As the richest city in the Middle East, Dubai's magnificence and extravagance are the first impression of most Chinese people. The one that replicates this in Shanghai in the form of a restaurant is MAKAN Dubai Cultural Restaurant. MAKAN MEANS "PLACE" IN ARABIC. Opened in 2016, MAKAN Dubai Culture Restaurant is Shanghai's new exotic restaurant that blends Arabic cuisine, entertainment (dance, shisha) and culture. The restaurant has received consuls from more than 50 countries at international summits, and has strong strength and high reputation among high-end exotic restaurants in Shanghai.

The chef is from the United Arab Emirates, and the menu is all halal, so diners are not allowed to take out their meals. The restaurant's cuisine focuses on dishes from the Middle East, as well as a small number of Chinese and Western classics. Inspired by the Silk Road, the restaurant is a fusion of traditional and innovative Arabic cuisine where traditional Arabic ingredients are constantly being infused with new elements.

A vegetarian dish of classic lentil soup, lentils simmered in a pot over low heat, served with shredded onions, garlic cloves, carrots and diced potatoes, and sprinkled with several spices from the Mediterranean. In addition, there is a meat mutton rice soup, which is made by boiling lamb and rice, chickpeas, tomato cubes, red lentils and other ingredients, and finally dripping with rich and mellow olive oil. In addition, there are creamy pumpkin soup, mushroom soup, creative seafood soup and other options for diners to choose from. It is worth noting that the soups of Arabic dishes are on the thick side, and some diners may find the texture too sticky, so it is recommended to eat them with crispy cookie sticks.

A must-have for the appetizer's signature dish, hummus, is made with imported chickpeas and Middle Eastern-inspired tahini and served with freshly baked bread slices. Hummus has a dense texture, restrained bean aroma but endless aftertaste, and has a different flavor as a bread dipping sauce. There are also sesame eggplant puree and Middle Eastern roasted eggplant puree, which have a stronger garlic flavor. The most distinctive feature is the creative eggplant kimchi, which is not attractive in appearance but full of creativity. The eggplant is filled with minced walnuts, crushed red pepper and olive oil, and the aroma of eggplant and walnut is fully integrated after roasting with the skin, and the red pepper flavor is unique, accompanied by the rich aroma of classic olive oil. Yogurt-based Kashika yogurt and homemade yogurt with cucumber and mint are all authentic Middle Eastern flavors. It is worth mentioning that the yogurt here has a very strong taste, which is too sour for Chinese people, and most diners will put it aside because it is too sour and thick after tasting one or two bites.

A variety of grilled meats are essential for the main course. The secret roast chicken is rich in more than 10 kinds of spices, among which chives and sour ginger powder are the source of special aroma, and the baked roast chicken is sprinkled with pine nuts and served with freshly processed bread, the fresh and fragrant taste is in line with the taste of the Chinese people, and the order rate is also high. Dubai Spice Roast Chicken is also worth a try, with a more tender and juicy taste. Kabsa rice is a traditional Saudi Arabian dish made from Arabian quality rice and stir-fried with cumin, cinnamon, grass fruit and other spices. The golden and shiny fried rice has a rich aroma, and the rice grains are slender and fragrant, and it is very chewy. In addition, there are Pojorani rice and mandy rice, which are stewed with different spices to create a different flavor. Mansaf lamb is a traditional Mediterranean dish of juicy lamb served with rice fermented with dry yogurt. There's also a star staple, Dubai's secret roast leg of lamb, which needs to be ordered an hour in advance. The secret roasted leg of lamb has a golden and buttery appearance, and the meat is brown and crispy on the outside, and the mutton flavor is fragrant, so diners who love mutton may wish to give it a try.

The restaurant is located on the 2nd floor of No. 45 Caoxi North Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, which is a relatively quiet corner of Xuhui District, with signs on the outer road. The eight-pointed star theme design elements of the restaurant reveal the dual atmosphere of tradition and elegant luxury, allowing diners to feel the rich Middle Eastern style. The palatial lobby décor, the large bar counter and the luxurious private dining rooms all reflect the opulence and grandeur of the restaurant. During the dinner time, the stage in the center of the lobby will feature Dubai cabaret performances. The biggest surprise at the end of the meal is that you can enjoy a free hand-painted Russian haina. Most of the restaurants are Arabic waiters who speak fluent English and do not speak Chinese. Diners in need can ask the restaurant's Chinese owner to help order.