City Burger Express is a mini version of an Indian cafeteria franchise of the same name (minus the express). It is very much a merger of western and eastern fast / street food where burgers and paratha wraps are served side by side. This small branch is located in the Aswaq Mall, beside the (Aswaq) Mosque, just off Umm Suqeim Road (turn right when you see the giant, green Dubai Hills billboard…driving towards Arabian Ranches). The interior is stereotypical of the classic Indian roadside café, with a frying / preparing food area on one side and a juice and tea beverages section where orders are taken and delivered from a small chest height opening. There are no more than two tables inside…
I came to pick up some breakfast…omelette parathas to be specific. Watching food being prepared at these hole-in-the-wall eateries is half the fun of visiting, and I was not disappointed. Most of the guys behind the cooking counters adopt this nonchalant look of supreme casualness, like “I’m so cool I can do all of this with my eyes closed, with one arm tied behind my back, while hopping on one leg”. And you know what, I honestly believe they can. So, I watched this big Indian bloke make our anda parathas from scratch at lightning speed. And because he wanted to make them extra special for me, he spread some Kraft cream cheese onto the paratha before wrapping the omelette in – super.
Service is fast rather than friendly, and a mumbled grunt is the most likely acknowledgement you will get to an order or query; consider yourself privileged if you get a smile. Prices are unbelievably keen, and quality is better than the industry average (possibly because of the Aswaq connection). Don’t bother driving out to have a meal here. It’s not that kind of a restaurant. If you are in the area an fancy a quick and nasty take away, however, this is a decent option.
Waste NOT. Want NOT.
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