We Tried Camel Burgers at Local House in Dubai!

Roberto Fortuno, Dubai – United Arab Emirates. Nov 2020

There is no better place than Al Fahidi to visit to learn more about the United Arab Emirate's rich traditions, language, heritage, and evolution. With plenty of tours, guides, and attractions, you will never experience a dull moment. Dubai may be famous for its luxury, prosperity, and unmatched high rises, but it's Al Fahidi's quaint traditional charm and quiet old city elegance that creates a truly unique experience.

In my opinion, the best way to experience any great city to mix something traditional with something a little more familiar. During our stay at Al Fahidi, it was essential that we share an iconic culinary experience in Dubai. For this reason, we headed to Local House for dinner one night during our trip. Local House is particularly famous for its camel burgers and camel milkshakes. That is not some funny or fancy names, and they are both made with camel meat.

Camel meat is a traditional food in the United Arab Emirates. It is typically served at weddings and special occasions. Camel meat is known for being expensive, and this restaurant gets it FRESH. While camel meat can be served in many different ways, camel burgers are a great way to experience the meat's flavor and taste without paying an arm and a leg.

The word "camel" in Arabic means beautiful. The word for beauty in Arabic, Jamaal, is taken from the Jameel. And, of course, camel in Arabic is spelled jamal.

Local House Restaurant is located right next to the Arabian Tea House. It is a traditional Emirati restaurant that boasts a fat-free burger choice – camel burgers. Camel meat is said to be more tender than beef and has a smoky or sweet and tangy flavor. There are many camel-based options on the menu at Local House Restaurant. You can order camel kebabs, camel steaks, camel biryani, and get ready for it… camel milkshakes.

With nothing but an open mind and an abundance of excitement, we headed over to Local House to try their famous camel burgers and camel milkshakes. Believe it or not, the camel milkshake tasted just like any other milkshake. It was creamy and did not taste nearly as unconventional as we expected. The camel burger was good, if not a bit dry. This is most likely due to the extremely low-fat content within the meat.

Walking into the restaurant, you immediately breathe a sigh of relief, and the AC welcomes you from the humid weather outdoors.

Local House is decorated with vibrant colors and eclectic pieces. My friends and I joke that it looks like grandma's House. Arabic music and the cozy atmosphere are perfect for sitting down to a meal with friends.

While the ultimate goal was the try out the camel burger, we decided to try a few things from Local House. Our spread included lamb tikka and hummus, watermelon salad, three camel burgers, a camel milkshake, Arabic tea, and Karak Chai. The salad and the lamb were incredible! The watermelon in the salad was refreshing and was perfectly complemented by the mint and green olives. The lamb was as soft and tender as butter – it melted in your mouth.

With such delicious appetizers, we had very high hopes for the camel burgers. They came out on a bun with succulent, fried egg, and lettuce and tomato. We were so excited to try our first bite of a camel burger. At first, it tasted like a regular burger, but as you continue eating it, it gets drier and drier. While the meat was a bit dry and chewy, the French fries helped to compliment the textures with their crispiness. The drinks had mixed reviews around the table. The mango juice was delicious and refreshing as they use fresh mango. The Arabic tea was lovely, but the Karak Chai was a bit too herbaceous for my taste.

I never dreamed that I would try a camel burger! My friends and I were so excited to be in Dubai and try something we had never seen back home. The overall experience of Al Fahidi was spectacular and memorable. The neighborhood was much like a root in Dubai's past with modern touches. Broadening our horizons with the camel burger was one of the most memorable parts of our trip. It may not be as delicious as a beef burger, but it was a worthy contender. Would you give it a try?