How Three Syrian Brothers Continue To Dominate Dubai's Culinary Space
Orfali Bros Bistro has been named Best Restaurant in the Middle East & North Africa for three years running.
13 April 2025
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Photo Credit: Orfali Bros Bistro
In a city littered with luxury dining and Michelin-starred imports, Orfali Bros Bistro stands apart. The eatery is tucked into a quiet corner of Wasl 51, far from Dubai’s usual parade of celebrity chef and global brand names and white-tablecloth bravado. Orfali Bros Bistro has quietly become the beating heart of the region’s food scene. Since early 2023, it’s held the No.1 spot on MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants, landed on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, and picked up Michelin stars along the way.
But talk to anyone who’s eaten here, and it’s clear: the accolades are just catching up.
Raised in Aleppo, a city famed for its culinary legacy, the Orfali brothers were always destined for the kitchen. Despite their parents’ initial reluctance (their father an engineer, their mother a teacher), Mohammad’s passion for cooking led him to overcome social pressures. While formally trained in French cuisine, his heart remained rooted in Aleppo’s vibrant flavours.
“Having dreams of becoming a chef is not highly respected in my social circle nor the Middle East”, Mohammad Orfali said. “It took greater energy to convince my mother that this is the path I chose”.
Mohammad’s turning point came during a 2007 trip to Aleppo, where a street food vendor inspired him to focus on his Syrian heritage. This pivot led to his rise as a TV chef, cookbook author and advocate for modern Arabic cooking, especially Aleppian cuisine. He later convinced his younger brothers, Wassim and Omar (both trained pâtissiers), to join him in launching their restaurant.
Brothers Wasim, Omar and Mohammed Orfali | Photo Credit: Orfali Bros Bistro
In 2021, Orfali Bros Bistro was born amid the global pandemic: a fusion of high-end gastronomy and casual bistro charm. The open kitchen concept allows diners to watch as tradition and innovation collide, with dishes like Come With Me to Aleppo (wagyu kebabs with sour cherry sauce) and Shish Barak à la Gyoza, which are Syrian dumplings with a Japanese twist. Their Orfali Bayildi, a reimagined Turkish eggplant dish, features smoked aubergine, tahini and walnut muhammara. Wassim and Omar’s pastries are equally boundary-pushing, blending French technique with Middle Eastern nostalgia. Daring desserts like the Umami Éclair, a fusion of porcini emulsion, marmite and cacao nibs, or Bamyili the OB Croquettes, where celeriac and Comté cheese meet truffle aioli, blur culinary lines.
“I’m not a chemist or a physicist, I am a curious, passionate chef who loves to cook and always strive for perfection,’’ says Orfali. “I try to use a variety of techniques and search for all that is new, since developing the cuisine is crucial.”
Orfali Bros has quickly become a powerhouse, securing a spot on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. The bistro’s success proves the brothers’ innovative approach is not only relevant regionally but also globally.
Orfali Bayildi, a reimagined Turkish eggplant dish | Photo Credit: Orfali Bros Bistro
There is no pretense or performance here. Just focused, fearless cooking. The restaurant is alcohol-free, with a dedicated non-alcoholic pairing menu that features natural juices and house-fermented drinks crafted in their in-house fermentation lab. The space is intimate, with a two-story open kitchen where the brothers are always in motion. Upstairs, Wassim and Omar prepare striking pastries and desserts. Downstairs, Mohammad moves between the kitchen and dining room, serving plates and sharing the stories behind them.
Natural juices and house-fermented drinks are crafted in their in-house fermentation lab. | Photo Credit: Orfali Bros Bistro
Already planning their next venture rumoured to be named Three Bros Bistro, housed in the same location as their multi-awarded restaurants, the brothers show no signs of slowing down. In a world where heritage cuisine is often boxed into rigid traditions, the Orfali brothers have shattered expectations. They’re not just preserving their Syrian roots—they’re evolving them, proving that Middle Eastern food can be just as cutting-edge and sophisticated as any fine-dining concept in the world.
MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants | Photo Credit: Orfali Bros Bistro
Photo Credit: Orfali Bros Bistro
Author: Pooja Thakur
Pooja Thakur is a senior journalist, writer, and editor with over 20 years of experience in print and digital media and in creating custom content for periodicals. She has been a long-serving senior reporter at Bloomberg News covering areas such as real estate, stocks and personal finance and investing across markets with a focus on Southeast Asia and India. In her free time, she enjoys scuba diving, rucking and finding the newest watering hole in town.
