From traditional favourites to totally original recipes, chefs across the UAE have gone all out to impress their diners this Ramadan.
Whether you fancy Arabian staples, contemporary Japanese or something a bit more fusion, Dubai has it all – and so we've scoured the emirate to find the most unique, beautifully plated or delicious-sounding dishes on iftar menus this season.
We spoke to 12 chefs from a range of restaurants, and asked them to name their top two signature dishes.
Scroll through the photo gallery above to meet the chefs and get a peek at their two favourite dishes.
This includes a metre-long kebab at a hotel in Al Ghurair, the vegan tofu donburi at a golf course in Dubai Hills, and Australian-Middle Eastern creations in Al Quoz, plus plenty more.
At The Loft at Dubai Opera, head chef Brian Voelzing has used fresh local seafood to create modern dishes that suit the venue's upmarket atmosphere. Case in point: his mac and cheese made with Omani lobster, gruyere sauce and homemade pasta. "This mac and cheese is on another level of deliciousness," he comments.
If Indian cuisine is more your thing, then Mmmbox at Reem Mall has an interesting take on classic dahl, using burrata cheese and truffle kulcha. "It has been slow cooked for 24 hours to give it a creamier and flavourful taste that leaves you wanting more," says sous-chef Rajpal Singh.
For a taste of the Far East, Oni at the Shangri-La Hotel in Downtown Dubai does a fantastic iftar platter, featuring organic chicken gyoza, the chef's sushi selection and salmon tacos. "It's a mix of Oni signature dishes in one plate, giving the guest an experience of contemporary Japanese iftar," says head chef Emil Helmy.
From high-end cuisine to cheap eats, you're bound to find something that'll tickle your tastebuds in this gallery.
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Read more:
Iftar review: Enjoy mezze, meat and more at Rixos Saadiyat Island
Iftar review: Try nutritious and delicious bites at Hakkasan
Iftar review: Enjoy the authentic ambience at Emirati restaurant Al Mashowa in Dubai
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