Hey there, ever been to Dubai?
Today, I am taking you on a delightful journey to one of Dubai’s most cherished culinary havens—the Arabian Tea House.
If you haven’t been here yet, you are in for a treat.
Picture this: a charming, cozy oasis right in the heart of a historic Dubai neighborhood.
Intrigued yet?
Let me spill the tea—pun absolutely intended!
Founder
The Arabian Tea House was founded by the passionate Emirati entrepreneur Ali Al Rais in 1997.
Ali Al Rais envisioned creating a space that celebrates the rich cultural heritage and culinary traditions of the UAE. The original location is nestled in the historic Al Fahidi neighborhood (formerly Bastakiya) of Dubai, offering a charming and authentic Emirati dining experience.
Over the years, the Arabian Tea House has expanded its presence, with additional branches in Dubai and Sharjah. You can find this delightful restaurant at the Jumeirah Archaeological Site and Jumeirah Public Beach in Dubai, as well as in various locations in Sharjah.
Now, let’s talk about the star of the show—THE FOOD.
The Arabian Tea House is known for its delectable spread of traditional Emirati dishes that will transport your taste buds straight to the heart of the UAE.
Trust me, you want to try these drool-worthy delights: the legendary machboos, a spiced rice dish with your choice of succulent meat, fish or seafood, and the melt-in-your-mouth harees, a slow-cooked wonder of wheat and meat.
Hummus, labneh, salads, stews, barbecued kebabs skewers, wraps and sandwiches, the ‘foala’ afternoon tea special – there is even a kid’s menu! In other words: plenty to chose from.
The menu also has breakfast platters that looked really appealing. The Arabian Tea House is open from 8am onwards every day.
You can check the menu online. It contains pictures of the dishes you can order (and prices), which comes in handy!
We stopped here for lunch so we kept the amount of food we ordered fairly simple and ‘light’ if you can call it that.
So what items did we try at the Arabian Tea House?
We went for 3 appetizers, and one main dish to share.
Appetizers
Hamssat Dango: a delightful traditional Emirati dish, made from whole chickpeas slow braised with tomatoes, Emirati spices and fresh coriander. This flavorful stew is served with freshly baked tanoor flatbreads straight from the bread oven. A wholesome and satisfying appetizer, and what a delight.
We tore the bread into pieces and used it to scoop up the warm and flavorful chickpea stew.
Yum.
Balaleet: a specialty dish from the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf countries. This dish consists of vermicelli noodles that are sweetened with sugar, cardamom, rose water and saffron. It is a unique blend of sweet and savory flavors, making it a popular breakfast choice as well. These fragrant noodles are usually topped with a thin egg omelette, here at the Arabian Tea House the vermicelli is served on its own – and we LOVED it!
Never tasted anything like it, and the light sweetness really didn’t bother us. Definitely worth giving it a try!
Falafel: surely doesn’t need a lot of introduction. Falafel is a popular Middle Eastern dish made from ground chickpeas, mixed with herbs and Arabic spices. Here the mixture is formed into rings and deep-fried until crispy. It comes with flatbread, raw and pickled vegetables and a tahini dip sauce.
We love falafel, and every chef prepares it in a different way (check out my recipe). The falafel was delicious, savory, crispy and an absolute delight.
Main
Machboos Samak: also known as Fish Machboos, is a traditional Emirati dish that combines fragrant spiced rice with succulent fish. The dish is a delightful blend of flavors, featuring a mix of aromatic spices such as cumin, coriander, turmeric and cinnamon. The king fish is marinated in these spices and then shallow-fried to perfection. The rice is cooked with onions, garlic, tomatoes and a variety of spices, creating a rich and flavorful base.
It was served with a vibrant and slightly spicy green chili pepper and lemon juice sauce. Again an excellent choice! The fish was crispy on the outside, and juicy and tender on the inside. Generous portion as well, and as we were staying in an apartment we took the leftover slice of fish with us and enjoyed it in a breakfast noodle soup the day after!
Drinks
Luc had read that the most famous drink at the Arabian Tea House the “special lime & mint” was. So he went straight for that one. The waitress asked with sugar, or sugar on the side. Not sure why she asked that, so he said on the side. The drink basically consists of blended lime juice, fresh mint and ice cubes. Very sour concoction, so the sugar syrup that was served with it in a small jar almost entirely ended up in his drink. It was excellent though, zippy and fresh.
I went for laban ayran, a refreshing and popular Middle Eastern drink made from yogurt, water and a pinch of salt. Ayran has a tangy, slightly salty taste and a smooth, creamy texture. Kind of reminded me of ice cold buttermilk I would drink in the summer as a child. And yes, another great match for our Emirati style lunch!
Dessert
Truth be told: we were absolutely stuffed after our lunch.
No room for dessert, however if there is one dessert you should try here then it surely is the leqaimat, or golden, crispy dumplings drizzled with luscious date syrup. A sweet lover’s dream!
We have had them before, and the ones here at the Arabian Tea House are rumoured to be the best in the world.
So we definitely have an extra reason to come back here on our next Dubai visit.
So, why is the Arabian Tea House so popular, you ask?
Well, for starters, it is a haven for both foodies and culture enthusiasts.
The restaurant’s dedication to preserving and showcasing Emirati culinary traditions has earned it a special place in the hearts of locals and tourists. Plus, the welcoming atmosphere, picturesque setting and exceptional service make every visit a memorable experience.
Service
The service was indeed fantastic.
Our waitress was very patient as we were not done choosing our lunch when she first came to take our order. She was very friendly and polite, repeated our order before sending it to the kitchen, informed us that the fish would take 15 minutes to cook just so we were aware of it. We received our drinks, flatbreads and 3 appetizers less than 10 minutes later, followed by the fish. Once we were done eating, she asked straight away if we wanted to take some items to go. She wrapped it herself, and put it in a handy paper shopping bag with the restaurant’s name on it. We asked for the check, and a minute later it arrived.
Fast and professional service, and good food.
That is what this place is famous for, and it did not disappoint. On the contrary.
Even Mark Wiens visited the Arabian Tea House while visiting Dubai for a food tour.
He featured it in one of his videos, where he explored the delightful flavors and ambiance of this charming spot. You can check out his experience here. It is always exciting to see food enthusiasts like Mark enjoying the culinary gems of Dubai!
In a nutshell, the Arabian Tea House is where history, culture and mouthwatering food come together to create a magical dining experience. So, next time you find yourself in Dubai, make sure to pay a visit and indulge in the flavors and charm of this excellent Emerati restaurant.
Your taste buds will thank you!