Takeaways in Dubai: 35 food delivery options to try tonight
We’ve all been there: It’s late, you’ve had one of those days, you can’t be bothered to cook. Well why not just pick up your phone and dial in your dinner with our pick of the city’s best takeaways…
With Deliveroo, Talabat, Food On Click, UberEats and Zomato now delivering food to the farthest-flung corners of the city, we’ve never had it so easy in the city. But which takeaway should you choose? We’ve put them to the test, for you, our hungry readers.
We picked out five of our top restaurants in each cuisine category, ordered a similar dish at each venue, and timed the delivery. Our tasting panel (the delivery-addicted What’s On team) rated them for taste, freshness, speed of delivery and food temperature. Here are the results (and sure, the pictures aren’t all pretty, but they’re real)…
Burgers
Dish ordered: Cheeseburger
Burger Fuel
Price: Dhs34 + Dhs5 (delivery)
Order: C N Cheese
Used: Company website
Expected: 45 minutes
Actual: 48 minutes
Available on: Deliveroo, Talabat, Food On Click, Uber Eats, Zomato
Lord Of The Rings. The All Blacks. Sheep. Burgerfuel. These (unofficial) pillars of New Zealand are all fantastic, but we reckon Burgerfuel tops the list. The cheeseburger is juicy, slathered in mayo, and cradled by a sesame bun. The doofer (a special cardboard burger holder) makes it more manageable, too.
Rating: 4/5
Sheikh and Shake
Price: Dhs35 (free delivery) (minimum order of Dhs50)
Order: Classic Sheikh Burger
Used: Company website
Expected: 45 minutes
Actual: 37 minutes
Available on: Deliveroo, Talabat, Food On Click, Uber Eats, Zomato
There’s a cult-like reverence for this small chain, and now we know why. The house-made bun is pillow-soft, the patty is full of juicy, top-quality meat, and the tart signature sauce really sets it apart from other burgers.
Rating: 4/5
Hardee’s
Price: Dhs18 + Dhs5 (delivery) (minimum order of Dhs29)
Order: Big deluxe burger
Used: Company website
Expected: 30 minutes
Actual: 40 minutes
Available on: Talabat, Food On Click
If we were solely basing this on value for money, Hardee’s would get full marks. It might just be a glorified fast-food cheeseburger, but where Hardee’s shines is its gamey patties, soft buns, sticky cheese and generous slathering of sauces.
Rating: 3.5/5
GBK
Price: Dhs37 + Dhs5 (delivery) (minimum order of Dhs50)
Order: Classic cheese beef burger
Used: Zomato
Expected: 50 minutes
Actual: 57 minutes
Available on: Talabat, Zomato
Eating at GBK restaurant is one thing, but sadly, these burgers don’t travel well. There was too much bun and not enough anything else – the bread was too thick, the salad was two limp lettuce leaves, and it was just too dry.
Rating: 3.5/5
Johnny Rockets
Price: Dhs35 + Dhs10 (delivery)
Order: Regular original burger
Used: Company website
Expected: None
Actual: Two hours 49 minutes (!)
Available on: Deliveroo, Talabat, Food On Click, Uber Eats, Zomato
When it finally arrived, the burger divided our taste test panel; it was very mustard-y, the bun was flaky and sweet, and the pickles were large (these could all be taken as pros or cons). But in the end, it was the long wait that ruined it – we had to call to check up on our order (apparently orders from the website get missed). If we didn’t have to wait three hours, this might have been awarded a 3/5.
Rating: 1.5/5
Chinese & Southeast Asian
Dish ordered: Wok-fried noodles
Busaba Eathai
Price: Dhs59 + Dhs7 (delivery)
Ordered: Chicken pad thai
Used: Deliveroo
Expected: 30 to 40 minutes
Actual: One hour five minutes
Available on: Deliveroo
There’s no doubt that you get your Dhs66 worth with this whopping portion, which is packed with chicken, tofu and noodles. Unfortunately, there’s little sign of vegetables, it’s heavy on the lime, and very oily.
Rating: 2.5/5
Hanoi
Price: Dhs43.50 + Dhs5 (delivery)
Order: Mixed beef pho
Used: Deliveroo
Expected: 30 to 40 minutes
Actual: 33 minutes
Available on: Deliveroo
Fantastic Vietnamese food time and again. Everything was separately packaged, even down to the coriander – so it was all deliciously fresh, but not environmentally friendly. The stuffed meatballs are excellent, and the broth was rich in flavour.
Rating: 4.5/5
facebook.com/hanoinaturallydubai
Noodle House
Price: Dhs55 (free delivery)
Ordered: Bakmie Goreng
Used: Food on click
Expected: 30 minutes
Actual: One hour four minutes
Available on: Deliveroo, Talabat, Food On Click
Can’t choose between your favourite Asian cuisines? The Noodle House offers a little of everything from Singaporean to Thai. Dishes come packaged in an American takeout box, which we love. There’s a good balance between vegetables and noodles in the goreng and the portion size is good, too.
Rating: 4/5
Wagamama
Price: Dhs62 + Dhs5 (delivery)
Ordered: Teriyaki soba salmon
Used: Talabat
Expected: Not stated
Actual: 54 minutes
Available on: Talabat, Food On Click
The food at Wagamama is usually hearty and satisfying. The teriyaki soba salmon was a bit disappointing this time. It was a little overcooked and the teriyaki sauce was missing. Stick to the big bowls of ramen or the kare lomen, which are filling and bursting with flavour.
Rating: 3/5
Fuchsia
Price: Dhs32 + Dhs5 (delivery)
Order: Rice noodles in spicy peanut curry
Used: Zomato
Expected: Within an hour
Actual: 41 minutes
Available on: Deliveroo, Talabat, Food On Click, Zomato
Dependable, tasty, flavourful food, Fuchsia has been the stalwart of Southeast Asian cuisine for years. The rice noodle dish is creamy with a double whammy of chilli and the packaging keeps everything fresh.
Rating: 4.5/5
Healthy
Circle
Price: Dhs48 + Dhs5 (delivery)
Order: Superfood salad
Expected: 50 minutes
Actual: 40 minutes
Available on: Deliveroo, Talabat, Food On Click, Uber Eats, Zomato
When you’re craving a salad, Circle is easily the best option in Dubai and their superfood salad has got it all; quinoa, avocado, tender falafel, tomatoes, kale and so much more. The best part? The beetroot hummus.
Rating: 4.5/5
STMD
Price: Dhs46 (free delivery)
Order: Moroccan lamb cous cous
Used: Company website
Expected: 40 minutes
Actual: 20 minutes
Available on: Deliveroo, Zomato
There’s a lot to like about STMD – especially the free, fast delivery – but we wish they were a bit more generous on the portions. The lamb is delicious, but there wasn’t much meat or sauce, and on the whole it seems to be bulked up using the veggies and the grains. It’s probably better for our health, but a bit disappointing for carnivores.
Rating: 3.5/5
Poke Poke
Price: Dhs50 + Dhs7 (delivery)
Order: Build your own bowl (smallest size)
Used: Deliveroo
Expected: 40 minutes
Actual: 45 minutes
Available on: Deliveroo
Can’t face the thought of another salad? Try Poke Poke and build your own poke bowl. We went for marinated raw tuna, with wild rice, avocado, crispy seaweed, garlic, and more. Absolutely delicious.
Rating: 4.5/5
Richy’s
Price: Dhs36 + Dhs5 (delivery)
Order: Make your own salad
Used: Company website
Expected: One hour
Actual: One hour 22 minutes
Available on: Deliveroo, Talabat, Food On Click, Zomato
Richy’s is known for its make-your-own salads, but we felt the portions were on the stingy side. We want more of the good stuff (avocado!) and less of the bulkier stuff (lentils). And waiting over an hour for a salad is just plain wrong.
Rating: 2/5
Urth
Price: Dhs65 + Dhs5 (delivery) (there’s a minimum order of 50)
Ordered: Quinoa date salad and spring wrap
Used: Zomato
Expected: One hour
Actual: 42 minutes
Available on: Deliveroo, Talabat, Food On Click, Uber Eats, Zomato
Urth had us from the moment they scrawled a personalized message on our bag. The salad is bursting full of fresh ingredients and the papaya spring wraps were full of veg – aka the best fruit roll-up ever.
Rating: 4/5
Pizza
Dish ordered: Margarita
Pit Fire
Price: Dh49 + Dhs5 (delivery)
Used: Company website
Expected: One hour
Actual: 35 minutes
Available on: Zomato
Seasoned tomato sauce, mozzarella, olive oil, basil and a dash of Parmesan. The crust is a nice and crispy, and the tomato sauce tastes great. Crispy yet chewy, just like they make it in New York.
Rating: 4/5
800 Pizza
Price: Dhs44 + Dhs5 (delivery)
Used: Company website
Expected: One hour
Actual: 37 minutes
Available on: Deliveroo, Talabat, Food On Click, Zomato
Handmade wood-fired ovens flown in from Italy are usually the reason why 800 Pizzas are so good. Sadly, we felt a little let down by our delivery. The base was too stiff, the cheese was too bland and there was a little too much oil.
Rating: 2/5
Freedom Pizza
Price: Dhs53 + Dhs5 (delivery)
Used: Company website
Expected: 30 minutes
Actual: 38 minutes
Available on: Talabat, Food On Click, Zomato
There’s no margherita here, so we went for a Mother Earth. Its wholemeal base is soft, and it’s packed with artichoke, spinach, bell peppers, mushroom and mozzarella. A great alternative to your typical oily pie that could outrage some pizza lovers.
Rating: 4/5
Pizzaro
Price: Dhs44 + Dhs5 (delivery)
Used: Company website
Expected: 30 to 45 minutes
Actual: 29 minutes
Available on: Deliveroo, Talabat, Food On Click, Zomato
These chaps know their way around pizza dough. Squishy yet crisp base, the tomato sauce is rich, and the entire package is well seasoned with a sprinkling of pepper. The cheese-to-sauce ratio was perfectly on point too.
Rating: 4/5
Rossovivo
Price: Dhs43 + Dhs3 (delivery)
Used: Company website
Expected: No indicator
Actual: 22 minutes
Available on: Talabat, Food On Click, Zomato
There’s an authenticity to Rossovivo’s pizza that can’t be matched. It’s as if an Italian grandmother is whipping them up for Dubai. The bases are excellent: light, crispy and slightly charred, with a tangy and fresh tomato sauce, and oozing mozzarella.
Rating: 4.5/5
Shawarmas
Operation Falafel
Price: Dhs22 + Dhs5 (delivery)
Ordered: Beef shawarma
Used: Direct
Expected: 30 to 45 minutes
Actual: 54 minutes
Available on: Talabat, Food On Click, Zomato
Yes, they may be famous for falafel, but their shawarmas are good too. There’s plenty of juicy meat, and the red cabbage is a nice unique twist, but we thought it could use a pickle or two.
Rating: 4.5/5
Zaatar w Zeit
Price: Dhs30 + Dhs5 (delivery)
Ordered: Beef shawarma
Used: Website
Expected: 45 minutes
Actual: 24 minutes
Available on: Direct with the company
Whether it’s lunch, dinner or a midnight snack, Zaatar w Zeit is a local favourite. While we were impressed with the speed of delivery, the shawarma was a bit sloppy and soggy, and the tahini was too watery for our liking.
Rating: 2.5/5
Al Hallab
Price: Dhs36 + Dhs10 (delivery)
Ordered: Chicken shawarma
Used: Talabat
Expected: One hour
Actual: One hour 4 minutes
Available on: Zomato
We found it: the one shawarma to rule them all. It looks humble, but the taste is mighty. The chicken is deliciously seasoned and juicy, the pickles add a bite, the dressing is generously slathered, and there are fries stuffed in for good measure.
Rating: 4.5/5
S’wich
Price: Dhs37
Ordered: For duck sake
Expected: None
Actual: 15 minutes
Available on: Deliveroo, Talabat, Food On Click, Zomato
These gourmet shawarmas are brilliantly done and a true takeaway trifecta: food that arrived warm, fast and delicious. The combination of chipotle, hoisin and plenty of tender duck has us adding S’wich to our speed dials, and you should too.
Rating: 4/5
Zaroob
Price: Dhs12 + Dhs5 (delivery)
Ordered: Chicken shawarma
Used: Zomato
Expected: One hour
Actual: One hour 34 minutes
Available on: Deliveroo, Talabat, Food On Click, Uber Eats, Zomato
A 24-hour café for your late night shawarma cravings, Zaroob is a Dubai institution, and a cheap one at that. Their shawarmas are packed with tender chicken, fresh pickles, and enough garlic sauce. Just keep some mints handy.
Rating: 4/5
Indian
Dish ordered: Tandoori
Zafran
Price: Dhs56 + Dhs5 (delivery)
Order: Chicken tandoori
Used: Zomato
Expected: 55 minutes
Actual: 43 minutes
Available on: Deliveroo, Talabat, Food On Click, Zomato
All hail Zafran, because this is the tandoori to end all tandoori. These bite-sized chunks are boneless, juicy and tender – and there’s a good old spice kick (not burn-your-mouth-off spicy, but verging on keep-the-yoghurt-handy spicy).
Rating: 4.5/5
facebook.com/zafranindianbistro
Govinda’s
Price: Dhs51 (free delivery)
Order: Special tandoori platter
Used: Zomato
Expected: One hour 25 minutes
Actual: One hour 44 minutes
Available on: Zomato
Govinda’s kept us waiting, but it was good. The vegetarian tandoori platter is a selection of paneer tikka, cheese seekh kebab and vegetable moti. The result? A very good meal. Shame about the wait.
Rating: 4.5/5
Memsaab
Price: Dhs48 (free delivery)
Order: Tandoori murgh
Used: Zomato
Expected: 45 minutes
Actual: 36 minutes
Available on: Talabat, Food On Click, Zomato
Delivered hot and fresh, the full portion of Memsaab’s tandoori chicken is enough for two. Its thick coating, juicy flesh and mild spice make this a delicious lunchtime choice, and there’s plenty of mint sauce and yoghurt for dipping.
Rating: 4/5
Briyani Pot
Price: Dhs34 + Dhs5 (delivery) (minimum order of Dhs50)
Order: Tandoori chicken tikka
Used: Zomato
Expected: One hour
Actual: 56 minutes
Available on: Talabat, Food On Click, Zomato
If you like Indian food but you’re nervous of spicy dishes – Biryani Pot is a good option. The tandoori pieces are mild and flavourful, if a little on the drier side.
Rating: 4.5/5
Gazebo
Price: Dhs45 (free delivery) (minimum order Dhs50)
Order: Tandoori murgh
Used: Zomato
Expected: One hour ten minutes
Actual: 55 minutes
Available on: Talabat, Food On Click, Zomato
Mixed reactions to Gazebo. The spice-averse liked the mild flavour, but the more purists were unimpressed. The presentation is good and it’s a huge portion, but overall the chicken was sweeter than it was spicy, it was a bit oily, and there was an unusual aroma.
Rating: 3/5
Best of the rest
Gallus Rotisserie
Price: Dhs128 + Dhs7 (delivery) (Free delivery if ordered direct from Gallus)
Ordered: Gallus Lover (two to three people, one whole chicken + choice of two sides + three sauces)
Used: Deliveroo
Expected: 20 to 30 minutes
Actual: 40 minutes
Available on: Deliveroo, Talabat, Food On Click, Uber Eats
Gallus’ rotisserie chicken tastes like the stuff of roast dinner dreams. The skin is salty and the meat piping hot. For sides, pick the spicy roast potatoes or the mash. The vegetables are a little bland to warrant an order.
Rating: 4/5
Bob’s Fish & Chips
Price: Dhs68 (free delivery)
Ordered: Haddock fish and chips
Used: Zomato
Expected: 30 minutes
Actual: 29 minutes
Available on: Deliveroo, Zomato
It’s a Brit institution and one that delivers huge portions of fried goodness. The fish is always encased in a golden batter, but the chips need a little more seasoning.
Rating: 3/5
Moti Roti
Price: Dhs30 + Dhs22
Order: Rice box with Saucy Kid and dal with roti
Expected: 30 minutes
Actual: 35 minutes
We’re really excited about Moti Roti’s new restaurant in JLT, as the quirky South Asian food truck can always be relied on for tasty food. The dal and roti, which comes with a side salad, is a bargain for Dhs22 and the Saucy Kid rice box, named for the spicy goat gravy it’s served with, was more than enough to share.
Rating: 4/5
Sushi Counter
Price: Dhs46 + Dhs5 (delivery) (including 25 per cent first-timer discount)
Order: Lunch Menu 2 (California roll, two pieces of sushi, two pieces of sashimi, miso soup and fruit salad)
Used: Company website
Expected: 45 minutes
Actual: 44 minutes
Available on: Deliveroo, Zomato, Food On Click, Talabat
The sushi was lightly chilled, the miso soup was hot
This meal ticked all of the right bento boxes – every piece of sushi was fresh, the miso was nourishing and packed with umami goodness, and a small container of mango was the perfect healthy treat to finish things off. Sushi can be overpriced in this city, but we thought this was great value.
Rating: 4/5
Taqado
Price: Dhs36 + Dhs7 (delivery)
Order: Mushroom quesadilla
Used: Deliveroo
Expected: 25 to 35 minutes
Actual: 45 minutes
Available on: Deliveroo, Food On Click, Talabat
The Taqado burrito box is our lunchtime go-to (that lime cilantro rice is dreamy), but we branched out and ordered the veggie quesadilla. The verdict? A nice light lunch option – the mushroom and cheese filling had a pleasant umami flavour. That said, we’ll probably go back to the box next time (we missed that rice).
Rating: 3.5/5
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