Expo 2020 reveals chefs and brand new dining concepts

Inayat-ur-Rahman, Business Editor

Visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai are invited to enjoy a world of cuisine where taste knows no borders – a foodie’s paradise featuring internationally acclaimed restaurants and local favourites, superstar chefs and Expo-exclusive eateries.

In keeping with its promise to be the most inclusive World Expo ever, Expo 2020 Dubai brings cuisines to suit every palate and budget, from old classics to new innovations, street bites and gourmet delights, presenting flavours and experiences that will be remembered for a lifetime from more than 200 food and beverage outlets.

Marjan Faraidooni, Chief Visitor Experience Officer, Expo 2020 said: “It’s universally agreed that one of the best ways to discover a country is by sampling its cuisine, and at Expo 2020, visitors are able to eat their way around the world without leaving the UAE.

“Whether you’re curious about the latest dining trends or looking to indulge in what’s tantalising the taste buds of food fanatics around the world, Expo 2020 is a dining destination in its own right, featuring some of the world’s most celebrated chefs, as well as up-and-coming homegrown concepts seeking to make their mark on the international food scene. Many of the 191 participating countries will also be serving authentic dishes and drinks at their pavilions.”


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The lauded line-up, revealed two months before Expo’s doors open, features more than 20 award-winning chefs representing restaurants that have earned Michelin stars - the global hallmark of fine dining and culinary excellence.

These include American ‘Gypsy Chef’ David Myers, who will combine classic American fast food with an international influence at Adrift Burger Bar, and celebrated Armenian-American chef, Geoffrey Zakarian, who is set to debut The National Bar & Dining Rooms – his vision of a grand café, offering modern bistro cuisine from breakfast to dinner. Both restaurants are brand new concepts making their debut at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Lifestyle guru, Matthew Kenney, will wow diners with stunning renditions of American, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavours as he brings three plant-based restaurant concepts from the US, while Mory Sacko, whose Mosuke restaurant was awarded a Michelin star after only two months, will employ his skilled French techniques to create his signature African-Japanese fusion cuisine.


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With the host city renowned for being a melting pot of diverse flavours and cultures, Expo 2020 Dubai celebrates its homegrown hotspots while also introducing exciting internationally-acclaimed restaurants, including famed Italian restaurant Scarpetta, which launches its first-ever Burrata Bar at Expo, and David Thompson’s renowned Thai street food chain Long Chim, which means ‘come and taste’ in Thai.

Rohit Ghai, one of the culinary world’s most in-demand chefs, brings his acclaimed restaurant Kutir from London’s Chelsea to Expo 2020. Kutir, meaning ‘a small cottage’ in Sanskrit, draws inspiration from the royal tradition of hunting expeditions in the forests and jungles of the Indian countryside, with an authentic, yet experimental menu.

Other tasty arrivals include British concept Bread Ahead, specialising in doughnuts and gluten-free and sourdough breads who will also bring their Bakery School; Beirut’s neighbourhood joint, Baron, bringing passion to the plate with fresh ingredients from the farm and sea in its Mediterranean-inspired menu; and Kojaki, a fusion concept that melds Japanese and Korean cuisines, with signature dishes such as Korean barbecue and Japanese robata.

Expo will also introduce an exciting range of bespoke food concepts including Alkebulan African dining hall, curated by  former opera singer-turned-restauranteur, Alexander Smalls, which features 11 chef-led concepts from across the African continent; Taste of the Gulf which celebrates the region’s rich culinary heritage; and Talabat, a cloud kitchen with a fleet of riders from the food delivery platform; delivery robots and robotic baristas.

Local favourites span cuisines from India to Ireland, and include classic UAE brands such as Arabian Tea House; Al Farwania, an Indian gem; Dampa Seafood Grill, a Filipino hotspot; Lebanese stalwart Al Reef Bakery; and Hanon Feras Sweets, renowned for its traditional Middle Eastern dessert, kanafa. The six-month spectacle also features Pakistani street food go-to, Ravi Restaurant; Maraheb Yemeni Restaurant; Chicken Tikka Inn; briyani specialists Al Farwania Restaurant; and Sarouja Restaurant & Café, a popular Syrian and Mediterranean spot.