Frequently asked

33 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 — opposite Roots Salon. Five minutes from Mall of the Emirates by car. Sharaf DG Metro Station (Red Line) is a 7-minute walk.
What are the opening hours?
Sunday: 7:00 AM – 11:30 PM. Sunday is the only day Querida runs morning service — breakfast 7 AM – 11 AM, brunch 11:30 AM – 4:30 PM, full menu after. Monday through Saturday: 12:00 noon – 11:30 PM. The kitchen closes for last orders 30 minutes before closing.
Do you take reservations?
Walk-in only. Twenty-six seats. The room is intentionally small. For groups of 8 or more and private events, message +971 56 312 3030 to plan ahead.
Is there parking?
Yes — street parking is plentiful on 14th Street and the surrounding blocks. Mall of the Emirates parking is also a 5-minute walk if street parking is full.
Is the restaurant family-friendly?
Yes. The room is calm, halal, 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

Is Querida halal-certified?
Yes. Fully halal-certified kitchen. Every meat dish — beef, chicken, lamb — is sourced from halal-certified UAE suppliers. No pork on the menu, no alcohol on premise, no cross-contamination with non-halal products.
Are there vegetarian options?
Yes — about 30% of the menu is vegetarian. Mushroom flautas, bean tacos, rajas tacos, mushroom quesadillas, mole enchiladas (vegetarian on request), 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, but the Taco Sampler (six fillings on six tortillas, ~AED 95) is the canonical "try the menu" pick. For larger groups, the team can build a 3-course or 5-course set menu.

Birria & tacos

Where can I eat the best 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 Tacazo (12-inch quesabirria with consomé for dipping). The most-reviewed birria in Al Barsha.
Is the birria halal?
Yes. Querida's birria uses halal-certified beef and lamb, slow-braised in Mexican chiles for six hours. No alcohol in the cooking process. Halal Mexican done at the level of a real Mexican family kitchen.
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 beef goes in with the paste, bay leaf, and water. Cooks for six hours. Served with consomé.
What is the Tacazo?
A Querida original — a 12-inch flour-corn hybrid tortilla, folded with melted oaxaca cheese and the same six-hour birria, then crisp-griddled. Served with consomé for dipping. 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 per person, six fillings (Asada, Pastor, Tinga, Pollo, Chorizo, Adobada), as many rounds as you want until you tap out. Same housemade tortillas, same three salsas.

Sunday brunch

When does brunch start?
Sundays only. Breakfast service from 7 AM – 11 AM (chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, breakfast tacos). Brunch from 11:30 AM – 4:30 PM (the full brunch lineup). After 4:30 PM the regular dinner menu begins. Weekdays open at noon.
What's on the brunch menu?
Chilaquiles verdes, huevos rancheros, breakfast tacos, the twelve-inch quesadilla, fresh agua frescas (horchata, jamaica, tamarindo), and Mexican coffee. The menu rotates with seasonal masthead specials.
Is brunch family-friendly?
Yes. The room is calm, halal, alcohol-free. Most brunch parties are families. The kitchen makes kid-portion adjustments on request.
How much is brunch?
A typical brunch for one ranges AED 60–95. Drinks AED 15–25. No service charge.

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 (halal), 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, beef 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, awards & history

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 — three volumes so far, 109 pages total. Volume 01: Monclovita la Bella. Volume 02: ¡Viva Aguascalientes! Volume 03: Manzanillo, Emerald of the Pacific. Editor: Mama Lalis.

Still have a question?

Message the team directly. We answer every WhatsApp.