Some of the BEST Middle Eastern Food & Desserts, all in 1 Place in Dubai
- JP
- Oct 4, 2017
- 4 min read
Taking the first step is always the most difficult part, and while I have plenty of food & places I want to write about in Dubai, I’ve been thinking “What do I start with?”
As I mentioned before, I’m not out to write about fancy restaurants or the famous 5, 6 & 7 star hotels of Dubai. I’m actually looking for the unexplored backstreet. The wild untamed side of Dubai, the UAE, and wherever else I go! I like my food & places urban, unknown and preferably inexpensive, so I decided the perfect place to start is a typical “homemade cooking” style eatery that makes, not 1, but 3 of my favorite dishes from 3 different Middle Eastern countries.
Our Place of the Day is: “Qwaider Al Nabulsi”
And the dishes are: Egyptian “Molokhia”, Lebanese “Kibbeh Labanieh”, and Jordanian “Mansaf”!
For anybody who’s never tried any of these dishes, you are probably wondering: “Is he talking about food or some kind of voodoo ritual?” and probably with a “wtf” Trump-Like kind of facial expression. But if you’ve ever tried any of them, your mouth should be watering just at the mention of these hearty heavenly delicious delicacies… and for good reason!
So first, a quick overview of the dishes…
Molokhia is a very traditional dish in Egypt that is usually served with Chicken (or more traditionally rabbit), but it also has multiple variations with beef, lamb, shrimp or even fish. It is made of finely diced leaves, cooked in a broth with garlic and coriander, and made into a kind of thick green soup, served over Egyptian rice (white rice with vermicelli), or sometimes just with Egyptian pita bread. It has a somewhat viscous texture, and is extremely nutritious and delicious.
Kibbeh Labanieh is a popular homemade Lebanese dish that my grandmother used to make. It uses the Lebanese kibbeh (kinda like meatballs), immersed in a rich yogurt-based dip with herbs and garlic, and usually served with white rice and pine nuts. It is thick, creamy and an absolute delight to the senses.
Mansaf… now Mansaf is a whole different ballgame altogether because while in theory it somewhat resembles the kibbeh dish… truly, it is a whole other monster! Mansaf literally translates into “destruction” or “destroyer”, and that is exactly what it does. It is a traditional Jordanian dish that is almost never made in single-portion size and rarely every eaten outside of homes. Rather, it is typically served as a “sadr” (a huge serving tray meant for at least 3-4 people) with a thin layer of flat bread on the bottom, covered in a pile of rich yellowish rice with herbs & pine nuts, and then topped with another pile of fresh wholesome chunks of mutton; all accompanied by a big bowl of the main and most important part of the dish… the “Jameed”. Basically Jameed is an extremely rich dairy-based liquid that is then scooped over the rice making it soggy, and then eaten together with cutlets of mutton chunks (hell, my mouth is watering right now just describing it!). Thankfully, Qwaider Al Nabulsi actually offers single-portion sized platters of mansaf, though I honestly recommend you share even the single plate. Not just that… Their mansaf is actually the BEST mansaf I have ever tried outside of a Jordanian household. (Keep in mind, though, if you ever have mansaf at a Jordanian house, you will likely have to use your hands and eat from the main sadr… none of that civil fork and spoon BS!)
Ok, maybe the Mansaf overview wasn’t -quick-, but then how could it be… it’s a MONSTER of a meal! And honestly, after describing the dishes, I don’t think I need to say much more about the restaurant, apart from it being one of the best places I’ve ever had all 3 of these dishes. The eatery also serves a great Palestinian “Musakhan” dish, which is not a personal favorite, but for all who are fans of Musakhan, it is highly recommended by all my friends who’ve tried it.
In addition, Qwaider also offers some of the best Arabic/oriental desserts in town, including Kunafa Nabulsia, Kunafa with Cream and Basboosa, among many more!
All in all, I would say Qwaider Al Nabulsi is one of my favorite restaurants in the Dubai, and while I forewarn you that the place doesn’t look “fancy”, it is definitely more than worth it AND worth the trip to Deira to have it. (I’ve also added a list of recommended dishes and desserts at the bottom… Mmmm)
Aaaaand that’s it for today’s food find! I hope you go try out Qwaider and all the lovely nomnoms it has to offer. Send me your comments and opinions of the place when you check it out, and YOUR recommendations for other authentic urban/ethnic food places if you have them!
And don't forget to follow me on Instagram (@jpfoundaplace), like me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/JPFoundaplace), and give me a shout out and I'll be sure to holler back.
Until then… I’m JP and I’m out to find the food & places you’ll love! ;)
Price Range:
AED 30 – 40 PP
Recommended Dishes:
Molokhia
Kibbeh Labanieh
Mansaf
Musakhan
Fried Kibbeh
Recommended Desserts:
Kunafa Nabulsia (smooth & rugged)
Kunafa with cream
Basboosa
Non-Recommended Dishes:
Kebab Grill
Additional Tips:
The outdoor area looks nicer, but if the weather isn’t good you will NEED to sit indoors… especially after eating Mansaf
When eating Mansaf, only fill yourself to a half-stomach. You might still feel hungry for a few mins, but one thing I learned the hard way is that Mansaf EXPANDS… hard and fast!
Location:
Al Muraqqabat rd, Al Rigga area, Deira, Dubai
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