Discovering the Best Filipino Restaurants in Dubai
Did you know that Filipinos make up 21.3% of the population of Dubai? That’s more FIlipinos than Emiratis living in the city!
Aside from their hospitality, Filipinos are also known for their food, and you bet, there are lots of Filipino restaurants scattered around the city to give them a taste of home.
If you want to experience good Filipino food while in the city, check out this list of the best Filipino restaurants in Dubai and what they have to offer.
Max’s Restaurant
Website: https://www.maxsrestaurantme.com/
Address: Spinney’s Building – Ground Floor – 11B Street Near Burjuman – Al Karama – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 4 351 1269
Operating hours:
- 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily
Price:
- Approx. AED 50 to 100 per person
Almost every Filipino has a fond childhood memory of eating at Max’s Restaurant and it’s easily one of the best Filipino restaurants in Dubai primarily for its chicken.
In fact, this restaurant is known for being “the house that fried chicken built.” Since 1945, Max’s Restaurant has been serving its signature whole fried chicken to Filipinos craving for simple comfort food.
With many Filipinos longing for its nostalgic food, Max’s Restaurant brought its famous chicken to Dubai in 2011 and even locals and tourists got hooked.
So, why exactly is Max’s Restaurant special? Aside from its fried chicken, the restaurant also offers dishes that you would find in a typical Filipino table – from lumpiang Shanghai to ensaladang talong.
You should also try their bulalo sizzling steak, kare-kare and pancit luglug. And don’t be surprised because all of the dishes here are good for sharing to stay true to the Filipino tradition.
Pro tip:
Do you want to try the famous Filipino breakfast? Max’s Restaurant serves tapa or cured meat with fried eggs and chicken longganisa or fried Filipino sausages.
Dampa Seafood Grill
Address: Ground Floor – Centurion Star Hotel – Deira – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 4 299 0884
Operating hours:
- 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM daily
Price:
- Approx. AED 145 for two people
Dampa Seafood Grill is easily one of the best Filipino restaurants in Dubai if you’re looking to experience a traditional Filipino feast.
And by feast we mean rolling your sleeves up and stuffing your face with delicious food in a military-style boodle fight. Just imagine your table being filled with a literal seafood dump and freshly steamed rice.
You get to choose the seafood you want – or have them all – and the sauce that you want drizzled on your feast including Mexican, lemon and herb, cajun, chipotle or Thai curry.
You should also try the restaurant’s chipotle grilled crab, semi-giant squid and “gangstah lobstah”. And if all that eating got you thirsty, the one liter fish bowl mocktail should take care of that.
The best part about eating at Dampa Seafood Grill is that you get to enjoy a real feast and not worry about the bill after because everything here is cheaper than most restaurants in the city.
Pro tip:
Are you going to Dampa Seafood Grill to celebrate a special occasion? Tell the staff when you make reservations and for sure, they’ll prepare something special for your group.
Hot Palayok Restaurant and Grill
Address: Wasl Hub Corner of 39th and 6C Street – Al Karama – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 4 221 9797
Operating hours:
- 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM daily
Price:
- Approx. AED 80 for two people
Hot Palayok is your quintessential Filipino restaurant in Dubai serving classic Filipino comfort food in a laid back setting that instantly makes you feel at home.
The name palayok refers to the traditional clay pots that the early Filipinos used to cook their food. These pots were believed to add flavor to the dish, which is why some households still use them today.
The food at Hot Palayok feels like a warm hug because it’s simple yet very flavorful. The classic sinigang or sour soup is the perfect start to your meal.
We also recommend the bihon guisado or sauteed rice noodles, the Hot Palayok special pinakbet or sauteed vegetables and of course, the garlic rice because it’s not a Filipino meal without rice.
Pro tip:
Do you want to try traditional Filipino street food and snacks? Hot Palayok serves fish balls, kwek kwek or battered eggs and goto or sticky rice porridge.
Chibog Filipino Restaurant
Website: https://www.chibogrestaurant.com/
Address: Shop S05 – Al Seef Tower 2 – Cluster U – Jumeirah Lake Towers – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 4 568 4538
Operating hours:
- 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily
Price:
- Approx. AED 90 for two people
Chibog is a popular Filipino restaurant in Dubai that also gained popularity in the Bay Area in California. And with the tagline “it’s belly good,” prepare for your tummy – and heart to be full.
Chibog is the Filipino term for “eat” and this restaurant is all about feeding you with classic Filipino comfort food. No fancy presentations, just straight up delicious fare.
We especially love the sinful chicharon bulaklak or deep fried pork ruffle fat, meat sinigang or sour soup, tuyo or fried salted herring and different types of barbecue meats.
Pro tip:
Want to serve Filipino food for your party? Chibog offers party trays for your guests to enjoy at budget-friendly prices.
La Mesa Restaurant and Cafe
Website: http://www.lamesadubai.com/
Address: 5th Floor – Asiana Hotel – Salahuddin Road – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 4 238 7777
Operating hours:
- 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM daily for lunch
- 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM daily for dinner
Price:
- Approx. AED 280 for two people
La Mesa is a Filipino restaurant in Dubai that’s known for offering native Filipino dishes that help to preserve the country’s heritage through food.
With the name that means “the table,” this restaurant invites you to take a seat, feel at home and enjoy food the way you would in a traditional Filipino table.
Breakfast? You need to try the famous tapsilog, the country’s most popular breakfast made with Filipino beef jerky, fried egg and garlic fried rice.
Are you visiting for snacks? Enjoy the hearty palabok, the Filipino version of a spaghetti using shrimp sauce and topped with chicken, crushed chicharon and fried garlic.
Pair that with kamote que or turon and for sure, you’d want to come back for more. Of course, there’s the classic chicken adobo, beef kare kare and laing.
Pro tip:
Want to taste a little bit of everything? Enjoy La Mesa’s seafood boodle, which includes a hefty pile of grilled milkfish, chicken and squid, and crabs, calamari and mussels.
Bulwagan Filipino Restaurant
Website: https://pinoytownhall.com/listing/bulwagang-filipino/
Address: 14D Street – Al Karama – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 55 183 0598
Operating hours:
- 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily
Price:
- Approx. AED 90 for two people
If you ask Filipinos in Dubai what their favorite Filipino restaurant is, most of them will probably tell you it’s Bulwagan.
In fact, this restaurant has been in the city for more than four decades becoming one of the oldest Filipino dining spots in the UAE.
Don’t expect anything fancy at this restaurant though, because it’s designed to look and feel like a local eatery or karinderia in the Philippines.
But we guarantee that you’ll feel right at home at Bulwagan, especially if you love to eat buffet. And guess what, you’re only paying AED 31 to eat everything you can at this restaurant.
This includes favorites like sisig, kare-kare, pinakbet and daing na bangus. For loyal customers – Filipinos and Emiratis alike – it’s the restaurant’s authenticity that made it thrive for the last 40 years.
Although simple, Bulwagan is very clean and the staff will make you feel Filipino hospitality at its best.
Pro tip:
Bulwagan easily gets packed for dinner, especially on the weekends. So, if you want to get first dibs on the buffet, better go to the restaurant early.
Bodega Garage
Address: Sheikh Zayed Road – Al Barsha 1 – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 4 704 0807
Operating hours:
- 7:00 PM to 3:00 AM daily
Price:
- Approx. AED 50 to 100 per person
Bodega Garage isn’t just your typical Filipino restaurant in Dubai because it’s also a popular nightspot for Filipinos who want to reminisce memories of the country’s nightlife scene.
Located in Al Barsha, Bodega Garage is designed to make you feel like you’re in Manila again with its wall art and loud posters. But it’s the food and drinks that really make this place popular.
Bodega Garage serves classic club food including the famous sizzling sisig, the perfect pairing for beer, if you ask the locals.
Here, you can enjoy a great night with friends while experiencing what it’s like to party, Manila style.
Pro tip:
It’s best to book a reservation if you want the best table at Bodega Garage, especially if you’re partying during the weekends.
Dagat Dagatan
Address: Flora Grand Hotel – 26B Street – Al Rigga Street – Al Rigga – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 4 230 9871
Operating hours:
- 12:00 PM to 11:30 PM daily
Price:
- Approx. AED 120 for two people
Dagat Dagatan is where you go if you’re a seafood lover, a Filipino restaurant in Dubai inspired by and named after one of the country’s biggest fishing markets in Malabon.
In typical Filipino feast style, seafood at this restaurant is served boodle fight. So, you’re getting a big mound of shrimp, crabs, squid and grilled tilapia, isaw or “chicken intestine skewers, La Paz batchoy or traditional noodle soup and of course, unlimited rice.
We also recommend Dagat Dagatan’s other offerings including the canton guisado, fresh lumpia, gotong Batangas and of course, buko pandan for dessert.
Pro tip:
Are you on a budget? Ask the staff about their value meal offerings where you get one barbecued meat, a stick of isaw, a drink and yes, unlimited rice.
Fiesta Pinoy Restaurant
Address: Opposite Al Bassam Center – Abu Baker – Al Siddiqui Street – Al Khabaisi – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 4 295 5524
Operating hours:
- 8:30 AM to 12:00 AM daily
Price:
- Approx. AED 120 for two people
Fiesta Pinoy Restaurant is exactly what its name means, a Filipino restaurant in Dubai offering a sumptuous feast of Filipino favorites, buffet style and for only AED 39 without drinks.
While several Filipino restaurants have popped up in the area over the years, many customers have stayed loyal to Fiesta Pinoy because of its authenticity in serving traditional Filipino food.
And make sure that you come with an empty stomach because you’ll be treated to a meal like no other, whether it’s for brunch, lunch or dinner.
Classics like beef pochero or stew, pancit canton or stir-fried noodles, chicken tinola or soup and kakanins or small desserts and snacks are ready for you to enjoy all day.
But if you don’t want to dig into the buffet, you can always order from Fiesta Pinoy’s a la carte menu.
Pro tip:
If you don’t know how to get to Al Rigga, take the Red Line and stop at the Al Rigga Metro Station. From there, you need to walk towards an intersection where you’ll see a mosque.
Cross that street and you’ll see the Fiesta Pinoy Restaurants right across Al Bassam Center.
Kooya Filipino Eatery
Website: https://www.kooyafilipinoeatery.com/
Address: Nasaq Street – Marina Promenade – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 4 585 8072
Operating hours:
- 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM from Sunday to Wednesday
- 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM for lunch and 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM for dinner every Thursday
- 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM every Friday
- 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM every Saturday
Price:
- Approx. AED 70 for two people
Kooya Filipino Eatery is an upscale Filipino restaurant in Dubai offering a unique twist to classic Filipino dishes from the creative mind of Chef JP Anglo, one of the country’s best.
With the goal to put Filipino cuisine on the global map, the chef refined dishes he grew up with while still staying true to his heritage. The result is a menu of unique offerings that you’ll surely love, whether you’re Filipino or not.
Kooya Filipino Eatery is cozy, warm and inviting with its predominantly green color palette with elements like photos, plants and native decor that reminds you of the Philippine islands.
But the food is the real highlight here, and if you’re Filipino, you’ll be surprised at how much different these dishes are yet they’re still the same familiar ones you’ve loved back home.
There’s crispy pancit canton, chicken sisig, lengua salpicao, kare-kare, chicken inasal – ah, the list can go on and on.
Pro tip:
Don’t have time to visit Kooya? The restaurant also offers home delivery, so you can order your favorite foods and have them delivered right to your hotel.
Gerry’s Grill
Website: https://gerrysgrill.com/
Address: Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road – Karama – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 4 883 9550
Operating hours:
- 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM from Sunday to Thursday
- 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM from Friday to Saturday
Price:
- Approx. AED 100 for two people
Gerry’s Grill is a global restaurant chain with over 151 branches around the world. So, it’s not surprising that its branch in Dubai instantly became one of the city’s highly rated Filipino restaurants.
What started as a humble restaurant in the Philippines has become a favorite family restaurant specializing in grilled Filipino favorites, and then some.
In fact, most Filipinos have celebrated milestones with a get together at Gerry’s Grill that it always hits close to home for those now living in Dubai.
And let’s not get started on that menu because we know you’d want to order everything, so we have a few recommendations.
The tinapa lumpia and crunchy squid heads are great starters and you can’t have a Filipino meal without sinigang.
But the real highlight of Gerry’s Grill is of course, it’s grilled menu with options like chicken, baby squid, milkfish and even lamb chops for a Middle Eastern twist.
You also need to try one of their sizzling delights like the tuna sisig, tahong ala pobre or gambas, all served on a sizzling plate.
And what better way to end a sumptuous Filipino meal than with the classic halo halo or mixed dessert that we know you’ll surely dream of for days to come. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
Pro tip:
Enjoy a complete Filipino snack with the restaurant’s hearty lomi or soup and snack meal treats
Paluto
Website: https://www.palutoresto.ae/menu.php
Address: Waterfront Market – Al Khaleej Street – Corniche – Deira – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 581 2130
Operating hours:
- 2:00 PM to 12:00 AM from Sunday to Thursday
- 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM from Friday to Saturday
Price:
- Approx. AED 160 for two people
Paluto isn’t like any other Filipino restaurant in Dubai because instead of just ordering food from the menu, you go shopping for fresh seafood at the waterfront fish market to be cooked at the restaurant.
The brainchild of Chef Boy Logro, one of the country’s best homegrown chefs, the word paluto means “to cook” and that’s exactly what makes this restaurant different from the rest of the pack.
Here, you get to choose how you want your seafood to be cooked, Filipino-style. You can go for baked mussels or scallops, seafood kare-kare, fried fish or mixed seafood.
Just imagine eating all that fresh seafood while enjoying views of the water because you’re right at the Deira Corniche seafront. What could be better than that?
Pro tip:
Don’t forget to make reservations online, especially if you’re dining during the weekend, as the restaurant can easily get packed with guests who want to relax and enjoy good seafood.
Goto King
Address: Al Attar Shopping Center – Kuwait Street – Al Karama – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 4 340 0688
Operating hours:
- 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily
Price:
- Approx. AED 80 for two people
When Filipinos think about comfort food, goto or rice porridge always comes to mind. This is why Goto King has easily been one of the best Filipino restaurants in Dubai for the last 20 years.
This restaurant is where you go to indulge in delightful – and sometimes sinful – Filipino comfort food. But who cares about the calories when the food is so delicious?
Goto King’s tapsilog and dasilog are perfect day starters and the hot goto overload, which is rice porridge with all the good toppings is the ideal snack, especially during the winter months.
Pro tip:
Goto King also serves street foods like tokneneng, kwek kwek, okoy and isaw, so make sure to give them a try too!
Carinderia ni Tandang Sora
Website: https://carinderianitandangsora.business.site/
Address: Centurion Star Building – Port Saeed – Deira – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 4 297 1835
Operating hours:
- 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM daily
Price:
- Approx. AED 80 for two people
Carinderia ni Tandang Sora is a simple Filipino restaurant in Dubai that brings you home cooked Filipino meals at budget-friendly prices.
The restaurant’s name is inspired by the brave Filipina hero Melchora Aquino or “Tandang Sora” who while brave in battle was known for her hospitality and kindness.
And yes, dining here will make you feel that same brand of hospitality, all at affordable prices. What makes Carinderia ni Tandang Sora special is how it highlights Filipino cuisines with all its American, Asian and Spanish influences.
You’ll also see that in the restaurant’s interiors with its brick walls, wood furniture and photos of the country’s heroes, especially Tandang Sora, on the walls.
Pro tip:
Ask the staff about Carinderia ni Tandang Sora’s Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao boodle fights that highlight the flavors of each part of the Philippines.
Bahay Cusina
Website: https://www.bahaycusina.com/
Address: Indigo Spectrum 1 – International City – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 800 287 462
Operating hours:
- 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM daily
Price:
- Approx. AED 50 to 100 per person
Bahay Cusina or “the home’s kitchen” is a popular Filipino restaurant in Dubai that specializes in Asian fusion food and Filipino classics.
The restaurant combines familiar Filipino flavors with influences from neighboring countries to come up with dishes that are unique to this place.
There’s the country’s national dish, chicken adobo, cooked in the special Bahay Cusina sauce that makes it a bit different from your typical adobo.
You also have seafood paella, beef kare-kare and sisig kimbap that’s making our mouths drool as we write this.
Pro tip:
If you’re on a budget, order Bahay Cusina’s lunch boxes where you’ll get a hefty serving of lumpiang shanghai, chicken adobo or sisig with rice and a vegetable side dish.
Jollibee
Website: https://jollibeeuae.com/
Address: The Dubai Mall – Downtown Dubai – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 600 587 000
Operating hours:
- 8:00 AM to 1:00 AM daily
Price:
- Approx. AED 55 for two people
Jollibee isn’t exactly a Filipino restaurant in Dubai because it’s a fastfood chain. But we know it would be a sin not to try their famous Jollibee chickenjoy.
With 20 branches all over the UAE – and 1,500 around the world – Jollibee is an institution. In fact, nothing hits closer to home for any Filipino than a good meal at Jollibee – and we can’t blame them.
Even Emriatis and foreigners have come to love Jollibee for its no-nonsense offerings that are packed with flavor and that familiar comfort that you’d want to experience over and over again, Filipino or not.
Oh, and thinking about the menu already makes us hungry, and you’ll understand once you try them.
We love coming back for the famous Jollibee chickenjoy lathered in their signature gravy, the Jolly spaghetti, Yumburger and burger steak.
Pro tip:
Throwing a party for your child? Do it at Jollibee with its amazing party packages that include all of Jollibee’s favorites, treats and even an entire program hosted by the crew.
We tell you, there’s nothing quite like having a party at Jollibee, even if you’re already a grown up.
Kubyertos Filipino Kitchen
Address: FB 01 – Gardens Boulevard – Jebel Ali Village – Discovery Gardens – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 4 589 6448
Operating hours:
- 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily
Price:
- Approx. AED 55 per person
Kubyertos Filipino Kitchen is a popular Filipino restaurant in Dubai’s Jebel Ali Village offering modern twists to Filipino classics and Filipino twists to international dishes.
Curious to know more? The owner said that this concept has enabled them to stand out from other Filipino restaurants in the city. Meanwhile, the name kubyertos comes from the chavacano word for “spoon and fork.”
If you want to sample a little bit of everything, start your meal with the Kubyertos platter. For fusion favorites, we recommend the chori burger, kare-kare de sulipan and coco bananarama.
Pro tip:
Are you vegetarian or do you have any dietary restrictions? Let the staff at Kubyertos know when making your reservations, so they can adjust the dishes to suit your exact needs.
Razon’s of Guagua
Address: Shop 6,7,8 Al Wasl Hub Building – 41st Street next to Dr. Ismail Polyclinic – Al Karama – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 4 334 3333
Operating hours:
- 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM from Monday to Thursday
- 11:00 AM to 10:30 PM from Friday to Sunday
Price:
- Approx. AED 90 for two people
Razon’s of Guagua is a Filipino restaurant in Dubai that’s famous for two items on the menu: the special halo halo and pancit luglug from Pampanga where the restaurant originated.
But being from the culinary capital of the Philippines, the restaurant also serves different Filipino comfort dishes like sisig, barbecue and seafood selections, all featuring authentic flavors.
Pro tip:
If you’re dining with a big group, ask for the restaurant’s Filipino platters, which has most of their popular dishes but in bigger, good-for-sharing portions.
La Paz Batchoy
Address: Al Rigga Road – Deira – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 4 299 9996
Operating hours:
- 10:00 AM to 2:00 AM from Saturday to Thursday
- 9:00 AM to 2:00 AM every Friday
Price:
- Approx. AED 100 for two people
La Paz Batchoy is a Filipino restaurant in Dubai named after its most popular offering, the classic La Paz Batchoy from a province named Iloilo.
With the tagline “Tatak Ilonggo, Tatak Pinoy,” this restaurant guarantees a feast of dishes popular in this part of the Philippines including the Bacolod chicken inasal and duck caldereta.
But you have to try the famous noodle dish La Paz Batchoy that’s perfect as an afternoon snack as it’s a noodle soup topped with different kinds of meat and chicharon, all doused in a hearty broth.
Pro tip:
Too tired to go out but craving for a Filipino midnight snack? Order from La Paz Batchoy and they’ll have your food delivered straight to your accommodation.
Little Manila
Address: K6 Building – Al Muraqqabat Street – Al Muraqqabat – Deira – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 4 299 9315
Operating hours:
- 7:00 AM to 12:00 AM on weekdays
- 7:00 AM to 1:00 AM on weekends
Price:
- Approx. AED 80 for two people
Little Manila is a Filipino restaurant in Dubai that brings you a little piece of the country’s capital with familiar favorites in a cozy and casual environment.
With affordable prices, this is the perfect spot to hit if you’re on a budget because they have all-day Pinoy breakfast and combo meals that fill you up without breaking your bank.
Of course, there are street food options, snacks and the classic Filipino dishes like pancit canton and chicken adobo that will make you understand why many people love Filipino cuisine so much.
Pro tip:
While dining at Little Manila, you can’t miss taking a photo inside the little jeepney parked in front of the restaurant. This is the Philippines’ primary mode of transportation and a symbol of its culture.