As a city with a penchant for dining out, Dubai is home to more than a few eateries dishing up a great burger.
From homegrown brands that serve wildly popular sliders to international favorites that churn out consistently great bites, these are some of our favorite spots for a meaty morsel in the glitzy UAE metropolis.
This London-born eatery created a considerable buzz when it first opened its doors in Dubai a few years ago and continues to attract those who crave a bit of surf and turf between their buns. At the DIFC branch, you walk past lobster tanks to sit down in the trendy, industrial diner-like space with red leather booths and high tables, wood floors and eclectic art on the walls.
While you’ll likely be tempted to fill up on appetizers like southern crispy prawns and panko popcorn lobster bites, be sure to save space for the burgers and lobster rolls. Each comes highly recommended.
For the best of both, try the Beast Burger, a mighty 10-ounce beef patty topped with lobster, Chinese cabbage, brie, and tarragon and truffle mayo on a sesame seed brioche bun. If that sounds like more than you can handle, ask for the smaller six-ounce version.
Thanks to its rising popularity, this Australian brand has quite a few branches in Dubai that deliver consistently on ambiance (great for a lunch date or an evening with friends), service (friendly and attentive) and food (always delicious).
There’s plenty of variety on the menu, from truffle-and-mushroom risotto to chargrilled harissa chicken. But meat lovers should go straight for the Jones Signature Wagyu Burger. This juicy patty comes with smoked beef bacon, fresh lettuce and gooey cheddar on a toasted brioche bun, and is served with addictive skin-on fries.
Want to take it up a notch? Add melted truffle brie for a cheesy indulgence.
Despite the rising number of international burger chains in Dubai, this homegrown brand hasn’t lost any of its popularity since its first food truck set up on Kite Beach in 2014, with hour-long queues of eager diners.
While it’s evolved into a restaurant with four locations around the city, including La Mer and Dubai Mall, you still might have to wait in line patiently on weekends at the original beachfront branch. Here, a silver Airstream stands permanently parked next to a toes-in-the-sand restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating.
The wait is worth it. The menu offers petite sliders that are easier to eat than a massive burger. We recommend the Hook, a two-ounce wagyu beef patty with melted cheese, jalapeño , fresh lettuce and a secret sauce on a soft butter bun. If you’re feeling extra hungry, ask for a double patty.
Grab an order of cheese fries (or fire fries, if you’re feeling feisty) and wash it all down with a sinful Lotus Shake.
While the menu is simple with just three types of sliders, Salt is consistently good, thanks to its fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
With six branches around the city (including a 24-hour outpost at Dubai International Airport), this casual American burger chain is quite popular in town. You can count on the all-natural angus beef burgers being juicy, the potato buns fresh and the service quick — which makes waiting in line at the busy Dubai Mall location a lot easier.
We recommend the locally inspired SmokeShack, a tender cheeseburger with veal bacon, spicy cherry peppers and the brand’s signature ShackSauce. Of course, you can’t go wrong with the classic ShackBurger topped with fresh lettuce, tomato and tangy ShackSauce. For a meat-free option, opt for the gooey ‘Shroom Burger, where a fried, cheese-stuffed portobello mushroom cap replaces the beef patty.
For those times when you can’t decide, order two — the tender, four-ounce patties aren’t too big to double up on.
Finish off your meal with something sweet. We can’t decide if the indulgent, hand-spun shakes are more drink or dessert, but we do suggest getting one to accompany your burger to find out for yourself.
Serving gourmet burgers at prices that are easy on the wallet, this quirky spot has seven branches around the city, and is a hit with those who appreciate something that’s a little more exciting than your average cheeseburger.
This New Zealand import insists on using fresh, all-natural ingredients, which translates into burgers that are hugely satisfying.
Go big with the BBQ Roadster, a juicy, grass-fed beef patty topped with crunchy onion rings, melted cheddar, smoky barbecue sauce, preservative-free tomato relish, and BurgerFuel’s signature aioli all held together on a wholemeal bun. It’s no surprise then that this limited-edition burger became a staple on the local menu.
Another standout is the BF Monster crowned with smoked bacon, smashed avocado, melted cheddar, grated beets, mango slivers and garlicky aioli.
And don’t forget to ask for a side of BurgerFuel’s signature sauce for your fries. While the classic thick-cut spuds are great, we love the seasoned sweet potato variety, too.
Loaded with tasty toppings, these sandwiches are not for the faint of heart. But thanks to a brilliantly designed cardboard burger-holder named “The Doofer,” they’re easy to hold and enjoy without it all becoming a messy affair.
