6 ugly dishes in Dubai that actually taste amazing
You might not know it, but some of the city's tastiest dishes don't actually look that pretty.
They might not be aesthetic enough for an Insta post, but these dishes weren't designed to be prim and proper.
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Instead, they're served up to be devoured, with flavours you won't forget easily.
So if you're in the mood to eat messy, make one of these ugly dishes your next stop.
Dampa Seafood Grill
Dampa is a local favourite (Credit: Dampa Food Grill)
Dish: Cajun Dump a Seafeast
There's no prizes for presentation here. The Time Out Dubai Restaurant Award 2025 winner for Best Budget restaurant simply dumps a bucket of fresh catches onto the table, smothered in the venue's signature Cajun sauce.
You'll need to get your hands dirty, but it's more than worth it when you bite into a juicy shrimp. For Dhs176, this feasts feeds around two to three people and comes with rice and a drink.
Open daily noon-11.30pm. Deira, @dampaseafoodgrill (04 299 0884).
Maisan 15
Dish: Shawarma pizza
We know what you're thinking, shawarma and pizza are great enough on their own, they don't need a combination. But that's where you're sadly mistaken.
Over at Maisan 15, its fusion dish might seem a little overwhelming, packed with chicken and smothered in garlic ranch, but one bite will convince you otherwise.
Open daily 8am-11pm. Al Barsha, @maisan15 (04 244 7291).
Morellis Gelato
Dish: Spaghetti ice cream
Forget your cone, you can now get your ice cream fix in the form of spaghetti. It might look a little odd as your flavour of choice is pressed out into thin noodles, but it tastes just as good.
Finish up with your favourite sauce and enjoy that fresh gelato.
Open Mon-Thu 10am-1am, Fri-Sun 10am-1am. Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai, morellisgelato.com (04 564 2195).
NOMAD
Dish: Volcano fries
This cheesy tower is in a league of its own, and if you're taking it on, we'd recommend sharing between two to three people.
It's not hard to see why this is one of the Umm Suqeim restaurant's best sellers — the mounds of crispy fries are coated in cheese and a tangy sauce, before being mixed with crispy chicken pieces and hot Cheetos.
Once you take a forkful, this volcano will really erupt, as fries spill out all over the plate (yum).
Open daily 4pm-2am. Umm Suqeim, @nomad.uae (058 954 1613).
Tacos Los Hermanos
Dish: Chips Oman birria
Tacos Los Hermanos at Neighbourhood Food Hall is serving up birria with Chips Oman, and it's all stuffed into the bottom of a crisp packet. Chef Jose packs it with cheese, spicy salsas, chipotle mayo, veggies, Oman Chips and tender birria beef, which might look a little unusual, but tastes incredible.
You can also bring your own chips if you want to customise it. Plus, you get to eat it out of the bag which is pretty cool too.
Open Sun-Thu noon-10.30pm, Fri-Sat noon-11.30pm. Neighbourhood Food Hall, Motor City, neighbourhoodfoodhall.com
Ugly Burger
(Credit: Ugly Burger)
Dish: Big Poppa Burger
This place was literally founded on the idea of good messy food that doesn't need to look cute to impress.
All about the flavour, if you're in the mood for a packed patty then try out the big poppa, crammed with cheese, onion rings, barbecue sauce and garlic mayo. It might ooze out everywhere, but that's the whole point, right?
Open Sun-Thu 10am-10pm, Fri-Sat 10am-11pm. Nakheel Mall, Palm Jumeirah, nakheelmall.ae (058 110 8432).
Hungry for more?
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Where to go when those fries are calling your name
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