Frequently asked

31 questions, answered.

Every common question about Querida — visiting, the kitchen, birria, brunch, events, delivery, and the people behind the kitchen. If your question isn't here, message the team.

Visiting Querida

Where is Querida?
Querida Mexican & Friends is at Talal 14 Building, Shop 9, 14th Street, Al Barsha 1, Dubai, near Mall of the Emirates (five minutes by car). The nearest Dubai Metro stop is InsuranceMarket Station (Red Line), formerly Sharaf DG and Mashreq.
What are the opening hours?
Monday to Saturday, 11:30 AM – 12 AM. Sunday, 7 AM – 12 AM, with breakfast from 7 AM. Tuesday is the all-you-can-eat tacos.
Do you take reservations?
Walk-in friendly. Twenty-six seats. Reservations also accepted via Zomato. The room is intentionally small. For groups of 8 or more and private events, message +971 56 312 3030 to plan ahead.
Is the restaurant family-friendly?
Yes. The room is calm and alcohol-free. Most parties are families. The kitchen makes kid-portion adjustments on request — milder spice, smaller plates.
Is Querida wheelchair accessible?
The dining room is on ground level with a small step at the entrance. Tables can be rearranged on request. Restrooms are wheelchair-friendly. Message ahead if you need accommodations.

The kitchen

Are there vegetarian options?
Yes — about 30% of the menu is vegetarian. Mushroom flautas, bean tacos, rajas tacos, mushroom quesadillas, enchiladas with a vegetarian filling, agua fresca, mangonada, esquites, and more.
Are there vegan options?
Yes — bean tacos, mushroom tacos, rajas tacos (request without crema), agua fresca, fresh fruit. The kitchen will adjust most dishes to be vegan on request.
Are there gluten-free options?
Yes. Corn tortillas are naturally gluten-free. Tamales, taco fillings, salsas, agua fresca, and most desserts are gluten-free. Notify the kitchen of allergies; cross-contact is minimised.
Where do the chiles come from?
Querida ships dried guajillo, ancho, and chile de árbol direct from Mexico — the same suppliers Mexican home cooks use. There's no substitute. Salsas use fresh tomatoes, tomatillos, and chiles sourced locally where possible.
Is there a chef's tasting menu?
No formal tasting menu. Tacos come by three, six or ten, priced by filling: six tacos are AED 86 veg, AED 92 proteins, AED 96 premium. For larger groups, the team can build a set menu.

Birria & tacos

Where can I eat birria in Dubai?
Querida slow-cooks birria for six hours and serves it as the Plato de Birria (full plate with consomé and tortillas) or the Tacazo de Birria (a cheesy 6-inch birria taco with consomé for dipping).
How is the birria made?
Three Mexican chiles (guajillo, ancho, chile de árbol) toasted on a comal, soaked, blended into a paste with garlic, cumin, oregano and Mexican cinnamon. The lamb goes in with the paste, bay leaf, and water. Cooks for six hours. Served with consomé.
What is the Tacazo?
A Querida original — a cheesy 6-inch birria taco, with melted cheese and the same six-hour birria, served with consomé for dipping. AED 65. The cheese pull went viral on Instagram.
How spicy is the birria?
Medium — deep, complex, warming, but not aggressively hot. Three table salsas (verde, roja, mango habanero) let you take it as far as you want.
What's on Tuesday Unlimited Tacos?
Every Tuesday: AED 79 + 5% VAT per person, five fillings (Asada Steak, Tinga Chicken, Frijoles Refritos, Chorizo Vegano, Papitas con Huevo — three of them meat-free, and only Chorizo Vegano is vegan). One hour at the table, two unlimited rounds inside it. 11:30 AM – 12 AM, last taco order 11 PM, dine-in only.

Sunday brunch

When does brunch start?
On Sunday Querida opens at 7 AM for breakfast, then the full menu runs until midnight. Monday to Saturday the kitchen opens at 11:30 AM.
What's on the brunch menu?
Sunday breakfast is eggs, toast and coffee — shakshuka rancheros, huevos divorciados, a la mexicana or an omelette. From late morning the full menu runs: chilaquiles, quesadillas, tacos, aguas frescas, horchata and café de olla.
Is brunch family-friendly?
Yes. The room is calm and alcohol-free. Most brunch parties are families. The kitchen makes kid-portion adjustments on request.
How much is brunch?
Chilaquiles are AED 40, the corn quesadilla AED 37 and the 10-inch flour quesadilla from AED 50. Aguas frescas AED 15, horchata AED 20, café de olla AED 16.

Events & private dining

Can I book a private event?
Yes. Querida hosts private events for groups of 8+ — birthdays, anniversaries, corporate dinners, family celebrations. The full 26-seat room can be reserved exclusively. Message +971 56 312 3030 with the date and party size.
Can you arrange a mariachi serenade?
Yes. Querida arranges custom table-side mariachi serenades for birthdays, anniversaries, and proposals on mariachi nights. Message the team two weeks ahead with the date, the guest of honour's name, and any song requests.
When is the next mariachi night?
Mariachi nights run periodically — typically once a month. Follow @querida.dxb on Instagram for upcoming dates, or message the team on WhatsApp.
Do you cater off-premise?
Yes — corporate events, weddings, home dinners. Lead time: 4–7 days for most menus. Message the team with the date, headcount, and venue address.

Delivery

Do you deliver?
Yes — across Al Barsha, Dubai Marina, JLT, Greens, Tecom, Knowledge Park and Internet City. Order via Talabat or Deliveroo. Typical delivery time: 35–55 minutes.
How is birria packaged for delivery?
The Plato de Birria delivery box keeps consomé in a sealed cup, the lamb in its own container, tortillas wrapped separately so they don't go soggy. Salsas come in lidded portions. Reassembly takes 30 seconds when you open the box.
Can I pay cash on delivery?
Yes — all platforms support cash on delivery. Card and Apple Pay also supported via the apps.

Press, recognition & history

Is Querida recognised as authentic Mexican food?
Recognised by the Embassy of Mexico in the UAE and the Mexican Academy of Gastronomy for quality and authenticity, 2026–2028. The Reconocimiento (certificate No. 254) is for Querida's work promoting Mexican gastronomy abroad, and the framed certificate hangs in the room at Talal 14, Al Barsha 1. Read about the recognition →
Has Querida been featured in the press?
Yes — over 50 features in UAE and international media including Curly Tales, Time Out Dubai, Caterer Middle East, Esquire ME, Gulf Buzz, Khaleej Times, and others. The full archive is at /press.
Who founded Querida?
Querida was founded by Obed Bedolla and Sagar Khanna in April 2024, with Mama Lalis (Oralia, Obed's mother) as the editorial heart of the kitchen. Mama Lalis is the source of every recipe on the menu.
Where does the name Querida come from?
Querida means "beloved" or "dear one" in Spanish — a term of endearment a grandmother might use when greeting you. The full restaurant name is "Querida Mexican & Friends."
What is the magazine?
Querida prints a quarterly magazine — four volumes so far, 119 pages total. Volume 01: Monclovita la Bella. Volume 02: ¡Viva Aguascalientes! Volume 03: Manzanillo, Emerald of the Pacific. Volume 04: Mama's Best · Pozole rojo y blanco. Editor-in-Chief: Mama Lalis (Oralia).

Still have a question?

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