Eat your way around the globe
The much-anticipated reopening of Global Village marks the return of one of the city’s most popular seasonal attractions. Back for its milestone 30th season after a brief pause, the multicultural hotspot is once again drawing crowds with its vibrant mix of entertainment, shopping and, most importantly, a globe-spanning food scene.
Specialty Street Food
Indian Chaat Bazaar
This is a one-stop shop for all your Indian snacking needs. Featuring the very best and most iconic of street food from all over the country, the Indian Chaat Bazaar has it all, from desi-style Chinese to falooda, street dosa, matka chai, paratha, bun kebab, samosa, pakoda and more.
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Floating Market
Housed in a series of beautiful boats floating on the canal running through the venue, Floating Market serves a selection of Southeast Asian cuisine so vast, you’ll be spoiled for choice. Seafood is a highlight here, with loads of other dishes like noodles, fried rice, stir fry, grills and Asian desserts.
Asia Boulevard
Asia Boulevard is a celebration of the diversity of this massive continent, featuring authentic street food, crafts, and products from 13 Asian countries, including Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Philippines. Sample dishes like Taipei Hotpot, Pancit, Pho, and authentic Ceylon Koththu, to name a few.
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Spots to Try
Bosnian House
Bosnian House Restaurant is a must for hearty Balkan flavours. The ćevapi – grilled minced meat sausages served with warm bread – are smoky, juicy and deeply satisfying, offering a taste of Eastern Europe rarely found elsewhere in Dubai.
Yahya
This is where you go for some of the best Thai seafood soup. Hot, hearty and fuss-free tom yum soup, piled with fresh seafood, noodles and catered to your spice level. Yahya started as a small stall in earlier season of Global Village, and has grown by popular demand into a massive operation.
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Turkish Baked Potato
These stalls scattered around the venue offer a Turkish delicacy – kumpir, or baked jacket potato, slathered in butter and piled high with toppings of your choice, from corn to different types of coleslaw, olives, sausage, sauces and more. Incredibly filling, and a bang for your buck.
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Al Haaj Bundoo Khan
If you’re looking for authentic Pakistani food, this is where you’ll find it. Al Haaj is a bit of a local legend in Global Village history, consistently setting up shop through the years, and serves up sizzling kebabs, haleem, nihari, biryani and more hearty delicacies.
Luqaymat Al Freej
Soft, pillowy, chewy luqaimat, covered in date syrup or Nutella – this is what you’ll find at Luqaymat Al Freej. This iconic Emirati dessert dumpling is a must try when you visit, made fresh by local women in front of you, complete from the shaping of the dough to the deep frying.
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Taksim Saray
This Turkish spot is named after the famous leisure district in Istanbul and offers a delicious Ottoman-inspired menu including a wide variety of kebabs, doners, sides and desserts. It’s a great spot for more of proper sit-down meal as opposed to street-style dining.
Amsterdam Fries
Dutch fries are different from your usual French fry, much thicker and fried not once, but twice to remain crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Try them at Amsterdam Fries with frietsaus or fries sauce, a sweeter, smoother and creamier version of mayonnaise.
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Churros
These stalls are scattered around the venue, and serve up the delicious Spanish dessert made fresh, with different dipping sauces of your choice. Fried golden brown and crunchy from the cinnamon sugar coating, they’re the perfect handheld dessert to enjoy while you explore.
Game Plan
With its doors open once again, Global Village is back to offering one of the most exciting food experiences in the region. This is just the tip of the ice berg, with an endless variety of options waiting for you both outside and and inside the different pavillions. You can find the full guide here.
The best approach is to skip a full meal and instead sample your way across cuisines, turning your visit into a true culinary journey.
Image credit: @ibake_memories on Instagram
Deeply passionate about food, culture and community, Manaal loves telling extraordinary stories of ordinary people. Besides sniffing out a tale to tell, her favourite things to do include binging true crime documentaries, chasing cats on the streets and curating a good outfit.
