Top 5 Indian Restaurants in Dubai
These are my list of top 5 Indian Restaurants in Dubai: a melting pot of cultures. As Indian and Indian subcontinent is one of the most represented nationalities in Dubai, you will also be spoilt for choice when it comes to Indian food. Any Indian restaurant chain worth its morsel will find a mention in Dubai too. The names that make to the top of the list are the ones not present in India while the last few can be found in major Indian cities too. All these top 5 Indian restaurants in Dubai are highly rated as expected, So without further ado, here goes my list:
Carnival by Tresind:
Carnival by Tresind, is one of the best Indian restaurants in Dubai. Post-Modernistic Indian food in a carnival setting. It has an air of celebration, funkiness and bringing together of myriad colors reflected by their decor, servers, plating and food. In the Indian context a carnival or a “Mela” is a place where cultures and people from all walks of life meet without boundaries and enjoy. To me, the core philosophy of this restaurant seemed to be: “An attempt to bring under one roof the quintessentially Indian flavours and cuisines from different times and places of this vibrant country – India” .
What sets it apart from others: Delectable food from bylanes of different towns and cities, sometimes from a bygone era in India served in a funky atmosphere
Cost for 2: AED 400 for 2 people
Mint Leaf of London
This one features right on top of the top 5 Indian restaurants in Dubai.
The Indian dishes we know of have been given a healthy and at the same time a fusion-ish twist. Imagine Gilauti kebabs of yam served with strawberry chutney and trust me when I say they taste heavenly. Very delicately handled flavours almost with subtlety and compassion. Sourced from the best to retain the authentic flavour with the twist and fusion. Great ambience and service to complete the experience
What sets it apart from others: Fusion of North Indian flavours with food from all over the world in unusual combinations.
Cost for 2: AED 500 for 2 people (including drinks)
Pepper Mill
Pepper Mill, while may not be the one of the best Indian restaurants in Dubai, claims itself for bringing to life culinary art from Colonial India. In the process, they add some of their own magic to the dishes and what you get is lip-smacking food which is a sight for hungry eyes and bellies. Recommend it if you are in or around Dubai Mall or Festival City and looking for an Indian restaurant.
There are some twists and its somewhere in between a Farzi Cafe and Mint Leaf with some theatrics, some fusion and some very authentic flavours.
We would have loved to try out some of their options like curry road the dabbawala experience
What sets it apart from others: Some very local Indian flavours like dabbawala curries and unusual combinations in drinks like lychee anardana.
Cost for 2: AED 300 for 2 people
Masala Library by Jiggs Kalra
Masala Library by Jiggs Kalra is a restaurant I had been wanting to go to since Oct 2014, when it opened its doors to foodies in Mumbai. At one point it was touted as one of the best Indian restaurants in Dubai too. I remember the times when it was fully booked out almost 2-3 weeks in advance. After my experience at Masala Library Dubai, I know why. Very refreshing flavours drawing inspiration not only from North India but also beautifully from South and East (read Bengal). Needless to mention the extremely appetizing plating, as is the case with some of the other restaurants mentioned here.
What sets it apart from others: Flavours from south and east intermingled with those from North, making it a truly Indian restaurant.
Cost for 2: AED 300 for 2 people
Farzi Cafe
Everything about it is absolutely farzi (not real)… Its not really a cafe and not really Indian cuisine. What it dishes out is an absolutely lip smacking melange of Indian ingredients with molecular cuisine twists. Zorawar Kalra has created magic in rethinking Indian delicacies, some as close to home as Dal Chawal. The plating is super chic doing justice to art in the appearance just as much in the flavours.
It is one of my all time favourite restaurants and I whole heartedly recommend it whether in India or in Dubai. If you’re asking what is Molecular Gastronomy, and don’t want to go through the science of it explained on Wikipedia, here is the simple answer for you: Imagine powder that turns to bhujia, foam that turns to chutney, yogurt that comes in the shape of a ball in the mist of liquid nitrogen… you get the sense!
What sets it apart from others: Twisted and Farzified regular Indian food
Cost for 2: AED 250
