In this week’s episode of Cheap Eats on Dubai 92, Arva shared the details of her visit to a culinary haven that has stood the test of time in the heart of bustling Barsha. Meet Foul w Hummus, a modest Jordanian eatery that predates the neighborhood’s gastronomic renaissance. Since 2010, this unassuming spot has been quietly serving its patrons, becoming a local legend in its own right.
What’s This Week’s Cheap Eat?
At Foul w Hummus, simplicity reigns supreme. Their menu, though basic, boasts the essence of Jordanian street food culture. Think crispy falafel, wholesome foul, and creamy hummus served in different delicious permutations. But there’s one dish that steals the show: Galayet Bandora. It features sautéed tomatoes, generously laden with garlic, chili, and olive oil — tune into the audio or read the transcript of the show below to hear more about the restaurant and the dish.
You can find Foul w Hummus on Google Maps here.
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Tune In
Tune in to the segment using this audio recap or check out the transcript below.
Transcript
Nats:
It’s Dubai 92. You’re with Jono and Nats. Your Wednesday morning on the big breakfast which means we get to chat to Arva from Frying Pan Adventures.
Jono:
Saving us some cash but also filling our bellies with some delicious goodness is Arva. Good morning Arva. How’s everything going
Arva:
Great. I’m so excited to tell you about our cheap eat for today. Though I know you guys already probably have been there.
Jono:
Well, you’ve come to our side what we like to refer to as our side of the bridge today is what you’ve done.
Nats:
New Dubai.
Arva:
The Jungle.
Jono:
You’re in a difficult to find the RTA parking but still worth it when you do get to some place you want to eat. You’re in Al-Barsha today, right?
Arva:
Yes, I am. And I actually do feel like Barsha is one of those incredibly eclectic food neighborhoods. It has come so far. One of the first places that had popped up back in 2010, even before Barsha became this food mecca that it is today was Foul Wa Hummus and I think the whole world knows about it so I’m not really here to share something that no one knows. I’m just here to celebrate a place that deserves some love.
Nats:
Yeah, but you know what, Arva? A lot of people keep moving to Dubai every minute, right? So they might not know. And you’re giving them the hidden gem of Barsha. And what is it that you like to order there? I’ll tell you what I like to order there.
Arva:
We got their falafel, which is pretty good. It’s just two falafels for one dirham which is amazing and then the owner, they basically Jordanian, right? So, everything has a little bit of a Jordanian-Palestinian spin on it. Their hummus has that magic green sauce. The green bell peppers lemon juice garlic, they hit it hit up the hummus with that and it just like notches up the whole flavor. The foul is excellent, and they have different kinds of foul which I love. They have the Syrian foul, the whole beans, the mashed-up ones with the tahini, he got both, I have no idea which one I like I just love them both!
Nats:
It’s true, you just get yourself an order of those falafels which are delectable and dip them into the foul and the hummus and you’ve got like a party there right there on your plate.
Jono:
It’s like breakfast, lunch, and dinner all in one. And price point, pretty cheap as well right?
Arva:
Very cheap. Most of those dips are around the 18 dirham mark, but the one dip that I had not ordered ever before over there and we got it last week. I don’t know if you guys have tried it yet. The galayet bandora.
Nats:
No, what is it? Tell us more.
Arva:
Okay, this is because everyone’s just naturally going to go with the hummus. Guys get the falafel and get the galayet bandora. Okay, so the galayet bandora is basically tomatoes that have been sort of salted until they’re mushy, they’re a bit juicy and then they hit it with garlic, I think there’s lemon juice in there with some chili and then it’s submerged under really high-quality olive oil and you ask for the saj bread because it’s nice and thin and floppy, you tear it off and you dunk it into the tomatoes. It is so simple but I don’t know why it’s so good. It’s just fantastic.
Nats:
The best things in life are the simple ones. I love that.
Jono:
As always you can check out Frying Pan Adventures. We’re just around the corner from beautiful winter weather here in the UAE so you can check out Frying Pan Adventures to do some of their food tours. As always a pleasure to chat to you this morning.
Arva:
Likewise, have a scrumptious week ahead guys.
Find out where to find Crispy and Flavorful Syrian Shawarma in Dubai here.
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.
