Three new spin-off concepts by some of Dubai’s top restauranteurs have made their debut at the TimeOut Market Dubai in Souk Al Bahar, just in time for the city’s busy tourist season.
Arabian Business spoke to the chefs behind the three new concepts – Onda by Alici, Little Jun’s, and Odeon – to learn more about the dining experiences they are debuting at food hall. With specially curated menus designed specifically for the market, some are introducing completely new dishes and flavours while others are bringing beloved selections from their restaurant menus to attract both new customers and familiar faces.
‘Onda by Alici’ by chef Domenico Santagada
“It is very cool to be surrounded by all these local concepts,” Santagada told Arabian Business. Having first experienced TimeOut Market Lisbon, he said he enjoys Dubai’s location being a “melting pot of food and culture under one roof.” At Onda, Santagada aims to capture the street food approach of Italy’s southern coast through seafood dishes like its Octopus Panini, fried seafood bites, vibrant crudo and homemade pasta served in classic regional styles.
Santagada has watched Dubai’s culinary scene grow since arriving in 2013, impressed by the rapid progress.
“The food scene 10 years ago and now is completely different,” he noted. Dubai’s diversity drives discoveries seldom found elsewhere, with chefs globally investing in the emirate to launch their own homegrown concepts. “You find the best of each cuisine in Dubai because the diversity of the population is so well-represented.”
Little Jun’s by chef Kevin Cheung
Nearby, Asian-American restaurant Little Jun’s wows new visitors after launching approachable small plates at TimeOut led by Chef Kevin Cheung. Previously serving nightly diners at his acclaimed restaurant, Jun’s in DIFC, Cheung now attracts “a larger segment of tourists” through the vibrant food hall.
“The exposure is great,” he told Arabian Business of joining over a dozen vendors.
He maintains Little Jun’s “same ethos” of “third-culture cooking” through bites capturing its essence, transporting diners from his restaurant through American-Asian fusion dishes like bang bang cauliflower and lobster rolls infused with signature burnt garlic butter flavours.
“Dubai’s food scene is intense. It is probably the fastest evolving market I’ve ever worked in,” he added.
Now with a year in business, Cheung says Dubai’s food scene remains “the most rapidly evolving,” encouraging high standards as it continually develops to attract new concepts and more competition, which he believes will only bode well for the city’s F&B industry.
Odeon by chef Thomas Duhamel
French deli and patisserie Odeon also debuted a concept under chef and founder Thomas Duhamel. At Odeon, guests can enjoy artisanal French delicacies like carefully crafted pastries as well as rare, seasonal cheeses and charcuterie platters presented with the utmost precision.
Focusing on “French deli items, cheese and pastries,” Duhamel lauded TimeOut’s prestige in supporting homegrown brands. Witnessing Dubai’s growth since 2010 across hotel and Michelin-star roles, Duhamel looks forward to renewing Odeon’s contract with the food hall long-term.
“Dubai used to bring food concepts and brands from all over the world. But now, 13 years later, it has its own brands and homegrown concepts – like us, Odeon,” he said. “Dubai’s food scene has become so popular. Every year, every month, there’s a new concept, new food.”
TimeOut Market Dubai’s Success Story
TimeOut Market Dubai opened its doors in 2019 with the goal of showcasing the best of the UAE’s independent food scene. Spanning 38,000 square feet in Downtown Dubai’s Souk Al Bahar, the market set out to bring together dozens of unique concepts representing a variety of cuisines from all over the world.
From its launch, TimeOut Market aimed to immerse visitors in a dining experience like no other – a culinary tour allowing guests to sample dishes alongside demonstrations from the chefs themselves.
Within its spacious yet lively space, the market manages to seamlessly blend fine dining atmospheres with more casual street food-style options. Visitors can enjoy freshly baked breads, sushi, pizza and global street eats while dining among the open kitchens of each vendor booth.
TimeOut Market has gone from strength to strength since opening three years ago. It now attracts both residents and international tourists alike, having carved out a reputation as a must-visit Dubai food destination. Visitors can dine from early lunch periods all the way through late evening openings.
Follow us on
