If you look at a map of the best homegrown restaurants in Dubai, you’ll notice a highly concentrated cluster centred around Jumeirah Lakes Towers. There’s a good reason for that: JLT was one of the first neighbourhoods to welcome – and champion – independently-owned F&B enterprises and residents have been the luckier for it. From French to Peruvian, Chinese to Levantine, JLT probably covers more cuisine offerings per square metre, than any other neighbourhood in the city, meaning whatever flavour profile you’re after, chances are you’ll get it right here. Over the last 12 years that I’ve written about restaurants in Dubai, it’s JLT that I look forward to visiting the most.
Here’s my top 10 restaurants in JLT…
Bait Maryam
Cuisine: Levantine
Chef Salam Dakkak, a Palestinian-Jordanian, has crafted not just a dining experience but a heartfelt embrace of homecoming. Named after her beloved mother, Maryam, Bait Maryam lives up to its name by making every guest feel like a cherished part of the family. As you step through the door, you’re welcomed with a warmth that is as genuine as it is rare. The dishes draw from the rich Levantine traditions of Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, lovingly prepared to echo the flavours that Arab mothers and grandmothers have been serving around family tables for generations. For an authentic taste of what this region is all about, this JLT gem is the one.
Location: Ground Level, Cluster D
Website: www.baitmaryam.com
Couqley
Cuisine: French
It’s a rare kind of restaurant magic that creates a space like Couqley: a low-key corner spot on the Lake Level of Cluster A that feels like it’s been there forever, yet at the same time manages to feel new. Maybe it’s the unfussy brasserie-style charm of the place. Maybe it’s the menu of simple yet well-executed French bistro fare, from the Burgundy-style garlicky snails to the show-stopping, melt-in-your-mouth, take-all-my-money steak frites. Maybe it’s the great value wine list – one of the most reasonable in the city – that’s quickly made Couqley an expat favourite. Whatever it is, this is a restaurant I find myself looking for excuses to return to, over and over again.
Location: Mövenpick Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Cluster A
Website: www.couqley.ae
Daikan Ramen
Cuisine: Japanese
What started as a pop-up by two brothers from Germany has turned into four bustling locations in the UAE. But Daikan’s brick-and-mortar legacy started in JLT, where its founders first opened their bare-bones, stripped-back ramen shop in 2017; a few years, recognitions, and thousands of happy tummies later, it is still a favourite for its well-balanced miso-based soups. My fail-safe order is the Chef’s Special, a spicy miso base with chicken, salty veal bacon, shallots and a jammy ajitama egg. Divine.
Location: Ground Level, Cluster Y
Website: www.daikan.ae
Fusion Ceviche
Cuisine: Peruvian
In a city brimming with high-end Peruvian restaurants, Fusion Ceviche is a breath of fresh, briny air. This mini but mighty gem made its debut in 2022 and has never looked back. Its ceviches positively dazzle with top-quality ingredients and vibrant flavours, earning rave reviews from Dubai's food lovers, where Chef Penelope Diaz’s no-frills approach delivers bold, citrus-marinated dishes that keep diners returning. The menu, displayed on chalkboards, features standout items the best-selling ceviche clasico – sea bass in tangy tiger’s milk with corn, sweet potato, red onion, and coriander. Nab a seat at the counter – it’s the best spot to watch the Peruvian team at work.
Location: Ground Level, Cluster Q
Instagram: www.instagram.com/fusioncevichedxb22
Maiz
Cuisine: Mexican
Since debuting her spectacular Mexican eatery in JLT five years ago, co-owner Luma Maklouf’s empire has grown to include a much bigger Maiz offshoot in Dubai Hills. But I still love her original, no-frills location in Cluster Y, which is known for serving up some of the most sought-after tacos in the city, including marinated Angus flank steak and fresh cod. I almost always order the birria – braised chuck roast stuffed in a flour tortilla with stringy cheese, dipped in chilli oil. It’s served with a sticky birria consommé that’s to die for. While delivery is available, these beauties are meant to be devoured onsite within the restaurant for maximum taste appreciation.
Location: Lake Level, Cluster Y
Website: www.maiztacos.com
Memsaab
Cuisine: Indian
For more than 10 years, this unassuming canteen has kept me satiated with the sort of hearty Indian fare that hits the spot no matter what time of day (or night). Opened in 2013, Memsaab has since become a neighbourhood institution for residents from all walks of life. From charred tikka masala to buttery dal makhani, and thalis, it’s a beacon of comfort that those-in-the-know come back to on repeat. A real unpretentious romp into the rustic joys of Indian food.
Location: Lake Level, Cluster J
Website: www.memsaabfood.com
Mythos Kouzina & Grill
Cuisine: Greek
Fact: Mythos is one of Dubai’s best-loved Greek restaurants. Between the consistently excellent food and cosy, low-key trattoria atmosphere, I’ve never had a bad experience here. Come to think of it, I’ve never had an average experience here, either. Order the slow cooked suckling lamb served with pilafi rice and wild oregano. Then bulk it out with a lot of shareable starters, like an assortment of dips, the cheese saganaki and the crispy baby marrow. Don’t forget to make a reservation. This place fills up at night.
Location: Armada Avenue Hotel, Cluster P
Website: www.mythosdubai.com
Pickl
Cuisine: Burgers
It’s hard to believe that Pickl only started slinging its perfectly cooked, almost crispy-around-the-edges smashburgers in 2019. But it didn’t take long before the massive crowds lining up outside ONE JLT justified a quick game plan to open more burger joints across the UAE. Head to the original for the Jeff Cheeseburger, a double chuck patty, cheese, their feel-the-heat spice, fried onions, and a smear of ranch sauce on a potato bun. Alternatively, Pickl’s fresh fried chicken sandos are almost as popular as their burgers, served with dill pickles and a tangy house-made sauce.
Location: ONE JLT
Website: www.eatpickl.com
Pitfire Pizza Bakers
Cuisine: Pizza
Pitfire burst onto the Dubai dining scene and launched a local pizza renaissance more than a decade ago – and it’s grown more beloved with every passing year. While it’s no longer just a bolt hole in JLT (there are branches in Time Out Market, Mirdif, Arjan and Dubai Hills), there’s something so incredibly charming about this three-table spot. Choose from a roster of expertly crafted Neapolitan options like the exquisitely simple Plain Jane, swiped with seasoned tomato sauce, melty mozzarella, and provolone cheese finished with oregano, or my personal favourite, the pepperoni primo, a staple pie covered in shiny, meaty buttons.
Location: Lake Level, Cluster D
Website: www.pitfirepizzabakers.com
Streetery Foodhall
Cuisine: Asian
Being half Malaysian-Chinese, Streetery will always have a special place in my heart. More of a southeast Asian food court, than food hall, the atmosphere is a little rustic, and a touch dive-y by design. In fact, it’s pretty similar to the real hawker stalls you’d find down a backstreet in Kuala Lumpur. Diners eat fast and scrappily, using thin wooden chopsticks while sitting on colourful plastic stools. This is a legit destination for residents after competitively-priced bowlfuls of laksa, dim sum, barbecue and roasted meats.
Location: Lake Level, Cluster D
Website: www.streeteryfoodhall.com
