Burj Al Arab
Outdoor dining brings a clear view of Burj Al Arab, with some reviews also noting the fortress and lake.
Al Makan Restaurant
Al Sufouh
Al Makan Restaurant is a Lebanese restaurant in Al Sufouh serving Middle Eastern classics, with shisha and an outdoor terrace overlooking Burj Al Arab. Reviews make it a strong choice for a relaxed meal built around generous mixed grills, Arabic desserts and a memorable setting.
Reputation Score
4.7
★★★★★
2,786 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Generous portions
Mixed grills and shared platters are repeatedly described as generous; one dinner’s mixed grill was more than enough.
Fresh food
Customers mention fresh ingredients, fresh seafood and dishes that arrive well presented.
Grilled dishes
The mixed grill is described as tender, flavourful and served piping hot over charcoal.
Outdoor terrace
The terrace suits relaxed evening dining, particularly when Dubai’s winter weather is cooler.
Arabic desserts
Arabic desserts receive specific praise, including fresh kunafe and complimentary sweets on some visits.
Shisha
Several reviews describe the shisha positively, and one customer specifically praised the attention from the shisha service.
Menu guidance
Reviewers say servers explained dishes clearly and helped groups choose suitable portions without over-ordering.
What to Eat at Al Makan 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 Makan Restaurant, 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 Makan Restaurant got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 1
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Mixed grill Net +2
“Had a wonderful dinner experience at Al Makan. We ordered the mixed grill and it was amazing, delicious, fresh, and the portion size was more than enough.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Had a wonderful dinner experience at Al Makan. We ordered the mixed grill and it was amazing, delicious, fresh, and the portion size was more than enough.”May 2026
“The mixed grill was beautifully presented and perfectly cooked — tender, flavourful, and served piping hot over charcoal.”December 2025
Honorable mentions (13)
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Chicken biryani Net +1
“The grilled salmon was fresh and flavorful, the lamb chops were juicy and tender, and the chicken biryani was perfectly spiced and satisfying.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The grilled salmon was fresh and flavorful, the lamb chops were juicy and tender, and the chicken biryani was perfectly spiced and satisfying.”May 2025
-
Classic meat’s grill Net +1
“We ordered Beirut Hummus, Local Chicken Biryani and Classic Meat’s Grill. The meats (chicken and kebabs) are so good. Unfortunately, my friends are small eater but we could have devoured it all clean. Biryani tastes perfect, as an asian who always pairs meat with rice, I need more!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered Beirut Hummus, Local Chicken Biryani and Classic Meat’s Grill. The meats (chicken and kebabs) are so good. Unfortunately, my friends are small eater but we could have devoured it all clean. Biryani tastes perfect, as an asian who always pairs meat with rice, I need more!”October 2025
-
Felafel Net +1
“Mr SABUZ was a perfect man and the place and foods were perfect , if you are Iranian you will love FELAFEL try it!☺️”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Mr SABUZ was a perfect man and the place and foods were perfect , if you are Iranian you will love FELAFEL try it!☺️”March 2026
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Fresh bread Net +1
“My absolute favorites are the muhammara, walnut hummus, fresh bread, and those delicious roasted potatoes — yum!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“My absolute favorites are the muhammara, walnut hummus, fresh bread, and those delicious roasted potatoes — yum!”September 2025
-
Grilled salmon Net +1
“The grilled salmon was fresh and flavorful, the lamb chops were juicy and tender, and the chicken biryani was perfectly spiced and satisfying.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The grilled salmon was fresh and flavorful, the lamb chops were juicy and tender, and the chicken biryani was perfectly spiced and satisfying.”May 2025
-
Grilled shrimp Net +1
“The grilled shrimp was very good value in Dubai, especially at Jeremiah's Madinat Beach. I got about 5-6 shrimp for 138 AED, which is very generous.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The grilled shrimp was very good value in Dubai, especially at Jeremiah's Madinat Beach. I got about 5-6 shrimp for 138 AED, which is very generous.”May 2025
-
Lamb chops Net +1
“The grilled salmon was fresh and flavorful, the lamb chops were juicy and tender, and the chicken biryani was perfectly spiced and satisfying.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The grilled salmon was fresh and flavorful, the lamb chops were juicy and tender, and the chicken biryani was perfectly spiced and satisfying.”May 2025
-
Local chicken biryani Net +1
“We ordered Beirut Hummus, Local Chicken Biryani and Classic Meat’s Grill. The meats (chicken and kebabs) are so good. Unfortunately, my friends are small eater but we could have devoured it all clean. Biryani tastes perfect, as an asian who always pairs meat with rice, I need more!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered Beirut Hummus, Local Chicken Biryani and Classic Meat’s Grill. The meats (chicken and kebabs) are so good. Unfortunately, my friends are small eater but we could have devoured it all clean. Biryani tastes perfect, as an asian who always pairs meat with rice, I need more!”October 2025
-
Muhammara Net +1
“My absolute favorites are the muhammara, walnut hummus, fresh bread, and those delicious roasted potatoes — yum!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“My absolute favorites are the muhammara, walnut hummus, fresh bread, and those delicious roasted potatoes — yum!”September 2025
-
Roasted potatoes Net +1
“My absolute favorites are the muhammara, walnut hummus, fresh bread, and those delicious roasted potatoes — yum!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“My absolute favorites are the muhammara, walnut hummus, fresh bread, and those delicious roasted potatoes — yum!”September 2025
-
Seafood and meat plate Net +1
“Literally the best meal in Dubai! Ordered two seafood and meat plate for 5 people and we finished everything!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Literally the best meal in Dubai! Ordered two seafood and meat plate for 5 people and we finished everything!”August 2025
-
Seafood platter Net +1
“We love this place for our perfect seafood platter 🦐🤍 It’s always fresh, delicious, and every visit feels like a little celebration.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We love this place for our perfect seafood platter 🦐🤍 It’s always fresh, delicious, and every visit feels like a little celebration.”March 2026
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Walnut hummus Net +1
“My absolute favorites are the muhammara, walnut hummus, fresh bread, and those delicious roasted potatoes — yum!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“My absolute favorites are the muhammara, walnut hummus, fresh bread, and those delicious roasted potatoes — yum!”September 2025
Drinks 1
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Coffee Net +1
“I visited Makan Restaurant today and had a wonderful experience. The view overlooking Burj Al Arab is truly stunning, and the coffee was exceptional.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I visited Makan Restaurant today and had a wonderful experience. The view overlooking Burj Al Arab is truly stunning, and the coffee was exceptional.”February 2026
What to Avoid (1)
Food 1
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Fries Net −1
“Food was just ok, fries wasn’t really good, very bland, veggies were almost cold.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Food was just ok, fries wasn’t really good, very bland, veggies were almost cold.”January 2026
Tips for a Better Visit
Choose outdoors. Choose the outdoor area in cooler winter weather; one guest found the shaded seating comfortable.
Share dishes. For groups, share several dishes: reviews describe portions as generous and enough for a table of five.
Ask for guidance. Ask the team to explain the menu and portion sizes, especially if you want to avoid ordering too much.
Try the biryani. The chicken biryani is a useful order for diners who want well-spiced rice alongside grilled meat.
Check shisha. If shisha is central to your visit, ask about it before ordering because reviews describe the quality differently.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Souk - 0 King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud St
Madinat Jumeirah - Al Sufouh 1, Dubai
Common Concerns
Inconsistent food
One visit found the fries bland and the vegetables almost cold, despite attentive service.
Shisha variation
Shisha feedback is mixed: one customer found it disappointing while others rated it highly.
Higher pricing
One reviewer considered the pricing on the higher side, even while feeling the setting justified it.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
138 AED
5-6 shrimp
“I got about 5-6 shrimp for 138 AED, which is very generous”Google review · May 2025
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Al Makan Restaurant is a Lebanese restaurant in Al Sufouh, inside Souk Madinat Jumeirah, where the setting is a major part of the experience. You can dine outdoors with a view of Burj Al Arab, order shisha, and work through a menu of Lebanese and Middle Eastern dishes. Reviews repeatedly mention the mixed grill, seafood platters, chicken biryani and Arabic desserts such as kunafe.
The food is generally described as fresh, flavourful and generously portioned. A mixed grill was tender and served piping hot over charcoal, while a group of five shared several dishes without over-ordering. The chicken biryani was praised for its spice and satisfying rice, and the seafood platter has brought at least one long-term repeat customer back since 2016.
Servers are often credited with explaining the menu and suggesting suitable dishes. For the nicest outdoor experience, winter evenings and shaded seating received specific praise. The atmosphere is described as calm, cosy and relaxed, with a wraparound terrace and views beyond the Burj Al Arab, including the fortress and lake.
Prices are not always seen as low: one reviewer called them higher-side, though worthwhile for the setting. Food and shisha are not flawless every time; one visit found bland fries, nearly cold vegetables and disappointing shisha.