With a vibrant Palestinian community in Dubai, the city’s streets are home to a large number of traditional bakeries and eateries. In Dubai’s thriving food scene, Palestinian cuisine is becoming more abundant. The city, which has a flourishing Palestinian community, has developed into a center for traditional bakeries and eateries that offer the flavorful, hearty cuisine of Palestine.
Along with a selection of desserts, these restaurants give customers a tasty array of classic Palestinian cuisine and traditional desserts. Below, GRAZIA brings you 12 must-try Palestinian restaurants and bakeries.
Bait Jafra
Using traditional recipes and artisanal ingredients inspired by old-school cuisine prepared in Jerusalem hundreds of years ago, Bait Jafra is a traditional Palestinian restaurant and bakery located in Dubai. The Town Square neighborhood restaurant is run by Palestinians and serves a wide variety of Palestinian dishes, such as mutabbaq, manakish, baked eggs and musakhan.
Daily from 10am to 1am, Town Square Dubai
Bait Maryam
Bait Maryam, which means “the home of Maryam,” in Arabic, serves warming and comforting Palestinian food. Salam Daqqaq, the restaurant’s owner, honours her late mother Maryam in her meals. Decorated with antiques from her family’s Palestine home, the restaurant is abundant in culture. Alayet banadoura, kebab hamoudi, fatet musakhan, Maryam foukhar and Maryam salad should all be tried. Not to mention, the delectable Mansaf.
Daily from 12pm to 11pm. Cluster D, JLT
Foul W Hummus
This spot in Al Barsha is a must-try Palestinian restaurant and incredibly welcoming. Looking for a quick and hearty meal? Craving a falafel sandwich? Foul W Hummus has it all. Make a pit stop for breakfast in the morning or indulge in their food after a night out.
Daily from 8am to 2am. Rose Garden Hotel Apartments, Al Barsha
Haya’s Kitchen
Haya’s kitchen offers workshops, classes and pop-ups regarding all things Palestine. She follows her grandmother’s own handmade Palestinian recipes and her food is made with love. Keep an eye out for when her next pop-up is on and make your way over for some delicious, made with love, Palestinian food.
Kave
The upcycling concept Kave was founded by two Palestinian sisters, Rania and Zaina Kana’an. The creators are responsible for each item on the menu are the core of what sets Kave apart. In addition to fair trade stores, Kave has a cafe with soulful food options and Charicycles, the only custom bicycle store in Dubai. Kave is a community center where you can participate in classes that promote kindness via needlework, painting and warak rolling, among other workshops.
From 11am to 8pm on Tuesdays to Sundays, Alserkal Avenue
Mama’esh
With Mama’esh, “Palestine is a bite away” and that is an understatement. Amazing food awaits you, like oven-baked halloumi, mouth-watering musakhan rolls and of course, the manakish. The Akkawi cheese used in their manakish is delectable. Mama’esh exclusively uses organic flour in the baking and every mouthful demonstrates the high caliber of the ingredients. Mama’esh is well regarded for its reasonable prices, complimentary water and exceptional personnel.
Mishkah
Established in 2022, tucked away in Al Quoz 2 on a corner, is this charming café and olive oil store serves a variety of specialty teas, coffees and pastries. Bringing in olive oil, herbs and spices straight from Palestine, Mishkah offers a distinctive culinary experience. Get your hands on top-notch culinary ingredients straight from Palestine. It’s a particularly special spot for GRAZIA as we celebrated International Women’s Day here earlier this year.
From 9am to 9pm on Tuesday to Sunday, Al Quoz Industrial Area 3
Nablus Knafeh
Palestinian restaurants boast the must-have Kunafa. This Palestinian restaurant claims it intends to take its customers back to Nablus’ old city in Palestine. A must-try Palestinian delicacy is a typical kunafa, a delicious pastry and cheese combination. Grab one and relax in the old Al Seef town’s alleyways.
From10am to 11pm on Monday to Friday and 10am to Midnight on Saturday to Sunday, Al Seef
Teta’s Recipe
Teta’s Recipe in Al Barsha South is the place to go if you want to eat real Palestinian food prepared by a grandmother. Think traditional foods like fatayer, appetisers, traditional Palestinian sweets and more. Daily dishes include musakhan, kibbeh, shish barak and even kabsa chicken.
Daily from 8am- to 10pm, Arjan Dubailand, Al Barsha South
The Palestinian Bakery
The Palestinian Bakery, situated on Alserkal Avenue, sells a range of fatayer and manakish. The artistic district is infused with the comforting flavors of Palestinian cuisine by the street corner kiosk bakeries. The apricot jam and cheese fatayer from the bakery are a must-try for those who enjoy both sweet and savory foods. Most places in Dubai are also served by The Palestinian Bakery’s deliveries. Check it out on Talabat, Careem and Deliveroo.
Daily from 9am to 11pm, Alserkal Avenue
Three by Eva
Food prepared with love tastes just better. Three by Eva, named for the three women who came up with the idea—Eva Halasa Rihani, her daughters Emilie and Lilian Rihani—is located at the center of Jumeirah. Three by Eva is renowned for its cakes and sweets, which include the coconut cake, coffee croquant cake, mini sourdough babka and ma’moul filled with date, pistachio or walnut paste. The restaurant offers a carefully curated menu that includes family favorites like homemade warak enab and kousa, watermelon and cheese salad, mansaf and a selection of fatayer.
Daily from 7:30am to midnight, Villa 53, Al Wasl Street, 23B St, Jumeirah 2
Yava
Palestinian restaurants promise the ultimate traditional experience. Yava is a contemporary Palestinian restaurant with a laid-back vibe, situated in Wasl 51. The owner, Basil Yassin, skillfully showcases the ingredients in the majority of the menu items at YAVA, which he founded as a tribute to the city of Jaffa in Palestine. Offering a mix of meals, every piece of equipment and every aspect of the venue is a reflection of his travels throughout the Mediterranean and his home.
Daily from 8am to 1am, Wasl 51, Wasl Road
