Best Kunafa in Dubai; 9 of the Absolute Best Places

Kunafa is a sweet of the Middle East, with traditions belonging to Lebanon and Palestine. It is served as a ceremony meal taken during festive occasions such as the celebration of the Islamic month of Ramadan. Kunafa comes loaded with sweet and salty taste sensations. It has a cheesy core encased by crunchy layers of kataifi pastry. 

Kunafa is a popular dessert in Dubai and almost all the dessert houses serve this traditional style dessert to customers. Whether you are shopping in local markets for purchase or indulging in rather exquisite restaurants, you can observe this delightful sweet all over the city. It remains an interesting cultural dish, and the taste remains captivating, thus attracting people within the region and making it an essential eatery for anyone who is visiting Dubai. 

But where can you find the best kunafa in Dubai? This post details the top nine spots. 

What Makes a Great Kunafa?

In its most basic form, a good Kunafa is all about blending and quality. Here's what makes a perfect Kunafa: 

• Crispy Pastry: The top layer should be crispy, with thin strands of semolina dough used in making the last layer. 
• Stretchy Cheese: The filling, originally a sweet cheese, should be of medium consistency. Kunafa with cheese offers a stringy, rubbery texture that will provide much needed relief to the sweet outer layer. 
• Right Sweetness: Again, it should serve merely sweet fruitiness from a sugar or honey-based syrup normally splashed with rose or orange blossom water. 
• Rich Syrup: The best Kunafa is thoroughly soaked in syrup, but not to the point that the pastry becomes flabby with the moisture. It should be crispy to the touch and have a syrup flavour, which complements the pastry's sweet taste. c

Types of Kunafa 

There are also different types of Kunafa. This includes: 

• Kunafa Nabulsi: The most traditional variation is with Nabulsi cheese. 
• Kunafa With Cream: One with a little less pastry and a tasty custard in the middle. 
• Kunafa Khishneh: Made from long noodle threads, rough in texture. 

Top 9 Places for Kunafa in Dubai

The following sections detail the top nine places where to eat Kunafa in Dubai.

1. Name of the Place: Qwaider Al Nabulsi Sweets 

Description: This dessert house located in Muraqqabat is particularly known for its bright family-oriented environment and a vast number of Kunafa's varieties. Qwaider Al Nabulsi has traditional and more exotic flavours and actually prepares everything fresh on the spot, be it mango banana kunafa, and the like. The mood of the house is cosy, and the house can be preferred when organising an informal meeting. 

Signature Kunafa: Cheese and fruit kunafas

Price Range: AED 17 per piece to AED 65 per kg

Address: Al Muraqqabat Road 

Contact Information: +971 4 222 4433 
 

2. Name of the Place: Wafi Gourmet 

Description: Wafi Gourmet presents a magnificent view of the Dubai Fountain located in the Dubai Mall. It has a food court and a supermarket. It is a restaurant specialising in authentic Lebanese food and is famous for its attractive Kunafa in big trays. In any case, if you are nearby, you can buy some Kunafa to go, or even better, enjoy Kunafa accompanied by the sight of the fountain. 

Signature Kunafa: You must try their traditional Kunafa with cheese or cream.

Price Range: AED 34 for each piece 

Address: Lower Ground Floor, Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai

Contact Information: +971 4 330 8297 

3. Name of the Place: Al Samadi Sweets 

Description: Al Samadi Sweets is one of the best places to have traditional Middle Eastern desserts Dubai at low prices. This is a local favourite especially for those who are looking for real pastries. In addition to having Kunafa on the menu, they have French-style cakes and Arabic sweets. 

Signature Kunafa: Pistacchio Kunafa

Price Range: AED 80 for two

Address: Opposite Coral Deira Hotel, Muraqqabat Street, Al Muraqqabat

Contact Information: +971 4 269 7717 

4. Name of the Place: Kullaj Omar 

Description: Kullaj Omar specifically deals with a specific type of Kunafa, which is Kullaj, a traditional Palestinian pastry. A shop specialising in sweets, this place sits in Al Khawaneej and offers a new approach to the Kunafa, as warm and made to order. Their fillings include Nabulsi cheese, walnuts, and pistachios. The interior of the shop is rather warm and authentic, which will help one experiment with something new. 

Signature Kunafa: Traditional Kullaj with Nabulsi cheese 

Price Range: AED 18 per piece

Address: Corniche St - Al Majaz 2 - Al Majaz - Sharjah

Contact Information: 800 585525 

5. Name of the Place: Firas Sweets

Description: Firas Sweets is a favourite for kunafa lovers, where customers in the UAE can enjoy an unforgettable dessert. There is more than one branch including one that is situated on the busy 2nd of December Street. Firas is famous for its tasty kunafa, which has the right balance of cheese and sugar accompanied by a crispy texture. 

The friendly atmosphere of the place earned it quite popularity among both residents of the area and tourists. Whether you fancy the traditional cream kunafa or something more cheesy, at Firas Sweets, you get your fix of delicious, traditional Middle Eastern pastries. 

Signature Kunafa: Cheese Kunafa

Price Range: AED 10 to AED 30 per piece

Address: Dune Centre, 2nd December Street in Al Hudaiba district of Dubai

Contact Information: +971-4-358-0489

6. Name of the Place: Bosporus Turkish Restaurant

Description: The restaurant is situated on Jumeirah Beach Road and Bosporus is famous for its Middle Eastern and Turkish sweets. Local citizens and tourists much admire this restaurant to grab or take local and international quality desserts. That's why, no matter if you plan to have a sit-down dinner at Bosporus or just order a box to eat at home, you will be surprised by the choice of kunafa, baklava, and other sweets available. 

Comparatively, it is best to go there after a beach day or when going for a family day since the environment is welcoming and resembles a Turkish sweets store. 

Signature Kunafa: Turkish style kunafa

Price Range: Starts at AED 25 per piece

Address: Umm Suqeim 1, Jumeirah Beach Road 

Contact Information: +971-4-380-8090 

7. Name of the Place: Habibah Sweets

Description: It is a family run shop selling Arabic sweets in Dubai. They also sell pastries. At Habibah Sweets, you can enjoy the opulence of their celebrated fine Kunafa. Made of thin layers of semolina pasta and stuffed with delicious cheese, it is nothing but a piece of art! Every chew just dissolves in your mouth, while perfectly balanced sugary tastes make you want more and more. This particular kunafa is not only delicious but also eye-pleasing, as Middle Eastern sweet making is an art in itself. 

Signature Kunafa: Traditional semolina kunafa

Price Range: Depends on the type

Address:  Prince Mamduh Bin Abdulaziz St, As Sulimaniyah, Riyadh 12245, Saudi Arabia

Contact Information: +966 11 448 4444

8. Name of the Place: Al Hallab 

Description: Founded in 1881, Al Hallab hails from the great city of Tripoli, Lebanon, and specialises in Lebanese pastries. Also referred to as "Kasr El Helou," this site has become a centre of attraction for thousands of tourists who are always in a fix to taste the specialities of this place. The environment is a mix of the old and new; therefore, any lover of Middle Eastern desserts should consider paying this centre a visit. 

Signature Kunafa: Al Hallab Kunafa is made with extra delicate touches and uses only the best raw material for great taste. It is famous for its crispness on the outside and its soft dairy cream on the inside. 

Price Range: AED 40 and up

Address: Multiple Locations. The one near the Waterfall, Level 2, Dubai Mall, is the most popular one. 

Contact Information: +971 (0) 4 3308828

9. Name of the Place: Just Kunafa 

Description: Established in the Souk Al Bahar, Just Kunafa is a highly attractive dessert shop that can be a good place to rest while walking through Downtown Dubai. It is a small café located right in the city centre that is a good representation of the present trend in interior design; it will be perfect for a cup of coffee and dessert. The location is ideal for those people shopping throughout the day as they need time to relax. 

Sold as individuals per plate or by the kilo, it is a perfect choice for those on a sharing basis. The Turkish baklava is also a favourite one that has a special concentration of taste.

Signature Kunafa: Cheese kunafa

Price Range: AED 25 per piece

Address: Souk Al Bahar, Downtown Dubai 

Contact Information:  +971 4 514 2758

Tips for Finding the Best Kunafa in Dubai

When searching for the best Kunafa Dubai, consider the tips mentioned below.  

Look for Authenticity

Look for places where there are a variety of Middle Eastern desserts. Many a time, the true restaurants or sweet shops have adequate experience of preparing the kunafa. This will ensure that you get a taste of this traditional dessert in its authentic form. Check for online reviews to assess. 

Check the Ingredients

Kunafa should always contain fresh cheese, semolina, or kataifi dough to provide a top-notch taste. Do not go to stores that offer products with little or no amounts of these ingredients since it has direct consequences on taste and texture. This may need some research and trial in a lot of places. You can, of course, consider the ones mentioned in the previous section. 

Ask Locals

You should ask your friends and family members who have a knack for eating good food because they know the most ideal places to eat. They also have knowledge of some restaurants and shops that are not well advertised but are excellent in what they offer. 

If you are a tourist ask the locals for recommendations or enquire at your hotel reception or concierge. They will direct you to the ones that offer the best taste and at affordable prices. 

Sample Different Varieties

There are different types of kunafa available, as mentioned before. You may like one type and dislike the other. This does not mean that the store makes bad quality kunafa. It's therefore important to have Kunafa Nabulsi or kunafa with cream, for example, to find out what kind of kunafa is the most enjoyable. This way you will know what to get and where to get it from. 

Visit During Peak Times

General outlets are normally crowded, meaning that there is frequently a rotation of new merchandise. It is much better to have the kunafa freshly made. So make sure you visit during the peak operational hours of the shop. 

Otherwise, you can also order online and get it delivered at home. For an added discount, you can use a Noon Food coupon code from Dealsandcouponsmena. 

If you are lucky to be in Dubai and in need of some delicious kunafa, then try out these tips, and you will have a great kunafa experience. 

Conclusion

Kunafa is truly magic and excites every taste bud and sensation. With its sweet and salty combination and crispy yet smooth and gooey texture, it truly ticks all the boxes. If you are in Dubai, then trying out this dessert is a must. The Kunafa scene in Dubai is especially vast and you will find thousands of options in terms of flavour. 

You will also find a number of places serving some of the best kunafa in Dubai. There is no perfect kunafa for every individual because the traditional kunafa has evolved through generations and the new generations have also popularised new types. Just go out and find your own place that you love while enjoying the Kunafa and the various desserts in Dubai for an amazingly sweet experience.