Dubai - Post Report Question and Answers
What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
Uber Eats, Deliveroo, Talabat are all very popular for delivery. Many, many excellent Lebanese/Syrian and Indian (especially South Indian) options. Italian, Mexican, and Asian (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Viet) options were average to poor. Also impossible to find a decent croissant or baguette. That said, the food scene is very diverse. Overall, Dubai's restaurant scene is a solid B. The more expensive the place, the more you are paying for the ambiance (fancy hotel, good view, exclusivity). In fact, much better (and affordable!) meals can be had in hole-in-the-walls in Old Dubai, where the meal will cost as much as you pay for water in a fancy restaurant. - Mar 2021
Anything and everything. The food is a B+, lots of pretty good options but not a lot of stand outs. Deliveroo is a popular delivery app. - Jan 2021
This is Dubai. Tons of restaurants ranging from cheap Pakistani food to extremely expensive high-end restaurants in five star hotels and everything in between. Dubai's restaurant scene is truly diverse and extensive. - Dec 2016
Every chain that you could imagine is in Dubai. 15 percent more expensive than in the U.S. - Jul 2013
Tons. Seems to be more expensive than in the USA - Aug 2011
Food quality and price can vary wildly. There are some truly fantastic restaurants here which are very expensive. There are also many cheaper options which are excellent. Lots of places home deliver (including all the big name fast food joints). Pretty much any type of food you fancy is available here. Alcohol is expensive. - Jan 2011
Just about anything you want is available, from street vendors to exclusive resturants. Naan and rice from Karachi Darbar runs about 4 AED. A regular Big Mac meal is 16 AED. You can feed a family of four (with adult appetites) for 70 AED at Ravi's in Satwa--Pakistani food. You can spend 150AED for Friday brunch at a hotel. ALL food establishments, from the kiosks at a mall to restaurants, charge a service fee. Sometimes it is shown on the bill. This is not the tip; this is the "tax" that is paid to the municipality. - Sep 2009
