1.
Rasa Sayang
What you’re ordering: nasi lemak special Price: Dhs30
A fantastic Oud Metha restaurant serving the Malaysian community familiar foods from the homeland. Try the beloved nasi lemak breakfast dish served on a banana leaf with fried chicken, coconutflavoured rice, chilli gravy, egg, peanuts and ikan bilis – fried, dried anchovies. Get a little bit of everything on your spoon and the marriage of flavours and textiles will your warm your heart and blow your mind.
Oud Metha Building, next to Malaysian Trade Centre, Dubai, Sat to Thur 11am to 11pm, Fri 2pm to 11pm. Tel: (04) 3313135. Taxi: Malaysian Trade Centre. facebook.com/ rasasayangdubai
2. Hanoi What you’re ordering: bun dau Price: Dhs32
A JLT favourite, Hanoi serves excellent Vietnamese dishes. Order a bun (pronounced boon) bowl. It’s a hearty rice noodle dish with salad, roasted peanuts, and sauté tofu.
Cluster C, JLT, Dubai, daily noon to 10pm. Tel: (04) 4313099. Taxi: Cluster C, JLT. facebook.com/hanoinaturally
3. Fuchsia What you’re ordering: ginger chicken with black mushrooms Price: Dhs35
Everything’s made from scratch at Fuchsia, a modestly priced Thai restaurant that favours organic and sustainably sourced produce whenever possible.
Two Towers, Al Khareef Road, Barsha Heights, Dubai, daily noon to 11pm. Tel: (04) 3617117. Metro: Dubai Internet City. facebook.com/fuchsiame
4. Dapoer Kita Restaurant What you’re ordering: gado-gado Price: Dhs26
You may have tried the delicious gado-gado at Tom & Serg, but if you want the taste at half the price head to this cheap and cheerful café to try Indonesia’s most famous dish – steamed mixed vegetables, tofu and egg,
7.
all slathered with peanut sauce.
43 A Street, Karama, Dubai, Sat to Thur 11am to 11pm, Fri 1pm to11pm. Tel: (04) 3795501. Taxi: Karama Fish Market. facebook.com/DapoerKitaDubai
5. Urban Seafood What you’re ordering: tom yum Price: Dhs34
A sizzling pot of fruits de la mer, the soup includes lemongrass, lime and coconut milk.
Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai, Sat to Wed 11am to midnight, Thur and Fri 11am to 1am. Tel: (800) 7527. Metro: Ibn Battuta. facebook.com/ UrbanSeafood
What you’re ordering: Indomie. Yes, Indomie Price: Dhs30
Here’s the deal. Indomie is a brand of instant noodles, which 3 Fils spruces up and serves. They use the noodles as the base and then add veal chorizo, baby asparagus, beans, garlic oil and chicken stock, elevating a simple idea to a different level. Brilliant concept, and delicious too.
Jumeirah Fishing Harbour, off Al Urouba Street, Dubai, Mon to Wed 7pm to 11pm, Thur to Sat noon to midnight. Tel: (050) 2730030. Taxi: Jumeirah Fishing Harbour. 3fils.com