Checking out Dubai’s Best Fish Restaurants
Growing a little tired of beef and chicken dishes? You can shake up your routine meals by checking out Dubai’s best seafood and fish restaurants and dishes around the city.
Dubai has no shortage of amazing seafood-based destinations ranging from live displays of lobsters to oysters served fresh. You’ll be surprised at the variety you’ll get.
We think any of these places below can satisfy your taste buds while also offering a great experience that will keep you coming back for more!
Seafood Market Dubai
Known for their market-style display of fresh fish while set inside a luxurious, cruise-themed dining space, the Seafood Market is a well-known dining spot for the bounties of the water in Dubai.
The restaurant boasts around eighteen different water tanks that contain an assortment of fresh fish and imported seafood like American lobsters, French oysters, and even Norwegian king crabs.
Here, you can have your fish in many different ways. For example, you can start with a healthy green mango and crispy fish salad as well as crispy eel to whet your appetite for the rest of the meal.
After that, feel free to go with whatever style your stomach desires. You can try getting your preferred fish barbecued as it’s split in half and seasoned with herbs and spices or cooked teriyaki-style for a hint of smoky and slightly sweet flavours.
Or perhaps you want the additional crunch provided by deep-fried tempura? Alternatively, you can also get your fish rubbed with different herbs and spices and steamed for a more milder flavour.
For a more complete meal, you also get your choice of whether to pair your fish with rice or noodles.
Crowds are generally well-managed though it can get rather hectic and busy come dinner time. However, it didn’t really affect the ambience overall and we were still able to have a nice experience.
Prices can be a bit high, though we think the portion sizes are still quite big. Expect to spend around AED 200 to AED 300 for two people here at the Seafood Market.
How to Get to Seafood Market Dubai (Le Meridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre)
Starting from Al Wahda Road, visitors may take a bus from Deira City Center Bus Station and ride to Deira City Center Bus Station 2, transferring to either Rashidiya Metro Bus Parking or Airport Terminal 3 in order to ride to Airport Terminal 1, Arrival – 1.
The Le Meridien Dubai Hotel is a 12 minute walk away, with Seafood Market located on the lobby level.
Things to Do Near Seafood Market Dubai
The Seafood Market is very close to the Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre; an amazing hotel for travellers looking to have a comfortable visit in Dubai. The hotel provides its own suite of spas and fitness centres in the establishment.
The Wasl Ballrooms and Great Ballrooms are also useful nearby amenities in case you’re travelling with a business group and need the presentation space for your next pitch.
Fish Hut Restaurant
Known for their surprisingly large menu as well as their spot in Oud Metha, Fish Hut restaurant provides a surprisingly affordable option for those looking to enjoy seafood in Dubai.
Dining in this restaurant feels similar to most popular chains, though we did find the ambiance to be a step above them thanks to the nice decoration and atmosphere in the place.
When it comes to variety, Fish Hut Restaurant more than lives up to its population. Their menu is a big collection of grilled items, deep fried items, curries, pastas, and rice dishes.
Check out their Fish with Spicy Red or Green Curry if you’re after a nice lunch with a bit of a kick. There’s no need to worry about whether or not you’re going to like the fish used due to the customization options when it comes to their fish curries.
You can pretty much get your preferred fish done in a variety of ways, whether you choose to go with seabass, salmon, grouper, snapper, pomfret sheri, and many other types.
The fish you choose to go with can be pan-grilled, char-grilled, deep fried, or even turned into Indian-style curry in order to infuse it with even more flavour and spices.
Of course, you do get a good accompaniment of fries, wedges, and salads to serve as a companion for your main dish.
Those who aren’t content with just having fish meat can also try out other ocean favourites like lobster, prawns, crabs, and calamari. There’s also pasta for those who want a more hearty meal as well as different types of sauces.
Prices are quite affordable at the restaurant too, starting at AED 17 for most sides and AED 120 for a big roast that’s enough for two or three people. We definitely recommend them as an affordable seafood option here in Dubai.
How to Get to Fish Hut Restaurant (Look for Oud Metha Building)
Visitors starting from Jumeirah 2 may wait for a bus at Lulu Village, near the Hilton Beach Club in order to ride to Umm Hurair, Road 1 – 02. Afterwards, they can walk to the Oud Metha building. Fish Hut Restaurant is on the ground floor, Street 8.
Things to do around Fish Hut Restaurant
Visitors who might be on the lookout for different cultural and religious touchstones can visit the St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral as well as the Oud Metha Mosque. You can catch a glimpse of the impressive architecture used in its construction.
On the other hand, you can also check out Al Nasr Leisureland if you want to burn off the calories. Here you can try bowling, small waterparks, tennis, and even ice skating on the rink to get some fun and exercise in.
Dampa Seafood Grill Dubai
Looking to feast on the bounties of the seas in a fun, vibrant, and casual restaurant setting? Look no further than Dampa Seafood Grill at the ground floor of the Centurion Star Tower in Deira.
You are immediately greeted with a wide dining area as well as the choice to dine indoors or al fresco which makes for a refreshing experience come dinnertime.
Regardless of your choice of seating arrangement, we think you’d be immediately taken by the fun energy and vibe in the area. Service is quite prompt and is given with a smile as you browse through their wide selection of seafood items.
Dampa Seafood Grill’s fish specialties include grilled milkfish, Crispy-Fried Tilapia as well as a big grilled tuna jaw for an interesting experience. These are all paired with unlimited rice as well, allowing you to eat as much as you want.
The restaurant’s ‘Chef’s Special’ also serves up some decent alternatives such as Cajun shrimp, Salty Eggperience Crab, baked mussels, grilled squid, and crunchy butterfly squid that we found to be really good for sharing.
Once you’re done with their delectable seafood courses, you may also want to try their famous fishbowl mocktails. They’re not made of seafood flavours though so don’t worry!
Instead, you can choose from different combinations of fruit juices and house soda, giving the drinks unusual names such as ‘Green Minded’ which fuses green apple and lemon, and ‘Justin Bieber’; a combination of passionfruit, pineapple, and soda.
We found the prices to be quite affordable for the size of the portions given to us. You can expect to spend around AED 50 to AED 100 for two people depending on the dish you’re going for.
How to Get to Dampa Seafood Grill Dubai (Look for Port Saeed Centurion Star Tower)
Travelers hoping to visit the Dampa Seafood Grill may start at Iris Dubai, walking to The Binary Tower. There, they may wait at the Ghubaiba Bus Station and ride to the Al Jafiliya Landside Metro Bus Stop.
From there, they may take a bus at either Lulu Village or the Gold Souq Bus Station to ride towards the City Centre Metro Bus Stop A, and walk to Port Saeed. The restaurant is located in Block A of the Centurion Star Tower.
Things to do around Dampa Seafood Grill
Dampa has some really good places to explore within the vicinity. For example, City Centre Deira has some good shopping malls such as Sun & Sand Sports as well as a branch of Sharaf DG where you can buy affordable electronics and games.
Best of all, Vox Cinemas in Deira is just a short car ride away for you to catch a current blockbuster once you’re all done with your lunch. Why not give them a visit and see what shows are playing?
The Maine Oyster Bar & Grill
Being in close proximity to the Arabian Gulf, this North American, brasserie-style bar and restaurant certainly has a leg up when it comes to offering a nice ambiance and seafood dining experience here in Dubai.
The overall vibe is very casual here at Maine and the terrace seating options do make for a great choice during the colder months as it does allow you to take in the tropical-themed sights outdoors.
It’s generally a great place to have a casual lunch with a friend or partner. We found this to be reflected well in their menu too, given that it does boast a lot of sharing plates and rather heavier, heartier dishes.
Appetisers are quite interesting, especially when you’re choosing from their raw bar menu. They have a colossal shrimp cocktail available as well as the trio tartare that offers you tuna, salmon, and steak all at the same time.
Main fish courses are all Western-inspired, which we think is quite good for casual dining. We particularly like their cod-based fish and chips as well as a whole, Salt-Crusted Sea-Bass seasoned with lemon and herbs.
For those who may want a different type of accompaniment for their dish, there’s also a few Italian-themed dishes like a char-grilled octopus as well as a mushroom and truffle pizza in order to keep it light.
Out of all the dishes though, we do think the aptly named ‘Neptune’s Folly’ is best for eating as a group. It comes with 6 U10 prawns, 18 oysters, 18 mussels, salmon tartare, tuna tartare, crabocado, and hamachi ceviche.
It’s a little on the pricey side but it does make a compelling option for a sharing plate with friends.
Prices are a bit high in the area, starting at AED 100 to AED 200 for a main dish. Still, we think the flavour and experience is well-worth the money we paid here at the Maine Oyster Bar and Grill.
How to Get to The Maine Oyster Bar and Grill (Look for DoubleTree by Hilton)
At Al Ghazal Mall, visitors can walk to Jumeirah Rotana Hotel to wait for a bus at Hamriya Port, Control Tower Terminus. Ride to ADCB Metro Bus Stop Landside 1 and transfer to a bus at Business Bay Metro Bus Landside.
Ride over to Burj View Central Tower. The DoubleTree by Hilton is just a few minutes away and you can easily find the restaurant on the ground floor.
Things to do around The Maine Oyster Bar and Grill
The Main Oyster Bar and Grill gets an edge when it comes to atmosphere by being located right next to the water. Both Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Resort and the Address Beach Resort are available for accommodation in the area.
Additionally, you just need to walk along the Beach, JBR, in order to get access to a whole host of dining, shopping, and water-based activities. The nearby Water Adventure for example, provides parasailing experiences for visitors if you’re interested.
Fusion Restaurant – Ghaya Grand Hotel
Located in Dubai’s International Media Production Zone, it certainly is a bit of a challenge to locate this popular buffet dining spot at the Ghaya Grand Hotel.
In our opinion, the Fusion Restaurant’s multi-cuisine approach to their menu makes this one of the best fish restaurants for eating out with friends and family in Dubai. They’re sure to always have something to appeal to the people around you.
The place is decently spaced out, allowing you sufficient time and breathing room to take your pick from the different fresh fish on offer before sending it to the live cooking station for it to be done according to your preference.
Fans of Chinese food and Japanese food can also get their fill of dimsum and sushi options. Check out their Maki Rolls and sashimi made from thick, fatty tuna cuts.
On the other hand, pickier eaters can also choose to get pasta and noodle dishes as well as some grilled meat and salads.
Additionally, there’s also a decent spread of other selections in case you don’t want to wait. You can pick out some freshly-shucked oysters, shrimps, squids, mussels, and lobster tails as well.
Prices are quite competitive as well for the selection they offer in the restaurant. You can expect to spend around AED 150 to AED 300 per person here.
Fusion Seafood Night Dinner Buffet is available every day starting at 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM. However, they also make this available for Friday Brunch at 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM.
Not a bad way to unwind after a long day of work or as preparation before another fun-filled weekend.
How to Get to Fusion Restaurant (Look for Ghaya Grand Hotel)
Travelers coming from the Burj Al Arab Hotel may wait for a bus at the Mall of the Emirates. Alight at Mall of the Emirates Bus Stop 05 then transfer over to Bus Stop 03 to ride towards the Studio Ciy Operation Office 01.
After that, you can then walk to the Ghaya Grand Hotel from Dubai Studio City and you can find Fusion Restaurant at the podium level.
Things to do around the Fusion Restaurant – Ghaya Grand Hotel
As the restaurant is located within Ghaya Grand Hotel, you do get access to most of the hotel’s facilities and nearby amenities. The building itself provides sufficient accommodations for travelers visiting the city.
Additionally, you can check out the Ghaya Wellness Club & Spa for some relaxation time before or after eating.
What are the most popular local fish caught in Dubai?
Despite any initial impressions one might get from an urban location like Dubai, the city does manage to bring in an impressive array of local seafood from the nearby water.
You can easily find local markets selling affordable fresh fish in Dubai. Popular items include:
- Anchovy
- Barracuda
- Black Pomfret
- Beltfish
- Catfish
- Halibut
- King Fish
- Mackerel
- Red Snapper
- Tuna
In addition to these popular local items, you can also get imported frozen fish such as salmon in many different cuts like steaks, roe, and even heads. Same goes for other seafood items like crabs, lobsters, and mollusks.
Whether you like your fish fried, grilled, or even served raw and fresh, you’re not going to be lacking for variety here in Dubai. The same holds true even if you prefer checking out other types of seafood like squids, prawns, and crabs.
Interested in checking out any particular cuisine while travelling in Dubai? Check out some of our other writeups detailing the best culinary delights that the city has to offer here.