Bu Qtair Restaurant

Bu Qtair started as a literal fishermen's hut and still runs like one, despite being one of the better-known names in Dubai for fresh seafood. There's no menu in the usual sense — fish, prawns, and squid are laid out on ice, you point at what you want, and it gets grilled or fried to order.

It's loud, crowded at peak times, and entirely unpolished, which is the whole draw against a city known for the opposite. Portions come with rice and a simple sauce, and prices are set by weight rather than by dish.

Go hungry and go early evening if possible — the wait grows fast once word gets around that the catch that day was good, and there's no reservation system to skip it.