If you’re vegetarian or looking to ditch the meat for a day, here’s how to go on a vegetarian food tour in Dubai. Lucky for us, Dubai’s food scene is packed with veggie options that go far beyond salads and soups. And no, we aren’t talking about just Indian vegetarian restaurants. The city is filled with vegetarian cuisines from different cultures around the world.
To enjoy this experience to the fullest, here’s our highly recommended vegetarian tour route.
Palestinian Za’atar Cheese or the Feta/Za’atar/Cherry Tomato Fatayer
The DIFC branch might be more conveniently located in downtown for a food tour, but this idyllic one in Meadows Village is on our list. If you’re up for something richer (with TONS of olive oil) and more pungent, their fresh za’atar mutabbaq is a far more unusual and totally delicious find. We also love their hummus with zingy green tatbeela (garlic and green chilli sauce.)
Za’atar and Cheese Fatayer at Mama’esh
Another must-try on the high carb, high comfort scale from the region is Ka’ak al Manara. Try their cheesy purse-shaped Lebanese ka’ak, wholesome salads and for an intense finish, their sweet, cheesy kunafa in ka’ak.
Sudanese Ful with Cheese
Sudanese ful, also spelled foul (fava beans), laced with sesame oil and white cheese, rocket leaves and tomatoes from Foul Abo Al-Abbas in Karama makes for a hearty and flavor-packed breakfast. The Sudanese like to order a round of falafel, crumble it into the ful and then scoop it up with soft samoon rolls. SO GOOD. Ask for their spicy dakwa (peanut chilli sauce) if you want to dial up the heat.
Sudanese ful with cheese
Indian Vada Pav and Raj Kachori
On the Indian front, there are far too many options to choose from, but here are two (out of 200!):
1. Mumbai-style vada pav with a battered potato patty inside a soft chutney smeared bun at Bombay Se.
Vada pav at Bombay Se
2. North Indian raj kachori, which is a giant deep-fried savory stuffed pocket lashed with green chili, tamarind chutney, yogurt and chaat masala at Bikanervala. Multiple branches EVERYWHERE, including this one in Barsha!
Raj kachori at Bikanerwala
Egyptian Koshari
A carb-loaded veggie winnner is Egyptian koshari with lentils, macaroni, rice, spaghetti, and heaps of fried onions at Abu Tarek in Barsha. This spot is a branch of the famed koshari place in Egypt. The key is to splash the bowl with tons of vinegar sauce and tomato shatta. They serve Egyptian ‘champagne’ at the start, which is actually the spiced leftover soup after boiling chickpeas. Surprisingly delicious!
Koshari
South Indian Mini Tiffin
Back to the Indian front, the South Indian mini tiffin with dosa at Venus in Karama. is a must-try and shockingly cheap. If you have space, order a round of sweetish Mangalore buns (though don’t dip into sambar, it’s better paired with coconut chutney). Don’t leave without filter coffee.
Ethiopian Fasting Platter
One of the heaviest meals on this list is the Ethiopian vegetarian fasting platter with a rainbow of hearty lentils and vegetables at Habasha (multiple branches, but we prefer the Abu Hail one) or at Zagol in Karama. Try their traditional unsweetened black coffee at the end of the meal, it’s typically paired with popcorn!
Ethiopian vegetarian fasting platter at Zagol in Karama
What’s Missing?
There’s a lot more to explore! If you’ve discovered fantastic veggie food in Dubai, we’d love to hear from you in the comments so we can try them ourselves. And if you want us to plan a private vegetarian experience for you and a crew of hungry friends, consider checking out our Little India Food Tour. We’d love to plan this veggie-friendly food tour for you!
Arva Ahmed is the co-founder of Frying Pan Adventures, Dubai’s first food tour company, and a celebrated food explorer known for uncovering Dubai’s hidden culinary gems. Her expertise in the city’s diverse food scene has been featured in prominent publications such as CNN, Khaleej Times, BBC Travel, The Sun, The Independent and countless more. She also hosts Ditch the Silver on YouTube. Through her immersive tours and storytelling, Arva brings Dubai’s rich flavors and vibrant cultures to life.
