On Monday, Jan 30th, regional and international chefs, culinary experts, and foodies gathered at an exclusive gala event in the UAE’s capital for one reason - to see who would be crowned the best restaurant in the Middle East and North Africa.

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The anticipated list brings together the most successful restaurants in the Middle East and North Africa, from traditional to modern gastronomy. Following last year’s debut list of MENA’s 50 Best, this year’s featured restaurants were voted for by over 200 anonymous informed foodies.

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14 new cities and 15 new entries were featured during the award ceremony in Abu Dhabi. But who topped the list? Dubai's Orfali Bros Bistro took the #1 spot this year, followed by Tresind Studio, also located in Dubai, and Fusions by Tala in Manama, Bahrain.

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And now *drum roll please*, let’s have a round of applause for the 50 Best:
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1. Orfali Bros Bistro, Dubai, UAE
2. Tresind Studio, Dubai, UAE
3. Fusions by Tala, Manama, Bahrain (also named Best Restaurant in Bahrain and won Highest Climber Award)
4. Ossiano, Dubai, UAE (also won the Highest New Entry Award)
5. 3 Fils, Dubai, UAE
6. George & John, Tel Aviv, Israel (also named Best Restaurant in Israel)
7. Kinoya, Dubai, UAE
8. Fakhreldin, Amman, Jordan (also named Best Restaurant in Jordan)
9. Zooba, Cairo, Egypt (also named Best Restaurant in Egypt)
10. Moonrise, Dubai, UAE
11. Reif Kushiyaki, Dubai, UAE
12. Kazoku, Cairo, Egypt
13. Zuma, Dubai, UAE
14. OCD, Tel Aviv, Israel (also won the Sustainable Restaurant Award)
15. Lowe, Dubai, UAE
16. Baron, Beirut, Lebanon (also named Best Restaurant in Lebanon)
17. Gaia, Dubai, UAE
18. Myazu, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (also named Best Restaurant in Saudi Arabia)
19. Tawlet Mar Mikhael, Beirut, Lebanon
20. Em Sherif, Beirut, Lebanon (also won the Art of Hospitality Award)
21. LPM, Dubai, UAE
22. Sachi, Giza, Egypt
23. Marble, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
24. A by Yuval Ben Neriah, Tel Aviv, Israel
25. CUT by Wolfgang Puck, Manama, Bahrain
26. Hoseki, Dubai, UAE
27. La Grande Table Marocain, Marrakech, Morocco (also named Best Restaurant in Morocco)
28. Coya, Dubai, UAE
29. Shams El Balad, Amman, Jordan
30. Sachi, Cairo, Egypt
31. Masso, Manama, Bahrain
32. Animar, Tel Aviv, Israel
33. Coya, Abu Dhabi, UAE
34. La Closerie, Tunis, Tunisia (also named Best Restaurant in Tunisia)
35. 11 Woodfire, Dubai, UAE
36. Sufra, Amman, Jordan
37. Iloli, Casablanca, Morocco
38. LPM, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
39. Sesamo, Marrakech, Morocco
40. Milgo Milbar, Tel Aviv, Israel
41. Alee, Amman, Jordan
42. White Robata, Kuwait City, Kuwait (also named Best Restaurant in Kuwait)
43. Zuma, Abu Dhabi, UAE
44. Jun's, Dubai, UAE
45. Reif Kushiyaki, Cairo, Egypt
46. +61, Marrakech, Morocco
47. 13C Bar in the Back, Amman, Jordan
48. HaBasta, Tel Aviv, Israel
49. Hakkasan, Abu Dhabi, UAE
50. Bonjiri, Salmiya, Kuwait

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With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, you now have a list of restaurants to book your reservations at! A list vetted by the very best in the industry, you can be sure to have a meal for the books at any of these top restaurants.