Michelin Guide · Indian Street Food & Sharing Plates · Le Royal Meridien, Dubai Marina
By Monty Khas, Anonymous Critic. Pays every bill.
Vineet Bhatia made history in 2001 as the first Indian chef to earn a Michelin star, and he has spent the years since pushing Indian food in new directions. Indya by Vineet is his most relaxed restaurant in Dubai: a colorful, poolside spot at Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa, near Dubai Marina and JBR, that the Michelin Guide describes as fun and funky.
The vibe
Indya is bright and casual, with an outdoor terrace by the pool and a bar. It's the kind of place where you can arrive straight from the beach, order a stack of small plates and stay for the afternoon.
What to eat
The menu is built around Indian street food and sharing plates, organized around the earth, the land, the sea and the sweet shop. Start with chaat: puri and dahi chaat, crisp shells and cooling yogurt with tangy chutneys, is a classic for a reason.
The tandoori cauliflower roast is a showpiece, a whole head of cauliflower charred in the tandoor and big enough to share. Paneer koliwada borrows the spicy, crunchy batter that Mumbai's Koli fishing community uses for seafood. And yes, there's KFC: Keralan fried chicken, spiced the South Indian way.
For bigger plates, the lamb biryani kofta turns biryani into meatballs, and the charcoal Amritsari fish pakoda comes with a turmeric raita. Daulat Aunty's mutton dhansak, served with Parsi brown rice, is a homestyle Parsi favorite, and Aunty Braganza's prawn stew is another comforting pick.
Menus change with the seasons, so ask what's new.
Before you go
Indya serves dinner daily and lunch on weekends. It's popular with families and hotel guests, so book ahead for weekend lunch.
Why it matters
Fine-dining chefs don't always do casual well. Indya proves that Vineet Bhatia can. It's playful, generous and full of family stories, and it brings real cooking skill to the kind of food Indians eat for fun.
The Quick Fix
What to order: Puri and dahi chaat; tandoori cauliflower roast; paneer koliwada; KFC (Keralan fried chicken); lamb biryani kofta; charcoal Amritsari fish pakoda; Daulat Aunty's mutton dhansak
Pricing: Mid-range. Good value for a beach-resort setting.
Best for: Families, weekend lunches, beach days, groups and anyone staying in Dubai Marina or JBR
How it compares: More casual and playful than Jamavar; a beachside alternative to Khadak; the most relaxed way to eat a Michelin-starred chef's food in Dubai
See where Indya by Vineet ranks: The Best Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi Restaurants in Dubai: Our Top 10 for 2026
The food was always this good. We're just paying attention.