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In Dubai, seafood is planned around weekends, visitors, or citywide moments like the Dubai Food Festival, when restaurants across the city highlight special seafood menus and limited dishes. Despite being surrounded by water, seafood here still feels like something you wait for; partly because much of what’s served is imported, and partly because supply, sourcing, and sustainability have made good seafood more selective than abundant.
That selectiveness begins before the table. Fresh catch moves through places like the Deira Waterfront Fish Market, where ice, timing, and handling set the standard. From there, kitchens decide how little to interfere. In Dubai’s better seafood restaurants, quality shows in clean cuts, light grilling, flesh that holds, and shells opened to order; details that turn a meal into one worth repeating.
Eating seafood well in Dubai comes down to a few practical choices: source, preparation, and timing. That’s why it often feels like a shared occasion rather than a routine meal. When place, product, and moment align, seafood in the city feels rare for a reason.
Seafood works best when it’s carefully chosen. Order it on impulse, and it’s often dry, heavy, or covered in sauce to hide mistakes. Pick the right place, and it arrives hot, simply cooked, and meant to be shared.
Only a few kitchens get the timing and handling right. That’s when seafood feels worth the table.
Seafood at DOORS Dubai feels intentional because it fits within a broader dining philosophy. Under the direction of internationally acclaimed Chef Kemal Çeylan, traditional flavours are approached with a modern hand, allowing diners to move easily between the sea and the grill over the course of an evening.
Positioned at Fashion Avenue Expansion, Level 4, DOORS Dubai overlooks the Dubai Fountain and Burj Khalifa, elevating the experience above the mall's pace below.
The setting is designed to adapt to how people gather, through the main dining room, a VVIP Private Majlis, a Mixology Lab, a Sheesha Lounge, and an outdoor terrace.
What the space allows:
Timings: Daily 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Typical Spend: Around AED 250+ per person (À la carte)
Also Read: Shisha Flavours Made for the Dubai Mood
At Sardina, the ocean meets the open flame. While the Mediterranean selection is vast, the true draw is the mastery of the grill, where whole sea bass and jumbo prawns are charred to smoky perfection over high heat. This Jumeirah staple strips away the fuss, delivering a masterclass in fire-kissed seafood served with blistering speed and seaside soul.
Timings: 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.
Average Spend Per Person: AED 60 to AED 120
Since 2008, Sallet Al Sayad has been Karama’s premier destination for the art of the Arabian grill. While their "sea-to-table" freshness is legendary, the real magic happens over the coals, where signature Hamour and Zubaidi are transformed by intense heat and traditional spices. It is a masterclass in precision grilling, delivering smoky, charred skins and perfectly succulent interiors.
Hidden in a refurbished hotel garage, The MAINE is a masterclass in North American brasserie culture with a heavy-hitting grill. Beyond the raw bar, the kitchen excels at fire-roasted seafood and charred steaks, blending Montreal industrialism with JBR’s coastal flair. It is a gritty, glamorous haunt where the scent of wood-fire smoke and fresh brine defines the experience.
Dampa brings the raw energy of Filipino street culture to Deira through its signature char-grilled mastery. While the "boodle fight" feast is the main event, the true soul lies in the smoky, fire-licked finish of their milkfish and tiger prawns. It is a high-heat, hands-on experience where fresh catches are scorched to perfection and drenched in bold, aromatic spices.
From casual tables to carefully styled corners, Dubai’s dining culture extends beyond meals, especially in spaces made to linger, as seen in Top Instagrammable Cafes in Dubai to Visit.
Perched in Jumeirah Fishing Harbour, BordoMavi is a purist’s sanctuary where the charcoal grill reigns supreme. This Michelin-selected gem eschews meat entirely to master the flame-searing of rare Black Sea catches, from charred anchovies to tender Spanish octopus.
In the heart of Karama, De Fish transforms the local catch into a spicy, flame-grilled spectacle. This no-frills sanctuary specialises in Indian-style preparations, where patrons select fresh fish from the ice display to be marinated in pungent masalas and scorched to a perfect char.
Meals like this show how Dubai still rewards curiosity over spending, an idea that carries through Exploring Dubai Without the Price Tag.
Owned by real fishermen, this Michelin Bib Gourmand-rated gem brings the spirit of the Lebanese grill to the Dubai shoreline. Beyond the mezze, the heart of the experience is the open fire, where the daily catch, from Sultan Ibrahim to lobster, is scorched to smoky perfection.
After a meal shaped by open fire and shared plates, it’s easy to see how food connects to the city’s wider rhythm. That same sense of gathering carries into the Festivals of Dubai, where meals, music, and movement often blur together.
Seafood is at its best when it is eaten close to the moment it is cooked. It should arrive hot, simply seasoned, and served at a table that allows you to slow down long enough to enjoy it.
Across the city, the places that do it well share a few things in common: attention to sourcing, confidence with the grill or pan, and a setting that encourages sharing rather than rushing.
Premium kitchens like DOORS Dubai bring these elements together in one place. High above the city, with views of the Dubai Fountain and Burj Khalifa, it offers seafood that sits comfortably alongside premium meats, thoughtful drinks, and space to linger.
Whether you arrive for a composed dinner, a longer brunch, or a quieter table later in the evening, the experience is designed to unfold at your pace.
When you are ready to settle in, a table is already waiting.
Some of the best seafood restaurants in Dubai include DOORS Dubai, Sardina Seafood Restaurant, and Ibn AlBahr. BordoMavi, Sallet Al Sayad, and De Fish Seafood Restaurant are also known for well-handled, simply cooked seafood.
Good seafood depends on sourcing and timing. Much of it is imported or carefully selected. That makes seafood meals more planned than spontaneous.
Sardina Seafood Restaurant focuses on fast Mediterranean grilling. Sallet Al Sayad is known for Arabian-style grills. BordoMavi specialises in charcoal-grilled seafood only.
Yes. DOORS Dubai is built for surf-and-turf dining. Seafood and premium meats can be ordered together in one meal.
DOORS Dubai works well for longer evenings. It offers fountain views and terrace seating. The MAINE Oyster Bar & Grill is another option for extended sit-down meals.
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