Shawarma
Chicken and meat shawarma receive repeated praise, including one customer’s four-year run of orders and another’s favourite crunchy version.
Al Aqsa restaurant and cafeteria مطعم و كافتيريا الأقصى
International City
Al Aqsa is an Arabic-food restaurant and cafeteria in International City, known in customer reviews for shawarma, grills and manakish. It suits a casual dine-in or delivery meal, with reviewers also mentioning indoor and outdoor seating for families.
Reputation Score
4.3
★★★★☆
157 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Arabic flavour
Reviews describe the food as traditional and authentic Arabic, with manakish, grills and hummus standing out alongside the shawarma.
Grills
The charcoal chicken is described as juicy, while a grill-kilo order was reported to be more than enough for four people.
Quick delivery
Several customers mention fast or on-time delivery, including one review that specifically praises quick delivery with friendly staff.
Welcoming staff
Many reviews describe the wider team as polite, friendly and welcoming, with one regular saying the restaurant feels like home.
Family seating
One long-term local review mentions both indoor and outdoor spaces and says they are suitable for family dining.
Value portions
Customers have called the prices affordable and said a grill-kilo order comfortably served four people.
What to Eat at Al Aqsa restaurant and cafeteria مطعم و كافتيريا الأقصى 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 Al Aqsa restaurant and cafeteria مطعم و كافتيريا الأقصى, 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 Al Aqsa restaurant and cafeteria مطعم و كافتيريا الأقصى got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 4
-
Shawarma Net +5
“Best shawarma I’ve been ordering for 4 years. Will recommend”
Positive 5Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Best shawarma I’ve been ordering for 4 years. Will recommend”April 2026
“Best shawarma I ate alot of place but like this never it is so good.”May 2025
-
Hummus Net +2
“We tried their full chicken 🐔 charcoal.it was delicious juicy.the hummus served was also authentic in taste.Must try”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We tried their full chicken 🐔 charcoal.it was delicious juicy.the hummus served was also authentic in taste.Must try”March 2024
“Garlic paste and hummus was super tasty.”January 2024
-
Manakesh Net +2
“Super quick and authentic flavor i highly recommend the manakesh wow”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Super quick and authentic flavor i highly recommend the manakesh wow”July 2025
“They're very kind people and their food is really amazing! Plus, their prices are extremely affordable for their quality. My favorites to buy from them are the meat shawarma, kebab sandwich, kebab rice, kibbeh, sambosa, lentil soup, moutabal, and their manakeesh. So, if you're in the Warsan area, do try them out. :)”April 2024
-
Meat shawarma Net +2
“Their food is yummy specially meat shawarma 👌 best place in warsan for arabic food in cheap price.Quality is perfect . I strongly recommend!”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Their food is yummy specially meat shawarma 👌 best place in warsan for arabic food in cheap price.Quality is perfect . I strongly recommend!”July 2022
“They're very kind people and their food is really amazing! Plus, their prices are extremely affordable for their quality. My favorites to buy from them are the meat shawarma, kebab sandwich, kebab rice, kibbeh, sambosa, lentil soup, moutabal, and their manakeesh. So, if you're in the Warsan area, do try them out. :)”April 2024
Honorable mentions (14)
-
Big chicken shawarma Net +1
“Ordered big chicken shawarma. Taste is good but size become small compared to before with souse same problem very little souse. I think they need to increase price and make big shawarma like before.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Ordered big chicken shawarma. Taste is good but size become small compared to before with souse same problem very little souse. I think they need to increase price and make big shawarma like before.”January 2025
-
Chicken shawerma Net +1
“Very tasty chicken shawerma and price is reaonable for this good quality and size as well”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Very tasty chicken shawerma and price is reaonable for this good quality and size as well”May 2022
-
Chicken shwerma with pomegranate sauce Net +1
“I highly recommend chicken shwerma with pomegranate sauce”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I highly recommend chicken shwerma with pomegranate sauce”June 2022
-
Crunchy shawarma Net +1
“Best crunchy shawarma ever 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Best crunchy shawarma ever 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼”March 2025
-
Falafel Net +1
“Their falafel and shawarma is what we tried and it is quite good.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Their falafel and shawarma is what we tried and it is quite good.”October 2024
-
Grill chicken Net +1
“Best grill chicken. Quicky delivery. Friendly staff 👍”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Best grill chicken. Quicky delivery. Friendly staff 👍”February 2026
-
Grill kilo Net +1
“Delicious food! We ordered the grill kilo it was more than enough for 4 people. The food was DELICIOUS.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Delicious food! We ordered the grill kilo it was more than enough for 4 people. The food was DELICIOUS.”January 2024
-
Kabab Net +1
“Really very tasty kabab. Food worth for the price.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Really very tasty kabab. Food worth for the price.”January 2026
-
Kebab rice Net +1
“They're very kind people and their food is really amazing! Plus, their prices are extremely affordable for their quality. My favorites to buy from them are the meat shawarma, kebab sandwich, kebab rice, kibbeh, sambosa, lentil soup, moutabal, and their manakeesh. So, if you're in the Warsan area, do try them out. :)”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“They're very kind people and their food is really amazing! Plus, their prices are extremely affordable for their quality. My favorites to buy from them are the meat shawarma, kebab sandwich, kebab rice, kibbeh, sambosa, lentil soup, moutabal, and their manakeesh. So, if you're in the Warsan area, do try them out. :)”April 2024
-
Kebab sandwich Net +1
“They're very kind people and their food is really amazing! Plus, their prices are extremely affordable for their quality. My favorites to buy from them are the meat shawarma, kebab sandwich, kebab rice, kibbeh, sambosa, lentil soup, moutabal, and their manakeesh. So, if you're in the Warsan area, do try them out. :)”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“They're very kind people and their food is really amazing! Plus, their prices are extremely affordable for their quality. My favorites to buy from them are the meat shawarma, kebab sandwich, kebab rice, kibbeh, sambosa, lentil soup, moutabal, and their manakeesh. So, if you're in the Warsan area, do try them out. :)”April 2024
-
Kibbeh Net +1
“They're very kind people and their food is really amazing! Plus, their prices are extremely affordable for their quality. My favorites to buy from them are the meat shawarma, kebab sandwich, kebab rice, kibbeh, sambosa, lentil soup, moutabal, and their manakeesh. So, if you're in the Warsan area, do try them out. :)”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“They're very kind people and their food is really amazing! Plus, their prices are extremely affordable for their quality. My favorites to buy from them are the meat shawarma, kebab sandwich, kebab rice, kibbeh, sambosa, lentil soup, moutabal, and their manakeesh. So, if you're in the Warsan area, do try them out. :)”April 2024
-
Lentil soup Net +1
“They're very kind people and their food is really amazing! Plus, their prices are extremely affordable for their quality. My favorites to buy from them are the meat shawarma, kebab sandwich, kebab rice, kibbeh, sambosa, lentil soup, moutabal, and their manakeesh. So, if you're in the Warsan area, do try them out. :)”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“They're very kind people and their food is really amazing! Plus, their prices are extremely affordable for their quality. My favorites to buy from them are the meat shawarma, kebab sandwich, kebab rice, kibbeh, sambosa, lentil soup, moutabal, and their manakeesh. So, if you're in the Warsan area, do try them out. :)”April 2024
-
Moutabal Net +1
“They're very kind people and their food is really amazing! Plus, their prices are extremely affordable for their quality. My favorites to buy from them are the meat shawarma, kebab sandwich, kebab rice, kibbeh, sambosa, lentil soup, moutabal, and their manakeesh. So, if you're in the Warsan area, do try them out. :)”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“They're very kind people and their food is really amazing! Plus, their prices are extremely affordable for their quality. My favorites to buy from them are the meat shawarma, kebab sandwich, kebab rice, kibbeh, sambosa, lentil soup, moutabal, and their manakeesh. So, if you're in the Warsan area, do try them out. :)”April 2024
-
Sambosa Net +1
“They're very kind people and their food is really amazing! Plus, their prices are extremely affordable for their quality. My favorites to buy from them are the meat shawarma, kebab sandwich, kebab rice, kibbeh, sambosa, lentil soup, moutabal, and their manakeesh. So, if you're in the Warsan area, do try them out. :)”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“They're very kind people and their food is really amazing! Plus, their prices are extremely affordable for their quality. My favorites to buy from them are the meat shawarma, kebab sandwich, kebab rice, kibbeh, sambosa, lentil soup, moutabal, and their manakeesh. So, if you're in the Warsan area, do try them out. :)”April 2024
What to Avoid (1)
Food 1
-
Beef shawarma Net −1
“Terrible beef shawarma, just stuffed with tomatoes. Service was equally bad.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Terrible beef shawarma, just stuffed with tomatoes. Service was equally bad.”September 2025
Tips for a Better Visit
Try manakish. If you want more than shawarma, consider the manakish; one customer specifically called it super quick and authentic.
Ask spicy. Ask about the spicy shawarma options if you prefer heat; they are mentioned as an available variation.
Allow time. For dine-in or collection, allow extra time rather than arriving in a rush, since one review describes a long wait.
Plan parking. If you are driving, plan for possible parking difficulty; delivery or another transport option may be easier.
Check portions. When ordering the big chicken shawarma, confirm the current size and sauce quantity if those details matter to you.
Request plates. For a large delivery order, ask for plates in advance: one customer said they were missing from a grill-kilo order.
Plan the visit
Practical details
4CW2+7HP
Warsan Fourth - International City Phase(2), Dubai
| Mon | 9:00 AM – 1:30 AM |
| Tue | 9:00 AM – 1:30 AM |
| Wed | 9:00 AM – 1:30 AM |
| Thu | 9:00 AM – 1:30 AM |
| Fri | 9:00 AM – 1:30 AM |
| Sat | 9:00 AM – 1:30 AM |
| Sun | 9:00 AM – 1:30 AM |
Common Concerns
Service inconsistency
Although many reviews praise the team, others report very poor service, including one complaint about an impolite delivery or cashier interaction.
Long waits
A customer found the food worth waiting for but said the order took quite a while to arrive.
Parking
Parking can be difficult, particularly if you are planning a quick stop rather than ordering delivery.
Smaller portions
One returning customer felt the big chicken shawarma had become smaller and came with much less sauce than before.
Quality concerns
A regular customer reported severe stomach pain and vomiting after one meal and asked the restaurant to review food quality and hygiene.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Al Aqsa is an Arabic-food restaurant and cafeteria in International City, with reviews strongest on shawarma and casual grills. Customers mention chicken and meat shawarma, manakish, charcoal chicken and kebab, so it works for a quick sandwich or a fuller shared meal rather than just a single fast-food option. One grill-kilo order was described as more than enough for four people, with particularly good garlic paste and hummus.
The shawarma following is notable: one customer says they have ordered it for four years, while others praise the crunchy chicken version, pomegranate sauce and traditional Arabic flavour. Manakish is another useful choice, described as quick and authentic. Reviews also mention indoor and outdoor seating, making the setting workable for families, and several regulars describe the staff as friendly and the atmosphere as homely.
There are practical caveats. Parking is reported to be a problem, and one customer experienced a long wait, so driving at a busy time may be frustrating. Delivery feedback is mostly positive but not uniform; one complaint describes particularly poor conduct from an individual delivery or cashier worker.
A returning customer also felt the big chicken shawarma had shrunk and contained less sauce. Finally, one review reported stomach pain and vomiting after eating, a serious isolated concern worth keeping in mind alongside the otherwise largely positive food feedback.