cafe arabesque MiDDle eaSTern $$
Map p208 (%04-317 2222; http://www.dubai.park
.hyatt.com; park hyatt Dubai, next to Dubai Creek
Golf & yacht Club; mezze Dh35-70, kebabs Dh60-
180, set menus from Dh150 Wed-Fri; c) Snag
a table on the Creekside verandah, then
dip into a pool of pleasurable dishes from
Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Turkey at this
classy yet low-key eatery at the Park Hy-
att. As well as a tantalising selection of
mezze and salads, there are juicy kebabs
prepared in the wood-burning oven and
reasonably priced set menus. Reservations
recommended.Thai KiTchen Thai $$
Map p208 (%04-602 1234; http://www.dubai.park.hyatt
.com; park hyatt Dubai, next to Dubai Creek Golf
& yacht Club; small dishes Dh28-60, set menus
Dh210; h7pm-midnight) The decor is decidedly
un-Thai, with black-lacquer tables, a swoop-
ing wave-form ceiling and not a branch of
bamboo. But the Thai chefs know their stuff:
dishes are inspired by Bangkok street eats
and served tapas-style, perfect for grazing
and sharing. Standouts include chicken mas-
saman curry, lobster tail and cashews, and
green papaya salad. The Friday brunch here
is excellent. Reservations recommended.deira’s besT eThnic eaTsIf you want to sample some of Dubai’s cheapest and best ethnic cooking, hit the
backstreets of Deira, and eat beside the working-class expat workers who’ve import-
ed their culinary traditions to Dubai� The following recommendations are for adven-
turous travellers� At first glance, some might look scary – Westerners don’t usually
wander into these joints – but we’ve sampled all of them, and they’re the real deal� In
a city that embraces artificiality, it’s refreshing to find authenticity� Best of all, you’ll
probably get change from your Dh50 note� No credit cards�
ashwaq cafeteria (Map p206; Sikkat al-khail St) Located in a prime people-watching
spot at the junction of Al-Soor and Sikkat al-Khail Sts, this is not much more than a
kiosk with a few outside tables serving up excellent shwarma, washed down with a
fresh mango juice�
abesinian restaurant (Map p206; Somali St, near 23 St junction; mains Dh12-35;
h10am-midnight) The staff are welcoming and warm at this homey Ethiopian restau-
rant, where the big platters of curry and stews are best sopped up with injera, spongy
flatbread of native grain� Tricky to find but worth it�
afghan Khorasan Kebab house (Map p206; behind naif Mosque, off Deira St; mains
Dh15-35; h11am-1am) Big hunks of meat – lamb, beef, chicken – charred on foot-long
skewers come served with rice and bread� Eat with your hands, but not if you opt for
the Afghan curry� Tricky to find but locals can direct you�
al-baghdadi home (Map p206; al-Mateena St, opposite Dubai palm hotel; mains Dh30-
60; hnoon-3am) In Little Iraq, on one of Dubai’s best, lesser-known walking streets,
Al-Baghdadi spit-roasts whole fish beside an open fire (the traditional preparation) in
the restaurant’s window, and serves it with bread and lentil salad� (Note: Don’t order
randomly – patchaa is sheep’s head�)
aroos damascus (Map p206; al-Muraqqabat rd, at al-Jazeira St; mains Dh10-30; h7am-
3am; c) Syrian food is similar to Lebanese, but uses more cumin in the fattoosh and
spice in the kebabs� Our favourite dish is arayees (Syrian bread stuffed with ground
lamb and grilled)� The sweetness of the bread plays off the gamey flavour of the
meat� Great tabouli, fantastic fresh-from-the-oven bread, huge outdoor patio and
cool flickering neon�
pinoy Grill (Map p206; al-rigga rd, at al-Jazeira St; dishes Dh15-30; hnoon-2am Sat-Thu,
1pm-2am Fri; c) A friendly and welcoming intro to the weird, wonderful world of Fili-
pino cuisine, which borrows from Spanish, Indonesian and French, mixing pungent
ingredients, such as garlic and chillies, in sweet and savoury combinations not al-
ways tastebud-friendly to foreigners� But the menu is in English, and the super-fun
staff will guide you�d
eira
(^) e
aT
in
G