5 of the best Dubai dishes to try

A dish that chef Nobu Matsuhisa has made famous across his global list of restaurants can be enjoyed at his Dubai location. Sitting pretty atop Atlantis, The Palm, Nobu Dubai overlooks the wonders of Dubai's manmade island, Palm Jumeirah. This iteration of his miso black cod is grilled to perfection with the right amount of sweetness and buttery, flakey fish. Pair with a generous helping of fluffy Japanese white rice and you've got yourself a moreish mouthful that's worth writing home about.

While this might not be the prettiest dish on Taverna's menu, it's arguably the tastiest. Soutzoukakia is a plate of slightly spicy beef and lamb meatballs, drenched in traditional tomato salsa and served on a bed of authentic Greek yoghurt, eggplant purée and graviera cheese. It's indulgent and fulfilling, with flavourful meat and creamy, cheesy purée. Use the wafter-thin crispy bread to mop up the remaining sauce for instant satisfaction.

Kinoya was awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand and came seventh on the MENA 50 Best list in 2023. A restaurant with simple dishes done well, Kinoya's famous ramen is a must-try for everyone in the city. The chef's special is the shio paitan ramen, made with slow-cooked chicken broth with dashi, served with seared chicken and drizzled mayu.

Dubai restaurateurs know that for a dish to stand out as one of the best in the city, it needs to have creativity, plenty of flavour and Instagram appeal. Reif's marble bun ticks all the above and more, with its soft and chewy texture, balanced taste profile and pretty presentation. Available at the Dubai Hills branch, the dish features rolls of wagyu tenderloin paired with Japanese otoro tuna and bacon jam.

What started as an experiment quickly became one of this Michelin-star restaurant's signature dishes. The dish is a 'fancy take' on the first thing chef Solemann Haddad cooked when he was just four years old; a grilled cheese sandwich. Elevated with charcoal-kissed Hokkaido milk bread, black garlic carpaccio and 36-month aged Parmigiano-Reggiano, this isn't your grandmother's grilled cheese. It is exceptional.