July 12, 2025 | Dubai, UAE: You don’t need deep pockets to eat well in Dubai. You just need curiosity and maybe a ten-dirham note because here are the top cheap dishes Dubai. Dubai might be home to gold-dusted desserts and sky-high brunches, but it’s also full of cozy joints, humble food counters, and back-alley gems serving food that’s both cheap and deliciously memorable. Over the past few weeks, I’ve walked through Karama, stopped by Al Barsha at midnight, and followed Google Maps into tiny cafés, all in search of the top cheap dishes Dubai locals truly love.
Here’s what I found and every single bite was under Dhs10:
1. Appam & Mango Curry at Calicut Paragon, Karama
Price: Appam – Dhs2.25 | Mango Fish Curry varies
One of the top cheap dishes Dubai is Appam & Mango Curry. Tucked into the buzzing Karama neighbourhood often called Dubai’s “Curry Corridor” at Calicut Paragon is a South Indian favourite that always smells like home-cooked food. The moment you walk in, the aroma of coconut oil, curry leaves, and spices hits you in the best way.
The appam here is soft, with lacy edges and a slightly fermented tang. For Dhs2.25, it’s a steal. Pair it with their famous mango fish curry (Kingfish or prawn if you’re lucky), and you’ve got a comforting Kerala-style meal that tastes like it should cost ten times more. Locals, tourists, and even Indian chefs dine here and for good reason. It’s not just food, it’s memory on a plate.
Karama | Open daily 7am–midnight | 04 335 8700
2. Boiled Egg Masala – Raju Omlet, Multiple Locations
Price: Dhs7.50
Eggs for dinner? Always. Especially when they’re spiced just right. Raju Omlet is a casual Indian café with several branches across the city, and it does magical things with eggs.
Their boiled egg masala, sliced eggs tossed in a fiery masala and served warm is one of those high-protein, budget-friendly snacks that never gets old. It’s humble, it’s fast, and it’s full of flavour. The vibe is low-key and nostalgic, with wooden chairs and yellow walls. The kind of place where the menu is simple, and everything tastes like it came from a friend’s kitchen and also it’s counted among affordable Dubai street food so happy pockets too.
Al Karama, Al Quoz, JLT & more
3. Falafel Sandwich at Falafil Al Rabiah Al Khadra, Al Barsha
Price: Dhs8
This 24/7 falafel joint might not look like much from the outside, but don’t be fooled, Falafil Al Rabiah Al Khadra has been serving crispy falafels since 1981, and they’ve perfected it. For just Dhs8, you get a falafel sandwich wrapped in fluffy Arabic bread, with mint, tahina, hummus, and pickles.
The sandwich is crunchy, creamy, fresh and filling. If you’re feeling fancy, add two extra falafels for just Dhs2. It’s no-frills, super satisfying, and open any hour you crave it. That gives us one more reason to love Dubai not just for it’s tall buildings or stunning location but also for the affordable Dubai street food.
4. Filter Coffee Ice Cream – Little Idly, Al Karama
Price: Dhs8 (Classic), Dhs10 (Strong)
If you’re like me and can’t choose between a coffee and a dessert, Little Idly has the perfect solution. This tiny South Indian eatery dropped a filter coffee ice cream that blends the chill of dessert with the deep bitterness of strong decoction. It’s creamy, cool, and weirdly comforting. Can you imagine this unique coffee that comes under the top cheap dishes Dubai.
You’ll find locals sipping chai and dunking idlies at one table, and someone devouring ice cream from a paper cup at the next. Their classic version is Dhs8, or go bold with the “strong” one for Dhs10.
Al Karama | Open daily 7am–11:45pm | 058 102 4359
5. Mini Idly in Sambar – Sri Balaji Bhavan, Al Karama
Price: Dhs9
Sri Balaji Bhavan isn’t flashy but that’s exactly the point. It’s clean, vegetarian, and packed with loyal regulars who come here for good food and even better prices. Their mini idly dish is a warm hug in a bowl. You get five pillowy-soft idlies swimming in spicy sambar, finished with ghee on top.
The kind of dish that makes you sit back, close your eyes, and forget you’re eating in the middle of a bustling street. For Dhs9, it’s hands down one of the top cheap dishes Dubai has ever offered my soul.
Al Karama | Open daily 7am–midnight | 054 294 9897
6. Pan Suisse – Katrina Bakery, Multiple Locations
Price: Dhs9.20
Katrina Bakery is known for its soft buns, flaky pastries, and no-nonsense service. Their pan suisse in Dhs9.20 is one of the best sweet treats I’ve had in the city. It’s golden and crisp outside, layered with vanilla cream and chocolate chips inside. Whether you’re grabbing one with a cup of chai or saving it for dessert after dinner, it feels fancier than it is.
Available across Dubai
7. Za’atar Manaesh – Mama’esh, Citywide
Price: Dhs9
Mama’esh has that laid-back Levantine charm and I love them for it. Known for quality Palestinian ingredients, they bake their manaesh fresh using organic flour. Their za’atar version is loaded with thyme, sesame, and Palestinian olive oil. For Dhs9, it’s chewy, flavourful, and perfect at any time of day (yes, even breakfast). This is one of the top cheap dishes Dubai that feels nutritious, not greasy.
Various outlets across Dubai
Cheap, Cheerful, and 100% Worth It
It’s easy to think Dubai’s only for luxury dining but walk through Karama or Satwa, and you’ll see another Dubai. One that’s built on flavour, affordability, and stories behind each dish. From filter coffee ice cream to late-night falafels, the city is filled with top cheap dishes Dubai has embraced for decades. They’re not flashy, but they’re real. They feed students, cabbies, CEOs and tourists alike.
So next time you’ve got a Dhs10 note and a hungry stomach, skip the food court and try affordable Dubai street foodthat’s been winning hearts, one spoon, wrap, or idly at a time.
