Authentic grills
The grilled meat is praised for being cooked over fire, with lamb shish, mixed grill and chicken shish recurring as strong choices.
Defne Turkish Restaurant
Jumeirah Village Circle
Defne Turkish Restaurant in Jumeirah Village Circle is a casual spot for freshly made Turkish food, from grilled meats to baked dishes. Reviews especially point to the Iskender kebab and lahmacun, with generally fair prices and friendly service, though wait times can be inconsistent.
Reputation Score
4.5
★★★★★
503 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Fresh baking
Fresh bread comes out of the oven, while reviewers also enjoy the crunchy lahmacun and pide.
Good value
Customers describe the pricing as fair, with one regular ordering a chicken pita doner for 24 dirhams.
Breakfast choice
Breakfast receives praise for its spreads for one or two people, quick service and willingness to provide a vegetarian alternative.
Friendly service
Several reviews describe attentive, polite staff and a welcoming owner, including complimentary Turkish tea after meals.
Delivery ready
Delivery packaging was described as neat and professional, keeping the food warm and presentable.
Tips for a Better Visit
Check availability. Ask whether Iskender is available before ordering; one diner waited 20 minutes before learning it was unavailable.
Avoid rushing. Allow extra time for the meal or visit outside busy periods, as reviews mention waits ranging from 40 minutes to over an hour.
Try breakfast. Breakfast suits one or two people and can be adapted: a vegetarian guest received baba ghanouj instead of eggs and chicken.
Order lahmacun. The bread is fresh and the lahmacun crunchy, though one diner wanted about 20% more meat on top.
Look for parking. Diners report that free parking is normally not too difficult to find around the restaurant.
Plan the visit
Practical details
JVC regent court Shop Number 1 Behind FIVE Hotel
Al Barsha South Fourth - Jumeirah Village Circle, Dubai
| Mon | 8:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Tue | 8:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Wed | 8:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Thu | 8:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Fri | 8:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Sat | 8:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Sun | 8:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
Common Concerns
Slow service
Multiple diners report long waits, including more than 40 minutes for food and over an hour for a chicken shish sandwich.
Unavailable dish
One diner waited 20 minutes for Iskender before being told it was unavailable, reportedly for the third time.
Inconsistent portions
Portions are praised by some guests but criticised by others; one review called them tiny, while another found the Turkish salad huge.
Uneven cooking
One customer found the chicken completely burnt, despite describing the rest of the food as delicious.
Plain ambience
The interior is described as clean and functional but lacking Turkish decoration, with lighting that can feel harsh.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Defne Turkish Restaurant is a casual Turkish dining option in Jumeirah Village Circle, with a menu that works for a quick meal, a family dinner or takeaway. The dishes most often worth investigating are the Iskender kebab, mixed grill, lahmacun and mezze. Reviewers describe the grills as juicy and cooked over fire, while the bread is sometimes served fresh from the oven.
Value is one of the clearer attractions. A regular praised the chicken pita doner at 24 dirhams, and other diners describe portions and prices as generous or fair. Breakfast is another useful option, with spreads for one or two people and flexibility for vegetarian substitutions.
Complimentary Turkish tea is mentioned more than once. The main caution is service consistency. Some visits are described as quick and attentive, but others involved waits of 40 minutes or more, including one chicken shish sandwich that took over an hour.
Iskender has also reportedly been unavailable after guests had already waited. Check availability and allow extra time, especially if you are hungry or in a hurry. The room is clean and quiet according to some reviews, but the decor and lighting feel fairly plain rather than distinctly Turkish.