Dubai’s Best Street Food Spots

A Mexican restaurant from chef Shaw Lash, who previously worked with Chicago-based regional Mexican cuisine expert Rick Bayless and studied under a prominent food writer Diana Kennedy, who spent over 50 years studying the cuisine and culinary traditions of Mexico. Levering this extensive experience, chef Lash has established a small and authentic taqueria on Dubai’s main tourist promenade, Jumeirah Street. The taqueria offers traditional Mexican street fare such as tacos al pastor and churros with homemade salted caramel, alongside designer dishes that adhere classic recipes like Yukatecan-style spicy roasted chicken. The menu is small but comprehensive, and the atmosphere is informal. Lila Taqueria is a standout.

This is the brainchild of French chef and Vatel Business School graduate Moïse Sfez, inspired by New York street food culture. It marks the Middle East’s first branch of the award-winning shop known for its lobster rolls and sandwiches, which initially made a splash in Paris before gaining global recognition, including in the United States. In 2018, Homer Lobster won the Celebrity Favorite nomination at the World’s Best Lobster Roll competition in Portland, ME. True to the essence of a classic street food joint, Homer Lobster has a small menu. In addition to its signature dish (lobster roll or lobster and crayfish roll), the menu offers a grilled cheese sandwich, a tuna sandwich (boasting one of Dubai’s best tuna melts), salmon pastrami, and a limited selection of sides and sauces. This establishment is the main street food venue in the DIFC district and ranks as the runner-up in our rating.

The favorite sandwich shop of Dubai foodies was founded by Emiratis and childhood friends Talal Hizami, Ramez Mikhail, and Tarek Roumie. Their career in food was almost accidental and began after their sandwich shop proved to be so popular at the Sole DXB city festival that one of them was constantly forced to run to neighboring shops in search of turkey meat for new orders. The permanent venue, which opened at Wasl Square a year later, offers a limited selection of salads and specialty coffee in addition to the sandwiches. It immediately replicated the success of the street pop-up, and today, in addition to the legendary TLT with turkey, Rascals also offers the roast beef sandwich and its new hit, The Philly, with rib-eye steak, caramelized onion, and provolone cheese.

A trendy pizzeria, opened by one of the Rascals Deli co-founders, Talal Hizami, offers a menu featuring six excellent pizzas along with temporary specials, all sold by the slice. This popular New York concept first made a splash in Dubai here. The best standout items on the menu include The Pepp with its signature cheese mix, The Red with stracciatella and honey, and The Tartufo truffle pizza. Additionally, the pizzeria offers appetizers such as French fries and pepperoni crisps, as well as desserts like cheesecake and tiramisu. To avoid standing in line, it's best to visit at the 5 pm opening or around 10 pm when the heat subsides, allowing you to sit at the counter outside.

This is a local project that has become quite popular among the locals. It is one of Dubai’s best chains with branches throughout city and a delivery service. The pizza is made on a signature artisanal dough that is proofed for 72 hours. The menu also offers comfort food such as salads, pasta, and desserts, but the top two bestsellers—the classic Pepperoni Primo and Margherita—remain perennial favorites at all Pitfire venues year after year. Word on the street is that the secret to their success is the city’s best pizza crust.

This pizzeria, situated in a small glass pavilion in the Umm Suqeim 2 beach zone, has limited seating inside and a small terrace. You cannot book a table, and getting inside is a challenging task. From the moment it opens until late at night, there is a daily line at Blu, which can last an hour or more. There are two solutions to this dilemma: either sign up for the wait list with the hostess and go for a walk along the sea on Al Soon Street or order a pizza to go. The menu offers just five pizzas, and all of them are impeccable. If you want something beyond the classic offerings, choose the Musakhan, which is topped with chicken fried with onions and almonds, inspired by a Palestinian street food of the same name.

A Chinese cuisine restaurant whose story began more than 50 years ago at small street food stall selling xiao long bao in Taipei has evolved into one of the world’s best chains offering Asian street and home food in an express café format. In Asia, people visit Din Tai Fung for a quick business lunch or to purchase fried rice and fried noodles to go. They also come specifically for the signature xiao long bao, which has collected all conceivable culinary awards over the years. This is a top choice for any occasion.