Emirati food isn't really a thing in Dubai, Kate Christou, chef at LOWE, told me when I visited the city in early 2020. A melting pot of different cultures, Dubai is home to more than 200 nationalities and imports 80 percent of its food. As such, much of the city's cuisine is inspired by its neighboring countries and the Middle East and Asia at large: Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Oman, Egypt, and India, to name a few.

Of course, you can find classic Emirati foods鈥攈eavy on stew, fish, meat, and rice, and sweets drenched in date syrup鈥攁t a handful of traditional restaurants around the city. Our recommendation? Check out the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, which hosts delectable cultural meals for sampling a smorgasbord of Emirati dishes. The experience, which lasts 90 minutes, is led by an Emirati guide and is the perfect intro to UAE cuisine and culture.

Here are the top foods you have to try鈥攁nd where to find them鈥攖he next time you're in Dubai: