Orfali Bros Bistro named Middle East...

UAE dominates MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants list with almost half of all entries

Dubai’s Orfali Bros Bistro has been named the best restaurant in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for the third consecutive year.

The fourth edition of the Middle East & North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants awards was held in Abu Dhabi and recognised restaurants from 11 cities, with Orfali Bros Bistro once again coming out on top.

Founded in 2021 by Syrian-born brothers Mohammad, Wassim and Omar Orfali, the bistro is renowned for dishes including shish barak à la gyoza and the corn bomb from head chef Mohammad, while pastry chefs Wassim and Omar dazzle with their desserts.

Second place went once again to fine-dining Indian restaurant Trèsind Studio in Dubai, followed by Dubai’s Kinoya in third and Cairo’s Khufu’s in fourth spot, with Atlantis The Palm’s Ossiano rounding out the top five.

Trèsind Studio

“We are delighted to recognise Orfali Bros Bistro as the number one restaurant in the Middle East and North Africa for the third consecutive year,” said William Drew, Director of Content for Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants.

“This independent, chef-driven establishment continues to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation, redefining modern Middle Eastern cuisine with its bold flavours and impeccable presentation. Its enduring success is a testament to the talent and passion of the Orfali brothers, whose dedication has earned them a loyal following both locally and internationally.

“We are also excited to see restaurants from 11 cities represented on this year’s list, showcasing the rich variety of cuisines across the region.”

Twenty-two of the restaurants on the list were from the UAE, with 19 in Dubai and three in Abu Dhabi.

Egypt had seven restaurants, and Jordan six, with Shams El Balad taking eighth place on the list. Saudi and Morocco both have five restaurants each.

Tala Bashmi received the Chefs' Choice Award for her dedication to redefining Bahraini cuisine, while Dubai-based Boca – ranking at number 12 – was given the Sustainable Restaurant Award and General Manager Omar Shihab was honoured with the Icon Award for his work in driving the region’s sustainable food movement.

Boca's Omar Shihab

The prestigious Art of Hospitality Award went to Dubai-based fine-dining restaurant Ossiano, in recognition of its excellent service and customer experience. The underwater venue, in Dubai’s Atlantis, The Palm, also holds two Michelin stars.

The annual list is compiled by the Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy, a group of 250 judges from 19 countries across the region in the restaurant industry.

MENA's 50 Best Restaurants' winners