Discover what Indians really love to eat, beyond the clichéd naan and butter chicken, in Dubai's oldest, most vibrant Indian neighbourhood.

Savor a mouthwatering spectrum of traditional Indian food tastings across 5 of our favourite North and South Indian eateries in the neighbourhood.
Eat Indian food at places rarely listed in the guidebooks but heavily frequented by long-time Indian residents of the city.
Join an intimate group of 6 to 8 culture-seeking guests, many of whom are local residents seeking to uncover off-the-beaten path places.
Hear stories of the neighbourhood and Indian food customs from a resident Indian guide who grew up in the city.
Learn about the transformation of fermented rice and lentil batters into a variety of crispy, spongy or crumbly creations to dip into chutneys.
Experience the Punjabi chicken tikka that most old timers reminisce about, from a restaurant that’s been lighting its coals since 1977.

Runs year-long except peak summer. Offered on selected weekday evenings.

Mostly vegetarian, except 1 chicken dish. Meat will not be missed!

Carry earphones for the audio system used by our guide.

Minimum age required is 12 years. No infants and strollers.

Walking only; distance covered is ~2.4km/1.5mi with stops in between.

Tastings include Gluten/Lactose/Dairy/Nuts. Please notify us of severe allergies.

Dress comfortably to walk.

Meet & Greet
Meet our friendly food tour guide in one of Dubai’s oldest Indian neighbourhoods in Bur Dubai.

‘Chaat’ Counter
Visit our trusted “chaat” haunt for Three types of popular Indian street snacks: chutney-filled crisp ‘puris,’ puffed rice & mangoes; spiced yogurt, potato and chutney over crunchy dough spheres. (G/N/D)

Street-side Fritter Stall*
Grab the go-to fried snacks for locals in the neighbourhood: mashed potato patties fried in chickpea flour batter and crisp onion & green pea samosa with green chutney. (G)
*Excluded during May to Sept.

South Indian Restaurant
Learn how South Indians conjure up ethereal dosas, tender idlis and spongy vadas, and then dunk it all into an array of lentils and chutneys. We’ll teach you how to skillfully cool your filter coffee like the locals. (G/N/D)

1970s Punjabi Restaurant
Discover unimaginably tender chicken tikka at one of the oldest Punjabi restaurants in Dubai. We’ll also try a round of paneer tikka, spicy layered papadums, chana masala and Indian bread. Wash it all down with fresh-pressed sugarcane juice. (G/D/P)

Lassi Stop
Cool off with a glass of thick frothy lassi (D) made at our favourite lassi shop in the city. We’ll also treat you to India’s version of a spiced nutty ice cream, aka kulfi (N/D).

Allergens Key: Contains G-Gluten; D-Dairy; N-Nuts; M-Meat (Beef/Lamb); P-Poultry; F-Fish; S-Shellfish. We regret that there may not be substitutes for dishes. Even if specific dishes do not contain these ingredients, we cannot guarantee against cross-contamination of allergens in the restaurant kitchens.

All prices below include 5% VAT and all the food and water that the guide orders for the group on the tour. Soft beverages are not included.

Shared Tour:

We offer 2 ticket types. The non-refundable ticket may not be changed/refunded for any reason once booked.

On public tours, the flex ticket may be either (a) rescheduled or (b) refunded minus a 35 AED cancellation fee per ticket, anytime up to an hour before the tour commences. Within an hour of the tour start time, no changes are possible on a flex ticket. Once rescheduled, a ticket will become non-refundable/non-reschedulable.

Non-refundable option: AED 435 per person
Flex option: AED 478.50 per person

Private Tour:

Rates per private group based on group size below:

6 guests or fewer – AED 3056
7 guests – AED 3484
8 guests – AED 3982

Refund/Rescheduling Policy on Private Tours:

21 days or more before tour date: All tickets may be fully refunded or rescheduled.
8 to 21 days before tour date: Tour may either (a) be rescheduled for a fee of AED 25% of the original group ticket price paid or (b) partially refunded (70% of total price paid).
7 or less days before tour date: No changes possible.
Only one date reschedule possible per private group booking, depending on availability.
In the case of reductions in the group size, the same refund policy as above applies. A full refund 21 days or more before tour date; partial refund (70% of the difference) 8 to 21 days before tour date; no changes 7 days or less before tour date.
If gift cards or gifted tickets have been used for any portion of the private tour booking, any full or partial refunds due will be made to the original gift card or gifted ticket.

As an example, if the tour is on the 25th of November:

Full refunds/free rescheduling is possible up until the 4th of November only (= 25th Nov minus 21 days)
Between the 5th of November and 17th of November ( = 25th Nov – 7 days), the partial refund/pay-to-reschedule policy applies.
18th November onwards, no changes would be possible.

For Children in Private Tour Groups:

We recommend this tour for children 12 years and above. However, we do take children younger than 12 years on the tour if their parent/guardian feels they can manage through the duration of the experience.
Children 6 years and above are to be included as regular guests in the group size. Children who are 5 or under go free.
We offer children’s discounts for children between the ages of 6 and 11. This option will be provided when booking the tour online.
Diaper-changing facilities are not available on tour.

Right outside TouchMate Quality Computers Service Center on Khalid Bin Al Waleed Street, Bur Dubai. Diagonally across from Royal Ascot Hotel. Please be on time, we don’t wait for latecomers!

Nearest metro: Sharaf DG station (green line)

Tips:

Given the heavy traffic, limited parking and different starting and ending locations, we strongly recommend that you take the metro rather than driving to the trail. If you plan to take a taxi, please budget extra time for traffic.

Here’s What Past Guests on This Tour Are Saying

I've done about five Frying Pan Adventure tours and have had a blast every single time. This time, my friend was visiting and she'd done a Little India street food tour with us last time she was here and wanted to do it again. I decided to treat her to a private tour - just the three of us, her me and my husband. We were lucky enough to get Tanya as our guide again, and we had such a wonderful evening, absolutely stuffing our faces full of delicious Indian treats. It was truly a very special way to spend an evening, and I'd really recommend the private tour. It's a little bit more expensive, but the personal attention you receive is well worth the extra dirhams. Five stars to Frying Pan Adventures and five stars to Tanya. Thank you!! UPDATE: My husband and I did another tour in October 2023 and, as always, it was phenomenal. Our guide this time was Farida, one of the two founders of the company. And what a pleasure it was to trek through the back streets of Bur Dubai with someone who is so knowledgeable, and so obviously loves the food of the area. Once again we did a private tour for three people and it was totally worth every single fil. The personal attention we received made it a very special experience and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to discover the tastes and vibes of Indian food in Old Dubai. Some of the best food I've ever tasted. FIVE BIG STARS!!!
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Chryss S.
18/10/23
Most authentic part of my trip Farida is fantastic. She showed us all of the unique and special spots in old Dubai. It was great seeing the original part of the city from the perspective of a very knowledgeable local.
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Loren B.
04/05/23
Amazing!!! I had such a wonderful time on this foodie tour. Arva was amazing. So warm and hospitable and so eager to show up around this amazing city. So many food stops. I was completely stuffed by the end of the tour. I’m so glad i was able to experience this on my first full day in dubai!!
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Curious639060
07/03/23
Frying Pan with Noorin Excellent tour led by Noorin with loads of information, too much good food and great group! We’d do it again.
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James V.
06/03/23
I've done about five Frying Pan Adventure tours and have had a blast every single time. This time, my friend was visiting and she'd done a Little India street food tour with us last time she was here and wanted to do it again. I decided to treat her to a private tour - just the three of us, her me and my husband. We were lucky enough to get Tanya as our guide again, and we had such a wonderful evening, absolutely stuffing our faces full of delicious Indian treats. It was truly a very special way to spend an evening, and I'd really recommend the private tour. It's a little bit more expensive, but the personal attention you receive is well worth the extra dirhams. Five stars to Frying Pan Adventures and five stars to Tanya. Thank you!!
read moreread less

Chryss S.
10/12/22

Can I book this tour as a private experience?

Yes, we’d love to serve you and any companions on a private tour! We need a minimum of 2 people and a maximum of 6 to run this tour as a private experience. You may book out an existing date on our tour calendar as a private tour if no one else has already booked spots on it. Alternatively, please email us at munch@fryingpanadventures.com with your preferred dates so we may schedule a private tour for you.

Should I join this tour if I am vegetarian?

Absolutely! This tour is mostly vegetarian (not vegan though) except for 1 chicken dish.

Will I miss my meat on this mostly vegetarian tour?

Ironically, the team that designed this almost 99% vegetarian tour are die-hard carnivores! Despite this, we have cherry-picked the dishes that best represent the community in Meena Bazaar and it turns out that most of them are vegetarian. There is such a wide range of tastings that we have yet to experience a guest, whether meat-eater or vegetarian, feeling less than “stuffed” after this gluttonous experience. You *might* even thank us for leaving out the meat at the end of the tour!

How do I get to the tour?

We recommend taking the Sharaf DG metro (green line) and then walking to the tour meeting point. The metro may or may still be operational once the tour is over, depending on the time.

If you plan to take a taxi, please budget extra time for traffic on the roads especially between 5PM and 7PM.

If you plan to drive, please know that streetside parking is available but nearly impossible to find!

Do we only walk around and sample food?

Our walking food tours are immersive experiences that go beyond eating. We combine food tastings with history, culture and personal stories of the city.

What should I bring with me?

Earphones with a 3.5mm jack for the portable audio system that helps you hear the guide clearly.

Please don’t carry anything too heavy as we will be walking. If you plan to purchase edible souvenirs during the tour, please make sure to carry both cash/your credit card (most, but not all, locations accept credit card).

What if I have dietary restrictions or allergies?

Please be sure to let us know if you (or anyone in your group) have a dietary restriction (e.g. vegetarian, diabetic, allergy, etc.) when you purchase your tickets. In most cases, nuts, lactose and gluten may be in the foods featured on our experiences and there is a risk of cross-contamination. If you have a serious allergy, we recommend contacting us at munch@fryingpanadventures.com prior to purchasing tickets to enable us to advise you if our tours are suitable for you.

Are toilet facilities available on the tour?

Yes, toilet facilities are available at some of the restaurants on this tour, though we’ll be the first to say that they’re not particularly glamorous!

Is the tour offered in different languages?

At this time, the tour is only offered in English.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

We regret that this tour is not wheelchair accessible.

Are children allowed?

Please note the minimum age requirement for this tour is 12 years of age. All children must be accompanied by their legal guardian.

What do we do in case of bad weather?

The tours are very rarely cancelled due to bad weather. We will email you at least 4 hours prior to the tour should it not be advisable to walk outside due to a thunderstorm or sandstorm; please make sure to check your email if you are aware of bad weather. We also advise you to check weather conditions for your tour and dress appropriately and carry an umbrella if required.

Do I need to purchase tickets in advance?

Yes, advance ticket purchase is required through this website. Our experiences, typically, sell out quickly during the peak season (November to April). To maximize your chances of getting the date, time, and number of tickets you prefer, please book well in advance.

If a tour is sold out, can I get on a waiting list?

If the date and time of your choice is sold out, we recommend emailing us at munch@fryingpanadventures.com so we can let you know in case any spots open up for your preferred date and time.

What are the change policies on my booking?

Please review our cancellation policies under our Terms and Conditions here.

Do I need to tip?

Gratuities are always appreciated but are not mandatory.

Please note that our tour routes and featured stops, including restaurants and other establishments, are subject to change. These changes can occur due to unforeseen circumstances such as lack of availability, closures or operational adjustments at any of our planned locations. In the event of such changes, our team will adapt the tour to offer a comparable experience. However, we do not offer refunds due to these alterations, as they are beyond our control. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility, and are committed to ensuring you have a delightful and memorable experience with us.

Please click here for our complete list of terms and conditions.

Little India Food Tour