Dubai is dotted with numerous hidden culinary gems, and these resident-favourite budget eats have always been a special focus for Dubai Food Festival, the annual festival of food. As part of its drive to highlight these culinary destinations, DFF has today released a list of 33 of the best Hidden Gems in the city.

Running until 17 April, the eighth edition of the city-wide festival offers food lovers the opportunity to travel via their taste buds and experience whole new cultures through food right here in Dubai.

A Hidden Gems fist has been added in 2021 with foodies being given the chance to win one of 10 12 month Zomato Pro membership plus 200 AED worth of credit, Simply take a picture of your meal at any of the Hidden Gems, write a review and rate your  experience (with photos and details) on Zomato. Make sure to include the DFF place card that you’ll find on your table in your photo. Winners will be selected at random and announced on 17 April 2021.

The 2021 Hidden Gems list includes a wide variety of cuisine just waiting to be discovered, covering every cuisine even the most experienced foodie could wish for. From Emirati and Indian, to American and Lebanese, Hidden Gems uncovers and showcases the incredible diversity of cuisine available at prices for every wallet in Dubai through unique, independent and homegrown concepts.

Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), said: “Our Hidden Gems list is always one of the most eagerly awaited announcements on the Dubai Food Festival Calendar and this year we have another superb line-up. Our food scene is world-renowned, and this year, we have selected a list that showcases the best Dubai has to offer from around the globe.

“Independent restaurants, café’s and bakeries are the lifeblood of any global city’s culinary scene and we are proud to reveal the best-kept secrets that make Dubai Food Festival such a success year-on-year.”

The full list of Hidden Gems selected by Dubai Food Festival 2021 is:

OUTLET NAME	TYPE	CUISINE	LOCATION
Double Like Burger & Lobster	Restaurant	Burger & Lobster	Umm Suqeim 2
% Gelato	Sweet	Ice Cream	Jumeirah Beach Road
Third Wave	Café	Cafe	Dubai Al Barari
112 Main St. Bakery	Bakery	Cafe	building 4, Emaar Business Park, The Greens, Dubai
Al Qbabh	Restaurant	Sea Food	Al Awir
Beit El Zaytoun	Restaurant	Arabian, Middle Eastern, Lebanese	Shop 7, Ground Floor, Alawazi Residence, The Villas, Dubai
Bisso’s Bakery	Bakery	Middle Eastern, Bakery, Pizza	Shop 4, Ground Floor, Damac Maison Canal Views, Al Abraj Street, Business Bay, Dubai
Bread & Olives	Restaurant	Mediterranean, Arabian, Lebanese	Shop 7, Ground Floor, Two Towers, Barsha Heights, Dubai
Brisk	Restaurant	International, Salad	Ground Level, Tower B, Business Central Tower, Dubai Media City, Dubai
Casa Da Venice	Restaurant	Italian	Shop 7, Basement Level, Goldcrest Executive Tower, Cluster C, Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT), Dubai
Charcoal Garden	Restaurant	Grill, International	Shatha Tower, Near Media One Hotel, Al Naseem Street, Dubai Media City, Dubai
Chiyang Chinese Restaurant	Restaurant	Chinese	Near Arcadia Hotel, Opposite Lamcy Plaza, Oud Metha, Dubai
Dapoer Kita Restaurant	Restaurant	Indonesian	Shop 3 & 4, Sheikh Mohammad Building 2, Street 43A, Behind Lulu Hypermarket, Al Karama, Dubai
Gangnam	Restaurant	Korean	Ground Floor, Al Mazrooie Building, Street 17 A, Oud Metha, Dubai
Gully Kitchen	Restaurant	Biryani, South Indian, Indian	Gate Village 3, Opposite Gate District 2, DIFC, Dubai
Kabab Rolls	Restaurant	Pakistani,Indian, Kebab	Opposite Remal Mall, Al Barari, Dubai
Mandena Mandi	Restaurant	Mandi	Ground Floor, Fox Hill Building 8 Uptown Motor City, Motor City, Dubai
Mango People	Restaurant	Indian, Pakistani, Biryani	The Blue Building, Dubai Land Residential Complex, The Villas, Dubai
Piezta Pizza	Restaurant	Italian	Barsha Valley Building, Behind Ramada Hotel, Street 14, Al Barsha, Dubai
The Cafe @ The Workshop	Café	Café	Ground Floor, The Workshop Building, Street 23 B, Dubai, Jumeirah 2, Dubai
Tiramisu Cafe	Café	Italian	Emaar Boulevard, Opposite Vida Downtown Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard Road, Downtown Dubai, Dubai
Waffee Street	Restaurant	Cafe, Desserts	Shop 2, Near Wadi Noor Grocery, Street 30, Al Satwa, Dubai
Emirates Sea	Restaurant	Indian, Chinese, Arabian, Middle Eastern, Seafood	Shop 2, Al Kamali Building, Al Doha Road, Hor Al Anz, Dubai
Greens N Grills	Restaurant	Healthy Food, Burger, Iranian, Kebab	Shop 5, Ground Floor, Nashwan Gym Building, Near Belhasa Driving Center, Nad Al Hamar, Ras Al Khor, Dubai
Mr. Biryani	Restaurant	Indian, Biryani, Chinese	Al Zafrana Building, Near Canadian Hospital, Hor Al Anz, Dubai
Papaya Salad Restaurant	Restaurant	Thai, Vietnamese	Shop 15, Ground Floor, Emirates 6 Building, ADCB Block, Qusais, Dubai
Sallora Restaurant & Sweets	Restaurant	Syrian	Beside Jumeirah Creekside, Sheikh Rashid Road, Al Garhoud, Dubai
Tent Jumeirah Restaurant	Restaurant	Emirati	Near Souq – 31A St – Umm SuqeimJumeirah 3 – Dubai
Al Forat Restaurant	Restaurant	Emirati	Omar Bin Al Khattab St – Deira – Dubai
Karak and Rigag	Restaurant	Cafe, Desserts, Emirati, Healthy Food, Juices	Al Khaleej Rd – Al Mamzar – Dubai
Karakna LUGMA W CHAI	Café	Emirati, Cafe	Wasl, Emirates Bank 2 – Al Bada’a – Dubai
Qamha Restaurant	Restaurant	Emirati	Uptown – Dubai
Moreish	Restaurant	International	Shop 1, Behind Lamcy Plaza Parking – Oud Metha Rd – Dubai

All dining experiences, events and activations during DFF will follow prevailing safety protocols and social distancing guidelines to ensure a safe experience for all.

For more information and a full update on DFF activities, please visit www.dubaifoodfestival.com and @dubaifoodfest on social media channels.