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What to Do In Dubai – without spending a fortune

If you get asked the question how would you reply to What to do in Dubai?

Where would you send people to eat and drink and see some of the real city but without spending a fortune? Ideas of meals and experiences giving you more for less.

Read on for my sensible but none the less delicious suggestions of what to Do in Dubai.

Why listen to me?

I’ve been a resident in Dubai since 2006 and and run an award winning food and travel blog and a podcast channel MonicMoments

I love good, healthy food and hate wasting money. So read on and make a list of what you and your visitors could Do In Dubai!

Love Indian Street Food? Then try a TERRIFIC THALI on your What to Do In Dubai List

Indian thali meals are cheap as chips but authentic, hugely authentic and very tasty. They’re great for hearty eaters as you can often have refills of your favourite dishes.

Click the link to Terrific Thali Meals here to find out more where these thali restaurants are which is our favourite!

Money Saving Deals DoinDubai Monica Kapila Andrha Thali
Andhra Style thali at Shree Krishna Bhavan
Money Saving Deals DoinDubai Monica Kapila Thali Meals Venus Karama
South Indian thali at Venus restaurant
MONEY SAVING DEALS DOINDUBAI MONICA KAPILA Thali at Rangoli Karama Cafe
Gujerati Style thali at Rangoli restaurant

Want some posh nosh in Dubai? Then pay a fraction of the price by trying some BUSINESS LUNCHES at top end restaurants

Business Lunches are a super way to sample Dubai’s fine dining restaurants on a budget.

Eating at lunchtime means you pay way less than you would at dinner time! Mostly available during week days, so that’s Monday to Thursday and sometimes Friday in Dubai at the moment.

See the pictures with captions below to places we really liked and would go again.

We also like the look of Fi’Lia Italian restaurant at the newish SLS hotel. A 3 course authentic looking business lunch for aed 99 with good views too.

ROKA at the ME hotel Business Bay
Money Saving Deals DoinDubai Monica Kapila Mina Brasserie Business Lunch Four Seasons DIFC
MINA BRASSERIE Four Seasons DIFC
Money Saving Deals DoinDubai Monica Kapila 99 Sushi Bar
99 SUSHI BAR Address hotel Downtown

So you’re a Culture Vulture and want to chat to local Emiratis about customs and traditions of the UAE? Then try the HERITAGE EXPRESS Moving Majlis experience.

We LOVED our experience of the Heritage Express moving majlis and learnt so much about Dubai despite having been a resident for some many years!

Click the link to Heritage Express Dubai for all details including which meals you can have as part of the experience, special offers and which sites you get to see on this fascinating tour.

Heritage Express Dubai DoinDubai Monica Kapila
Grab some friends and ride the Moving Majlis
Heritage Express Dubai DoinDubai Moinca Kapila Emirati Guides Moving Majlis
Hugely informative and very friendly stories from local people
Heritage Express Dubai DoinDubai Moinca Kapila Pose with a falcon
Pose with a falcon near the Jumeirah Mosque

You love FRESH FISH AND SEAFOOD by the sea then eat well for less in a lovely setting

Fresh Shrimps
Half a Lobster
Spicy Crabs

Great value and very tasty prawns, lobsters, crabs and fish straight from the fish market brought to your table cooked Middle Eastern Style. Just look at the location of our Fish Market in Jumeirah to find the location of the seafood restaurant behind it.

Good sayadiya rice and fresh rocket salad are what we recommend to accompany. Everyone we take here LOVES this great value seafood place by the sea in Jumeirah. If you find Dibba Bay Oyster Hut in Jumeirah 2 then you’ve found Azeema seafood too! The tables are set for outdoor eating now.

Tel 050 289 8181

Money Saving Deals DoinDubai Monica Kapila Dibba Bay Oysters Happy Hour
aed 8 per oyster Sunday to Wednesday 4 to 6.30pm

By the way the oyster hut at Dibba Bay Oysters serves oysters at AED 8 from Monday to Thursday from 4.30 to 6.30pm! Their hut is air conditioned too. Call to check before hand on 054 438 8537

NEW LOCATION at the Sheraton JBR! November 2022

You love food markets and a walk by the creek? Then experience DEIRA WATERFRONT MARKET and have lunch before you leave

Plenty of fresh produce well priced
Stroll along the creek behind the market
Eat some lunch before you head home

Group of girls on a big night out? Then research Dubai’s unique LADIES NIGHTS and have some beverages without breaking the bank

Don’t know what a Ladies Night concept is? Then LISTEN to this Ladies Nights podcast to be in the know. Depending on what time of year it is, there is ALWAYS a good Ladies Night in Dubai happening somewhere!

Just ask at your favourite hotel restaurants once you know which area you want to focus on.

Want to buy some fresh fish to take home or just love fish markets then check out our Fish Market in Dubai post here.

LIFE SHOULD BE A BEACH? Then try taking walking along the quiet bit of track beyond Jumeirah fish market near the sailing club

Stunning Sunsets, sand and sea all for free, take a picnic and do some paddle boarding or have coffee and snacks there.

Great walking track and a bike track now built. Want to know more about Paddle Boarding? Read our post on Paddling in Dubai.

Fish Market in Dubai Jumeirah harbour
MONEY SAVING DEALS DOINDUBAI DUBAI FITNESS CHALLENGE 2020
Try paddle boarding in Dubai near Sunset Beach

Want MORE? Then follow us on @DoinDubai INSTAGRAM for more up to the minute ideas.

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RAJ MAHAL RESTAURANT DUBAI taste genuine authentic vegetarian thali

Authentic vegetarian thali at Raj Mahal restaurant Dubai

Home style tasting Gujerati and Rajasthani specialties with Indian street food to start with at Raj Mahal restaurant Dubai.

AUTHENTIC THALI AT RAJ MAHAL RESTAURANT DUBAI

Where is Raj Mahal restaurant

The Raj Mahal restaurant is located on the ground floor of the Westzone Pearl Residence apartments building just behind the Bur Juman shopping centre in Bur Dubai.

You can park easily on the street. There is no valet at the moment but there is also free parking in the basement.

Food at Raj Mahal restaurant

Food is served to you at your table in a large, pre set thali plates. Servers bring fresh items in a particular order and always ask you if you’d like a little more or less of any item.

Don’t be overwhelmed by the variety of dishes that you’re served! Everything from the condiments, chutneys and sides all have a role to play in this special thali meal!

The vegetables themselves

Everything is strictly vegetarian at Raj Mahal and you can expect dishes made from beans, peas, lentils, corn and a variety of fresh ethnic vegetables too.

If you’re familiar with paneer, don’t worry there’s always a paneer dish on offer too! The breads to accompany your vegetables also vary on a daily basis so you can expect puris, rotis and parathas depending on the day.

RAJ MAHAL RESTAURANT DUBAI DoinDubai Monica Kapila variety of savoury sweets and breads
SPECIALITY BREADS CHANGE EVERY DAY

The desserts

Unlike many thali places we’ve tried in Dubai, the sweet section of this thali is very palatable and not overly sweet!

On the day we visited we tried kulfi on a stick, burfi a special halwa and a traditional mango pudding called aam ras. So do leave room to try dessert.

Anything to drink

Drinks are included in the price of this thali, bottled mineral water is on your table, but you also get a refreshing saffron drink as well as a mildy spiced buttermilk cooler known as masala chaas.

Prices at Raj Mahal

The thali meal including all the desserts, drinks and street food to start is priced at a very reasonable AED 52.

Do note that children aged 10 and under eat for free.

The restaurant is open every day for lunch and dinner and also caters for groups. But NOTE timings below:

MONDAY TO FRIDAY LUNCH 12 TO 3.30pm DINNER FROM 7pm TO 11.30pm

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY LUNCH 12 to 4pm and DINNER FROM 7pm to 11.30pm

Tel 04 236 0460 or 058 504 7000

I would definitely recommend this restaurant and would also not hesitate to visit again. It’s a great place to take visitors coming to Dubai.

LIVE FLUTE PLAYER AT RAJ MAHAL

NOTE

Jain meals (without onion, garlic and root vegetables) AND vegan meals can also be served on request.

Listen to us talk about Raj Mahal restaurant Dubai on Monicas Weekend Dubai Eye here

More ideas for thali meals in Dubai here and a link to an article on Indian street food here.

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SPICY BEETROOT CUTLETS – Revisited

Spicy Beetroot Cutlets

We were served these spicy South Indian beetroot  cutlets as a starter on holiday at Visalam in Chettinad in Tamil Nadu, Southern India. We all loved them, even the children so I asked the chef to do me a demo one afternoon.

spicy beetroot cutlets doindubai finished cutlet ready to fry

We make these regularly, they are a great accompaniment to any curry dish or you could have on their own with a salad for a light but different lunch.

Spicy Beetroot Cutlets finished cutlet

Fresh beetroot is extremely reasonably priced here in Dubai and widely available from the fresh vegetable section of most supermarkets and packed with vitamins and minerals. This is the only surefire way I can get my kids to eat this vegetable !

Ingredients for Beetroot Cutlets

  •  fresh beetroots, 1 large or 2 medium, peeled and grated like cheese
  • garlic cloves  3 or 4 crushed in a mortar and pestle
  • curry leaves  small handful of fresh washed 
  •  onion 1 medium chopped up finely
  • Small handful of fresh coriander leaves for garnishing
  • potato 1 large boiled and cubed

Spicy Beetroot Cutlets raw ingredients

The spices / flavourings for Beetroot Cutlets

  • 1/4 tsp of red chilli powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric powder

Spicy beetroot cutlets doindubai spice box with curry leaves

For frying the Beetroot Cutlets you’ll need 

  • Plate of fresh breadcrumbs
  • Simple flour and water paste or some tapioca flour
  • Any vegetable oil for shallow frying the cutlets, sunflower is good

Spicy Beetroot Cutlet Doindubai raw beetroot

Method to make the Beetroot Cutlets 

  • Fry the onions till golden brown
  • Add garlic and fry into the onions
  • Add the curry leaves and fry for a minute or two
  • Add the grated beetroot and all the spices, fry for about 5 minutes
  • Add the boiled, diced potato and mix well
  • Add salt and pepper to taste
  • Leave the thickish mixture to cool for a while
  •  When cold, shape this mixture into small fishcake size cutlets or patties,
  • Dip into the flour/water paste
  • Fry for a couple of minutes on each side till dark ruby brown
  • Dry on kitchen paper, and sprinkle with chopped fresh coriander to serve on a platter

QUICK Reminder of how to make Beetroot Cutlets 

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INDYA DUBAI

Indya Dubai by Vineeet Bhatia is a contemporary Indian restaurant serving good quality food in a fun setting. Not too expensive. 

Location of Indya Dubai

Indya Dubai is located on the ground floor of the Royal Meridien hotel in the Grosvensor House complex in the Marina side of Dubai.

The Ambience at Indya Dubai

I don’t normally start with an ambience heading, but the ambience and décor of Indya Dubai is really fun.

It’s a contemporary mix of arty Indian interiors with separate bars and comfy spaces for groups.

There is a small outside terrace that wasn’t open at lunchtime on the day we visited. The view from the windows inside the restaurant is towards the pool of the hotel.

We found sitting at Indya Dubai really comfortable and it’s definitely a place to linger for a while. We asked for the music to be turned down a bit and they obliged immediately.

Indya Dubai DoinDubai Group Seating
nice spaces for group dining
fun bar area

Food at Indya Dubai

The food standard is good overall. The menu is divided up into vegetarian, meat and seafood options. We opted for an aloo papdi chaat to begin with, some methi paneer and seekh kebabs with parantha for mains and a kulfi falooda dessert to finish.

Indya Dubai DoinDubai mehti paneer
mehti paneer sabzi

We were intrigued by the activated charcoal element of the chaat, and understood it had been incorporated into the papdi – crispy base and the sev – shredded crispy vermicelli bit of the starter. But we asked ourselves why this had been done? Is it because activated charcoal is trendy at the moment? It felt a bit odd eating a black paapdi

Indya Dubai DoinDubai Charcoal Chaat
charcoal sev on the paapdi
Furthermore the whole dish was lavishly topped with a very deep yellow sauce that was in fact turmeric yoghurt. It looked a bit more like an eggs benedict when it arrived. But overall the taste was good, just a little too much yoghurt for us.
charcoal chaat with turmeric yoghurt

The mehti paneer vegetarian dish was excellent in terms of taste, appearance and portion size, we recommend you have this with a plain naan or rice. We also ordered seekh kebab – a North Indian staple with a parantha but were surprised to see it with a masala coating. Not what we expected.

However Chef Sachin who was in charge at the time insisted on quickly making us a portion of both seekh and chicken kebab. All was right with the world again.

Succulent, well flavoured, perfectly spiced morsels of meat. I will order this again. See main picture above. 

A big tick to Indya Dubai for serving local water too! Great if it was free, filtered water like they serve at Bagel Yard but at least it was Al Ain and sensibly priced. 

Prices at Indya Dubai

Aloo Papdi
Chaat AED 60

Mehti Paneer AED 65

Seekh Kebab AED 80

Kulfi Falooda AED 45

Is Indya Dubai worth a visit? Yes definitely. It has a good gin menu with sensible prices AED 38 for entry-level gin and house tonic, Just add AED 12 for a Fever Tree mixer. There are some Indian wines on offer too. No Happy Hours or promotions on going as yet and they are already busy at the week ends, but I suggest you opt for some drinks at a Ladies Night at Zengo or Geales and come try the food here or just come straight here. I’ll be back.

Indya Dubai website

Please show them this review if you go.

It really helps the blog.

Indya Dubai DoinDubai Fun Decor

Thank you, Monica. 

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