Nestled in the compact Corniche’s Beeshan street, hidden from view, you can find a small branch of the “a Food Fair” restaurants, lightened up by nearby market lights. Neighboring wall-graffiti and not too crowded, even the street itself is worth a visit.

Three members of The Gazelle stumbled upon the eatery just in time for Suhoor, on the first night of Ramadan in the UAE, as just about everything else in the area was closing. Suhoor specifically is a near-ideal time to take advantage of cozy outdoor seating under warm lighting, and budget-friendly Pakistani, Indian, and Chinese fast food, plus free wifi, also making for a spot to unwind late at night. One of the first things you will notice is the scooter next to the delivery window. Majid, the delivery man and waiter, can regularly be seen on it, dashing to and from the restaurant, carrying a variety of orders.

The cafeteria was opened around a year ago, which is considered old by Corniche standards. “...Because a lot of restaurants in this area close in 6 months,” said Aakib, the cashier. Whether through great food or affordable prices, “a Food Fair” has managed to survive the competition of delivery app ghost kitchens and its predecessors’ bad luck and deserves a drop by.

We were able to try their Lahori Karhai, Chicken Keema, Roghni Naan, and Parathas, portions of which were more than enough for three people. Their curries and stews are priced at around AED 25 and are filling meals, whether as a quick lunch in the city or a midnight munchies visit.

The Keema and Naan were our favorites by far, featuring juicy chicken basted in garam masala and red chili, pairing well with the buttery taste of the bread.

The restaurant also hosts many other bestsellers, lovingly called “door crashers”, such as Bannu Beef Pulao and even Cheeseburgers.

We finished our meal with a 2 AED coffee and a 3 AED tea, which were miles better than the more well-known coffee places with burnt coffee beans and offers for over 20 AED (Seriously.)

A taxi ride from campus to the restaurant costs around AED 35, and is worth splitting with a friend for a coveted door crasher.