Charcoal chicken
The charcoal chicken is repeatedly described as juicy, fresh and full of authentic Arabic flavour.
Al Farooj Al Shami Restaurant
International City
Al Farooj Al Shami is a Syrian restaurant in International City focused on Arabic cooking. Reviews make the charcoal chicken and mixed grill platter the clearest starting points, while the dining room is described as clean, traditionally styled and comfortable for group meals.
Reputation Score
4.2
★★★★☆
3,011 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Mixed grill
The mixed grill platter combines juicy kebabs, seasoned chicken, vegetables and crispy fries, with generous portions for sharing.
Authentic dishes
Kibbeh, sheesh tawook and other dishes have been praised for tasting like traditional homemade Syrian food.
Clean setting
Several reviews highlight the restaurant’s cleanliness, including its dining area and washroom.
Fresh delivery
One delivery arrived hot and carefully packaged, with especially good spinach pastries, meat and salads.
Warm hospitality
Many dine-in reviews describe attentive service, and some guests received complimentary tea or dessert.
Good value
Reviews describe the grills as reasonably priced, with portions that can work well for sharing.
What to Eat at Al Farooj Al Shami Restaurant 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 Farooj Al Shami Restaurant, 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.
These items at Al Farooj Al Shami Restaurant got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 7
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Mixed grill platter Net +4
“Shawarma is juicy, mix grill is well prepared, gill chicken is tender, and the vibe is just super perfect.”
Positive 4Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Shawarma is juicy, mix grill is well prepared, gill chicken is tender, and the vibe is just super perfect.”July 2021
“The mixed grill platter was delicious, with juicy kebabs, well-seasoned chicken, fresh vegetables, and crispy fries.”August 2025
-
Sharwma Net +3
“I’ve even forgotten the shawarma from my own country, Pakistan, and from other countries as well—now I only eat Arabic shawarma.”
Positive 4Negative 1
Review excerpts
“I’ve even forgotten the shawarma from my own country, Pakistan, and from other countries as well—now I only eat Arabic shawarma.”April 2026
“The mix grilled kabab, zatar, sharwma, grilled chicken, falafel all are savory and flavorful.”June 2024
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Grilled chicken Net +3
“The mix grilled kabab, zatar, sharwma, grilled chicken, falafel all are savory and flavorful.”
Positive 3Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The mix grilled kabab, zatar, sharwma, grilled chicken, falafel all are savory and flavorful.”June 2024
“The food was absolutely delicious, with the grilled chicken and shawarma being standouts or the Lamb chops 😘 The flavors were perfectly balanced, and every dish felt fresh and authentic.”March 2025
-
Kibbeh Net +3
“We tried their Kibbeh which were very good, the mix grill platter was tasty as well.”
Positive 3Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We tried their Kibbeh which were very good, the mix grill platter was tasty as well.”June 2023
“The Kibbeh I ate felt like the ones made by my Mama.”January 2024
-
Falafel Net +2
“Out all the food we had, the falafel were excellent.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Out all the food we had, the falafel were excellent.”June 2025
“The mix grilled kabab, zatar, sharwma, grilled chicken, falafel all are savory and flavorful.”June 2024
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Hummus Net +2
“The hummus and side dishes were also excellent and full of authentic flavor.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The hummus and side dishes were also excellent and full of authentic flavor.”August 2025
“By fav take is meat kababs, Mexican shawarma plate, kabab sandwiches hummus etc”April 2026
-
Sheesh tawook Net +2
“I've never liked Sheesh Tawook, but theirs made me change my mind.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I've never liked Sheesh Tawook, but theirs made me change my mind.”January 2024
“We ordered for ⭕️Mutton tekka ⭕️Sheesh tawook ⭕️Half broasted chicken ⭕️Fried Kubba (freshly baked breads) ⭕️Kibbeh 🥘Food: 10/10”October 2021
Honorable mentions (22)
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Arabic grill kebabs Net +1
“I wanted to try out some arabic grill kebabs, so i came here wanted to try it out, the food was really good and the salad and bread were nice and hot which i really like, it gives a fresh vibe and taste to it.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I wanted to try out some arabic grill kebabs, so i came here wanted to try it out, the food was really good and the salad and bread were nice and hot which i really like, it gives a fresh vibe and taste to it.”August 2023
-
Burak Net +1
“The Burak were very delicious.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Burak were very delicious.”January 2024
-
Charcoal chicken Net +1
“Absolutely awesome experience! 🌟 The food was fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked — especially the charcoal chicken, which was juicy and full of authentic Arabic taste.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Absolutely awesome experience! 🌟 The food was fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked — especially the charcoal chicken, which was juicy and full of authentic Arabic taste.”December 2025
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Chicken charcoal with rice Net +1
“Always good to be at this restaurant with belly filled with delicious food. Love its quantity and quality. Most fav dish is Chicken charcoal with rice.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Always good to be at this restaurant with belly filled with delicious food. Love its quantity and quality. Most fav dish is Chicken charcoal with rice.”April 2026
-
Chicken shawarma Net +1
“The food was tasty, we tried mixed grill, chicken shawarma, supreme fish and freshly baked bread served with fresh salad.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food was tasty, we tried mixed grill, chicken shawarma, supreme fish and freshly baked bread served with fresh salad.”June 2022
-
Crispy fries Net +1
“The mixed grill platter was delicious, with juicy kebabs, well-seasoned chicken, fresh vegetables, and crispy fries.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The mixed grill platter was delicious, with juicy kebabs, well-seasoned chicken, fresh vegetables, and crispy fries.”August 2025
-
Fateh Net +1
“Excellent service given by mohd yasir and food was extremley fantastic specially Fateh and Fish. I would recommed all to visit here and enjoy.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Excellent service given by mohd yasir and food was extremley fantastic specially Fateh and Fish. I would recommed all to visit here and enjoy.”May 2026
-
Freekeh meat Net +1
“First time trying the Freekeh Meat. Meat was perfectly cooked and tastes awesome. Highly recommended.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“First time trying the Freekeh Meat. Meat was perfectly cooked and tastes awesome. Highly recommended.”January 2023
-
Fried kubba Net +1
“We ordered for ⭕️Mutton tekka ⭕️Sheesh tawook ⭕️Half broasted chicken ⭕️Fried Kubba (freshly baked breads) ⭕️Kibbeh 🥘Food: 10/10”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered for ⭕️Mutton tekka ⭕️Sheesh tawook ⭕️Half broasted chicken ⭕️Fried Kubba (freshly baked breads) ⭕️Kibbeh 🥘Food: 10/10”October 2021
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Half broasted chicken Net +1
“We ordered for ⭕️Mutton tekka ⭕️Sheesh tawook ⭕️Half broasted chicken ⭕️Fried Kubba (freshly baked breads) ⭕️Kibbeh 🥘Food: 10/10”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered for ⭕️Mutton tekka ⭕️Sheesh tawook ⭕️Half broasted chicken ⭕️Fried Kubba (freshly baked breads) ⭕️Kibbeh 🥘Food: 10/10”October 2021
-
Kabab sandwiches Net +1
“By fav take is meat kababs, Mexican shawarma plate, kabab sandwiches hummus etc”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“By fav take is meat kababs, Mexican shawarma plate, kabab sandwiches hummus etc”April 2026
-
Lamb chops Net +1
“The food was absolutely delicious, with the grilled chicken and shawarma being standouts or the Lamb chops 😘 The flavors were perfectly balanced, and every dish felt fresh and authentic.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food was absolutely delicious, with the grilled chicken and shawarma being standouts or the Lamb chops 😘 The flavors were perfectly balanced, and every dish felt fresh and authentic.”March 2025
-
Lamb kebab Net +1
“We also ordered their lamb kebab with tabboulah salad, good combination.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We also ordered their lamb kebab with tabboulah salad, good combination.”June 2023
-
Lamb stuffed meal Net +1
“We tried lamb stuffed meal and man the meat was soo soo soft and i couldnt imagine how that was cooked. It was soft as tissue and one of the best that i had tried in recent times.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We tried lamb stuffed meal and man the meat was soo soo soft and i couldnt imagine how that was cooked. It was soft as tissue and one of the best that i had tried in recent times.”April 2022
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Meat kababs Net +1
“By fav take is meat kababs, Mexican shawarma plate, kabab sandwiches hummus etc”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“By fav take is meat kababs, Mexican shawarma plate, kabab sandwiches hummus etc”April 2026
-
Mexican shawarma plate Net +1
“By fav take is meat kababs, Mexican shawarma plate, kabab sandwiches hummus etc”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“By fav take is meat kababs, Mexican shawarma plate, kabab sandwiches hummus etc”April 2026
-
Mix grilled kabab Net +1
“The mix grilled kabab, zatar, sharwma, grilled chicken, falafel all are savory and flavorful.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The mix grilled kabab, zatar, sharwma, grilled chicken, falafel all are savory and flavorful.”June 2024
-
Mutton tekka Net +1
“We ordered for ⭕️Mutton tekka ⭕️Sheesh tawook ⭕️Half broasted chicken ⭕️Fried Kubba (freshly baked breads) ⭕️Kibbeh 🥘Food: 10/10”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered for ⭕️Mutton tekka ⭕️Sheesh tawook ⭕️Half broasted chicken ⭕️Fried Kubba (freshly baked breads) ⭕️Kibbeh 🥘Food: 10/10”October 2021
-
Potato chips Net +1
“The potato chips were very crisp and a good change instead if regular fries.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The potato chips were very crisp and a good change instead if regular fries.”June 2023
-
Spinach pastries Net +1
“The spinach pastries were simply amazing!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The spinach pastries were simply amazing!”February 2026
-
Supreme fish Net +1
“The food was tasty, we tried mixed grill, chicken shawarma, supreme fish and freshly baked bread served with fresh salad.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food was tasty, we tried mixed grill, chicken shawarma, supreme fish and freshly baked bread served with fresh salad.”June 2022
-
Tabboulah salad Net +1
“We also ordered their lamb kebab with tabboulah salad, good combination.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We also ordered their lamb kebab with tabboulah salad, good combination.”June 2023
What to Avoid (2)
Food 2
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Chicken dinner Net −1
“I'm sorry to say that the chicken dinner I ordered was extremely dry and lacked flavor. None of my guests enjoyed it, and the value for money was poor.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“I'm sorry to say that the chicken dinner I ordered was extremely dry and lacked flavor. None of my guests enjoyed it, and the value for money was poor.”February 2024
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Potato cutlet Net −1
“The potato cutlet, usually a favorite of mine, was undercooked and hard this time.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The potato cutlet, usually a favorite of mine, was undercooked and hard this time.”February 2024
Tips for a Better Visit
Allow parking time. If you are dining in, allow at least an extra hour to look for parking, especially around busy periods.
Check the AC. During warm weather, check whether the dining room is cooling properly before settling in.
Check deliveries. Verify the bags before the delivery driver leaves; one customer discovered that a two-meal kabsa order contained only one meal.
Avoid peak delivery. Be cautious with Talabat during high-demand periods such as Ramadan Iftar, when one order was cancelled shortly before the meal time.
Plan the visit
Practical details
p-27
Warsan First - France Cluster, Dubai
| Mon | 8:30 AM – 2:30 AM |
| Tue | 8:30 AM – 2:30 AM |
| Wed | 8:30 AM – 2:30 AM |
| Thu | 8:30 AM – 2:30 AM |
| Fri | 8:30 AM – 2:30 AM |
| Sat | 8:30 AM – 2:30 AM |
| Sun | 8:30 AM – 2:30 AM |
Common Concerns
Parking difficulty
Parking can be difficult, and one diner reported spending extra time searching before switching the order to takeaway.
Weak AC
Two dine-in reviews reported that the air conditioning was not working well, making warm-weather visits uncomfortable.
Order errors
A Talabat order for two beef burgers arrived as two chicken burgers instead.
Complaint handling
Some delivery complaints involved missing meals, delayed responses and staff who did not apologise or resolve the issue clearly.
Small portions
One customer found the meat portions smaller than those at similar International City restaurants.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Al Farooj Al Shami is a Syrian restaurant in International City where the strongest draw is Arabic comfort food with a broad grill selection. You can come for charcoal chicken, shawarma, mixed grill platters or classic mezze, with reviews often describing the food as fresh, well-seasoned and authentically Syrian. The mixed grill platter is a useful choice for a group: one review mentions juicy kebabs, seasoned chicken, vegetables and crispy fries, with portions generous enough to share.
Falafel, kibbeh and sheesh tawook also receive specific praise, while another diner found the chicken charcoal with rice especially satisfying. Grills are generally described as reasonably priced, though one customer felt the meat portions were smaller than at comparable restaurants. The dining room is spacious, traditionally styled and frequently praised for cleanliness.
It can suit a family or group meal, but cooling has been an issue in multiple reviews, so warm-weather comfort is not guaranteed. Parking is the main practical nuisance; one diner advised allowing at least an extra hour to search. Takeaway and delivery can work well when orders are correct, with one delivery arriving hot and carefully packaged.
Still, reports of missing items, incorrect burgers and a Talabat cancellation during Ramadan Iftar suggest checking your order promptly and avoiding peak delivery windows when timing matters.