There is much more on offer than just amazing Middle Eastern food, says Ipshita Sharma and tells you all about it.
Iftars are de rigueur in this glorious month of Ramadan but now that Dubai has so many authentic restaurants; it makes sense that there’s a lot of variety out there for us to try. And since we have a whole month to try out iftars, why shouldn’t we try to go around the world while staying in Dubai?
Head to this elegant and gorgeously set up Turkish restaurant for a glimpse into the best of what Turkiye has to offer. Their iftar offering has amazing starters and the very best breads to start off; this is followed by a very intensely flavoured lentil soup. The starters range from vegan and vegetarian options to their special range of Turkish kebaps. We can select from a choice of delightful dishes including grilled sea bass and zeytinyagli pirasa (braised vegetables), succulent adana kebap, roasted chicken, and keskek (barley risotto with truffle butter). End this delicious meal with a range of Andalusian desserts, coffees and teas. Ask for a table outdoors for an incredible view while the weather is still lovely!
Ruya at St Regis the Palm. The iftar is priced at AED 280, the iftar menu is available from sunset to 8:30pm
For super fantastic and truly authentic Vietnamese food, try out this cult favourite local restaurant chain. The 5 outlets are all serving the iftar for dine in and delivery – and it is easily a great option! Choose from a huge range of choices across 4 courses, and there are options for various diets available. We tried the raw papaya salad, coconut prawns tempura and the pho and more and they were all fantastic. There are also additional menu options available for an add-on of 10 AED and we chose the lemongrass chicken from those and it was truly worth it. Not only will this feed you for iftar time, but also give you leftovers for the next day! To complete the Iftar is homemade Marshmallow and Vanilla Nougat, made with marshmallow raisin, almond honey, cashew walnut, dates and pistachio, gifted with each order, dine-in or delivery.
Vietnamese Foodies’ Viet-Iftar priced AED 109, will be available during opening hours at the restaurant’s Dubai HIlls Mall, Nakheel Mall, JLT and Downtown Dubai locations. The Viet-Iftar is also available daily for delivery through the restaurant’s website www.vietnamesefoodies.com or via Deliveroo.
Al Afiya Maghrebi Restaurant – Abu Dhabi
Looking for an authentic Moroccan iftar this Ramadan? Head to Al Afiya Maghrebi restaurant for your dose of Tajines. Chef Hayat has carefully curated the signature buffet spread with the ingredients all sourced from Morocco. The dishes include harira soup, plum tajine and tanjia all of which taste both familiar and totally unexpected at the same time. The fluffy couscous is a nice change from all the rice at the other iftars. The highlight here are the various teas and sweets that are on offer. The servers are on hand to take you through the various teas and to help you choose!
Al Afiya Maghrebi Restaurant is available on 02 665 6699 and their iftar is available daily for AED 105
Asian street food takes on a fun little turn at this cute little eatery at Dubai Silicon Oasis. The service is great and the menu is really fun, even moreso during this wonderful Ramadan season. Choose between a variety of options over four courses and you can find your way across Indonesia, China, Philippines and even Korea. The Kimchi ramen is amazing, so are the baos and the miso lentil soup is just fantastic! You can even check out their special iftar drinks, we loved the rose latte and the dessert pisang goreng (fried plantain with ice cream) for the best ending to this fantastic food experience. It is only available for dine in though.
Baofriend A3, Dubai Design Park 04 287 5120 and their iftar is available daily for AED 69
Bella – Grand Millennium Hotel
Iftar with a side of La Dolce Vita is yours for the taking at Bella restaurant. Start off with Zuppa or soups and antipasti, from puntarelle salad to Halloumi cheese wrap with pine nuts, parsley and dates, follow this up with a Risotto will be made of pilaf rice, capsicum, pistachio, raisins, saffron, and a yummy confit of lamb shoulder, followed by a choice of Wagyu short rib or Breaded swordfish. To end the feast, Bella’s pastry chefs have imagined an Italian gelato made with camel milk, cherries and almond crumble or a platter of season fruits.
Bella at Grand Millennium Hotel. Iftar served daily from sunset to 9pm AED 199 food only and AED250 with welcome drinks
This super cool food court in the heart of the city is having a fun time this Ramadan with each of the Market’s homegrown vendors that will be serving up specialised iftar dishes. The iftar thali from Masti features fruit, lentil soup, samosas, lamb haleem etc. Pitfire will have a pulled lamb shawarma pizza and Slab Cocina has Peruvian Kabobs with creamy corn and chutney. Reif has braised Japanese lamb shank curry while 21 Grams has Bosnian dumplings with garlic yoghurt on the side. For those with a sweeter tooth, Scoopi has a new flavour; Madagascar Vanilla Bean Ice Cream with fresh dates. This is a special and unique way of travelling all around the world right in one place!
Those who want to go the traditional route – these are some highlights –
Yalumba at Le Meredien near the Airport Road priced at AED 185. Call 04 702 2455
Aqua Chill Rooftop at Marriott Jaddaf priced at AED 250. Call 04 317 7777
Luma Pool Lounge at Grand Creek Harbour priced at AED 270. Call 04 275 8833