The Best Vegetarian-friendly Restaurants in Dubai

Orfali Bros Bistro Restaurant offers a delightful bistro experience, brought to life by the three Syrian Orfali brothers. Their menu is a creative exploration of Syrian cuisine, with dishes like the Shish Barak a la Gyoza, a Levantine favorite transformed with wagyu beef dumplings and garlic yogurt. Not only is their food innovative, but their non-alcoholic beverages, such as homemade Kombuchas, are equally remarkable, making Orfali Bros Bistro a must-visit for those seeking a novel culinary experience.

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Himanshu Saini

Chef – Dubai , United Arab Emirates

I really like what the Orfali brothers are doing with the Syrian cuisine and how they’ve adapted their cooking to the ingredients available here. A lot of people don't know much about their cuisine, but I believe in cuisines that didn't have the exposure before. I’m a big believer in an underdog story, how they struggled to open their restaurant for many years and after pandemic set up their own place and and just roll the game from there.

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This Japanese eatery, Reif Japanese Kushiyaki, offers a fun and tasty twist on traditional cuisine, best enjoyed in a group to sample a variety of small dishes. The restaurant's decor combines personality with comfort, featuring dark wood, generous window light, and an open plan kitchen that adds a lively touch. The menu focuses on flat iron grilled food, with highlights including the nearly soupy beef gyoza, crispy baby squid katsu, and the Sanchoku Wagyu Sando, while also showcasing subtler dishes like raw seabass with yuzu soy.

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Malgosia Minta

Food journalist – Warsaw, Poland

Fun and tasty play on Japanese food. Fun and tasty play on Japanese food. Best to come with a few people to enjoy as many small dishes as possible, such as raw hamachi with umeboshi and almonds, melo with kimchi sauce and sesame (this I will copy at home) maki with soft shell crab or a variety of kushi (beef with black pepper teriyaki and bonito flakes eryngi mushrooms and seaweed butter). PS Reif was also named the best ramen place in town - and not without a reason!

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At Avatara Restaurant, you can experience a unique take on plant-based fine dining through modern Indian cuisine. The menu is inspired by seasonal ingredients and is void of dairy and alliums, focusing on clean, natural, and energy-containing dishes. The culinary journey is led by Chef Rahul Rana, who brings a rich background in curating vegetarian and patisserie concepts to the table.

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Liam Collens

Writer @itsliamcollens – Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Avatara offers Dubai its vision of an emerging, plant-based fine dining trend, through modern Indian cooking. Avatara celebrates vegetarian, modern Indian cuisine through a fine dining menu without dairy, alliums or a heavy peddle on processed carbs. The concept is inspired by a variety of religious rituals and highlights the nutritional value of key ingredients. Chef Rahul Rana launched an impressive first menu and we should watch what they do next.

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Known for serving perhaps the most loved Indian chaat dish, Chaat Bazaar - Karama is described as the epitome of a hole-in-the-wall eatery. Their pani puri, served individually by hand, is a must-try and stands out for its exceptional quality. The staff's expertise, honed by countless hours of practice, ensures a memorable dining experience for every visitor.

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Liam Collens

Writer @itsliamcollens – Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The definition of a hole-in-the-wall. You may come to Chaat Bazaar for many things, but you must come for the pani puri served individually, by hand, from people who’ve spent their Gladwellian 10,000 hours churning out perhaps the most loved Indian chaat dish.

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Experience the warmth of Levantine hospitality at Three by Eva, where the menu is lovingly curated by Eva and her two daughters. The eatery offers a variety of Levantine bites including Fattoush, Kibbeh, and grapevine leaves. The presentation of dishes like falafel, tabbouleh, and the creamiest labneh is simple yet elegant, reflecting the restaurant's bright and cheery atmosphere.

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Liam Collens

Writer @itsliamcollens – Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Fattoush, kibbeh, grapevine leaves - and more Levantine bites - served by mother, Eva, and her two daughters. Three by Eva radiates Levantine hospitality with cheery service inside a bright delicatessen. Boulders of falafel, mounds of tabbouleh and the creamiest labneh are presented simply and with finesse.

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Offering a casual brasserie-style dining experience, The MAINE Land Brasserie in Business Bay Dubai is known for its charred veal chops, freshly shucked oysters, and short rib croquettes laced with jalapeños. The restaurant features a New England accent on the menu, complemented by high glamour decor with soaring windows and chandeliers. It also takes pride in sourcing many ingredients from local UAE farms, providing a variety of options for different occasions from corporate lunches to special dinners with friends.

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Liam Collens

Writer @itsliamcollens – Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The Maine occupies that rarest of spaces in Dubai: casual brasserie-style dining complete with charred veal chops, freshly shucked oysters and short rib croquettes laced with jalapeños. A New England accent to the menu meets high glamour complete with church-like soaring windows and plunging chandeliers. Chilled champagne and a dedicated vegan menu. The Maine also sources many ingredients from local UAE farms. A restaurant that covers most of the bases from corporate lunches to special dinners with friends. There are two other restaurants in Dubai but this is the one you want.

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