it thoroughly once more. In fact, I will try my best to cook one myself at home, given how simple it seems to be. In any case, while the main reason I visited Koshari Abu Tarek did not impress me, I have to recommend them nevertheless given just how good the overall value is if you combine these two dishes for a quick lunch.
Curry Maria – https://maps.app.goo.gl/gMB4awYsqgkhyzXy5
It seemed like the number of Pakistani and Indian eateries far outnumbered the Arab ones, especially in Dubai, so I ended up trying a few of these as well. One of the most recommended spots for me was Curry Maria, a spotlessly clean Indian restaurant operating out of a hotel. While the staff here deserves all the praise in the world, the food was somewhat mediocre. However, for only slightly above 5 USD, what else can one expect? At the end, it was a tasty lunch, and perhaps, I just expected a bit too much from Indian seafood, as someone who was more accustomed to Indian vegetarian food. In any case, if you wish to enjoy some decent food, served by some of the friendliest of people, and does not cost you an arm and a leg, you should give Curry Maria a go.
Veg World Restaurant – https://maps.app.goo.gl/JJ2YiC8YAF8wnsXy5
If you are feeling a bit more adventurous and want to enjoy some proper Indian food in a more laid-back setting in the middle of Bur Dubai’s most chaotic neighbourhood, then a visit to Veg World Restaurant becomes a necessity. I will never quite forget the taste of the gini dosa I had here. While I expected this dish to be somewhat spicier, it was nevertheless truly a burst of flavours with the oozing cheese, fresh vegetables, and the flaky dosa which wrapped them all together to create a memorable experience. The chutney on the side did not manage to add much to the dish, however, it did not need any dressing anyways. Moreover, while I am no pani puri expert, the one I enjoyed here certainly satisfied my craving for this simple but addicting Indian snack, and the kulfi they make themselves certainly tasted quite fine to me as well. This is yet another cheap, welcoming, and on top of all of that, extremely tasty spot that one needs to visit during their time in Dubai.
Rollo Bollo Restaurant – https://maps.app.goo.gl/yjapdnWAEjBan7a2A
The number of Indian eateries in Dubai means that every now and then, someone tries something a bit different to differentiate themselves from the crowds. Rollo Bollo Restaurant is the result of such an attempt by a few young Indian entrepreneurs. While it is a bit of a stretch to call a spot in a shopping mall’s food court a restaurant, they do serve some high quality but low-cost meals to their patrons. The chili paneer roll I enjoyed here not only tasted good but also came with enough paneer to fill up any empty stomachs out there. It may not look like much in the photo, but this was one of the most protein-full meals I had in Dubai. Their green chutney surely paired well with the fries, though the latter could use some improvement. Also, I paid an extra 10 AED to upgrade my soft drink to a bubble tea, and frankly that was an unnecessary move. I mean, one should just stick to what they make the best here, fusion Indian cuisine. The wrap itself was fantastic, the chutney was good, but bubble tea and fries sure are not the focus of the young chefs, which is understandable. At the end, they are well worth supporting in their endeavours.
Farisian Star Cafeteria – https://maps.app.goo.gl/q3GrcepXgJLDsTWD7
If one wants to write about just how budget friendly it can be to eat outside in Dubai, it would not be just not to mention the Farisian Star Cafeteria, which manages to sell small falafel and vegetable pakora sandwiches for only 3.50 AED. Yes, you read that right. For slightly more than a USD, you can eat a somewhat tasty wrap full of healthy vegetables, though how hygienic this whole operation is quite questionable. To be fair, nothing happened to my stomach after enjoying a falafel wrap here, so, I suppose, everything is in order as it should be. While they cannot win any awards for taste, they sure serve some cheap grub, which may be useful to keep in mind for those late-night cravings you may have as you wonder around the streets of Bur Dubai.
Al Baik – https://www.instagram.com/albaikinuae
While it may be considered fast food by some, Al Baik is an institution that cannot be ignored if one wants to finalize a list of spots to eat good food for cheap in Dubai. This is where you can get some of the best fried shrimps and fish in fast food industry, alongside with their signature garlic and cocktail sauces. It is difficult to describe just how tasty the food in Al Baik really is. It all comes down to frying the food perfectly and making sure to use an actual syringe to equally distribute their tasty spicy sauce under the crispy crust of their fried food. While they are mostly known for their chicken, I can guarantee you that people are sleeping on the quality of the fried shrimp and fish nuggets here. Heck, even their extremely affordable spicy falafels are something out of this world, being much better than falafel you can find in most dedicated spots elsewhere. Al Baik is a must visit in the UAE, or anywhere else you visit that happens to have a branch of this Saudi franchise. This is fast food at its finest.
