Shakshuka — eggs poached in spiced tomato sauce, served bubbling in a cast-iron pan with warm bread — is the dish that most effectively introduced Israeli cuisine to Dubai. It has appeared on hotel brunch menus, café breakfast lists, and upscale restaurant tasting menus. We have eaten our way through the city to find where it's being done best. This is the definitive guide.
The word "shakshuka" is Maghrebi Arabic slang for "all mixed up," though the dish has become most associated with Israeli breakfast culture — specifically the working-class café tradition of North African Jewish immigrants who brought it to Israel in the mid-20th century. In Dubai, it has evolved from novelty to staple. Order it correctly and it's one of the most satisfying dishes in the city.
4 Shakshuka Styles to Know
Red Shakshuka (Classic)
Tomatoes, red peppers, onion, garlic, cumin and paprika — the foundation. The standard to judge every shakshuka spot by. Eggs should be poached with whites fully set and yolks still soft. Order with extra bread for sauce mopping. Spice level varies from mild to fiery.
Green Shakshuka
Made with spinach, tomatillos, herbs and green chilli instead of tomatoes — a Tel Aviv innovation that has found fans in Dubai's health-conscious dining scene. Lighter and fresher than the red version, often topped with crumbled feta and lemon zest.
White Shakshuka
A contemporary invention using cream, labneh, or white wine sauce instead of tomatoes. Richer and more indulgent than the original — popular at fine dining Israeli spots in Dubai. Often finished with truffle oil and served as a special at weekend brunch.
Shakshuka with Feta or Lamb
The red classic topped with crumbled white cheese (salty feta or Bulgarian white cheese) or spiced lamb mince. Turns shakshuka from breakfast into a substantial meal. Common at Israeli brunch spots across Dubai, especially at TLV and Mosaica.
Best Shakshuka in Dubai — Ranked by Our Critics
TLV — Address Boulevard
The best shakshuka in Dubai, full stop. TLV's version is served bubbling in a heavy cast-iron pan, brought to the table still spitting gently. The tomato sauce is deeply reduced with the right balance of sweetness and spice, and the eggs arrive exactly as they should — whites set, yolks running like liquid gold when broken. The optional lamb topping (AED 135) elevates it further. Bread is fresh-baked and arrives warm. The combination of 37th-floor skyline views and this shakshuka makes Friday brunch at TLV one of Dubai's truly unmissable eating experiences.
Mosaica — Sofitel Dubai Downtown
A more refined version of shakshuka — the sauce is smoother, more precisely seasoned, and the presentation more composed. Mosaica serves both the red classic and a green variant with herbs and labneh. The white shakshuka (seasonal) with truffle is an experience worth seeking out. At brunch, the shakshuka arrives as part of a structured multi-course meal. The cooking here is more technically accomplished than TLV but slightly less heart-warming — more restaurant, less grandmother. Both have their place.
Mul Hayam — Jumeirah 3
Mul Hayam's shakshuka is the everyday Israeli version — unpretentious, deeply flavoured, generously portioned. The tomato sauce is home-style in the best sense: thick, slightly sweet from long cooking, with a warmth of spice that builds. Eggs arrive slightly firmer than ideal but the overall flavour compensates. At these prices, it's the best-value Israeli shakshuka in Dubai, and the neighbourhood setting makes it feel genuinely authentic. The cheese variant with Bulgarian white cheese (AED 85) is the one to order.
Aviv Tel Aviv Kitchen — Business Bay
A casual Israeli café that takes shakshuka seriously at a very reasonable price point. The menu offers three versions (classic red, green with spinach, and loaded with merguez sausage) and they do each well. The green shakshuka here, made with a blended herb and spinach sauce topped with feta, is among the better versions in Dubai. Service is young and enthusiastic. Best for a weekday breakfast before Business Bay meetings — no need to book.
Miznon — Dubai Marina
Miznon's shakshuka is a weekend-only special, available at the Dubai Marina location on Friday and Saturday mornings. The version here is served in a deep terracotta dish rather than cast iron, with a chunkier, more rustic sauce and aggressively spiced harif on the side. It's less polished than TLV's but has an energy and flavour that feels completely authentic to Israeli street breakfast culture. Eat it at the counter, standing up, like you would in Tel Aviv's Levinsky Market.
Shakshuka Comparison Table
| Restaurant | Classic Red | Green / White | Loaded (meat/cheese) | Best Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TLV | AED 95 | ✗ | With lamb AED 135 | Friday brunch |
| Mosaica | AED 110 | AED 120–145 | White truffle (seasonal) | Weekend brunch |
| Mul Hayam | AED 65 | ✗ | With cheese AED 85 | Any morning |
| Aviv Kitchen | AED 55 | Green AED 65 | With merguez AED 90 | Weekday breakfast |
| Miznon | AED 65 | ✗ | ✗ | Fri/Sat only |
