Off late, Madrid has been shipping out their trendy bars and restaurants (hello, Salmon Guru) to us Dubai folks. I, for one, am glad to indulge in spoonfuls of the Spanish culinary scene’s bounties without having to fork out for a Schengen Visa. Now, the Spanish capital is sending over StreetXO – the adventurous restaurant by the World’s Best Chef and Madrid native, Chef Dabiz Muñoz.
Considered the rockstar of avant-garde cuisine, Dabiz Muñoz has bagged the World’s Best Chef title not once, but thrice. Plus, he comes with a 3-Michelin Star rating in tow, so when you find yourselves sat at his spanking new eatery at One&Only One Za’abeel, know you’re savouring culinary genius.
Up until its official launch on February 13, 2024, StreetXO Dubai has been teasing foodies in the city with tidbits about what this Dubai offshoot will look like and serve via the official Instagram account. Much like the original in Madrid, Dubai too will showcase recipes that blend street food from Singapore, India, Spain, Japan, Vietnam and other parts of the world with innovative haute cuisine cooking techniques.
StreetXO Dubai – food and decor
The edgy, graffiti-splattered and neon-lit vibes of the OG Madrid branch have made their way here to Dubai but limit themselves to the entrance. Inside, Madrid’s crates-turned-high stools are replaced by a chicer chair-filled setting but look close and you’ll see grungy art on the upholstery of seats and the backs of barstools in the trendy bar area.
StreetXO Dubai has snapped up a prime spot in The Garden, a leafy space on Level Four of One&Only One Za’abeel which has resulted in a lush, plant-filled terrace area for some lovely alfresco dining. And there’ll be plenty to dine on thanks to a fascinating new menu Chef Dabiz has created for Dubai.
In an interview with The National only 50% of the DXB menu will feature tried-and-tested staples from Spain; Muñoz promises Dubai’s gourmands fresh new dishes unique to the UAE.
Star dishes like the Pedorche Croquettes – Kimchi, sheep’s milk, tuna sashimi and Lapsang Souchong tea– will feature on the Dubai menu. Yes, that ingredient list is bonkers and sounds wrong, right? But those who’ve tried it go absolutely gaga over this dish. Exclusive to Dubai are new recipes such as the Deep Fried Wonton Kebab and East Coast Road Chili Lobsters.
Out-of-left-field is a theme the cocktails follow too, and the whacky Huevo de la Pedroche placed inside a giant egg is sure to crack into social media feeds around Dubai. World’s Best Chef in the world’s best city? We can’t wait to have one of the best times of our lives!