Soul Kitchen Review: A story of migration that feels like home

The culinary experience reflects the story of the Arab diaspora in Latin America.

It’s often said that fusion leads to confusion, but this is not the case at Soul Kitchen. Few entertainment agencies have managed to shape Beirut’s legendary nightlife scene like Factory People (it runs mega clubs The Grand Factory and AHM), but its reach hardly ends there. The collective of artists and music enthusiasts has taken its free-spirited Soul Kitchen concept from Beirut’s Biel Waterfront to a hip hangout on the side of the Dubai Canal in Business Bay.

True to its name, Soul Kitchen in Dubai has been designed as a social space to feed the soul. It’s the first of an upcoming multi-room experience set to disrupt the city’s culinary and music landscape. This restaurant-bar concept is anchored in a food and drinks menu that fuses Levantine and Latin American flavours, accenting the culinary offerings with elements of alternative culture, art, and talent from the region.

The larger-than-life restaurant and live music venue stays true to its identity, maintaining the colours and style of the Beirut original while enhancing the storytelling around displacement. Art installations carefully displayed throughout the space mirror the migrant route. A mechanical migratory bird installation behind the bar narrates the story of generations from the Levant who left their homes in search of inspiration, safety, and a sense of belonging. Incidentally, nearly 30 million people reside in Latin America’s Arab diaspora, with over nine million of them calling Brazil home.

Elsewhere, Lebanese artist Rumi Dalle’s “Feathers of Migrating Birds” is a thought-provoking piece that hangs over the dining room. It showcases 150 feathers, each representing the journey of an artisan migrating from Beirut to Dubai. While migration and displacement may be thematic of the venue, Soul Kitchen is a welcoming and cosy environment that has captured a cool, creative crowd.

The story of the Arab diaspora in Latin America anchors the Soul Kitchen menu, where signature dishes such as Burrata & Tequila Infused Peaches (AED 80) and Crispy Shawarma Empanadas (AED 85) highlight the longstanding exchange between both cultures. 

Our meal begins with Hummus Chimichurri (AED 72) which takes the traditional silky Levantine dish of green chickpeas, lemon, pine nuts and tahini and instills it with a vibrant Latin American freshness from the herbaceous chimichurri. Similarly, the Ceviche Tabbouleh (AED 85) sounds like a dubious dish but transpires to be a near-perfect plate of tempting textures that balances local sherry fish with tabbouleh water and crispy sweet potato.

This intriguing blend of Levantine and Latin dishes injected with clever (and never gimmicky) twists continues with the likes of Wagyu Kafta in Arepa (AED 135), in which the beef kafta is layered inside a Colombian flatbread alongside onion, pickled green chilli, tahini yoghurt and tomato. The result: a juicy bite. However, the Caribbean Red Snapper (AED 150) stole this Editor-in-Chief’s heart. Served upon a bed of sweet plantain pineapple purée alongside tomato and coconut sofrito, and fresh coconut pico de gallo, it’s a dish of competing flavours that never overpower the delicate fish. 

Inspired by its beverage-driven location in Beirut, the captivating cocktail menu includes Arak-Lychee Bellini, Peachy Margarita, Rum-Mango Ice Tea and the Turkish Manhattan. Soul Kitchen also features alternative musical programming and artist residencies, all curated by Factory People. From Monday Jazz Sessions to House of Love on Thursdays and party brunches featuring global musicians and DJs, Soul Kitchen Dubai offers an immersive experience to nourish the soul.

Premium dining aside, Soul Kitchen is the first part of a multi-room experience that embraces the region’s alternative culture, art, and talent. A guest-list-only nightclub known as Reunion and a casual brasserie are also in the works.

Soul Kitchen: transcend borders and celebrate rich global flavours.

GO: Follow @soulkitchendxb on Instagram for more information.