Mena’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025: Orfali Bros tops list for third time, Dubai leads with 19 spots

Several Michelin-starred eateries from the Emirates made the cut

Dubai restaurant Orfali Bros, run by Syrian brothers, from left, Omar, Mohamad and Wassim Orfali, claimed the top spot on Mena's 50 Best Restaurants list. Photo: Orfali Bros

Dubai's Orfali Bros has been named the best restaurant in the Middle East and North Africa region for the third time in a row, at a ceremony held at Erth Hotel in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday evening.

The Michelin-starred restaurant, run by Syrian brothers Mohamad, Omar and Wassim Orfali, clinched the top spot at the 2025 Mena’s 50 Best Restaurants, which is organised by the 50 Best group.

“I don't know, honestly. I can't describe it. I am just so happy and proud … of my brothers and my team,” said Mohamed Orfali soon after the ceremony. “We're doing some renovations because the kitchen is becoming smaller and the team is getting bigger. From the beginning, when we first won, we promised people we're not going to change anything when it comes to our heart and soul. And this is still the case now. We might be doing all these changes, but we will stay true to who we are.”

Venues from Dubai also took the second and third spots, by way of two Michelin-starred Tresind Studio and ramen restaurant Kinoya. Commenting on the achievement, Tresind Studio's chef, Himanshu Saini, said: “We are proud to have our grounds in a region that celebrates cultural roots and has immense talent that pushes boundaries in every sense. This award is a testament to our team's hard work, creativity and passion.”

Tresind Studio serves fusion Indian fare, with dishes such as mustard and miso scallop with ripe banana and potato tartlet. Photo: Tresind Studio

Khufu's in Egypt and Ossiano in Dubai make up the top five. Japanese-inspired restaurant 3 Fils, which topped the first Mena list in 2022, was placed at No 14 this year.

Nineteen of the restaurants on the list are in Dubai, including Michelin-starred Row on 45, Smoked Room and 11 Woodfire, while Abu Dhabi also has a strong showing with Niri, Marmellata Bakery and LPM.

Last year, there were 20 restaurants from the UAE among the top 50, a number that rose to 22 this year. Among the other countries listed, Egypt led with seven restaurants; Jordan had six; Saudi Arabia and Morocco had five; Lebanon and Bahrain had two restaurants each and Tunisia had one entry (see full list below).

New restaurants among the top 50 include: Niri and Marmellata Bakery both from Abu Dhabi; Smoked Room, TakaHisa and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal all from Dubai; La Grande Brasserie by Helene Darroze and Le Petit Cornichon both from Marrakesh; and Aseeb from Riyadh.

Marmellata Bakery in Abu Dhabi is run by Raj Dagstani and his son Sebastian. Victor Besa / The National

Among the special awards handed out, Table 3 in Casablanca, Morocco, won the One to Watch award; Carmen Rueda Hernandez of Dubai’s Brix dessert cafe won Mena's Best Pastry Chef; Bahrain’s Tala Bashmi was given the Chef's Choice award and Omar Shihab of Boca Dubai took home the Icon award – Boca was also the Sustainable Restaurant awardee.

Earlier this year, Ossiano at Atlantis The Palm in Dubai received the Art of Hospitality Award, which celebrates restaurants that provide exemplary service. UAE-based Yasmina Hayek of Em Sherif was named Mena's Best Female Chef.

How rankings work

The ranking is based on the recommendations of more than 250 voters, made up of anonymous restaurant experts, including chefs, restaurateurs and well-travelled gourmets from 19 countries across the region.

There is no set criteria for the votes, say the organisers, and “what constitutes best is up to each over to decide. Of course, the quality of food is going to be central, as is the service – but the style of both, the surroundings, atmosphere and indeed the price level are each more or less important for each different individual”.

Referring to the “challenging times in the region”, William Drew, director of content for Mena's 50 Best Restaurants, said: “50 Best is always aimed at bringing people together through food. We firmly believe that gastronomic cross-border collaboration and co-operation can lead to greater mutual cultural understanding.”

Mena’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025

1. Orfali Bros, Dubai (best restaurant in the UAE)
2. Tresind Studio, Dubai
3. Kinoya, Dubai
4. Khufu's, Giza (best restaurant in Egypt)
5. Ossiano, Dubai
6. Fusions by Tala, Manama (best restaurant in Bahrain)
7. Jun's, Dubai
8. Shams El Balad, Amman (best restaurant in Jordan)
9. Em Sherif, Beirut (best restaurant in Lebanon)
10. Moonrise, Dubai
11. Fakhreldin, Amman
12. Boca, Dubai
13. Alee, Amman
14. 3 Fils, Dubai
15. Bait Maryam, Dubai
16. Marble, Riyadh (best restaurant in Saudi Arabia)
17. Row on 45, Dubai (highest climber)
18. Dara Dining by Sara Aqel, Amman (highest new entry)
19. Zuma, Dubai
20. Sufra, Amman
21. Zooba, Cairo
22. La Grande Table Marocaine, Marrakesh (best restaurant in Morocco)
23. LPM, Dubai
24. Kazoku, Cairo
25. Gaia, Dubai
26. 21 Grams, Dubai
27. Sachi, Cairo
28. 11 Woodfire, Dubai
29. Marmellata Bakery, Abu Dhabi
30. Kuuru, Jedah
31. Lunch Room, Riyadh
32. Sesamo, Marrakesh
33. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Dubai
34. Izakaya, Cairo
35. Plus61, Marrakesh
36. Bar in the Back, Amman
37. Mimi Kakushi, Dubai
38. LPM, Abu Dhabi
39. Aseeb, Riyadh
40. Sachi, Giza
41. TakaHisa, Dubai
42. Baron, Beirut
43. Cut by Wolfgang Puck, Manama
44. Le Golfe, Tunis (best restaurant in Tunisia)
45. Smoked Room, Dubai
46. Le Petit Cornichon, Marrakesh
47. Reif Kushiyaki, Cairo
48. La Grande Brasserie by Helene Darroze, Marrakesh
49. Myazu, Riyadh
50. Niri, Abu Dhabi