Syrian flavours
Reviews describe the food as authentic, fresh and close to homemade Syrian cooking, with hot and cold mezze standing out.
Abu El Zulof Kahwa - Dubai
Business Bay
Abu El Zulof Kahwa is a Syrian restaurant in Business Bay, known for homemade-style Levantine dishes, shisha and a relaxed canal-facing setting. Reviews highlight favourites such as hummus with beef, breakfast and traditional Syrian food, with indoor and outdoor seating for meals or a longer evening with friends.
Reputation Score
4.4
★★★★☆
1,202 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Canal views
The outdoor seating faces the canal and is repeatedly praised as a strong part of the atmosphere.
Warm service
Many guests describe the staff as attentive, welcoming and helpful, including during busy periods.
Good shisha
Shisha is a major part of the experience, with one guest praising smooth smoke, flavour choices and quick coal refreshes.
Late hours
A guest reported dining at 3 AM, and another review says the restaurant closes late at 3 AM.
Family option
A separate non-smoking section makes the venue more workable for families as well as groups of friends.
Outdoor comfort
During a cold outdoor visit, the team supplied blankets, turned on a heater and lit a fire.
Games available
The venue suits a relaxed group visit, with cards and Jakkaro mentioned as activities guests can play.
What to Eat at Abu El Zulof Kahwa - Dubai 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 El Zulof Kahwa - Dubai, this list is based on 50 reviews, not every review of the restaurant. We still have more reviews to analyze, so the scores may change. 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.
Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of Abu El Zulof Kahwa - Dubai, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.
Food 10
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Business lunch Net +1
“Highly recommend business lunch! Overall, it is a new Syrian restaurant offering a menu with a variety of dishes and drinks. We went for the business lunch which is a great value for money as you would get salad or soup, a main dish, and sweets for 55 AED only, with Shisha it is 75AED. I was happily surprised by the quality and deliciousness of the food offered.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Highly recommend business lunch! Overall, it is a new Syrian restaurant offering a menu with a variety of dishes and drinks. We went for the business lunch which is a great value for money as you would get salad or soup, a main dish, and sweets for 55 AED only, with Shisha it is 75AED. I was happily surprised by the quality and deliciousness of the food offered.”April 2023
-
Business special Net +1
“I believe we did the “business special” which was 1 appetizer 1 main course 1 dessert (1 choice out of 3-4 options) for 85-100AED per person. Valid from 12-5pm I think. And the menu changes either every 2 days or every week, not really sure. But the quality of the food was absolutely superb. 100/100. Definitely recommend for anyone who wants to try Arabic food.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I believe we did the “business special” which was 1 appetizer 1 main course 1 dessert (1 choice out of 3-4 options) for 85-100AED per person. Valid from 12-5pm I think. And the menu changes either every 2 days or every week, not really sure. But the quality of the food was absolutely superb. 100/100. Definitely recommend for anyone who wants to try Arabic food.”December 2024
-
Chiken musakkhan Net +1
“One of my favorite place in Dubai, they have the kindest staff ever.. tasty food i live their chiken Musakkhan ❤️❤️”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“One of my favorite place in Dubai, they have the kindest staff ever.. tasty food i live their chiken Musakkhan ❤️❤️”May 2023
-
Fatoush Net +1
“The Fatoush was amazing with the pomegranate.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Fatoush was amazing with the pomegranate.”April 2023
-
Halawat gibn Net +1
“Great outdoor spot with business bay view and canal the service was amazing by OMRAN and all the dishes was super yummy I had yabraq, mini shawarma and halawat gibn as a desser lt and Turkish coffee with hail super good if you’re craving for traditional Syrian cuisine then this is a must try and they have esaad20% and a valet parking and big screens”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Great outdoor spot with business bay view and canal the service was amazing by OMRAN and all the dishes was super yummy I had yabraq, mini shawarma and halawat gibn as a desser lt and Turkish coffee with hail super good if you’re craving for traditional Syrian cuisine then this is a must try and they have esaad20% and a valet parking and big screens”October 2024
-
Hoummos Net +1
“Their Hoummos is great. And their shisha and service is perfect.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Their Hoummos is great. And their shisha and service is perfect.”February 2025
-
Hummus with beef Net +1
“Delicious food, but the thing that stayed in my memory the most was the hummus with beef. For the next few days, I kept coming back to the restaurant just for it.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Delicious food, but the thing that stayed in my memory the most was the hummus with beef. For the next few days, I kept coming back to the restaurant just for it.”May 2026
-
Hummus with chicken shawarma Net +1
“Hummus with chicken shawarma was amazing, lintel soup was great, and the Shish Taouq was fabulous.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Hummus with chicken shawarma was amazing, lintel soup was great, and the Shish Taouq was fabulous.”September 2024
-
Iftar Net +1
“I loved my Iftar , the view is really nice the food is so fresh and delicious The staff are very friendly I recommend this restaurant for anyone who is looking for view , nice food and the vibe”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I loved my Iftar , the view is really nice the food is so fresh and delicious The staff are very friendly I recommend this restaurant for anyone who is looking for view , nice food and the vibe”March 2026
-
Kebab hindi Net +1
“Must try their Kebab hindi.. soo yummy”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Must try their Kebab hindi.. soo yummy”February 2023
Honorable mentions (9)
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Kebba labnaya Net +1
“The daily dish was Kebba labnaya, it was so tasty and fresh and so hot that it was just cooked and tasted like food made with love.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The daily dish was Kebba labnaya, it was so tasty and fresh and so hot that it was just cooked and tasted like food made with love.”April 2023
-
Lentil soup Net +1
“Hummus with chicken shawarma was amazing, lintel soup was great, and the Shish Taouq was fabulous.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Hummus with chicken shawarma was amazing, lintel soup was great, and the Shish Taouq was fabulous.”September 2024
-
Maumol Net +1
“The sweets exceed my expectations as they were very delicious and the Maumol was hot.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The sweets exceed my expectations as they were very delicious and the Maumol was hot.”April 2023
-
Mini shawarma Net +1
“Great outdoor spot with business bay view and canal the service was amazing by OMRAN and all the dishes was super yummy I had yabraq, mini shawarma and halawat gibn as a desser lt and Turkish coffee with hail super good if you’re craving for traditional Syrian cuisine then this is a must try and they have esaad20% and a valet parking and big screens”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Great outdoor spot with business bay view and canal the service was amazing by OMRAN and all the dishes was super yummy I had yabraq, mini shawarma and halawat gibn as a desser lt and Turkish coffee with hail super good if you’re craving for traditional Syrian cuisine then this is a must try and they have esaad20% and a valet parking and big screens”October 2024
-
Set breakfast Net +1
“The set breakfast was amazing , the food is authentic and the vibes are amazing”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The set breakfast was amazing , the food is authentic and the vibes are amazing”December 2025
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Set menu Net +1
“We sat down and due to Ramadan the only option was a set menu. What followed was of the best culinary adventures we have ever had. Dish after dish of exquisite flavours, lovely presentation and good service.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We sat down and due to Ramadan the only option was a set menu. What followed was of the best culinary adventures we have ever had. Dish after dish of exquisite flavours, lovely presentation and good service.”March 2026
-
Taboule Net +1
“The Taboule was not Syrian as there was more Burgel than parsley but it was good.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Taboule was not Syrian as there was more Burgel than parsley but it was good.”April 2023
-
Yabraq Net +1
“Great outdoor spot with business bay view and canal the service was amazing by OMRAN and all the dishes was super yummy I had yabraq, mini shawarma and halawat gibn as a desser lt and Turkish coffee with hail super good if you’re craving for traditional Syrian cuisine then this is a must try and they have esaad20% and a valet parking and big screens”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Great outdoor spot with business bay view and canal the service was amazing by OMRAN and all the dishes was super yummy I had yabraq, mini shawarma and halawat gibn as a desser lt and Turkish coffee with hail super good if you’re craving for traditional Syrian cuisine then this is a must try and they have esaad20% and a valet parking and big screens”October 2024
-
Shish tawooq Net 0
Mixed feedback
“Hummus with chicken shawarma was amazing, lintel soup was great, and the Shish Taouq was fabulous.”
Positive 1Negative 1
Review excerpts
“Hummus with chicken shawarma was amazing, lintel soup was great, and the Shish Taouq was fabulous.”September 2024
Drinks 1
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Turkish coffee with hail Net +1
“Great outdoor spot with business bay view and canal the service was amazing by OMRAN and all the dishes was super yummy I had yabraq, mini shawarma and halawat gibn as a desser lt and Turkish coffee with hail super good if you’re craving for traditional Syrian cuisine then this is a must try and they have esaad20% and a valet parking and big screens”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Great outdoor spot with business bay view and canal the service was amazing by OMRAN and all the dishes was super yummy I had yabraq, mini shawarma and halawat gibn as a desser lt and Turkish coffee with hail super good if you’re craving for traditional Syrian cuisine then this is a must try and they have esaad20% and a valet parking and big screens”October 2024
What to Avoid (4)
Food 4
-
French fries Net −1
“Even the French fries were too oily and inedible.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Even the French fries were too oily and inedible.”January 2023
-
Kebba Net −1
“Food was really nice for syrian authentic food but the kebba is not great. Shisha was okey but not top, It should be better. Nice decoration in the outside sitting area but a bit pricy as we paid $70 per person wit”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Food was really nice for syrian authentic food but the kebba is not great. Shisha was okey but not top, It should be better. Nice decoration in the outside sitting area but a bit pricy as we paid $70 per person wit”December 2024
-
Molokheya Net −1
“I also ordered the molokheya, and was surprised to find that there was only a very small chicken thigh included. It would have been more generous for the restaurant to include a bigger piece of chicken, like a breast, instead.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“I also ordered the molokheya, and was surprised to find that there was only a very small chicken thigh included. It would have been more generous for the restaurant to include a bigger piece of chicken, like a breast, instead.”January 2023
-
Waraq enab Net −1
“The food itself was also not up to par. I ordered the waraq enab, which was really disappointing. The leaves were not very well cooked and tasted old, and the rice was not cooked and was hard.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The food itself was also not up to par. I ordered the waraq enab, which was really disappointing. The leaves were not very well cooked and tasted old, and the rice was not cooked and was hard.”January 2023
Tips for a Better Visit
Book ahead. Reserve early for major matches or busy periods: one guest booked three days ahead but still got the smaller room and screens.
Check parking. Plan for paid parking: reviews mention valet or self-parking below the building at 15 DHS, with limited alternatives.
Try lunch. Ask about the business lunch if value matters; one review describes soup or salad, a main and sweets for 55 AED.
Add shisha. The same business-lunch review reports a 75 AED option with shisha, so ask whether that package is still available.
Choose outdoors. For the canal atmosphere, request outdoor seating; reviews describe the terrace as wide and the view as especially appealing.
Ask hours. If arriving very late, call first: at 3:30 AM the kitchen was closed, although staff still prepared lentil soup.
Plan the visit
Practical details
DAMAC Maison Prive, The Metropolis Tower
Business Bay, Dubai
| Mon | 9:00 AM – 3:00 AM |
| Tue | 9:00 AM – 3:00 AM |
| Wed | 9:00 AM – 3:00 AM |
| Thu | 9:00 AM – 3:00 AM |
| Fri | 9:00 AM – 4:00 AM |
| Sat | 9:00 AM – 4:00 AM |
| Sun | 9:00 AM – 3:00 AM |
Common Concerns
Price concerns
Some guests felt the pricing was high for the food quality, and one specifically objected to the shisha cost.
Reservation risk
One guest with a confirmed reservation waited a long time and was ultimately told there was no table available.
Food consistency
A repeat visitor said the latest meal tasted noticeably different from earlier visits, despite previously excellent food.
Limited variety
One review found the food delicious but said the menu was not very varied.
Kebab and shisha
A guest found the kebba disappointing and said the shisha was acceptable but not among the best.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
55 AED
business lunch
“We went for the business lunch which is a great value for money as you would get salad or soup, a main dish, and sweets for 55 AED only, with Shisha it is 75AED”Google review · April 2023
75AED
business lunch with Shisha
“We went for the business lunch which is a great value for money as you would get salad or soup, a main dish, and sweets for 55 AED only, with Shisha it is 75AED”Google review · April 2023
85-100AED per person
business special
“I believe we did the “business special” which was 1 appetizer 1 main course 1 dessert (1 choice out of 3-4 options) for 85-100AED per person”Google review · December 2024
15 DHS
self-parking below the building
“You can selfpark below the bldg for 15 DHS”Google review · July 2026
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Abu El Zulof Kahwa is a Syrian restaurant in Business Bay with a canal-facing outdoor area, indoor seating and a distinctly social café feel. You can come for traditional Syrian food, shisha, coffee and a longer evening with friends; Jakkaro and card games also get a mention. The setting is a big reason to consider it, especially when the weather suits the terrace.
Food reviews are strongest on homemade-style Levantine cooking. Hummus with beef, hummus with chicken shawarma, shish taouk, yabraq, chicken musakhan, kebbe labnaya and halawat gibn are among the named dishes guests enjoyed. Breakfast and the Ramadan set menu were also praised, though one diner found the menu limited and another noticed a drop in food consistency on a later visit.
Service is usually described as warm and attentive, but the reservation experience has not been flawless. Book ahead for major matches: one guest reserved three days early and still received the smaller screening room. Parking is another cost to factor in, with reviews mentioning valet or self-parking at 15 DHS.
A business lunch was reported at 55 AED, or 75AED with shisha, though older prices may no longer apply.