The homegrown hit brings fiery Laotian flavours to Dubai Festival City.

Dubai loves a breakout success, and Al Naqa Lao Kebab House fits the bill. After building a loyal following at Neighbourhood Food Hall in Dubai Motor City, the FACT favourite is levelling up with an opening at Market Island in Dubai Festival City Mall.

Casual in setting, creative in spirit and unapologetically bold on the palate, the concept honours traditional Lao cooking. As the name suggests, kebabs are the stars, and many plates are firewood-grilled. Skewers arrive smoky and succulent, brushed, basted and charred just so. Yet the supporting items insist on attention.

Highlights include the fragrant Lao Black Lemon Lamb Kebab, in which juicy meat is infused with lemongrass, Kaffir lime leaves, and Laotian spices, creating a balance of citrusy and smoky flavours where each bite offers a fragrant punch. Elsewhere, the Chicken Tikka Satay, Grandma’s Fried Chicken and Al Naqa Cola have become ‘must-order’ items.

Behind the burners is Chef Aphisith “AJ” Phongsavanh, whose story mirrors the brand’s cross-cultural DNA. Born in Toronto to Laotian parents, AJ grew up at the intersection of East and West. Before the kitchen called, he spent time as a monk—a discipline that, he says, taught him “patience and persistence.” Those values underpin Al Naqa’s rise from an intimate supper club to a Motor City counter that sparked word-of-mouth devotion, and now to a prominent perch at Market Island.

Market Island is the largest food hall in the Middle East, offering an extraordinary fusion of cuisine and entertainment across a mammoth 70,000 square feet. Boasting more than 50 culinary concepts and seating for over 3,500 people, there’s plenty of room for everyone to savour the culinary creations from the likes of Dhamaka, John Dory, La Barra and Naughty Pizza.

Al Naqa Lao Kebab House at Market Island is set to open in the coming weeks, bringing a fresh, fire-kissed option to Dubai Festival City. If you haven’t yet tried the culinary creativity at Al Naqa Lao Kebab House, this is your easiest entry point.

GO: Follow @alnaqakebab on Instagram for more information.