The Dubai dining favourites come together this September for two exclusive evenings of handcrafted dim sum, creative cocktails and late-night energy.
Dubai, UAE – August 19, 2026– This September, two of Dubai’s most exciting Asian dining destinations are joining forces for a collaboration built around bold flavours, great drinks and two very different nights out.
MEI and Hawkerboi JLT are joining forces for a limited-time Yum Cha & Cocktail collaboration, bringing together two distinct expressions of Asian dining for exclusive evenings on 10 September at MEI, followed by 17 September at Hawkerboi.
At the heart of the collaboration are Chef Li Yuan Hui of MEI and Chef Thet Aung of Hawkerboi, with each chef stepping into the other restaurant’s kitchen and bringing a selection of dim sum dishes along with them. Rather than repeating the same menu at both venues, each evening will be shaped by its host restaurant, creating two different interpretations of the collaboration.
The first evening takes place at MEI on 10 September, where Hawkerboi’s bold, street-food-driven flavours meet MEI’s refined approach to Asian dining. Chef Aung and the Hawkerboi team will bring a selection of six signature dim sums to the table, including the Soft Shell Crab and Beef Wonton in Peanut Sauce, alongside signature dim sums from MEI such as its Cheung Fun. Together, the chefs will present a varied selection of seafood, meat and vegetarian dim sum and Asian-inspired bites, giving guests a taste of both kitchens throughout the evening.
On 17 September, the collaboration travels across the city to Hawkerboi in JLT, where the experience takes on the personality of its second host. Chef Li will bring a selection of MEI favourites, including its Har Gao and Mushroom Dumplings, while Hawkerboi adds its own creations, including the Beef Mantou and Chicken Siu Mai. Once again, the menu will move between seafood, meat and vegetarian selections, bringing the contrasting styles of both restaurants together in a relaxed, sharing-style format.
While the menus will differ between the two evenings, the idea remains the same: two kitchens coming together over unlimited handcrafted dim sum, with each venue offering a different expression of the chefs’ cooking styles and the character of the host restaurant.
And because Yum Cha deserves something equally good in the glass, the collaboration extends behind the bar.
Hawkerboi Bar Manager MJ Urmeneta will join forces with MEI’s Bar Manager Deepak Thakur on an exclusive cocktail programme created especially for the two evenings, with the support of Beam Suntory. Signature serves and new creations will accompany the food throughout the experience, with cocktails thoughtfully curated to complement each round and bring another layer to the collaboration.
From the polished waterfront surroundings of Mina Al Salam to the spirited streets-of-Asia energy of JLT, MEI x Hawkerboi is a celebration of how differently Asian food can be interpreted — and how much fun can happen when those interpretations meet.
Two chefs. Two kitchens. Two completely different nights.
Advance reservations are recommended, with walk-ins accommodated subject to availability.
MEI x Hawkerboi Yum Cha & Cocktail Experience
MEI – Jumeirah Mina Al Salam
10 September 2026
Time: 6pm onwards
Price: AED 349 per couple (including three cocktails)
Hawkerboi – The Park, JLT
17 September 2026
Time: 6pm onwards
Price: AED 349 per couple (including three cocktails)
Please find link to the press release here.
