Street Foods in Dubai: Dubai is a world-renowned luxurious city with huge skyscrapers and the rich lifestyle behind them, but once you step out of the hustle, you will enter into the world of rich colors and flavors that describe the people walking in the streets, their traditions, diversity, and social behavior. The street foods in Dubai offers a satisfying gastronomic experience with sizzling meat and fried snacks as well as sweet and local beverages. As you pass by in Al Karama, Meena Bazaar and other busy streets in Deira, you are met with the smell of hot meals which wakes the appetite both in the tourists and locals to explore the rich cuisine in Dubai. Without further ado, let us look at some of the most tempting street foods in Dubai you should not fail to experience during your visit.
Table of Contents
Here are Top 9 Street Foods in Dubai
1. Shish Tawouk Sandwich
The Shish Tawouk Sandwich is one of the most famous street foods in Dubai that locals and tourists love. It is an oriental specialty in which chicken dipped in marinades are rolled inside the bread loaded with pickles, sour sauce and fresh veggies. The combination of smoked, spicy, and tangy taste makes it a delicious snack on the street you will want to have again.
2. Harees
Harees is a wheat-based meat dish often prepared during Ramadan, Eid al-Adha, and weddings and is a traditional Emirati cuisine. It is cooked slowly over many hours until becoming creamy and porridge-like. Harees is also one of the most popular street foods in Dubai and is particularly popular during the season of festivities because of its sweet and comforting flavor.
3. Samboosa
You may be familiar with this deep-fried triangular shape of Samboosa associated with Indian food, but it has its twist in the city of Dubai. Filled with spiced meat, vegetables or even cheese it serves as the snack to have when you just need something quick. It is eaten on almost every market and street corner, which is why it is an inseparable part of the scene of street foods in Dubai.
4. Manakish
It is the Middle Eastern pizza. Manakish is a snack originating in Lebanon which can be consumed at breakfast or lunch and is particularly popular street foods in Dubai. It is topped with minced meat and mixed with zaatar or cheese and baked in traditional ovens, it is served hot. It is a favorite among the crowd because of the perfectly done crust and mouthwatering toppings.
5. Shawarma
No list of street foods in Dubai can possibly be complete without Shawarma. This wrap sounds the most popular Middle Eastern export, as the main ingredient of the dish, somehow thinly sliced meat (chicken, lamb, or beef) gets covered in soft pita bread dipped in garlic sauce, pickles, and vegetables. Shawarma shops are on every corner: food trucks, small spots, and it is both cheap and tasty.
6. Luqaimat
The Luqaimat is a sweet to recommend to anyone with a sweet tooth regarding the street foods in Dubai. These dough balls are deep-fried and are soft but crispy on the outside or fluffy on the inside with a drizzle of date syrup or honey and sprinkled with sesame seeds. They are served hot and have reached popularity as a Ramadan snack and can be purchased throughout the year in traditional food markets.
7. Karak
Although a drink according to a strict technical definition, Karak Chai is a legendary part of the street foods in Dubai. It is a robust milky tea with cardamom and other spice flavors, which is served in small cups or glasses. These can be found in every side of the street tea shops, with Karak being an everyday thing for most of the locals and the perfect beverage to go with any snack.
8. Madrooba
Madrooba is a typical Emirati food that stems out as a fish and spice based rich, satisfying porridge and is now available in the street food stalls. It is packed with flavor and nutrition, which makes it one of the more unique offerings on the street foods in Dubai and this has been a typical food loved by Emirati food. It is also popular at local festival and cultural gatherings.
9. Oman Chips Roll
The Oman Chips Roll is a favorite of both kids and adults, though it may seem more than a bit eccentric since it consists of crispy Oman chips combined with cheese and sauce rolled in a soft bread. It is nostalgic, enjoyable and characteristically a feature of the modern street foods in Dubai that represent the influence of local tastes and worldwide tendencies.
Also Read: Top 5 Best Night Spots in Dubai
Final Thoughts
Whether it is the smoky tastes of shawarma, crunchy sugary flavors of luqaimat, or a mix of spices in every dish, street foods in Dubai shows the spirit of nations colliding and the culinary artistry in this 21st century city. No one should pass an opportunity to see Dubai through its street food, be it your first visit there or you have lived in this part of the world most of your life. Inexpensive, tasteful and yet steeped in traditions, such dishes are a veritable city flavour of what this city is all about.