Best Instagram accounts to follow for honest food reviews in Dubai

A recent report published in theKhaleej Timeshighlighted how writing a bad review for a business on social media could land you in legal hot water in the UAE. We're talking jail time, or fines of up to AED 20,000 if the statements are considered defamatory.

One of the most popular food bloggers, justfooddxb reposted the article, stating, “For anyone who still wonders why I don’t post negative reviews.”

Do you agree that this needs to change?Screenshot from justfooddxb's Instagram

Also read: 9 beloved Dubai eateries that are making their mark internationally

It's true that a lot of us are looking for more depth and authenticity when we go looking for restaurant recommendations. That said, we believe one can be honest without being harsh, or defamatory. Some accounts have managed to nail that balance. Here are the ones who have gained our trust:

Laura Loi Coughlin - @bylauralai

While Laura doesn’t do your run-of-the-mill restaurant reviews, she does something even better: she goes straight to the source for recommendations. Asking the coolest chefs in town for their top restaurant recommendations. If anyone knows epic food, it's them!

Liam Collens - @itsliamcollens

Liam isn’t a content creator, although his aesthetic is very slick. He’s a storyteller who takes you on a journey with him where you’ll feel you’ve joined him for dinner in person. He always mentions when he’s been invited to an eatery so you’re in the know as a follower, which is why his monthly newsletter, Something for the Weekend, is something I look forward to devouring.

Pallavi Sangtani - @pallavisangtani

Pallavi is not an expat; she's a Dubai native, and it shows. Hidden gems and hole-in-the-wall haunts regularly feature on her feed, alongside her Michelin favorites from all over the world. Her feed is a trusted source, tried and tested.

Courtney Brandt - @_courtneybrandt_

Like Liam, Courtney is always forthcoming when she's been invited. Granted, she bags a lot of invites but her feed is curated to really highlight her favorite dishes, which have usually been a hit in my experience. Although, I do miss her posts which also mentioned prices.

Reza Namazi - @ravenousxerxes

Reza Namazi is the hungriest man in Dubai! A little bit of food, a little bit about the people behind the food, Reza is a food adventurer according to his Instagram bio, and we couldn't agree more. The man's actually writing about pairing traditional Iranian dishes with cocktails — so unique!

Honourable mention: G-rated Food - @g.rated_food

This foodie couple uses a 5 star rating system to talk about eateries in Dubai. They keep it fair, giving establishments the benefit of the doubt but also staying true to their followers and not recommending things just because they’re trending.