Top Manakeesh Spots in Dubai | Savour Authentic Flavours

Manakeesh reportedly evolved from the Arabic word Manqushah, meaning to carve out or decorate. It hints at the nice indentations made with fingers while flattening the dough for making the Manakeesh toppings.

The top reasons for the popularity of Manakeesh are believed to be its affordability and great taste.
 

Manakesh varies in taste in accordance with the toppings used. The main toppings can include minced meat such as lamb, mutton, or beef, and Za’atar, cheese, along with an array of veggies.

Za’atar is the most loved topping and is a stellar combination of spices such as thyme, sumac, sesame seed paste, Lebanese oregano, and other herbs.
 

That Manakeesh is indispensable can be known from its position as the go-to breakfast dish in Lebanon and most Middle East cities, similar to the craze for egg and cheese sandwich breakfast in the West. Manakeesh is also best for a heavy lunch.

Manakeesh served with olives, labneh, freshly sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, and some mint will be a treat. The toppings can be further expanded with a blend of cheeses, onion and tomato mixture, and keshek.

The za’atar blend mixes with olive oil when the flatbread is baked in brick oven. Also, the Manakeesh size can be shortened by reducing the size to a personal pizza and folding in half like a sandwich for easy consumption.

Some experts point to its fame even in the early centuries, and the Lebanese dish finds mention in ancient Arabian cookbooks dating back to the 10th century with a recipe comprising flatbreads, thyme, and olive oil.

However, a famous chef of Lebanon, like Ramzi Choueiri, rebuts the claim, and he asserts Manakeesh is a recent phenomenon and asserts the dish suits modern life. The surging demand for Manakeesh defends both the classical and modernist claims. 
 

As noted, the love for popular and vagan Manakeesh variant za’atar served hot with homemade feta cheese tops the Manakeesh dining preferences.

Olives and fresh vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and radish make for a healthy combination for this meal platter. In terms of calories, Manakeesh averages some 300 calories, with fat content 19 percent, carbohydrates 14 percent, and proteins 11 percent. The vitamins and minerals are present in varying volumes.
 

Tastewise, Manakeesh is usually slightly crisp on the outside with a soft interior. The soft yeast-risen flatbread is easier to make; the Zaatar, of course, is readily accessible as a traditional spice blend of the Middle East.

For making the dough, you can use all-purpose flour, and there is no need for any bread flour. Instead of warm water, use warm milk as the base liquid in dough to enhance its delicious richness and softness to the texture.

Adding some white vinegar makes this Zaatar bread perfect. Dry active yeast will be the leavening agent for the dough. Sugar has to be added to the mixture to allow the yeast to rise properly. Salt is 

sprinkled to balance out all the flavors in the bread. By adding olive oil, the authentic regional flavor comes up as if you are in the Middle East.

In Dubai’s diverse culinary scene, with a wide range of flavours and dishes from around the world competing, Manakeesh is readily available in all manifestations.

The three hot-selling types of Manakeesh are the following:

•    Zaatar manakeesh
•    Cheese manakeesh
•    Lamb manakeesh.

The cheese Manakeesh flatbread topped with Akkawi cheese yields a savory yet gooey flavor. It makes a sumptuous breakfast, and a cup of tea with sliced cucumbers and tomatoes will double up the feel of having enjoyed a great meal.

In all the variants, the base flatbread is the same, but the toppings stay different. The most popular of these flatbreads is the zaatar bread, with the perfect ease of slicing or folding when you eat. It is your choice whether to go for a classic Za'atar Manakeesh or a more indulgent cheese and meat-filled version; the Dubai city has something for everyone.

In Dubai, you can have your favorite Middle Eastern dishes from an array of places, including streetside takeout wagons and local falafel joints to posh restaurants.

The trend of Makeesh overwhelming both residents and visitors continues with its flatbread topped by za'atar, cheese, and minced meat sizzling the foodie’s imagination.

Many prefer a classic Za'atar Manakeesh, but the craving for an indulgent cheese and meat-filled version is also unlimited, and the city has plenty of outlets to satiate that passion for this delicacy.

So, you can have your Manakeesh or Shawarma in a takeout container or served elegantly on a charming tablecloth under aesthetically cooling dim lights.
 

Here are our picks that meet the top end of the scale with a fair reputation for inventive food.

1.    Akawi Oven

 If you are dying for the thinnest, crispiest Manakkesh, this is the place where a vast variety of toppings awaits you. One more highlight is that Akawi Oven offers Manakeesh in pizza style, complete with cardboard box. The exotic options are bulging the outlet’s fan base fast. It is located at Lake Plaza, Cluster T, Sheikh Zayed Rd., and near Damac Properties Metro Station.

2.    Al Hallab

This much-loved Lebanese restaurant’s 18 Sheikh Rashid Rd.—Al Garhoud branch only serves Manakeesh. It sticks to the classics, such as meat, cheese, and za'atar, with a bit more curbed size than the standard format. But the folded bread treats are generously packed with amply spiced meat.

3.    Al Safadi

Location is Dana Building, Near Al Rigga Metro Station, Deira Dubai. In the words of a celebrity foodie who enjoyed the Lebanese pizza that is Manakeesh, the dish stuffed with ground lamb, onions, and spices, then baked and served with garlic sauce, made him feel that eating in Dubai is a bliss.

4.    Manoushe Street

The Manoushe street at Tower C, near Burj Khalifa Boulevard Street, will let you enjoy all kinds of variations for our Manakeesh, including Akkawi cheese, Manakeesh pizzas, Za'atar, and Nutella fillings.

5.    Something Baked

Enjoy the traditional Manakeesh with a local flavor. Something Baked housed at 2 Towers—Jumeirah Lake Towers—JLT Cluster will offer you a great treat, including freshly-baked mango and the yummy honey labneh saj.

6.    Zaatar W Zeit

This Lebanese chain at Marina View Towers, Tower A, Braih Street, awaits you with perfect fluffy Manakeesh and its assortment of stuffed combinations.

7.    Manaesho

At Manaesho, the dough is fluffy and crispy at the same time, yet the ingredients are well balanced. It has a multibranched presence, and one prominent location is the ground floor of the West Zone Supermarket Building, 83 Street, Mirdif.

8.    Zaroob

This Dubai street-food eatery has a wider platter of Manakeesh variations, and the special ones are garlic Manakeesh or spinach variant, and the trending one is pomegranate Manakeesh. It is at Sheikh Zayed Rd., Ground Floor, at Jumeirah Tower.

9.    On the Wood

The famed oulet is noted for classical Manakeesh offerings, including regular or light versions and even multi cereal dough. The brand’s Manakeesh is loved for its overload of cheese as well. The most prominent branch is 84, Dubai Investment Park Ring Street, G Floor, Jabel Ali.

10.    Kaak Al Manara Al Wasl Road

Kaak Al Manara Al Wasl Road in the heart of Jumeirah 2, Dubai is a great place to have the delicious Lebanese cuisine and Manakeesh in a cozy ambiance.

11.    Mamaesh Al Manara

Mamaesh Al Manara is a famous Arab restaurant where you can enjoy delicious mangoes. The location is Al Wasl Road, Villa 1081.

12.    Al Reef Lebanese Bakery

Located at Jumeirah-3, Al Wasl Road, Near Safa Park, is a renowned bakery providing a wide range of Lebanese delicacies and treats. Customers can enjoy the delicious Manakeesh for breakfast as well. The perfect combination of zaatar and cheese Manakesh with a special taste remains its long-term specialty. And if you are craving a savory treat or a sweet, it has unique options suiting every palate.

13.    Molouk al Moajjanat, Kings of Pastry

Molouk al Moajjanat Kings of Pastry, located at G Floor, Dar Al Zahia Building, 15C Street, Hor Al Anz East, is a renowned Syrian restaurant offering a wide range of delightful dining experiences. This great Manakeesh place also delights with qashqawan, shamia, and akawi, besides nice pastries.

14.    Al Rageef Lebanese Restaurant

Al Rageef at Zabeel Road, Al Karama, is a popular bakery offering an array of delicacies and Mankeesh breakfast too. The 24-hour free delivery service also helps in the easy sourcing of your favorite dishes.

15.    Al Mandaloun

Level 2, Gate District, Building 3, DIFC, Dubai is the address to enjoy crispy Manakeesh and other Middle Eastern delicacies.

So, the roundup of Manakeesh places in Dubai has captured a culinary survey on all aspects of the super tasty Manakeesh meal. Now enjoy your food.