Dubai Food Festival 2023 - Guide to Dubai Restaurant Week

Dubai is every foodie’s dream destination. It is filled with an unbelievably massive collection of culinary options and experiences. Besides being a popular tourist attraction, Dubai is equally popular for its food. This glamorous city always comes up with the most exciting festivals that not only give you a good time but also hold an integral part of your memory. The Dubai Food Festival is one such festival that carves its special place in your most memorable experiences.

Find out more about all the various events, things to do, and other exciting treats that await you at the Dubai Shopping Festival 2023.

About Dubai Festival 2023

The Dubai Food Festival (DFF) is a yearly event organized by the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE). It was established in 2014 and is arguably the biggest celebration of Middle Eastern cuisine. It is a strategic component of the city's year-round festival program designed to promote tourism and development in Dubai's retail sector. The DFF aims to project Dubai's emergence as a gastronomic destination while also highlighting the city's distinct food scene and world-class dining experiences.

The Dubai Food Festival, a culinary extravaganza that celebrates cuisines from all over the world, will return in 2023 after being a resounding success this year... It will be bigger and better than ever before! The Dubai Food Festival 2023 will have something for everyone's taste. Residents and visitors to the city can follow the flavors and celebrate all things food throughout the city, whether at gourmet meals or exclusive cooking showcases. This delicious and exciting festival will last 14 days and will be held in various locations throughout Dubai. So, plan your culinary schedule from now so that you make the most of the many tempting offers, events and activities that will be offered by various restaurants across the city.

Location: The festival is held at several locations throughout the city, including renowned shopping centers, upscale eateries, and backstreet markets. The JBR, City Walk, and Jumeirah Beach continue to be the festival's primary locations. During the festival, a few Dubai's secret culinary gems come to life.

Must read - 15 Fun Things to Do at JBR in Dubai

Dubai Food Festival 2023 Dates: 2nd May to 15th May 2023

Price: There is no set price, it depends on your choice you pay minimum amounts at pop-up restaurants and eateries or burn your pockets for a taste of exclusive seven course menus curated by Michelin star chefs.

Highlights of the Dubai Food Festival:

· Dubai Restaurant Week 2023: At the Dubai Food Festival 2023, prime restaurants in Dubai will host 'Restaurant Week.' The collections of three-course meals served at these restaurants are the most appealing aspects of Restaurant Week. You can expect a wide array of culinary delicacies at the top gourmet restaurants offering a special set menu for affordable prices during the festival.

Also checkout - Restaurants in Dubai - Best New Restaurants to Try in Dubai

· Dine & Win : The Dubai Food Festival hosts a ‘Dine & Win’ segment where participating restaurants opportune winning awesome prizes and goodies. You can dine in any of the top restaurants participating in the festival and get a chance to win exciting prizes.

· Hidden Gems: The ‘Hidden Gems’ event organized by the Dubai Food Festival allows ten unpopular restaurants to participate and win through maximum diner-votes. This introduces you to some of the most underrated restaurants in Dubai that you must try.

· Foodie Experiences: Foodie Experiences returns to DFF 2023 offering unique, one-of-a-kind food adventures across Dubai. Food lovers can take part in Master cooking classes with top chefs, themed tours, workshops with nutritionists and exclusive tasting menus from the most extraordinary restaurants in Dubai, culinary collaborations as well as out-of-the-box experiential dining concepts that are exclusive to DFF. Truly a ‘foodie experience’ for food lovers in Dubai.

· Limited Coffee Edition: This event is for coffee lovers, coffee enthusiasts, and those who simply cannot function without coffee. Limited Coffee Edition curates a variety of gourmet coffee collections from around the world. The organizers of this exclusive event seek out coffee enthusiasts to provide them with the best dose of caffeine.

· Cheese Festival: The Cheese Festival is an irresistible paradise for cheese lovers. It exhibits various cheese-filled delicacies making the Dubai Food Festival even more delectable.

Events and Things to do at Dubai Food Festival 2023

The event was a major success in 2021 and 2022. It is expected that the 2023 edition of the popular food fest will also deliver several brilliantly unique experiences. Read ahead to find out more about the various events and activities that will take place at DFF 2023.

1) Dubai Restaurant Week 2023

Indulge in the best the city has to offer as the Dubai Restaurant Week will return from 6-15 May as part of Dubai Food Festival 2023. Choose from signature experiences from the participating restaurants that offer gourmet set menus starting from just AED 95 for lunch and AED 150 for dinner. You can head to over 40 different restaurants, including Maison Mathis, Bella, Westlodge Saloon, Reform Social and Grill, BB Social Dining, Hell’s Kitchen, 21 Grams, Toro Toro, COYA and Masti, to enjoy lunch or dinner during the Dubai Restaurant Week.

2) Discover The Hidden Gems in Dubai

Dubai is home to restaurants and cafés from all around the globe. Aside from the popular eateries, DFF 2023 offers people the chance to go off the beaten track and discover some culinary hidden gems throughout the emirate. Diners across the city are encouraged to support their favorite Hidden Gem eateries by entering the My Hidden Gems Competition. You need to visit 3 different restaurants with a maximum budget of AED 100, make a short video of the different feats and post it on social media while also tagging @dubaieats. The best content that follows a theme for their trail (cuisine type, location etc.) will get a chance to win cash prizes of up to AED 100, 000.

Here are some of the Hidden Gem restaurants in Dubai that serve as a good starting point for your exploration journey:

1. Fifth Flavor

Fifth Flavor is a local restaurant that has been wowing foodies with their interpretation of perfect Pan Asian plates. Its name refers to the all-important fifth taste, umami, which ranks alongside salt, sweet, sour, and bitter. Their menu is inspired by Asian traditions and elevated to tempt global palates. Menu items to try include Bao-gers, Chicken Katsu, Braised Beef, 'fifth' tacos, Spicy noodles, and flavored-layered curries, which will turn you into a devoted regular at this delicious eatery. Don't forget to order the Kamote, which consists of perfectly cooked sweet potato fries sizzled in cane sugar syrup and yuzu kosho mayo.

Location: Ripe Market, Umm Suqeim

Timings: Tue- Fri 01:00 pm- 10:00 pm Sat-Sun 09:00 am – 09:00 pm (closed on Monday)

Price for 2 (approx): AED 85

2. Harrie’s Pancakes

f you're looking for fluffy, flavor-packed pancakes, Harrie's is the place to go. This casual eatery serves a variety of sweet and savory snacks that are topped and filled with delectable toppings. Traditional flavors like chicken and mushroom, banana caramel, and more unusual pancake flavors are available. Even though their specialties are pancakes, they have a much larger menu. Harie's is the ideal place to enjoy breakfast in Dubai at any time of day. Regulars rave about their Eggs Benedict, Acai Bowls, and traditional breakfast platter. You must try their oddly named My New Dish, which pays homage to Middle Eastern flavors with pancake batter infused with toasted shredded filo and filled with a local cheese and topped with crushed pistachio and rose syrup.

Location: Bay Central Tower, Dubai Marina

Timings: Mon- Sat 08:15 am – 07:45 pm Sun – 09:15 am – 07:45 pm

Price for 2 (approx.): AED 165

Also Read - Dubai Marina Walk - Guide to Dubai Marina Walk

3. Padi Village

Padi Village was founded with the objective of popularizing authentic Southeast Asian cuisine in Dubai. This quaint restaurant serves authentic dishes that tell the story of migration and adaptation along the Malacca Strait. Influences of Chinese, Singaporean, Indonesian, Malay, Thai, and Indian flavors combine to create flavor-packed offerings. You must try their Chicken Wontons, Shrimp Gyoza, Crispy Samosas, and Nasi Lemak - a Malay favorite served with fragrant rice and your choice of tofu or meat cooked in sambal. Take a scenic drive to Singapore with dishes like fish head curry and spicy fried rice, or try the Indonesian Mee Goreng if you're a noodle fan. There are also teas and specialty drinks on the menu, as well as sugary snacks like steamed Paos with coconut jam filling.

Location: Bayswater Tower, Marasi Drive, Business Bay

Timings: 10:00 am – 11:00 pm

Price for 2 (approx.): AED 90

4. Sausage Fabrique

Sausage Fabrique is a contemporary butcher shop and delicatessen serving the best handcrafted sausages, cured meats, and premium cuts. Sausage Fabrique, which began in 2018, has since grown into a meat empire, with its JLT location housing a dining space, deli, marketplace, butchery, and kitchen. The Sausage Lab on-site is a creative hotspot where the team spends hours chilling, air drying, and smoking meats to perfection. Try the Korean bulgogi beef hotdog, Merguez Lamb Sausages, and a spicy vegan plant-based option. They also serve an excellent selection of steaks, burgers, classic Middle Eastern kebabs, and other dishes. If you're in a hurry, head to the deli section for exceptional cuts and charcuterie boards, as well as artisanal cheese, marinades, and condiments.

Location: Cluster F, JLT

Timings: 08:30 am – 11:00 pm

Price for 2 (approx.): AED 105

3) Celebrate culinary Diversity

More than 200 nationalities call Dubai home. In this modern multicultural metropolis, food and culture are two of the main components that bring people together. The Dubai Food Festival highlights eateries and restaurants from all over the world to celebrate this diversity. You'll be able to sample delicacies from all over the world in one location!

4) Masterclasses with top chefs in Dubai

The Dubai Food Festival 2023 offers a variety of experiences, including masterclasses by industry leaders. These give you the opportunity to participate in cooking shows with top-ranked chefs and test their skills at cooking various cuisines. An experience in Dubai for true culinary and food enthusiasts.

5) Try Unusual Dishes at Chefs Table

During the Dubai Food Festival 2023, you can participate in a one-of-a-kind gastronomical journey in which you will be able to try 'off menu' dishes. You will also have the opportunity to meet the chefs who created these culinary masterpieces.

Malls and tourist destinations all throughout the city will provide special dining discounts, promotions, and family-friendly activities to commemorate this yearly festival. Among the retail specials offered across DFF are Share Rewards programs at City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Deira, and Mall of the Emirates, as well as a dedicated food photography course at City Centre Deira. Exclusive ‘Dine & Win’ promotions, as well as live bands and entertainment, will be available at The Beach, La Mer, and City Walk. Diners will be able to take advantage of Festival City's "spend and win" promotion, as well as exclusive photo opportunities and cooking classes for children, while Bluewaters will offer bespoke masterclasses at select restaurants, kids cooking classes, and special breakfast deals.