The city’s top chefs share their picks
Dubai’s dining scene has a new authority figure — and this time, it’s the chefs themselves. A brand-new restaurant rating platform, ByChefs, has officially launched in the city, introducing what it calls the world’s first fully transparent, chef-driven guide.
Founded in the UAE and debuting in Dubai, the platform replaces anonymous inspectors with the voices of the professionals shaping the city’s kitchens. The result? A candid snapshot of where chefs actually go to eat, drink and unwind.
A System Built by Chefs
ByChefs is based on a simple but powerful premise: chefs recommend the venues they personally frequent. Each participating chef votes only within their own city, ranking their favourite spots across four everyday categories — breakfast, dinner, drinks and street food.
These rankings are converted into points to create an aggregated city-wide list, reflecting the collective opinion of the local culinary community. Rather than judging fine dining in isolation, the platform captures how chefs genuinely navigate their city’s food culture, from casual cafés to late-night favourites.
Radical Transparency
Transparency is the platform’s defining feature. Every participating chef has a public profile showcasing their biography and recommendations. While individual ranking positions remain private to maintain professional etiquette, the overall system is designed to minimise bias.
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Strict rules limit conflicts of interest: chefs may include no more than 20 percent of their own projects or affiliated venues, and those can only appear in the lowest-ranking slots with minimal scoring impact.
Beyond rankings, chefs also share specific dish recommendations, turning the platform into an insider’s guide that answers the question diners always ask: what should I order?
Where Dubai Chefs Love to Eat
The inaugural Dubai list paints a diverse picture of the city’s culinary landscape, spanning refined tasting menus, neighbourhood cafés and beloved street food institutions.
For dinner, Trèsind Studio, FZN by Björn Frantzén and Row on 45 lead the rankings, joined by favourites such as Orfali Bros and Jun’s. Breakfast highlights include 21grams, BRIX Café and Maisan15, while Honeycomb HiFi, Mimi Kakushi and ZUMA feature among the top places for drinks.
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Street food picks celebrate Dubai classics and cult favourites, from Ravi Restaurant and Bu Qtair to Lila Taqueria and Kinoya. The full rankings are available on the ByChefs Dubai website.
From Dubai to the World
ByChefs was founded by entrepreneur Alexander Sysoev, who is known for initiatives supporting international gastronomic tourism and hospitality education. In Dubai, he has also launched a scholarship programme for standout students at the Dubai College of Tourism, reinforcing the city’s position as a global culinary hub.
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While Dubai serves as the launchpad, the platform has ambitious global plans. ByChefs aims to expand into 50 major cities across Europe, Asia and the Middle East this year, building an international network that connects chefs and guides food-focused travellers.
At its heart, the project champions a simple idea: the most honest way to understand a city’s dining scene is to ask the chefs who live and cook there every day.
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Curious, expressive, and always chasing new ideas, Zainab sees creativity as a way of life. She thrives on discovering new perspectives, connecting with people, and turning inspiration into something tangible. Her work and her world reflect a balance of intuition, imagination, and authenticity.
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