Newly opened Kimura-Ya could possibly be the BEST casual dining, authentic, izakaya-style Japanese restaurant in Dubai. Located in the lobby of the Oberoi Hotel in Business Bay, it looks and feels like a scaled-up version of sister concern, Fujiya, on which it is loosely based. It’s very much like walking into any mid-segment Tokyo eatery. … Continue reading Kimura-Ya – Business Bay
Umami, which translates to “pleasant savoury taste” in Japanese, is a constantly improving mall-based franchise which serves affordable, casual, street food style Japanese favourites ranging from ramen to sushi. The Umami menu is extensive and will appeal to most – even those who are not Japanese food fans. Although there are now many restaurants serving … Continue reading Umami – BurJuman, Mankhool
Karam Beirut Street Kitchen is, as its name suggests, a spin-off of the famous Lebanese franchise, Karam Beirut. This newly opened delivery only facility in Al Quoz represents a rapidly growing trend by mainstream restaurants to expand through delivery “ghost” or “dark” kitchens dotted across town. This is the third such delivery kitchen Karam Beirut … Continue reading Karam Beirut Street Kitchen – Al Quoz
Indian Summer is a North Indian franchise of restaurants which comes to us via…um, Saudi Arabia. Yeah really. Located immediately next door to thali masters, Rajdhani, on Street 15 A in Karama, Indian Summer has an expansive, handsomely decorated, upmarket interior. This is somewhere you would be equally comfortable bringing family and friends to as … Continue reading Indian Summer – Karama
Desi Wings is a budding delivery-only franchise of kitchens serving Indian inspired baked-not-fried chicken wings. I should say ‘aspiring’ franchise as there are currently only two outlets, Oud Metha and the one in Barsha which sent us our order. My foodie buddies and I taste-tested two variants, Chacha Sriracha and Peri-Peri Kaeri, against a group … Continue reading Desi Wings – Barsha
Behrouz Biryani is a delivery only franchise of kitchens serving biryani and nothing but biryani. Spread over three locations, Karama, Business Bay and the one we ordered from in JLT, Behrouz has most of Dubai pretty much covered. In addition to the name, the other give away to their Irani connection is the fact that … Continue reading Behrouz Biryani – JLT
Chelo, which means rice in Persian, could possibly be the worst Iranian restaurant in Dubai. Even non-Iranian restaurants like Caesars make better Chelo Kabab than these guys. We ordered from them as part of our weekly foodies themed lunch, benchmarking them against a cross-section of Dubai’s Iranian restaurants. It was no surprise that they came … Continue reading Chelo – Dubai Marina
I can’t remember the last time my senses ran in two totally opposite directions as they did when I walked into Hitchki. My eyes said wow! what an interesting interior but my nose said poof! poof! poof! – it was hot, stuffy and stinking of stale curry – and this was at lunch where there … Continue reading Hitchki – Barsha Heights
Sausage Fabrique is a self-confessed “modern butchery & delicatessen” which serves, as its name suggests, sausages and hot dogs but also burgers. We had a couple of their burgers delivered to one of our Thursday “themed” lunches to taste side-by-side some of the newest burgers in town, namely Ugly Burger, The Butcher and Good Burger … Continue reading Sausage Fabrique – Dubai Marina
Aaraamam is a franchise of restaurants specialising in authentic Kerala cuisine. This branch, located on Rolla Street where @rajdhanithali used to be, is the most modern and handsomely appointed of the four @aaraamamrestaurant branches in Dubai. I was there with my sister for some Friday morning breakfast. Off the bat – their dosa, idli, vada … Continue reading Aaraamam – Mankhool
