The best Filipino restaurants in Dubai are clustered in Deira and Karama, with a few modern spots in Dubai Marina. For a seafood feast, go to Dampa Seafood Grill; for a buffet, Lamesa at Asiana Hotel; for classic home cooking, Max’s Restaurant or Carinderia ni Tandang Sora; and for a quick Chickenjoy fix, Jollibee is in most big malls.
Dubai has one of the largest Filipino communities in the world outside the Philippines, so the food here is the real thing: sour sinigang, crispy pata, sizzling sisig and halo-halo piled high. This guide sorts the favourites by area and budget, with what to order at each one. Every listing was checked in October 2026, but hours and prices change, so call ahead before a big group dinner.
Key takeaways
- Deira and Karama have the highest concentration of Filipino restaurants in Dubai, and the lowest prices.
- Best for groups: Dampa Seafood Grill (hands-on seafood buckets) and Lamesa (Filipino-Asian buffet).
- Best budget pick: Jollibee or a food court like Al Ghurair Centre, where two people can eat for around AED 60–65.
- Pork is on the menu at some places (Lamesa is known for lechon kawali and crispy pata), so check if you eat halal only.
- Most Filipino spots are a short walk from a Green or Red Line metro station, so you don’t need a car.
Filipino restaurants in Dubai at a glance
Prices below are approximate, based on menus and listings published in 2024–2026. Use them as a guide, not a quote.
| Restaurant | Area | Best for | Approx. price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dampa Seafood Grill | Port Saeed, Deira | Seafood feasts, groups | Seafeast bucket about AED 157 for 3–4 people |
| Lamesa (Asiana Hotel) | Al Muraqqabat, Deira | Buffet | About AED 75–95 per person |
| Max’s Restaurant | Karama / Mankhool | Family dinners, fried chicken | About AED 120–200 for two |
| Carinderia ni Tandang Sora | Deira and Karama | Home-style ulam | About AED 160 for two |
| Hot Palayok | Karama | Budget buffet, karaoke | About AED 80 for two |
| Paluto Restaurant | Waterfront Market, Deira | Pick-your-own seafood | About AED 160 for two |
| Kooya Filipino Eatery | Dubai Marina | Modern Filipino | About AED 80–150 for two |
| Razon’s of Guagua | Karama | Halo-halo, Pampanga dishes | Budget |
| Jollibee | Malls across Dubai | Quick bite, kids | About AED 60 for two |
| Al Ghurair Centre food court | Al Rigga, Deira | Silog breakfasts, budget | About AED 65 for two |
Best Filipino restaurants in Deira
Deira is the heart of Filipino food in Dubai. Port Saeed, Al Rigga and Al Muraqqabat are packed with restaurants, groceries and remittance shops, and most are close to Deira City Centre, Al Rigga or Union metro stations.
1. Dampa Seafood Grill (Port Saeed)
Dampa is the place people take visiting family. The signature “seafeast” is a bucket of Cajun-spiced shrimp, mussels, crab and clams poured onto the table with unlimited rice, and you eat it with your hands, boodle-fight style.
The original restaurant at Centurion Star in Port Saeed was badly damaged by a fire in August 2023 and reopened in February 2024. When it reopened, the seafeast cost AED 157 and fed three to four people.
- Where: Centurion Star, Port Saeed, Deira (near Deira City Centre metro)
- Hours: Daily, 12pm–11.30pm
- Order: The seafeast, grilled squid, garlic rice
2. Lamesa at Asiana Hotel (Al Muraqqabat)
Lamesa is the go-to Filipino buffet in Dubai. Alongside Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese sections, the Filipino station is the star: crispy pata, lechon kawali, kare-kare and desserts like biko and buko pandan.
Buffet prices run from about AED 75 per person at lunch to AED 95 at weekend dinner, drinks not included, so check the latest price when you book. It also runs themed nights, such as Visayan dishes on Tuesdays.
- Where: 5th floor, Asiana Hotel, Salahuddin Road, Al Muraqqabat, Deira
- Hours: Lunch and dinner sittings
- Good to know: Pork is served, so it is not a halal venue
3. Carinderia ni Tandang Sora (Deira and Karama)
A carinderia is a Filipino canteen, and this one feels like eating at a tita’s house. Expect sisig, grilled meats, chicken inasal and big bilao platters for sharing, at around AED 160 for two if you go all out.
- Where: Block B, Centurion Star Tower, Port Saeed, Deira; second branch in Al Karama
- Order: Chicken inasal, sisig, a bilao platter for groups
4. Paluto Restaurant (Waterfront Market)
“Paluto” means “cook it for me”, and that is exactly how it works. Buy fresh fish, prawns or crab at the Waterfront Market, bring it to Paluto, and they grill, steam or fry it Filipino-style.
Try the sinigang na salmon or the butter shrimp. Plan on roughly AED 160 for two including the seafood, depending on what you pick at the market.
- Where: Waterfront Market, Al Khaleej Road, Deira
- Hours: Lunch and dinner
Best Filipino restaurants in Karama and Bur Dubai
Karama is the second big Filipino hub, and it is one of the more affordable places to live in central Dubai. If you are weighing it up as a home, our guide to the cheapest areas to live in Dubai for expats covers rents there.
5. Max’s Restaurant (Karama / Mankhool)
Max’s is the classic Filipino family restaurant, famous for its fried chicken served whole. It is a sit-down place with proper service, good for birthdays and Sunday lunches.
Besides the chicken, order kare-kare, sinigang and halo-halo. Budget around AED 120–200 for two.
- Where: Ground floor, Spinneys building, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, Mankhool (behind Spinneys Karama)
- Nearest metro: ADCB (Red Line)
6. Hot Palayok (Karama)
Hot Palayok is the budget favourite: generous Filipino buffets and à la carte ulam with rice, plus karaoke. It is a good pick when you want a big, cheap, noisy night out, at around AED 80 for two.
- Where: Al Wasl Hub building, Al Karama
- Order: Sinigang, grilled fish, buko pandan for dessert
7. Razon’s of Guagua (Karama)
Razon’s comes from Pampanga, the province known as the culinary capital of the Philippines, and Karama is home to its first overseas branch. Go for the halo-halo, which is simpler and creamier than most versions, then stay for pancit luglug.
Modern Filipino in Dubai Marina
8. Kooya Filipino Eatery
If you live in New Dubai, Kooya saves you the drive to Deira. It is run by JP Anglo, a well-known chef from the Philippines, and serves Filipino classics in a relaxed, boho-style space.
The sisig, chicken inasal and beef kaldereta are the dishes people come back for, and the flan is worth saving room for. Expect about AED 80–150 for two.
- Where: Marina Promenade, Dubai Marina
- Hours: Daily, 11am–11pm
Cheap Filipino food in Dubai: chains and food courts
9. Jollibee
Jollibee is the Philippines’ best-loved fast-food chain, and the easiest way for newcomers to try Filipino flavours. Order Chickenjoy with rice and gravy, the sweet Jolly Spaghetti and a peach mango pie, for about AED 60 for two.
You’ll find it in The Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates and Ibn Battuta Mall, plus branches in Deira and Al Nahda. Chowking, another Filipino chain known for Chinese-Filipino dishes and halo-halo, also has mall branches.
10. Al Ghurair Centre food court (Al Rigga)
The food court at Al Ghurair Centre has several Filipino counters in one place, including Pancake House and Tapa King. It’s ideal for an all-day silog breakfast (tapsilog is cured beef, garlic rice and a fried egg) at around AED 65 for two.
Filipino nights out: food with live music
Some of Dubai’s Filipino food scene happens after dark, in hotel venues with live bands. These are bars first, so they are for adults only.
- Manila 21 (Avenue Hotel, Al Rigga): live band, pool tables and pulutan like crispy crablets and lumpiang shanghai. Open from 7pm until late.
- Kitakits Kafe & Klubb (Marco Polo Hotel, Al Muteena, Deira): live music with sisig and chicken inasal. Open from 7pm until late.
What to order if you’re new to Filipino food
Filipino food mixes sour, salty and sweet, and most dishes are eaten with lots of rice. If you want the background on these dishes before you go, read our guide to Filipino street foods.
- Sinigang: a sour tamarind soup with pork, shrimp or fish.
- Sisig: chopped, crispy meat served sizzling on a hot plate, often with egg.
- Kare-kare: oxtail or beef stew in a peanut sauce, eaten with salty shrimp paste.
- Chicken inasal: grilled chicken marinated in vinegar, calamansi and lemongrass.
- Halo-halo: shaved ice with sweet beans, jelly, ube and leche flan.
Tips for eating Filipino food in Dubai
- Go on a weeknight if you can. Friday and Saturday evenings in Deira and Karama get very busy.
- Order family style. Portions are made for sharing, and most places serve rice by the cup or unlimited.
- Check for pork if you eat halal. Many Filipino places in Dubai are pork-free, but hotel venues like Lamesa serve it.
- Take the metro. Parking in Deira and Karama is hard; Deira City Centre, Al Rigga and ADCB stations are close to most spots.
Eating out regularly adds up, so if you are budgeting for life here, see how much it costs to live in Dubai. For more cuisines, our guide to the best restaurants in Dubai and our round-up of Korean food in Dubai are good next reads.
FAQ
Where is the Filipino area in Dubai?
Deira (especially Port Saeed, Al Rigga and Al Muraqqabat) and Al Karama have the most Filipino restaurants, shops and community life. Satwa also has a smaller cluster of Filipino eateries.
Is there a Filipino buffet in Dubai?
Yes. Lamesa at Asiana Hotel in Deira is the best known, at roughly AED 75–95 per person. Hot Palayok in Karama is a cheaper option for a big Filipino spread.
Is there a good Filipino restaurant in Dubai Marina?
Kooya Filipino Eatery on Marina Promenade is the main sit-down option in the Marina. It serves modern takes on sisig, chicken inasal and kaldereta, with prices around AED 80–150 for two.
Do Filipino restaurants in Dubai serve pork?
Some do. Hotel venues such as Lamesa serve pork dishes like lechon kawali and crispy pata. Only specially licensed outlets can serve pork in the UAE, so many standalone restaurants and mall chains don’t; ask if it matters to you.
Where can I get halo-halo in Dubai?
Razon’s of Guagua in Karama is the specialist, and Max’s Restaurant and Chowking also serve it. It is the best dessert to end a Filipino meal on a hot Dubai day.
Final thoughts
For a first taste, start with Jollibee or a Karama carinderia; for a celebration, book Dampa or Lamesa with friends. Filipino food in Dubai is generous, affordable and made for sharing, so bring people and order more rice than you think you need.
