Foodies, this one is for you, we are rounding up some of the best bites of 2025 in Dubai that graced the culinary scene, so come along!
2025 brings about the dawn of a new era for restaurants in Dubai. This time the focus was on cultural narratives, local flavour, open-fire cooking, and Chef-driven restaurants. Across settings from beachside to business districts, dining grew more intimate and thoughtful, a shift that defined new restaurants in 2025.
Be it Emirati-inspired restaurants or cuisines from Central America and Asia, or just revamping the traditional Indian restaurants, things seem to be changing for the better in the world of Dubai’s food. This shift places new restaurants in Dubai firmly in a more meaningful and experience-led direction. Below is a list of spots that clearly stood out this year.
Gerbou
Gerbou represents an emerging trend in Dubai that has gained popularity for retaining and reinventing their local and Arab culinary tradition, reflecting the ethos of new additions in 2025. Operated from an old building from the late 1980s located in Nad Al Sheba, the venture combines nostalgia and modern design. Sustainability is at the heart of the business, which prides itself on organic ingredients sourced locally.
It features an underground pit where they cook, and focuses on traditional UAE cuisine, with flavours that resonate with smoky gastronomy. The garden, with vegetation protected by native ghaf trees, is what makes this place a true star of the region. Gerbou is not just an eating place, but it seeks to revitalise the UAE in an innovative approach with food, contributing to the rise of Dubai new restaurants.
Girl & The Goose – Restaurante Centroamericano
Girl & The Goose delivers the taste of Central America in Dubai, a moment in culinary history in which consumers crave the next international cuisine after the usual Mediterranean and Hispanic choices. Based in Dubai and inspired by seven nations in Central America, the establishment is a brainchild of chef Gabriela Chamorro.
In contrast to the watering down of cultures, it reaches for cultural authenticity, reflecting the willingness of Dubai to adopt new culinary cultures rather than simply familiar ones, placing it among the best new restaurants Dubai has seen recently.
HANU
HANU features modern Korean cuisine and combines ancient cooking techniques and recipes with high-quality ingredients and excellent presentation. Another appealing part is the Korean charcoal grill available at every table, which turns mealtimes into a fun activity.
The menu features beef tartare and Wagyu beef braised in a way that heavily favours Korean flavours. This hands-on approach to dining reflects a trend in Dubai in which the experience of eating involves the customer comprehending the process, enjoying their dining experience, and taking part in the process, a defining element of new restaurants 2025.
Maison Dali
Maison Dali has been among the most dramatic openings of the year. This Mediterranean-Japanese cuisine combines the best of both worlds on the palate, along with surreal elements that take their inspiration from Salvador Dali, making this an eye-catching venue for those who love the dramatic. It is housed in The Opus.
Outside of the visual experience, the menu focuses on techniques of open-fire cooking, fermentation, and the fusion of a wide range of interesting flavours. Maison Dali showcases the desires of the Dubai market for experiential dining experiences, standing out among new fine dining restaurants in Dubai.
The Beam by Nick Alvis
“The Beam” offers a more mellow and reflective dining experience. Under Chef Nick Alvis’ leadership, this restaurant is focused on European cuisine that is inspired by seasonality and sustainability. Instead of going overboard with preparations, this place prides itself on quality and execution.
There is a sense of laid-back ambience about it that underlines that refined cuisine doesn’t necessarily have to come with all the trimmings. The bistro aesthetic reflects a philosophy that permeates the city as a whole.
Ruby Ru
Ruby Ru is a crossover between a restaurant and a bar that reflects changing dining behaviour in Dubai, and the menu and beverage offerings reflect a strong French-Japanese and drink-focused experience.
Ruby Ru’s intentions are to seamlessly transition customers from their early evening meals to their late-night merriment, and this reflects the growing culture of the nightlife that includes, rather than competes with, the dining experience. It’s a concept that revolves around rhythm, not dining structures.
SLRP Ramen
SLRP Ramen is capitalising on the Dubai trend of casual yet culture-infused dining experiences. The restaurant is modelled on Japanese street culture and anime designs, providing high-energy environments and comfort-driven food options.
Ramen remains the staple, and other dishes include kushiyaki, burgers, and sushi hand rolls, which lure customers back. Another important point that SLRP makes is the continued impact of pop culture upon restaurant concepts, especially among the younger crowd.
China Tang
China Tang not only glorifies the fact that Dubai has now emerged as a premier culinary destination across the globe for luxury dining, but lives by its mantra of providing only the best Chinese delicacies. The restaurant’s focus remains to become one of the top Chinese restaurants in Dubai, featuring ancient traditions such as hand-pulled noodles and Beijing duck prepared with precision.
There is a strong emphasis on consistency, skill, and legacy, appealing to customers who value heritage-driven experiences.
INA
INA centres on open-flame grill cooking as its speciality, preparing bold and flavorful dishes inspired by African traditions and international culinary expertise, utilising one of the biggest grills in Dubai.
In the case of J1 Beach, the indoor-outdoor area reinforces the immersive experience, making cooking as a visual meal as well.
The Viceroy’s Table
The Viceroy’s Table reconsiders the Anglo-Indian repertoire through the prism of contemporary fine dining. It takes cues from the gymkhana clubs of colonial times and combines nostalgic tastes with tableside presentation techniques.
This renewed interest in regional Indian stories provides customers with an added historical dimension to the cuisine.
Beno Complements Your Dubai Dining Experiences
As the food landscape in Dubai evolves, Beno is influencing how consumers experience life beyond the plate. By offering effortless access to engaging luxury experiences tailored to your interests, including luxury car rental across Dubai, Beno enhances the city’s dining lifestyle by enabling seamless movement between dining destinations.
Collectively, these restaurants illustrate the map of a city that is increasingly confident in its culinary identity. Dubai is not just defined by grandeur or showmanship, but also authenticity, sustainability, and premium experiences.
FAQs
- What was hot in Dubai restaurants in 2025?
Open fire cooking, chef-driven restaurants, the emphasis on sustainability, the role of storytelling related to culture, and destination dining experiences.
- Have the new dining establishments in Dubai become more experiential?
Yes, many concepts involve interaction, atmosphere, and story beyond food.
- Does Dubai see an influx of other global cuisines?
Yes. Korean, Chinese, and fusion cuisines are getting more recognition in the city.
- Is the concept of casual dining increasing in popularity?
The new restaurants combine fine dining experiences with casual concepts, going away from the formal setting altogether.
- Which neighbourhoods or areas in Dubai are the next hubs for the culinary crowd?
DIFC, J1 Beach, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Mall, and residential areas.
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