Let the record show that I am not a fan of bureaucracy.
But I mean, let’s face it – is anybody? I would like to think not.
My move to the UAE back in May was marred with complications from the start but with the help of my thoughtful colleagues and some great online resources (AKA expat groups on Facebook with thousands of active members) I have been able to manoeuvre my way around things like securing my civil ID, health insurance and having my personal effects shipped to me from Bahrain.
I am however, still without a local license. As you can imagine, this poses quite a challenge to me especially as Abu Dhabi (much like Bahrain) is very much a driving city. Cabs are plentiful but using them on a daily basis has taken both a toll on my wallet and propensity for motion sickness. In any case, I’ve resolved to do less complaining, and focus on making the most of my weekly trips to the driving school in Dubai in the form of vegan-venturing.
Enter Little Erth by Nabz & G.
A cosy little healthy eatery located in JLT (cluster J), this place has already become one of my favourite vegan-friendly restaurants in Dubai after just two visits.
At first glance, the menu was incredibly appetising. I found myself wanting to try most of the dishes, which is always a good sign. It took a while to decide, but on my first visit I settled on the Urth Summer Rolls to start with.
These Vietnamese-style rice paper wraps came stuffed with crisp veggies, rice noodles and a light peanut sauce.
I loved the mix of textures and fresh flavours and thought it was beautifully presented too.
For my main, I couldn’t resist ordering the Butternut Squash Curry Stew which came served with brown rice. This dish was wonderfully flavourful and every bit as satisfying as I was hoping it would be without being too rich.
In retrospect it maybe wasn’t the best idea to have a piping hot curry given the scorching weather outside, but I still enjoyed it immensely.
On visit number two, I decided to try out the Tabbouleh Twist salad – the twist being shredded kale and a smattering of quinoa.
While it may not sound ground-breaking, the salad tasted incredibly refreshing and unlike most Tabbouleh’s wasn’t overly sour or doused in dressing, which was much appreciated.
For my main this time, it just had to be the best-selling Buddha Burger that the kind server had raved about during my previous visit.
The patty seemed to consist of a fragrantly spiced mix of quinoa, sweet potatoes, oats and kidney beans, topped with guacamole and homemade ketchup alongside some baked sweet potato fries.
I tried it with the gluten-free bun out of curiosity, but next time I’d order the regular bun as this one was far too small for the burger and made for a particularly messy eating experience.
Overall, this burger was unbelievably tasty and satisfying without being heavy at all. The patty is a sizeable one, but it manages to hold together well (even considering the gluten-free bun). I adored the addition of homemade ketchup too.
For dessert we opted for the chocolate brownie topped with banana ice cream.
While not a bad dessert by any stretch of the imagination, I don’t think that I’ll be running back to order it again. The ice cream was a little more ice than cream, but I enjoyed the brownie underneath and was impressed that the whole dish was sugar-free.
If you’re looking for no-fuss, healthy yet flavourful and innovative vegan food – Little Erth by Nabz & G have got you covered. While not totally vegan, the menu contains several clearly marked vegan options, and the staff are very knowledgable and able to point you in the right direction or advise which dishes can be made vegan. I definitely can’t fault the service or the warm cosy atmosphere, and also really appreciated that they offered free filtered water with the meal.
In terms of value for money, I’d say that their prices are extremely reasonable given the quality of ingredients and portion sizes, which made me really happy to see. Many people avoid trying vegan options because they seem inaccessible, but that’s definitely not the case at Urth. Needless to say, I’ll be back!
Little Erth by Nabz & G is located at Shop 34, Building J2, Cluster J, Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT), Dubai. Tel: 04 2767287. They are open every day from 12 noon until 10:00 pm and are available to order from on Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Zomato.
Kyla says
Yum this all looks amazing!!☺️
OneGreenSmoothie says
Gorgeous photos and what a nice review. I agree so much on your last point…if we want people to go vegan, we have to lobby the restaurants to not upcharge those items. It always stupefies me when I ask to substitute avocado or beans for meat in a salad, for example, and they say, sure no problem, that’ll be $2 extra–DOH! Thanks for highlight this place that does a good job of great food, portions and price:).
Chessie says
That burger looks good, and I may try to fake it myself, as I am nowhere close to Dubai (though I’d love the restaurant).
Constance Banks says
Lovely photos of yummy healthy food! Thank you for spreading the message of kindness & veganism in the UAE!
Elsje Parsons Massyn says
I sooo enjoyed your article and it made me want to visit Dubai JUST to try out the food at the cute restaurant.
Thanks for sharing
herveleger.com says
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