A guide to Emirati food
First time at Al Fanar?
Here are the dishes worth knowing, what is in them and how to say them, so you can order like a regular.
Breakfast and breads
Breakfast is served all day, and it is where Emirati cooking mixes sweet and savoury most happily.
Balaleetبلاليط
ba-la-LEET
Sweet vermicelli scented with cardamom and saffron, under a thin omelette. Sweet and savoury in one bite, the classic Emirati breakfast.
See it on the menu →Khameerخبز خمير
kha-MEER
Soft, golden bread made with dates, saffron and cardamom, served with date syrup and cream cheese.
See it on the menu →Chebabجباب
che-BAAB
Emirati pancakes with saffron, cardamom and turmeric, eaten with cream cheese and a pour of date syrup.
See it on the menu →Regagخبز رقاق
re-GAAG
Paper-thin bread cooked on a hot plate until crisp. Have it plain, or with egg, cheese, or cheese and honey.
See it on the menu →
The main dishes
Rice, slow-cooked meat and fish from the Gulf: the dishes Emirati families gather around.
Machboosمجبوس دياي
mach-BOOS
Rice slow-cooked with loomi (dried lime), cinnamon, bay leaf, cardamom and spices, topped with chicken, mutton, fish or shrimp. If you order one dish, make it this one.
See it on the menu →Hareesهريس
ha-REES
Wheat and meat cooked for hours and beaten until smooth, finished with ghee. A dish of Ramadan, Eid and weddings, and gentle enough for children.
See it on the menu →Thereedثريد لحم
tha-REED
Regag bread soaked in a stew of meat, potato and seasonal vegetables. Warming and generous, and a Ramadan favourite.
See it on the menu →Margougaمرقوقة دياي
mar-GOO-ga
Close to thereed, but the thin bread is cooked in the stew itself, with potato and seasonal vegetables, until it turns soft.
See it on the menu →Madroobaمضروبة دياي
mad-ROO-ba
Its name means “beaten”: chicken and wheat cooked down and stirred until thick and creamy.
See it on the menu →Jesheedجشيد
je-SHEED
Minced baby shark cooked with onion, loomi, coriander and spices, with white rice. Ask for it regular or spicy.
See it on the menu →Malehموغر مالح
MAA-leh
Fish salted the old way, from the days when crews spent months at sea. Strong and salty, best with white rice and ghee.
See it on the menu →
Something sweet
Emirati desserts lean on dates, ghee, saffron and cardamom.
Luqaimatلقيمات
lu-gai-MAAT
Crisp golden dumplings covered in date syrup. Eat them warm, as soon as they reach the table.
See it on the menu →Khabeesaخبيصة
kha-BEE-sa
A crumbly, fragrant sweet of toasted flour and date syrup.
See it on the menu →Aseedat al tamrعصيدة تمر
a-SEE-dat al TAM-r
A warm, smooth date pudding, rich and not too sweet.
See it on the menu →
Coffee and tea
No Emirati meal ends without a cup.
Karakكرك
KA-rak
Strong tea boiled with milk, sugar and cardamom: the UAE's everyday drink. Try the saffron one.
See it on the menu →Gahwa (Arabic coffee)قهوة عربية
GAH-wa
Lightly roasted coffee spiced with cardamom, poured into small cups and served with dates. When you have had enough, gently shake your cup from side to side.
See it on the menu →
At the table
A few Emirati customs
Share the table
Order a few dishes for the middle of the table and share them, the way Emirati families do. Our trays feed two to four or more.
Fragrant, not fiery
Emirati food is spiced with loomi, saffron and cardamom rather than chilli. Where a dish can be hot, like jesheed, you choose.
Breakfast any time
Balaleet, khameer and regag are on the menu all day, not just in the morning.
The coffee cup
Your cup will be refilled until you gently shake it from side to side. That is the polite way to say “enough, thank you”.
Ready to taste it?
Book a table at the branch nearest you, or browse the full menu first.