Qinghaihu is an authentic Chinese restaurant in the China Cluster of International City, Dubai’s unofficial China Town. It’s located next door to Wenzhou, the famous Chinese speciality supermarket and one of my favourite Chinese restaurants in International City, Sun Tour. Like many of the Chinese restaurants in the area, Qinghaihu specialises in Xinjiang cuisine, the … Continue reading Qinghaihu – China Cluster, International City
Xiao Wei Yang is an authentic Chinese / Mongolian hotpot franchise with four branches scattered across Dubai, this most recent one in Barsha-1 included. The interiors are much the same; simple, for the most part clean, and in typical Chinese style, with common dining area in the middle and private dining rooms on the sides. … Continue reading Xiao Wei Yang Hotpot – Barsha-1
Yashar Palace is Dubai’s newest, authentic Persian-Iranian restaurant. Sandwiched between TGI Friday’s and the Turkish Village near the Grand Mosque beside Spinneys in Jumeirah 1, it is also one of the largest. The front half of the restaurant has a skylight ceiling covered with (plastic) vine plant creepers giving the room a bright, natural look/feel…a … Continue reading Yashar Palace – Jumeirah 1
Khoory Special (Khass) Kabab is a simple, old school, South Iranian restaurant behind the Ramada Hotel in Hor Al Anz. It has not one, but two unique selling propositions: amazing kababs, and fresh, on-site baked Sangak flat bread. The interior of the restaurant is…um, really red, and wouldn’t look out of place as a Chinese … Continue reading Khoory Special Kabab – Hor Al Anz
Indo Indo Seafood & Grill is a casual dining, Indonesian seafood restaurant in Cluster D of JLT. Located at lake level, it’s right next door to Mexican bad boys, Chalco’s. The interior is minimalistic (b-o-r-i-n-g), with a grey epoxy-style floor, blacked-out, exposed ceiling, and simple wooden tables and benches. A single life saver on the wall … Continue reading Indo Indo Seafood & Grill – Cluster D, JLT
Mughaliya Darbar is an Indian restaurant in Cluster H of JLT which, among other things, serves one of the best Hyderabadi Biryanis available in Dubai. Like sister concern, Tayeb Kitchen in Al Khabaisi, its interior is modest, clean and comfortable. The food in general, not just the Biryani, is very good. My food buddy, Ashwani, … Continue reading Mughaliya Darbar – Cluster H, JLT
Dishoom is a London franchise based on the famous Bombay Irani cafés of the early 1900’s. This King’s Cross branch, the third incarnation, is fashioned out of an old railway transit shed which was actually used for goods passing between Britain and India. Built over three floors (two and a half really), its interior unashamedly … Continue reading Dishoom – King’s Cross, London
Jones the Grocer is a premium Aussie café-style restaurant. Once the darling of Dubai, and now with no less than four branches, it’s hard to find anyone who has not been to a Jones. I find this big Manara branch the least laid back and relaxed. In fact, I find it has a very businessy … Continue reading Jones the Grocer – Al Safa
Pushkin is a small Russian restaurant located at the base of Lake View Tower, Cluster B, JLT. Its interior looks more like Del Boy’s office than a restaurant; with cartons and boxes (of suspect origin) stacked in the corners, and behind the cash counter…which was really an office desk. And what about that chandelier? The … Continue reading Pushkin Russian Restaurant – Cluster B, JLT
Finding, and then getting to Han Cuisine Restaurant is something of an adventure. Why? Let’s start with the fact that there are NO ROADS. And that’s because they haven’t been completed. So basically, you have you trek across a barren, sandy plot or through a construction site (depending on which way you choose to tackle … Continue reading Han Cuisine Restaurant – Business Bay
