For chef Kelvin Cheung, Dubai is more than just a culinary hub; it's a canvas where he blends flavours, memories and techniques to create a unique culinary narrative. As the executive chef at MICHELIN-selected Jun’s, a restaurant celebrated for its "third culture cooking", chef Kelvin draws on his multicultural upbringing to craft dishes that are simultaneously comforting and adventurous. But what makes this celebrated chef tick when he’s not orchestrating magic in the kitchen?
Day-to-day life for Kelvin and his family is refreshingly simple. He cherishes the quieter corners of the city, away from the bustling and extravagant scenes.
Here, he shares his favourite spots to visit while in Dubai.
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For weekly rituals: Zagol
"Once a week, me and my son, we go for our haircuts together at a very local place in an area called Karama. It’s 5 AED for a haircut, so we get our weekly fade together, and right next door, there’s a place that serves Ethiopian food called Zagol. My wife orders the vegetable platter, and we all just sit and have a meal together as a family."Zagol in Karama offers traditional Ethiopian cuisine in a warm setting. Known for its authentic flavours and community-centric vibe, the restaurant serves classic dishes such as injera and hearty stews, providing a taste of Ethiopia in the heart of Dubai.
For fusion flavours: Hashmi Barbeque Restaurant
"For indulgence, this is a place where I’ve sent pretty much every international chef and media person who has come to visit Dubai. It’s just honest and simple. What’s cool is it’s very traditional Indian tandoori-style barbecue, but they are originally from Nairobi in Kenya. Their chooza, which is a national dish for Kenya, they do in a traditional Indian tandoor, but instead of using Indian spices, they use Kenya chillies and spices, which are very floral and citrussy. The other must-get is the best fried chicken in the city – they deep fry it on its own and then dunk it in a vat of butter, cover it in that Kenya chilli and serve it all over fries. You sop up that butter and chicken fat with fries – it’s absolutely moreish.”Family-run Hashmi Barbeque Restaurant first opened in 1978 in the centre of Nairobi, and now brings a unique fusion of Indian and Kenyan flavours to Dubai. It’s famous for its grilled meats, African-style nyama choma and bold spice blends, and is a favourite among locals and visitors.
For dressing up: Trèsind Studio
“We love chef Himanshu – he’s one of my closest chef friends in Dubai. I love his approach and the way he cooks, the way he flavours. You really understand all the hard work and the thought that goes behind building each dish, and it’s this magical little journey that it takes you on with super technical, super flavourful dishes.”Trèsind Studio, which has two MICHELIN stars, has a surprise multi-course tasting menu of unique dishes that incorporate flavours from across India under the helm of chef Himanshu Saini. With just 20 seats and a rooftop location in The St. Regis Gardens, the restaurant offers both a theatrical and intimate dining experience.
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For Peking duck: Kun Lun Restaurant
"There’s a place called Kun Lun that does the best Peking duck in Dubai. Best price and great quality. We go, smash the duck, and bounce."Kun Lun Restaurant, in the China Cluster in International City, is a down-to-earth, authentic Chinese restaurant that focuses on traditional flavours and its Peking duck is a particularly popular dish, served with all the classic accompaniments.
For “third culture cooking”: Jun’s
"I think what we’ve created at Jun’s is something very special. Jun’s doesn’t have a label; it’s Kelvin on a plate, and I always describe it as ‘third culture cooking’. It’s the perfect combination of my heritage with my upbringing in North America. You get this journey where every dish begins with a nostalgic memory from my past.”MICHELIN-selected Jun’s is an innovative dining destination by chef Kelvin Cheung and founder Neha Anand that celebrates the intersection of Asian heritage and North American influences, with the chef’s signature “third culture cooking”. This includes a new and affordable 11-course tasting menu featuring Chef Kelvin’s most-loved dishes for 485 AED.
For dosas: Saarangaa Bhojan Shala
"We have dosa quite a bit. That’s one of our go-to things because we spend so much time in India and my wife is gluten intolerant, so South Indian food is perfect for it. We always go to Saarangaa Bhojan Shala (SBS) for dosas. They serve those massive like six-foot crispy dosa. Sorted."Saarangaa Bhojan Shala, with its multiple outlets across Dubai, is a haven for South Indian food lovers. The restaurant serves authentic, flavourful vegetarian South Indian cuisine, from dosas to idlis and vadas.
For noodles: Maru Udon
"If I’m craving a bowl of noodles, I go to Maru Udon. It’s an insanely approachable, insanely affordable, beautiful bowl of udon noodles. It’s super simple, tasty, and run by a chef and his wife – again, a really small, lovely homegrown brand that I love."Maru Udon is a small and cosy eatery in Dubai with branches in Business Bay and Motor City’s Neighbourhood Food Hall. It specialises in Japanese udon noodles made fresh daily, with an affordable menu emphasising quality and authenticity and featuring dishes such as Tantan Szechuan, donburi and karaage fried chicken.
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For Tacos: Lila Wood-Fired Taqueria
"The best tacos in Dubai. I love the fact that chef Shaw is obsessive about bringing in the right ingredients and making everything from scratch. And she makes her own tacos. I actually use her tacos at Jun’s as well."Lila Wood-Fired Taqueria is one of Dubai’s destinations for Mexican cuisine and pays homage to time-honoured traditions and wood-fired flavours. The menu is anchored in heirloom corn brought to the UAE from small farms in Mexico – and this is used daily to made hand-pressed tortillas and tostadas, alongside salsas and aguas frescas created with fresh, seasonal ingredients.
For dessert: BRIX Café
“It has to be chef Carmen's croissants at BRIX. I think they’re the best croissants in the city. I'll go for a coffee and a croissant, and that's kind of like my treat.”Located at the picturesque Jumeirah Fishing Harbour, BRIX Café is left by chef Carmen Rueda, a renowned pastry chef and chocolatier who has worked with some of the best dessert chefs in the world and formerly trained under Heston Blumenthal at three MICHLEIN star restaurant, Fat Duck. The menu has a range of innovative dishes, including an array of beloved desserts.
For coffee: Southpour Coffee Roasters + Juice Bandits
"I drink a lot of coffee, and there’s a place called Southpour that I love. It’s like your local home spot. It’s not fancy, but the team is absolutely amazing, so it’s a well-run place, well priced and approachable.”Southpour offers a laid-back coffee experience with a focus on great brews and warm service. The beans are sourced from all over the world.
