Dubai’s best cheap eats are in its older neighbourhoods: Satwa, Karama, Bur Dubai and, for a more modern take, JLT. At the spots below you can eat well for roughly AED 10 to AED 45 a head, and every one is still serving in 2026.
For each place we give the area, what to order, a rough price and the nearest metro, so you can plan a cheap night out without guesswork.
Quick facts
- Best areas: Satwa, Al Karama, Bur Dubai (Meena Bazaar and Al Musalla Road), JLT
- Typical spend: From AED 10 for a manakish to about AED 45 a head for a kebab dinner
- Best metro stops: ADCB (Karama), Sharaf DG (Bur Dubai), Max Fashion (Satwa), DMCC (JLT)
- Late night: Al Mallah and Ravi both stay open until 2am or later
7 best cheap eats in Dubai
1. Al Mallah, Satwa
Area: 2nd of December Street (Al Dhiyafah Road), Satwa
Order: chicken shawarma, a cheese or garlic manakish and a fresh juice
Rough price: manakish from AED 10
Hours: Saturday to Thursday 7am to 2am; Friday 9am to 2am
Metro: Max Fashion (formerly Al Jafiliya) or World Trade Centre, Red Line, then a walk
A Satwa fixture since 1979, Al Mallah is the classic cheap Levantine stop. Order a wrap and a juice and you have a proper meal for very little. With a 7am start and a 2am close, it works for breakfast or a late-night snack.
2. Ravi Restaurant, Satwa
Area: near Satwa Roundabout, opposite Union Coop
Order: nihari, mutton karahi or dal fry, with fresh naan
Rough price: about AED 50 for two
Hours: listed as 5am to 2.30am
Metro: Max Fashion (formerly Al Jafiliya), Red Line, then a short taxi or walk
Open in Satwa since 1978, Ravi is the Pakistani canteen generations of residents swear by: no-frills tables and bold, slow-cooked curries. Note that in August 2026 the Satwa original said it has no link to two other restaurants using the Ravi name, on Sheikh Zayed Road and in Al Nahda, a claim those outlets dispute. For the original, head to Satwa.
3. Saravanaa Bhavan, Karama
Area: Zabeel Street, Al Karama (flagship), with more branches in Al Barsha, Deira and Muhaisnah
Order: ghee roast masala dosa, idli and vada, and a filter coffee
Rough price: dosas from AED 17.50
Hours: opens from 7am
Metro: ADCB (formerly Al Karama), Red Line
The go-to for a cheap South Indian vegetarian breakfast. If you cannot decide, order the mini tiffin, a sampler of several dishes on one plate. The Karama flagship is at its busiest on Friday mornings.
4. Sind Punjab, Meena Bazaar
Area: Meena Bazaar, Bur Dubai
Order: dal makhani, butter chicken and tandoori bread
Rough price: about AED 75 for two
Metro: Sharaf DG (formerly Al Fahidi), Green Line
Dating back to 1977, Sind Punjab is a North Indian staple in the heart of the textile souk area. Order dal and breads to keep the bill low, or add a curry if you are sharing.
5. Al Ustad Special Kabab, Bur Dubai
Area: Al Musalla Road, Bur Dubai
Order: koobideh kebab with saffron rice
Rough price: about AED 50 to AED 90 for two
Metro: Sharaf DG (formerly Al Fahidi), Green Line
An Iranian kebab house open since 1978 and still one of Bur Dubai’s best-loved cheap dinners. Stick to the kebabs and rice and the bill stays modest. Bring some cash, just in case.
6. Raju Omlet, JLT
Area: Cluster T, JLT (part of a chain with at least seven Dubai outlets)
Order: egg gotala or shakshouka, with a karak
Rough price: egg dishes from AED 18.50
Hours: from 8.30am
Metro: DMCC or Sobha Realty, Red Line
Indian-style egg dishes are the whole point here, and breakfast for under AED 30 is easy.
7. Bait Maryam, JLT
Area: Cluster D, JLT
Order: the lunchtime dish of the day with soup, then kunafa
Rough price: rated “on a budget” by the Michelin Guide
Metro: DMCC or Sobha Realty, Red Line
The budget pick with a Michelin seal of approval. This home-style Levantine kitchen holds a Bib Gourmand in the 2026 Michelin Guide Dubai, and the lunchtime dish of the day is the way to eat here for less.
Where is the cheapest food in Dubai?
Head to Satwa, Karama and Bur Dubai. These older districts are packed with Indian, Pakistani, Levantine and Iranian restaurants where a filling meal can cost less than a fancy coffee in a mall. Deira and Al Rigga are good hunting grounds too.
For neighbourhood restaurants that punch above their price, check our guide to Dubai’s Michelin Bib Gourmand list, the inspectors’ good-value picks.
Tips for eating cheap in Dubai
- Eat at the restaurant. Delivery-app prices can be higher than the menu in store.
- Look for lunch deals. Some places, like Bait Maryam, run a dish of the day at lunchtime.
- Share plates. Ordering a few dishes for the table keeps the cost per head down.
- Use the metro. Karama, Bur Dubai and JLT are all on the network, which saves on taxis.
Plan your route on the RTA website before you go.
Read next: Michelin Bib Gourmand Dubai 2026: All 22 Good-Value Restaurants · Global Village Food Guide 2026–27: Where To Eat At Season 31 · Ripe Market Dubai 2026–27: Dates, Timings, Food And Community Runs
FAQs
Can you eat for under AED 30 in Dubai?
Yes. A manakish at Al Mallah starts at AED 10, dosas at Saravanaa Bhavan from AED 17.50 and egg dishes at Raju Omlet from AED 18.50.
What is the best area in Dubai for cheap food?
Satwa, Karama and Bur Dubai, the city’s older neighbourhoods, are packed with budget restaurants.
Are cheap restaurants in Dubai open late?
Many are. Al Mallah stays open until 2am, and Ravi is listed as open until 2.30am.
Is there a Michelin-recommended cheap restaurant in Dubai?
Yes. Bait Maryam, Konjiki Hototogisu and Revelry are the three Bib Gourmands Michelin rates “on a budget” in 2026.
