The best comfort food in the UAE

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They say nothing is better than sitting down after a long hard day of work and having a lavish meal in front of you that you can enjoy to the fullest. I can only get that in my favourite restaurant, Caesars! The service makes me feel like I’m at home, the food makes my mouth water and once I’m done I crave more! I love how everything is simple but wonderful – I wish for nothing more except for dinner at Caesars at every Thursday night. – Avani Upreti

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Browsing through Zomato looking for the best restaurant for a weekend dinner, an experience that seems more like an around-the-world trip in fewer than 80 days, with everything from French crépes to Italian pastas and Mexican tacos is one we’ve all had being part of UAE’s multicultural society. Even with all the cuisines of the world to choose from, when it comes to comfort food, I instinctively crave Indian chaat. Walking into a chaat restaurant in an alley of Karama conjures up the image of pani puris that burst with flavour, vada pav steaming with freshness and bhel puri dressed with tangy chutneys, their aroma scenting the bustling streets of Mumbai. This is the smell that has me salivating, longing for the taste of home. – Sara Ansari

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In my family, we four are food lovers. Even though we like to eat our traditional Indian dishes that we mostly prepare in our home, once we decide to go out for food we always prefer Arabic food. One of our favourite food outings is Layali Al Sham restaurant in Mussafah in Abu Dhabi, a Syrian restaurant. We like to eat chicken kebab, mixed grill, shawarma plate, arayes, tabbouleh and side dishes like hummus, garlic paste and moutabel. The aroma and the taste of Arabic dishes is something very different. It has a unique flavour. Above all in most of the Arabic dishes they use very little oil,so healthy to eat as well. Also the vibes and ambience of these Arabic restaurants are something elegant. – Reena Shebeaun

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When the going gets tough and I’m in need of a good cry I turn for solace to my trusted stash of carbs and Sara Bareilles. Comfort food to me is a respectable loot of mint chocolate chip ice-cream, chilii-flavoured Chips Oman and the ’90s UAE kid special, Areej juice. So it comes as no surprise that the Lulu Hypermarket nearby is my go-to place when I’m in need of some TLC. It has served as a one-stop shop catering to every expatriate Indian with their abundance of Indian and other merchandise. From baklava to payasam, you get it all at Lulu! – Sayana Sherif

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have been residing in Dubai since my birth. I have visited almost all the restaurants in Dubai, but Absolute Barbecue is the best for comfort food. The starters there are to die for. The only downside is that it is very crowded all the time. – Sai Tarun V.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Being a resident of a diverse country like UAE and living in Dubai, we have huge options to satisfy our hunger. One can get cuisines from each and every corner of the world. Among all these our favourite is Ottimo, an exotic Italian restaurant near Lamcy Plaza. Be it service, food, or ambience, it’s the best. We feel so happy and contented worth after each and every visit. I would like to recommend this restaurant and wish them good luck so that they can open more branches all over the world. – Anjali Barlingay

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Being a food blogger, I get to go to several food places in UAE. I love a lot of them but two are on my favourites list: Arabic Tea House Cafe in Al Bastakiya and the Zaroob in Ibn Battuta Mall. Both serve authentic Arabic cuisine and make you feel like special guest at home. Arabic Tea House Cafe’s food and ambience are awesome. It’s like a heritage place with old photos and even an old well. Zaroob is more modern with some of the best and quickest service I have seen. I would definitely go to either for my comfort food. – Farah Khan

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The first restaurant that pops into my mind is Cheesecake Factory. The place is always swarming with people, but service remains attentive and quick despite the crowd. The ambiance is so cosy and comfortable and food is extremely good. The dim lighting and the comfy sofas definitely make you feel you have come to the right place for a feed, and yes, they do make the best desserts in town. – Nickolyn Nixon

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There is no better place than home for comfort food. But in any city one needs a second home for getting food that comforts them. As a resident of Dubai and a person of south Indian origin, my pick for home-like comfort food would be Salkara restaurant at Lulu hypermarket in Al Qusais. The meal served for lunch never fails to satisfy: The dosas, idlis, appams and other south Indian delicacies are so yummy. The simple homely food not only appeals to the tastebuds but makes one feel full and satisfied. Whenever our family is back from a tiring journey or exhausted after a weekly grocery shop, this is one of the favourite places where we go to relax and have a yummy south Indian meal at an affordable price. – Julie Martin

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dubai is famous for food but in my view The Meating Room in Karama is the best for food. – Jatin Raj

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My husband and I often venture out to Argo Tea at Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi for comfort food. Even though the place is known for its nutritionally balanced and delicious hot and cold leaf teas, its healthy and amazingly tasty food makes us go there time and time again. The mouth-watering tomato mozzarella and spinach quinoa, lip-smacking chicken curry quinoa, yummy brown rice and lentil salad are an absolute treat to the palate. The food is fresh, delicious and affordable. What I like most here is it offers a unique mix of ingredients. Argo Tea is a winner for both creativity and health consciousness. – Jayashree Kulkarni

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------