Four Weeks of Food: May 2025
A few firsts in this post: I went for only lunch menus in Dubai, I've included restaurants from outside the UAE, and for once, didn't take photos at every spot I went to!
Welcome to the Four Weeks of Food series! Each month, I go on a culinary adventure, exploring new eateries and revisiting old favourites. I aim to share bite-sized details of where I ate and what I loved - and why you should go there!
🐾 Adopt, don’t shop! Towards the end of this post, you’ll find a banner featuring one of my rescue cats who is looking for their forever home. If you're interested — or know someone who might be — please reach out.
EATING OUT
Girl and the Goose
🧑🏻🍳 What is it? A Central American restaurant started by Gabriela Chamorro, who ran a supper club by the same name for five years.
🏃🏻♀️ You should go here because… you want to champion homegrown while eating food that has a lot of heart.
✅ I really loved… the wild corn salad. And the achiote grilled chicken. And the churros. Well, that was everything I had on this visit haha.
💰 What’s the damage? I went during Dubai Restaurant Week, but the restaurant’s Business Lunch menu is similar in structure and pricing at AED 109 for two courses, or AED 139 for three.
🇦🇪📍 Find it here | 📷 Instagram
Soul Kitchen
🧑🏻🍳 What is it? A colourful restaurant in Business Bay that’s meant to blend Levantine and Latin American cuisines.
🏃🏻♀️ You should go here because… you’d like to be surprised by a harmonious blend of two cuisines.
✅ I really loved… the hummus chimichurri and the chocolate & coffee tres leches. Other items were delicious too, but these were my top two!
💰 What’s the damage? I went as part of a team lunch so I did not pay for my meal. However, the lunch is AED125 for three courses, or AED 110 for two.
🇦🇪📍 Find it here | 📷 Instagram
Seven Dials Market
🧑🏻🍳 What is it? An indoor street food hall in Seven Dials, with cuisines from all around the world. It includes multiple bar options as well!
🏃🏻♀️ You should go here because… you want to dip in and out of different cuisines, and can’t quite decide what to have! It’s also super close to the theatre district, so it’s a fun option for a pre-theatre meal.
✅ I really loved… the cool vibe, and whatever we tried was value for money! Hot tip: if you know what time you’re going there, book a table via the website as it can get crowded and you’ll be left scrambling for a spot.
💰 What’s the damage? We spent £27.50 on a fried chicken plate, (non-alcoholic) drinks, a cup of chai and a massive dessert.
🇬🇧📍 Find it here | 📷 Instagram
Imad’s Syrian Kitchen
🧑🏻🍳 What is it? A Bib Gourmand restaurant serving Syrian food on the top floor of the bustling Kingly Court.
🏃🏻♀️ You should go here because… you want to try delicious Syrian food in a buzzing atmosphere, and have no issues being able to hear the conversation at the next table haha.
✅ I really loved… the garlic pita slathered with confit garlic and sumac as well as the pistachio baklawa! I was curious and slightly worried – as I always am when trying food from the Levant outside of the region – but it was all lovely.
💰 What’s the damage? I paid £66.05 for my share of food and drink.
🇬🇧📍 Find it here | 📷 Instagram
Dishoom
🧑🏻🍳 What is it? A chain of Indian restaurants (and now a hotel!) which pays homage to the Irani cafés of old in Bombay.
🏃🏻♀️ You should go here because… you want to have a consistently good experience with Indian food.
✅ I really loved… the house black daal, which is a staple in my order every time. The chicken ruby is equally delish.
💰 What’s the damage? It cost just about £38 per person for what we ate on the day we visited.
🇬🇧📍 Find it here | 📷 Instagram
Birdhouse
🧑🏻🍳 What is it? A cute coffee and brunch spot in Battersea, just a short walk away from Clapham Junction.
🏃🏻♀️ You should go here because… you want to have a chilled out meal and good coffee, with really cool interiors: grey with pops of yellow, and wall art with birds.
✅ I really loved… the Serrano ham, oven roasted tomatoes, Manchego cheese and baby spinach bocadito (a toasted ciabatta sandwich).
💰 What’s the damage? I forked over £15 for my breakfast.
🇬🇧📍 Find it here | 📷 Instagram
ORDERING IN
I first ordered from Wok’s Den this month and it’s become a favourite! The portions are insanely generous, and I’ve tried the nasi goreng (on repeat), schezwan momos and spring rolls so far. Two people can easily eat for under AED 100 - and that’s EVEN IF you overorder.
MORE FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The MICHELIN Guide Dubai 2025 list was released in May. For the first time, Dubai saw two restaurants awarded with the prestigious three stars: FZN by Björn Frantzén and Trèsind Studio. The latter marks the first Indian restaurant in the world to win Three Stars.
*swoon*
In next month’s edition of Four Weeks of Food, I will talk about my experience at FZN (I went in June 2025), but for now, all I will say is that I can see why that restaurant has this accolade.
But also, I mean…
called it:Another restaurant I want to shout out is Manāo, helmed by Abhiraj Khatwani, which was awarded One Star. Absolutely well-deserved, I tried this restaurant earlier this year (I included it in my previous edition) and was wowed by the entire experience. Abhiraj also won the Young Chef Award at the awards!
I’ve also spoken about how much I’ve enjoyed visiting Khadak since it opened, and it’s won a Bib Gourmand, which is amazing to see. From the list of MICHELIN Selected restaurants (among the new entries ie), I was so happy to see Gerbou included. This restaurant is not only a work of art on the plate but also in its interiors. I truly believe in this concept and what it stands for, and can’t wait to see it win more awards as the years go by.
You can see the full MICHELIN Guide Dubai list here.
In the spirit of sharing more about my work, which intersects with my passion for restaurants and chefs, here’s one of my particular favourite podcast episodes from this season of Nourish by Spinneys. Chef JP Anglo from Kooya Filipino Eatery sits down with me for a super engaging conversation - and tasting!
Where have you been eating recently? What food items can you not stop thinking about? Let me know!
…and thank you for the shoutout!
Soul Kitchen is on my long list of places. I’ve not heard a bad word about it yet.