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Where Kelvin Cheung actually eats in Dubai

chef, Jun's (Dubai) · 6 picks

Kelvin Cheung is the chef behind Jun's in Dubai, along with Jooksing and 852 Bakery, and he describes what he cooks as third-culture food — a Chinese-Canadian upbringing run through French training. His own list of Dubai places goes almost entirely the other way: a local coffee roaster, an Ethiopian dining room next door to the barber where he and his son get their weekly haircut, and the croissants he rates above every other in the city.


Zagol Restaurant

Al Karama · map

Zagol is one of those places that just feels like home for me. It’s tucked away in Karama, right next to where my son and I get our weekly haircuts, and it’s become part of our routine as a family. The food is deeply comforting, the beyenet platter is always the move

Said on What's On · read

order: beyenet platter

Once a week, me and my son, we go for our haircuts together at a very local place in an area called Karama. It’s 5 AED for a haircut, so we get our weekly fade together, and right next door, there’s a place that serves Ethiopian food called Zagol. My wife orders the vegetable platter, and we all just sit and have a meal together as a family.

Said on Michelin Guide · read

order: vegetable platter

Hashmi Barbeque Restaurant

Al Barsha · Western · map

Hashmi is the definition of honest, no-frills cooking that hits every time. It’s the kind of place I send chefs and friends visiting Dubai because it tells a story, Indian tandoori techniques with Kenyan flavours that are bold, floral and unique. The chooza and their fried chicken are non-negotiables

Said on What's On · read

order: chooza

For indulgence, this is a place where I’ve sent pretty much every international chef and media person who has come to visit Dubai. It’s just honest and simple.

Said on Michelin Guide · read

order: chooza

Southpour Coffee Roasters + Juice Bandits

Al Wasl · Café & bakery · map

I drink a lot of coffee, and there’s a place called Southpour that I love. It’s like your local home spot. It’s not fancy, but the team is absolutely amazing, so it’s a well-run place, well priced and approachable.

Said on Michelin Guide · read

BRIX Café

Jumeirah · Café & bakery · map

It has to be chef Carmen's croissants at BRIX. I think they’re the best croissants in the city. I'll go for a coffee and a croissant, and that's kind of like my treat.

Said on Michelin Guide · read

order: croissants

LILA Wood-Fired Taqueria

Umm Suqeim 2 · Latin American · map

The best tacos in Dubai. I love the fact that chef Shaw is obsessive about bringing in the right ingredients and making everything from scratch. And she makes her own tacos.

Said on Michelin Guide · read

order: tacos

Tresind Studio

Nakhlat Jumeira · map

We love chef Himanshu – he’s one of my closest chef friends in Dubai. I love his approach and the way he cooks, the way he flavours.

Said on Michelin Guide · read


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