KHAMSA‘s Chef’s List is a significant component of our culinary exploration, where we delve into the minds of regional chefs or food enthusiasts, seeking out their top dining destinations. They respond with their favourite one that ticks all the boxes in our query. As such, whether you are looking for an all-around dining place or something that caters to a very unique niche, you have come to the right place.
This chef’s list is curated by Chef Kelvin Cheung (@chefkelvincheung on Instagram) a Chinese Canadian culinary visionary, born in Canada, raised between Toronto and Chicago, and currently based in Dubai.
A multi-award-winning chef, Cheung is best known for pioneering Third Culture Food in the Middle East- a genre of cooking deeply rooted in his Chinese heritage, North American upbringing, and French culinary training. At Jun’s, he leads culinary innovation and day-to-day operations, curating immersive dining experiences shaped by global flavours and locally sourced ingredients.
KHAMSA had the pleasure of asking Kelvin for his expert opinion on various cool spots. Have a look at his recommendations and make sure to visit them!
١. Your favourite restaurant?
Tresind Studio (@tresindstudio on Instagram)
Tresind Studio. Chef Himanshu’s passion and devotion to his craft shines through in every dish, and beyond that, he’s just a wonderful human being, which makes dining there unforgettable.
٢. Your favourite bar?
I’m not much of a bar person. Coffee and tea bars are more my thing, and I’ll take a good cup of either over a cocktail any day.
٣. Your favourite place for dancing?
You really don’t want to see me dance. Let’s just say the world is better off if I stay off the dance floor and keep these moves contained to a very small audience at home.
٤. Your favourite restaurant growing up?
Jamaican King Patty House in downtown Toronto. It was a staple of my childhood, and those flavours are still comfort food for me. It’s really Canadian in a very different way.
٥. Your favourite bakery/sweet shop?
I’ve always had a sweet tooth, and I love exploring bakeries that feel nostalgic yet inventive. Chinese bakeries have my heart. If you’ve never had a pineapple bun with a big slab of butter dunked in Chinese milk tea, wyd? Whether it’s classic pastries or something playful, I’m all in.
٦. Your favourite burger joint?
Pickl (@pickl.mena on Instagram)
Pickl. They’ve really nailed the craft of a great burger, balancing flavour and consistency every single time. It’s homegrown. Pricing is really affordable for the quality. And they sell bags of gummy candies.
٧. Your favourite spot for a first date?
Zagol, because my wife absolutely loves it, or Hashmis, which is always warm and welcoming. Both are places where you can connect over food that feels genuine. Save the fancy places for the next date.
Hashmi bbq (@hashmibarbeque.dxb on Istagram)
For Zagol, order the Beyenet meal and at Hashmis any of the chickens, save your sauce to dip your fries in.
٨. Your favourite spot to work and get a coffee?
Alserkal. I love supporting homegrown business and talent. One Life Growhouse, Lila Molina, and Pie Haus are part of my regular rotation right now. Each has its own vibe and energy and I love that I’m destined to run into at least one person I know on a visit. Unexpected social breaks are always a treat.
٩. The restaurant you’d take your parents out to dinner at?
Potong (@restaurant.potong on Instagram)
Potong. It’s an entire experience, one that connects me to my Chinese heritage while showing how tradition and innovation can come together beautifully.
١٠. The birthday bash paradise for your yearly celebrations?
Golf course. It’s my happy place, and I share that same feeling with many of my closest friends, as well as my mini-golfer, my son Bodhi.
