Fresh cooking
Dishes are prepared fresh, including oven-baked pita, hummus, falafel and made-from-scratch Arabic plates.
Abu Alsawani Restaurant and Cafe (ABS) | مطعم ومقهى أبو الصواني
Business Bay
Abu Alsawani Restaurant and Cafe is a welcoming Arabic and Middle Eastern restaurant in Business Bay, with water views and a relaxed, home-style feel. Reviews point to generous portions, fresh hummus and falafel, tasty kebabs, and attentive service for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or takeaway.
Reputation Score
4.6
★★★★★
341 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Waterfront setting
Outdoor seating by the canal gives dinner or a post-walk meal a peaceful water-and-city backdrop.
Generous portions
Several diners found the portions large enough to make the food feel especially good value.
Personal service
The owner and chef are repeatedly described as warm, attentive and willing to accommodate individual tastes.
Strong value
Reviews consistently describe the Arabic food as affordable, with generous servings and complimentary extras on some visits.
Breakfast option
Breakfast includes well-received omelettes, falafel, hummus and karak tea, with an unusually welcoming early-morning experience.
Takeaway extras
A half-grilled chicken takeaway came with dips, fresh pita and pickles rather than just the main dish.
Relaxed atmosphere
The interior has a simple, homey character, while the canal-side setting suits an unhurried meal.
What to Eat at Abu Alsawani Restaurant and Cafe (ABS) | مطعم ومقهى أبو الصواني How we choose these items We use AI to find praise and criticism of specific foods and drinks in a selection of Google reviews. For Abu Alsawani Restaurant and Cafe (ABS) | مطعم ومقهى أبو الصواني, this list is based on 50 reviews, not every review of the restaurant. The score is positive reviews minus negative reviews. For example, two positive reviews and one negative review give +1. Each review counts once per item; neutral comments do not change the score. A zero score is not a positive recommendation. “Only neutral feedback” means there are no positive or negative votes. “Mixed feedback” means equal numbers of positive and negative votes. The quotes are examples of what people said, not every comment we counted. We use different reviews where we can. We normally show up to 10 foods and 5 drinks with non-negative scores. Items with the same score stay together. If a tied group would go past the limit, that group and the lower non-negative scores go into Honorable mentions. If an overflowing positive top tie would leave the list empty, we show up to 10 items from that tie and keep the rest in Honorable mentions. Foods and drinks with a negative score are under What to Avoid. Use this as a guide to what reviewers liked, not a guarantee that you will like it too.
These items at Abu Alsawani Restaurant and Cafe (ABS) | مطعم ومقهى أبو الصواني got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 7
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Hummus Net +5
“Chef said he has chicken and vegetables so I also asked for hummus. The chef did not disappoint, food was fantastic I’m happy I stayed.”
Positive 5Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Chef said he has chicken and vegetables so I also asked for hummus. The chef did not disappoint, food was fantastic I’m happy I stayed.”June 2024
“This food is perfect, the hummus is the best I ever tried, everything fresh and tasty. And the service is amazing”January 2025
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Kunafa Net +3
“One of the best middle eastern food that we had in Dubai. Kababs and Kunafa are amazing.”
Positive 3Negative 0
Review excerpts
“One of the best middle eastern food that we had in Dubai. Kababs and Kunafa are amazing.”January 2025
“Very nice and affordable food ! Ohh very tasty ! I liked the friendly staff . By the way best kunafa and karak is 1 AED ☺️💋”December 2024
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Falafel Net +2
“The Falafel are the best I’ve ever had !”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Falafel are the best I’ve ever had !”March 2024
“Falafal and hummus is perfect.”March 2025
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Freshly baked pita bread Net +2
“I recently visited ABS Restaurant being a tourist from New Zealand and ordered the half-grilled chicken as a takeaway. The shop owner was incredibly friendly and welcoming, which made for a great first impression. I was pleasantly surprised when my order came with delicious dips, fresh pita bread, and pickles—it felt like a well-thought-out meal rather than just the chicken.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I recently visited ABS Restaurant being a tourist from New Zealand and ordered the half-grilled chicken as a takeaway. The shop owner was incredibly friendly and welcoming, which made for a great first impression. I was pleasantly surprised when my order came with delicious dips, fresh pita bread, and pickles—it felt like a well-thought-out meal rather than just the chicken.”January 2025
“The food is absolutely amazing . I had the Mutabel, Hommos and Falafel and freshly baked Pita bread directly out of the oven.”March 2024
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Kebabs Net +2
“Good food and service. Kebabs are simply so tasty and the lamb stew was really delicious. Simple and yet so satisfying.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Good food and service. Kebabs are simply so tasty and the lamb stew was really delicious. Simple and yet so satisfying.”January 2026
“One of the best middle eastern food that we had in Dubai. Kababs and Kunafa are amazing.”January 2025
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Mutabel Net +2
“Best chicken liver and mutabal in Dubai”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Best chicken liver and mutabal in Dubai”January 2025
“The food is absolutely amazing . I had the Mutabel, Hommos and Falafel and freshly baked Pita bread directly out of the oven.”March 2024
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Rolled ice cream Net +2
“The rolled ice cream gentleman is very good at his craft, too.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The rolled ice cream gentleman is very good at his craft, too.”May 2024
“Friendly staff, tasty food. Be sure to try the ice cream rolls.”April 2024
Honorable mentions (8)
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Chicken kebab sandwich Net +1
“We enjoyed this place! We were walking by and stopped in for a late dinner after seeing great reviews. Great ambiance, located right on the water. Staff was friendly and attentive. Lots of options on the menu. We enjoyed the hummus and chicken kebab sandwich, both were delicious. Prices are very reasonable!! Would come back.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We enjoyed this place! We were walking by and stopped in for a late dinner after seeing great reviews. Great ambiance, located right on the water. Staff was friendly and attentive. Lots of options on the menu. We enjoyed the hummus and chicken kebab sandwich, both were delicious. Prices are very reasonable!! Would come back.”September 2023
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Chicken liver Net +1
“Best chicken liver and mutabal in Dubai”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Best chicken liver and mutabal in Dubai”January 2025
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Half-grilled chicken Net +1
“I recently visited ABS Restaurant being a tourist from New Zealand and ordered the half-grilled chicken as a takeaway. The shop owner was incredibly friendly and welcoming, which made for a great first impression. I was pleasantly surprised when my order came with delicious dips, fresh pita bread, and pickles—it felt like a well-thought-out meal rather than just the chicken. The food was freshly cooked and you could tell it was prepared with care, which made it even more enjoyable.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I recently visited ABS Restaurant being a tourist from New Zealand and ordered the half-grilled chicken as a takeaway. The shop owner was incredibly friendly and welcoming, which made for a great first impression. I was pleasantly surprised when my order came with delicious dips, fresh pita bread, and pickles—it felt like a well-thought-out meal rather than just the chicken. The food was freshly cooked and you could tell it was prepared with care, which made it even more enjoyable.”January 2025
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Lamb stew Net +1
“Good food and service. Kebabs are simply so tasty and the lamb stew was really delicious. Simple and yet so satisfying.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Good food and service. Kebabs are simply so tasty and the lamb stew was really delicious. Simple and yet so satisfying.”January 2026
-
Mixed grill Net +1
“Food is amazing I only wish I could have finished it all. Would definitely recommend the mixed grill, best in Business Bay 👍”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food is amazing I only wish I could have finished it all. Would definitely recommend the mixed grill, best in Business Bay 👍”June 2023
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Omelette Net +1
“Chef Amjad made best omelette ever. The presentation, taste and texture was best.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Chef Amjad made best omelette ever. The presentation, taste and texture was best.”March 2025
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Shami plates Net +1
“Good restaurant with amazing taste of Shami plates. Great and welcoming staff”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Good restaurant with amazing taste of Shami plates. Great and welcoming staff”August 2026
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Shawarma Net +1
“Very great spot for Shawarma!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Very great spot for Shawarma!”December 2025
Drinks 2
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Karak Net +2
“He also came and offered us karak tea to taste which was again best karak tea I ever tasted.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“He also came and offered us karak tea to taste which was again best karak tea I ever tasted.”March 2025
“Very nice and affordable food ! Ohh very tasty ! I liked the friendly staff . By the way best kunafa and karak is 1 AED ☺️💋”December 2024
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Chai tea Net +1
“Although there was a bit of a wait time, the owner’s generosity by offering me some amazing Chai tea added a wonderful touch to the experience.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Although there was a bit of a wait time, the owner’s generosity by offering me some amazing Chai tea added a wonderful touch to the experience.”January 2025
Tips for a Better Visit
Allow time. Avoid arriving very hungry if ordering during a quiet brunch period, as one diner experienced an extensive wait.
Ask preferences. Tell the chef what you like: reviewers say dishes can be adjusted to your taste.
Try takeaway. For takeaway, consider half-grilled chicken; it may come with dips, pita and pickles.
Look carefully. Allow extra time to locate the entrance, since the on-site name and logo may not be obvious.
Sit outside. Choose outdoor seating for a pleasant canal-side meal, especially after a walk.
Save room. Leave space for the highly praised kunafa, or try the rolled ice cream mentioned by diners.
Plan the visit
Practical details
str, Lake Central Tower - Shop No. 2, Ground Floor (Canal Side - Marasi Dr
Business Bay, Dubai
| Mon | 10:30 AM – 11:30 PM |
| Tue | 10:30 AM – 11:30 PM |
| Wed | 10:30 AM – 11:30 PM |
| Thu | 10:30 AM – 11:30 PM |
| Fri | 10:30 AM – 11:30 PM |
| Sat | 10:30 AM – 11:30 PM |
| Sun | 10:30 AM – 11:30 PM |
Common Concerns
Long waits
One brunch visit involved an extensive wait, and another takeaway order took longer than expected.
Hard to spot
First-time visitors may struggle to find it because the name and logo are less noticeable on the wall.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Abu Alsawani is a small, welcoming Middle Eastern restaurant in Business Bay where you can settle in for breakfast, lunch or dinner, order takeaway, or sit outside near the canal. The food leans homestyle and generous: reviewers specifically mention hummus, falafel, kebabs, kunafa, chicken liver and mutabal, with several describing the flavours as close to home. Fresh preparation is a recurring strength.
One diner received pita straight from the oven, while a takeaway of half-grilled chicken arrived with dips, fresh pita and pickles. Breakfast is worth considering too; a guest praised the omelette’s presentation, taste and texture, along with the falafel, hummus and karak tea. Service feels personal rather than formal.
The owner and chef are often described as friendly and accommodating, and reviewers say dishes can be tailored to your taste. Portions are frequently called massive or very large, and prices are repeatedly described as reasonable. One review specifically says kunafa and karak are 1 AED, though that is a customer-reported price rather than a current menu check.
There is one practical catch: a brunch visit involved an extensive wait, and another diner found the restaurant difficult to spot because the wall signage differed from the expected name and logo. Check the entrance carefully and avoid arriving extremely hungry if the kitchen is busy.