Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023: the list in… – The World’s 50 Best Restaurants

Middle East & North Africa’s fifty Best Dining places returned for a second edition on Monday 30th January 2023, with a brand-new ranking announced at a live awards ceremony within Abu Dhabi.

This year’s anticipated list features restaurants across 14 cities, with 15 exciting new entries. Explore the ranking in 50 photos and find out which venue was crowned No . 1, The Best Restaurant within Middle Eastern & Northern Africa 2023, sponsored by S. Pellegrino & Acqua Panna

No . 50 Bonjiri , Salmiya – NEW ENTRY
@bonjiri. yakitori

Inspired by her love for Japanese culture and culinary traditions, Maryam Alnusif – or ‘Mimi’ to those who know the girl – founded Bonjiri as a yakitori spot in Kuwait’s Salmiya district. The menu offers a focused selection of appetisers that precedes the main section featuring skewers, momos and okonomiyaki (savoury pancakes).

No . 49 Hakkasan , Abu Dhabi
@hakkasanabudhabi
hakkasan. com

Housed in the awe-inspiring Emirates Palace hotel, Hakkasan delivers consistently excellent plus beguiling southern Chinese plates. Malaysian-born head chef Lee Kok Hua oversees the kitchen, serving classics including dim sum and crispy duck salad, plus new favourites such as stir-fried baby broccoli with preserved olive and crispy seaweed.

No . 48 HaBasta , Tel Aviv
@basta_tlv

In chef Elon Amir’s restaurant, located in one of the corners of Tel Aviv’s central and biggest market, dishes change daily depending on the produce. They always include some preparations based on fresh vegetables, like fried eggplant, stuffed courgettes or kohlrabi with goat’s cheese.

No . 47 13C Bar in the Back , Amman
@barintheback
13cwine. com

A sommelier, a winemaker and a wine trader joined forces with a restaurateur to create 13C Bar in the Back, which offers an ‘interactive food and wine pairing experience’ to complement their wine shop. Inspired by the Mediterranean along with hints of the Levant, the particular menu offers small izakaya-style plates to accompany spirits, wine plus cocktails.

Number 46 +61 , Marrakech
@plus61marrakech
plus61. com

Co-founders Cassandra Karinsky and Sebastian de Gzell brought the taste of Sydney in order to Morocco with +61. In a friendly, casual setting, mind chef Andrew Cibej elevates simple ingredients into Mediterranean-inspired masterpieces, such as pickled octopus toast smeared with aioli, or roasted cauliflower along with almonds and pomegranate.

No . 45 Reif Kushiyaki , Cairo – NEW ENTRY
@reifkushiyakicairo
bakyhospitality. com/reifkushiyakicairo

Cairo’s Reif Kushiyaki is the first franchise of the Dubai-born, Japanese-inspired outlet for skewered grills, kushi being the Japanese word with regard to skewers. From hearty bowls of rice and ramen – cooked with your choice of beef, chicken or seafood – to packed, scrumptious sandos plus an array of raw seafood options, at Reif’s there’s something for every taste.

No . 44 Jun’s , Dubai – BRAND NEW ENTRY
@junsdubai
junsdubai. possuindo

While the word ‘fusion’ can strike fear in the hearts of many a gourmand, third-generation Chinese Canadian chef Kelvin Cheung blends his menus into a cohesive whole. Inspiration for meals comes from kitchens across North America, Hong Kong and India, manifested in dishes like lamb  koobideh tsukune , tempura za’atar chaat plus kung pao tofu.

No . 43 Zuma , Abu Dhabi – NEW ENTRY
@zumaabudhabi
zumarestaurant. com/abu-dhabi

Over the years, the Zuma brand has become synonymous with Japanese izakaya, and its Abu Dhabi branch is a force to be reckoned with in the UAE capital. The particular dining room is breath-taking and the menu will be extensive: you can’t go wrong with the miso-marinated black cod wrapped in hoba leaf, or signature barley miso corn-fed baby poultry.

Number 42 White Robata , Kuwait City
@whiterobata
whiterobata. com

Located within the Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Center, White Robata is a Japanese concept inspired by international flavours. Honing the robatayaki technique, which usually translates as ‘fireside cooking’ in Japanese, cook Basil Al Salem specialises in meals cooked over fire. Don’t miss the particular six-hour braised short rib with maple glaze.

No . 41 Alee , Amman – BRAND NEW ENTRY
@aleebyali

Perched atop one of Amman’s hills, Alee is designed with the panorama in mind. Chef Ali Ghzawi weaves through the dining room to present each course. His dishes, revolving around modern Levantine flavours, are inspired from the everyday recipes he grew up eating and transformed into memories on a plate.

No . 40 Milgo & Milbar , Tel Aviv
@milgomilbar
milgomilbar. co. il

Chef Moti Titman’s food mirrors his culinary journey and all their life’s stops, with flavours combining in a Tel-Avivian, contemporary and precise kitchen. Founded in 2013 in one of the city’s main edges on Rothschild Avenue, the restaurant is home to a jovial atmosphere, along with music as well as the sound from the bell summoning staff to the pass ever-present.

No . 39 Sesamo , Marrakech – NEW ACCESS
@royalmansour
royalmansour. com/sesamo

Renowned chef Massimiliano Alajmo and his right hand, Vania Ghedini, bring the cooking delights associated with Italy in order to beguiling Marrakech with Sesamo. The restaurant brings Venetian influences towards the table, with classic meals including crispy langoustine rolls, beef along with white truffle, and saffron risotto with eel gremolata.

No . 38 LPM , Riyadh
@lpmriyadh
lpmrestaurant. com

LPM, the name associated with exquisite the southern part of France-inspired cooking, has quickly made a home in Saudi Arabia’s capital. Come for the name, stay for the food and linger for that vibrant atmosphere that transports you to the French riviera: seasoned chef Durga Misra presents familiar likes including burrata, grilled aubergine and a standout risotto.

Number 37 Iloli , Casablanca
@iloli. casablanca
iloli-restaurant. possuindo

In the heart of Casablanca, founder chief cook Yusuke Furukawa combines Morocco’s abundance of excellent create with the ancestral skills associated with Japanese cooking food. His meals tells the story of migration, integration plus evolution within dishes such as Dakhla oyster with pesto and wakame seaweed, and fried harumaki with lamb, mint plus karashi mustard.

No . 36 Sufra , Amman
@sufra. restaurant. j
romerogroup. jo

Owned by the Goussous family, Sufra specialises in fukharats – slow clay pot food preparation that imparts a very distinct flavour. Inside a 20th-century villa in one of Amman’s most charming neighbourhoods, dishes are usually served family-style and showcase the best associated with Bedouin flavors. Look out for fawaregh ma’anyeh , stuffed lamb chitterlings, and delicate chargrilled quail.

No . 35 11 Woodfire , Dubai – NEW ENTRY
@11woodfire

Located in a villa with a large courtyard within Dubai’s Jumeirah district, 11 Woodfire welcomes you into a minimalist industrial chic dining room with a massive open kitchen. From starters to desserts, the dishes are on fire: gourmet Akmal Anuar infuses them with the scents of hickory or pine, such as the wagyu burger plus burnt cheesecake.

No . 34 La Closerie , Tunis
@lacloserieofficiel
lacloserie. tn

Tipping its cap to the era of the resto-club, La Closerie occupies a vast, contemporary rental property in the well-heeled seaside neighbourhood of La Marsa. Featuring refined Italian cooking – from the zucchini noodles lavished with pesto for the no-carb brigade, to the crunchy breaded squid along with house-cut tartar sauce to share around – there’s lots on the menu to love.

Number 33 Coya , Abu Dhabi
@coyaabudhabi
coyarestaurant. com/abu-dhabi

At Coya, Peruvian paradise is the order of the day. Malaysian-born chef Pang Long Chin serves up modern dishes from Latin America, entwined simply by Japanese and Chinese techniques and flavours. Try the particular slow-cooked beef ribs or even grilled corn-fed baby chicken with chilli for the top dining experience.

No . 32 Animar , Tel Aviv
@animartlv
animartlv. com

This casual fine dining place combines Mediterranean-Turkish dishes with panoramic views of Tel Aviv beach. Like many Israeli dining places, Animar is best experienced when the food is shared by all guests at the table. Cook Hilel Tavakuli combines flavors from his Persian-Libyan childhood and serves classics like c iğ köfte topped along with grated labneh.

No . 31 Masso , Manama – NEW ADMITTANCE
@massorestaurant
massorestaurant. com

Influenced by the French Riviera and the Amalfi Coast, Masso brought fresh flavours and a vibrant dining encounter to Bahrain. Executive cocinero Steeven Gilles harvests generate from the garden for their seasonal menus, featuring salt-crusted sea bass with sauce vierge plus smoked short-rib croquettes with black truffle mayonnaise.

No . 30 Sachi , Cairo
@sachirestaurants
sachirestaurant. com

Sachi offers an escape from the noise of the city with its serene decor and elegant dining area. Flavours from the Mediterranean feature here, like stracciatella salad with burrata cream, plus chef Ashour Dessouki pulls out all the stops using the unmissable chateaubriand for two.  

No . 29 Shams El Balad , Amman – NEW ENTRANCE
@shamselbalad
shamselbalad. com

The small flower-shop-turned-breakfast-café is now one of Amman’s most unique restaurants. It’s a true family operation, started by Maha Dahmash and her husband, Hazem Malhas, and now run by their children Qais plus Karma. Traditional dishes take the menu, such as green labneh, beetroot falafel, sumac eggplant and cauliflower fritters.

No . 28 Coya , Dubai
@coyadubai
coyarestaurant. com/dubai

A cafe, a lounge, a pisco bar along with a private members’ club, Coya burst onto Dubai’s dining scene in 2015 and has never looked back. The menu, packed with Peruvian-inspired small plates, traverses ceviche, tiradito and skewers, appealing to both purists plus fun-seekers alike.

No . 27 La Grande Table Marocaine , Marrakech
@royalmansour
royalmansour. com/la-grande-table-marocaine

People from france legend Yannick Alléno and head cooking Karim Ben Baba blew Moroccan foods as we know it out of the water with Una Grande Table Marocaine. The particular menu features boldly exotic plates of food that conjure all of the magic associated with Arabian nights, with none of the cliché. Try the seffa medfouna – broken vermicelli with lobster, onions, raisins and ginger.

No . 26 Hoseki , Dubai
@bulgarihotels
bulgarihotels. com/hoseki

This is the closest you’re going to get to taking a seat at among Japan’s finest restaurants without leaving the particular UAE. Chief cook Masahiro Sugiyama, a sixth-generation sushi master, serves up a set omakase on the fourth floor of the sophisticated Bvlgari Hotel. There are only nine seats, permitting a ring-side view of the distinctive culinary artistry and jaw-dropping knife skills.

No . 25 Cut by Wolfgang Puck , Manama – BRAND NEW ENTRY
@cutbahrain
wolfgangpuck. com/cut-bahrain

One of eight Cut simply by Wolfgang Puck restaurants worldwide, the Bahrain outpost is usually sleek plus elegant, having a state-of-the-art open kitchen and magnificent staircase in the entranceway. Philadelphia-born Brian Becher is at the helm, serving a wide selection of steakhouse classics, through prime dry and wet-aged beef to premium shellfish.

Number 24 The by Yuval Ben Neriah , Tel Aviv – NEW ENTRY
@a_restauranttlv
arestauranttlv. com

Chef Yuval Ben Neriah has built the reputation as one of Tel Aviv’s hottest talents. On the Japanese-accented menu, each plate is definitely minimalist plus inherently beautiful. Opt for the steak with a potato gratin saturated in a koji-spiked beurre blanc ; or for a fish-led meal, the tempura shrimp, sashimi or even takoyaki are just as notable.

No . 23 Marble , Riyadh
@marblecuisine
marblecuisine. possuindo

Chef-owner Abdulrahman Alsowailem acts carnivorous happiness at Marble. What began as a small restaurant along with only four main dishes has blossomed into one of the top burger joints within the city. Alsowailem keeps the particular culinary enthusiasm high by creating seasonal dishes, from exclusive prime rib dinners to Saudi lamb specialty rice dishes.

No . 22 Sachi , Giza – NEW ACCESS
@sachirestaurants
sachirestaurant. com/sachi-park-st

Within a city deprived of rooftop restaurants, Sachi fills a much-needed gap, bringing Baky Hospitality’s hip and advanced ambiance in order to Park Street. The menus at Sachi is plentiful, inspired simply by cuisines through southern Europe all the way to Japan, while the drinks are taken as seriously as the food.

No . 21 LPM , Dubai
@lpmdubai
lpmrestaurants. com

LPM is really a grande dame of the Dubai culinary scene, having first opened its doors over a decade ago. The Mediterranean fare can be unfussy and utterly delicious, with meals designed to be shared with the table. Top picks include a much copied but never bettered lentil salad, or fresh burrata cheese with basil plus tomatoes.

No . 20 Em Sherif , Beirut
@emsherifrestaurant
emsherif. possuindo

The quintessential Lebanese eating experience, Na Sherif provides guests the taste of traditional home cooking. Chef Yasmina Hayek’s marathon 30-course dinner of mezze platters, almost all designed to share, is coupled with her mother and restaurateur Mireille Hayek’s infallible service. The triumphant combination earns the eating place this year’s Art associated with Hospitality Award .

Number 19 Tawlet Mar Mikhael , Beirut
@soukeltayeb
soukeltayeb. com

Rotating weekly, the particular menu at Tawlet could include any variety of dishes from just about all corners of Lebanon. Dozens of women from villages across the country take turns designing menus that display their local recipes. The restaurant provides a space regarding open conversation – about the dishes, traditions, and significance of the meals for nearby communities.

No . 18 Myazu , Riyadh
@myazusaudi myazu. com

Chef Ian Pengelley leads the culinary charge in Myazu, marrying traditional methods with innovative modern-day cooking creativity. The particular menu is certainly cleverly curated, consisting of Japan fan favourites such as marinated yellowtail sashimi, black cod and wagyu beef, all of which are to be enjoyed in the warm-hued, chic dining room.

Number 17 Gaia , Dubai
@gaia__dxb
gaia-restaurants. possuindo

Launched by well-known Dubai-based chef Izu Ani within 2018, Gaia stands out on Dubai’s restaurant scene with its distinctly Athenian fare. The taverna-esque environment, outdoor seating and ice counter – where the catch of the day is displayed – combine for an authentic Greek experience.  

No . 16 Baron , Beirut
@eat. drink. baron
eatdrinkbaron. com

Chef Athanasios Kargatzidis’s Baron is a fun, unfussy, locavore neighbourhood joint hidden in the hip streets of artsy Mar Mikhael in Beirut. Eclectic little plates characterise the periodic sharing-style menu that changes every few days. Heavy around the vegetables, the food is modern and revolutionary with Mediterranean sea and Western influences.

No . 15 Lowe , Dubai
@lowedxb
lowe-dubai. possuindo

Tucked away within the clubhouse of a leafy residential development, Lowe is an unassuming space that will packs a culinary punch. The interiors are clad in wood and unfinished concrete, allowing the open up plan kitchen area that occupies the entire width of the cafe to pull focus. Don’t miss chef Ali Shiddique’s bone marrow along with roasted pepper dip and anchovies.

No . 14 OCD Restaurant , Tel Aviv
@ocd_tlv
odctlv. com

Gourmet Raz Rahav doesn’t want his foods to be labelled as European, Middle Eastern or anything in between. At OCD, he only wants to be known for his “progressive Israeli cooking’. Planet-friendly practices are at the heart of the operation, earning the restaurant this year’s Sustainable Restaurant Honor, sponsored simply by Arla Pro .

No . 13 Zuma , Dubai
@zumadubai
zumarestaurant. com

With three kitchen areas, two floors and one famous name, Zuma in Dubai offers some of the best Japanese cuisine in the Emirate. Ingredients are usually of unimpeachable quality across the board as well as the huge team of chefs are some of the most skilled practitioners of Japanese and Asian cookery in the MENA region.

No . 12 Kazoku , Cairo
@kazokuegypt
kazokuegypt. com

Kazoku, meaning ‘family’, serves up authentic meals inspired with the Japanese culinary heritage. Started by acclaimed entrepreneur Ayman Baky, the particular restaurant was created to resemble ‘the people’. Try Cocinero Mostafa Gabr’s pyramid uramaki rolls and the dessert bento box with caramel plus chocolate fondants for a culinary treat.  

No . eleven Reif Kushiyaki , Dubai
@reifkushiyaki
reifkushiyaki. com

Chef-founder Reif Othman finally put his own name to a restaurant in 2019 and the city’s foodies reacted with glee. Othman puts a spotlight on the Japan snack-like street food skewers cooked over the robata grill, while the Wagyu Katsu Sando is the darling of Instagram.

No . 10 Moonrise , Dubai – NEW ADMITTANCE
@moonrise. xyz
moon-rise. xyz

Moonrise will be arguably the hottest reservation ticket in the town. The brainchild of recipient Solemann Haddad, it offers just eight counter seats per twice-nightly sitting. Combining global culinary heritages and explosive flavours, the 26-year-old, primarily self-taught chef is making waves across Dubai.

Number 9 Zooba (Zamalek) , Cairo
@zooba
zoobaeats. com

Marked by the inviting turquoise door, Zooba is a wholly casual affair, with a long communal dining table sitting as the centrepiece from the small bistro. Expect all the hallmark dishes offered by the particular vendors that line the roads and markets of the Egyptian funds, such as Egypt’s legendary taameya , the take on falafel with fava beans. The particular venue is usually spearheaded by chef Moustafa Elrefaey, winner of the Estrella Damm N. A. Chefs’ Choice Prize 2023 .

No . 8 Fakhreldin , Amman
@fakhreldinrestaurant
atico-jo. possuindo

Diners from Fakhreldin are treated such as family: the particular service style is heavily based on the spirit of Jordanian generosity and is truly tailored to each individual customer. Cooking Rafic Nakle serves up traditional and elegant fresh mezzes and signature grilled meats, such as the standout kibbeh nayeh .

No . 7 Kinoya , Dubai – NEW ENTRY
@kinoya. ae
kinoya. ae

In Kinoya, it’s all about ramen and izakaya, but cooker Neha Misra’s speciality may be the former. After the roaring success of her supper club concept, A Story of Food, Misra opened Kinoya in 2021 plus hasn’t appeared back since. Don’t skip the shio paintan ramen, which has undoubtedly become a signature.

No . 6 George & John , Tel Aviv
@georgeandjohn_restaurant
gandj. co. arianne

In his eating place, chef Tomer Tal combines flavours and recipes through his Jewish-Moroccan heritage along with seasonal natural products from Tel Aviv’s Carmel Market and fresh seafood through adjacent Jaffa Port. Each beautifully plated dish tells its own story, showing an aspect of the local eastern Mediterranean cuisine.

Number 5 3 Fils , Dubai
@3. fils
3fils. com

a few Fils was the first-ever venue to be bestowed the title of The Best Restaurant in Center East & North Africa in 2022. Chef Shun Shiroma’s winning combination of Hard anodized cookware fusion meals, an unflashy and unlicensed venue plus super-casual dining style have transformed this into one of the very most sought-after places to eat in all the MENA region.

No . 4 Ossiano , Dubai – BRAND NEW ENTRY
@ossianodubai
atlantis. com/ossiano

Newcomer to this year’s listing and champion of the Highest New Entry Award, sponsored by Aspire Lifestyles , this restaurant led simply by chef Gregoire Berger is a bucket checklist spot within Dubai’s iconic Atlantic The Palm hotel. Situated almost inside an aquarium, the cafe delivers a tasting menus that is nearly as dramatic as its surroundings.

No . three or more Fusions by Tala , Manama
@fusionsbytala
gulfhotelbahrain. com/fusionsbytala

Chef Tala Bashmi’s restaurant is trailblazing its way up the list with a record climb associated with 36 spots since 2022, earning the Highest Climber Award 2023 . The particular talented chef delivers deconstructed and reassembled takes on Bahrain’s classic dishes, including bamia , with wagyu meat cheeks and also a crunchy okra crisp.

No . 2 Trèsind Studio , Dubai
@tresindstudio
tresindstudio. com

Learning his trade at lauded New Delhi dining institution Indian Accent before moving to Dubai, chef Himanshu Saini has become the standard bearer of modern Indian gastronomy within the UAE. His theatrical fare masterfully takes diners around the restaurant, as well as on a trip round the Indian subcontinent.

No . 1 Orfali Bros Bistro , Dubai
@orfalibros_bistro
orfalibros. com

This is the tale of three immigrant cook brothers from Syria – Mohammed, Wassim and Omar – working together to create a genuinely unique eating experience: an against-the-odds triumph of personal perseverance, brilliant storytelling and endless curiosity.

Orfali Bros Bistro has captured the imagination of Dubai’s multi-cultural residents as well as food-loving visitors through across the globe, and it is crowned with all the coveted name of The Best Cafe in the Middle East & North Africa 2023.

Now recap the list simply by watching the video:

The list of  Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Greatest Restaurants 2023 , subsidized by S. Pellegrino & Acqua Panna,   has been announced upon Monday, 30th January in a live honours ceremony in Abu Dhabi. To stay up to date with all news and announcements,   browse the website   and follow us on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and YouTube .