THREAD.
In honour of #NationalTeaDay, I'm going to post a list of my favourite chai spots in the UAE, karak and otherwise, in no particular order. Best believe I'm going to spend an entire day visiting them all once the covid lockdown is over.
In honour of #NationalTeaDay, I'm going to post a list of my favourite chai spots in the UAE, karak and otherwise, in no particular order. Best believe I'm going to spend an entire day visiting them all once the covid lockdown is over.
We start with the famous Al Rabbash Cafeteria. It may look small & unassuming, but its always buzzing on a Thursday night. Its chai is notable for being very heavy on elaichi and the view of Sharjah across the water from it is one of my favourite things.
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I first discovered this place when it was called Ahla Coup Karak. It's now called Tea Town and it's, in my view, Satwa's best chai spot and the only Tea Town in Dubai worth drinking at. Significantly, their chai is made with fresh milk and it shows!
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Back when it was on what was affectionately referred to as Karak Road, this spot was Sharjah chai Royal Tea. At its current location close to Kuwait Square, it's still one of my top 3 spots in the country. Their chai is heavy, but worth the dirham.
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Once famous for its old Baskin Robbins style signage, Khabeer Al Shay is now my king of Karak Road. A great place to hang out, what really makes Khabeer stand out is its extensive menu. My order, for those curious, is always "karak masala, ziada hail".
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Wadi Al Amarhi Cafeteria is in the area it's named after. A great spot to visit in good weather. It's surrounded by farms & horse stables so it is normal for camels and horses to pass by as you sip on your chai. The neighbourhood cats are also a delight.
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I was not kidding about the camels and horses, by the way.
A place that does simultaneously great and not so great chai (depending on the time of day) is Bab Mirdif, but when their chai is good (ideally before 3PM), it's REALLY good.
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A more consistent choice if you're around Mirdif in the evening is Al Tazj Bakery. While I dispute their claim of being the best in Dubai, their karak chai is still very good. Their stuffed naans are also very good.
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Somebody will ask me about Kashmiri chai. From my experience, the best Kashmiri chai around is Pak Ghazi in the Sharjah Industrial area. I should mention though that they only make it in the winter months and its made in the more Lahori style (w sugar).
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Control Restaurant does undoubtedly the best karak chai on Jumeirah Beach Road. The more gentrified chai spots nearby do not even come close to matching its quality. Their chai is strong, but still very creamy. It also helps that they stay open until 3AM.
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The only place on Jumeirah Road that does come close to Control's quality is Al Farwania Restaurant. It's ironically very close to some of the city's fanciest spots (incld. Burj al Arab), but their one dirham chai beats anything on offer there.
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Another one of Dubai's most famous chai spots in Al Hara Cafeteria in Al Karama. Be sure to order the disco chai, which is strong and made with fresh cardamom. For a less caffeinated experience, try their biryani chai after a big meal (yes, I know).
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The first place I intend on hanging out after this nightmare is over is Mumbai Masti Juice Centre in Meena Bazaar. Their masala chai (served in a motka!) and accompanying veg dishes make it one of my favourite places in Dubai.
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A Satwa favourite (although still second to the place formerly known as Ahla Coup in my opinion) is Dunya Al Sham. Their chai is good, but their fatayer are even better.
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Another place that serves good chai in a motka (and that is surprisingly good with its zaafran) is My Tea. There are several branches across Sharjah and Dubai, but the one I usually go to is the one in the France Cluster in International City.
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Although I'm not very knowledgeable about chai places in Ajman, my go-to place is this specific branch of Deccan Delight. I appreciate that the milk in their chai does not overpower the tea leaves, despite it being quite creamy.
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I'm also not very knowledgeable about Abu Dhabi places (and am open to recommendations), but I always pass by Amina on every trip to the capital. I am fairly certain their chai contains dissolved glucose biscuits, which gives it an interesting twist.
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Controversial, but I'll also include a couple of bubble tea places on here. Chatime in Satwa actually does a karak bubble tea on Thursdays, so it's worth a mention.
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Waffle N Tea in Silicon Oasis is also a decent spot for those who enjoy bubble tea. Very friendly staff as well.
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Finally, I should include my old after work chai spot in Silicon Oasis. Any of my former students who follow me on here should also know about this place. Their chai has no real standout feature, but it's generally pretty good.
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The only "up-market" karak chai that I approve of is that which is sold at Project Chaiwala in AlSerkal Avenue. I do think their chai could be cheaper, but they have excellent, very passionate staff, do great variations, and use the best ingredients.
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And with that I'll conclude for now. I might add more places to this list later. Please feel free to recommend your favourite chai spots too!
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