Live Bhangra
Live Bhangra, singing and dhol turn dinner into an energetic evening where guests may even join the dancing.
DESI DHABA BURDUBAI
Bur Dubai
Desi Dhaba is a North Indian restaurant in Bur Dubai, known for Punjabi-style food alongside live singers and Bhangra performances. Reviews point to dishes such as Baingan ka Bharta and Paneer Tikka, while the lively setting makes it a popular choice for family celebrations and group dinners.
Reputation Score
4.7
★★★★★
1,332 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Authentic Flavours
Several diners describe fresh, home-style Indian cooking with authentic flavours rather than food designed only around the entertainment.
Named Favourites
Baingan ka Bharta is praised for its flavour, while Pani Puri is described as fresh and tangy.
Family Friendly
The restaurant suits family occasions, with reviews mentioning a 16-person Mother’s Day meal and frequent family events.
Punjabi Classics
Punjabi staples such as sarson ka saag, makki ki roti and dal makhani receive particularly detailed praise from a Punjabi diner.
What to Eat at DESI DHABA BURDUBAI 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 DESI DHABA BURDUBAI, 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 DESI DHABA BURDUBAI got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 2
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Gajar ka halwa Net +2
“In sweets we tried the typical gajar ka halwa which was made in perfect punjani dhaba style.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“In sweets we tried the typical gajar ka halwa which was made in perfect punjani dhaba style.”August 2021
“We ended our meal with gajar ka halwa, served warm loaded with nuts, mellowed sweetness and great to taste.”September 2021
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Siddu Net +2
“I specially liked their Maggi and Siddu in Himachal style.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I specially liked their Maggi and Siddu in Himachal style.”July 2025
“The menu is curated by a Himachali Head Chef, and every dish screams delicious – from the pillowy Siddu and comforting Pahadi Maggi to the rich Mutton Curry and fun street-style mountain snacks.”July 2025
Honorable mentions (18)
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Babru Net +1
“I fell in love with their desserts like yummy Gajrela with ice cream, Babru and Gulam jamun 😋”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I fell in love with their desserts like yummy Gajrela with ice cream, Babru and Gulam jamun 😋”July 2025
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Baingan ka bharta Net +1
“The food was delicious – especially the Baingan ka Bharta, full of flavour, and the Pani Puri, which was fresh and tangy.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food was delicious – especially the Baingan ka Bharta, full of flavour, and the Pani Puri, which was fresh and tangy.”August 2025
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Coral reef Net +1
“For drinks we had coral reef and melon berry lemonade and those were perfect thirst quenchers with our delicious punjabi meals.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“For drinks we had coral reef and melon berry lemonade and those were perfect thirst quenchers with our delicious punjabi meals.”September 2021
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Creamy brocolli starter Net +1
“My Friend Celebrated 25th Anniversary.! The dining experience was delightful—Specially the Creamy Brocolli Starter was quite nice, main course was OK but well‑presented and served with genuine hospitality.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“My Friend Celebrated 25th Anniversary.! The dining experience was delightful—Specially the Creamy Brocolli Starter was quite nice, main course was OK but well‑presented and served with genuine hospitality.”February 2026
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Dahi palak me kebab Net +1
“We started off with malai broccoli and Dahi palak me kebab. Malai broccoli was superb, creamy and perfectly grilled, not overdone or under done. Dahi palak ke kebab was extremely soft n was just falling apart, though taste was pretty decent.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We started off with malai broccoli and Dahi palak me kebab. Malai broccoli was superb, creamy and perfectly grilled, not overdone or under done. Dahi palak ke kebab was extremely soft n was just falling apart, though taste was pretty decent.”September 2021
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Gajrela with ice cream Net +1
“I fell in love with their desserts like yummy Gajrela with ice cream, Babru and Gulam jamun 😋”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I fell in love with their desserts like yummy Gajrela with ice cream, Babru and Gulam jamun 😋”July 2025
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Gulam jamun Net +1
“I fell in love with their desserts like yummy Gajrela with ice cream, Babru and Gulam jamun 😋”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I fell in love with their desserts like yummy Gajrela with ice cream, Babru and Gulam jamun 😋”July 2025
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Hara bhara kebabs Net +1
“In food we tried the Paneer tikka and Hara Bhara kebabs in starters with Virgin Mojito and Coral Reef drinks.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“In food we tried the Paneer tikka and Hara Bhara kebabs in starters with Virgin Mojito and Coral Reef drinks.”August 2021
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Machchi tikka Net +1
“Their Machchi tikka and Murgh Tikka are must try dishes as they ooze with deliciousness👌”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Their Machchi tikka and Murgh Tikka are must try dishes as they ooze with deliciousness👌”July 2025
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Malai broccoli Net +1
“We started off with malai broccoli and Dahi palak me kebab. Malai broccoli was superb, creamy and perfectly grilled, not overdone or under done.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We started off with malai broccoli and Dahi palak me kebab. Malai broccoli was superb, creamy and perfectly grilled, not overdone or under done.”September 2021
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Murgh tikka Net +1
“Their Machchi tikka and Murgh Tikka are must try dishes as they ooze with deliciousness👌”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Their Machchi tikka and Murgh Tikka are must try dishes as they ooze with deliciousness👌”July 2025
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Mutton curry Net +1
“The menu is curated by a Himachali Head Chef, and every dish screams delicious – from the pillowy Siddu and comforting Pahadi Maggi to the rich Mutton Curry and fun street-style mountain snacks.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The menu is curated by a Himachali Head Chef, and every dish screams delicious – from the pillowy Siddu and comforting Pahadi Maggi to the rich Mutton Curry and fun street-style mountain snacks.”July 2025
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Paan shots Net +1
“Ms. Harshdeep and Mr. Manoj given very excellent service.... Just feel like we are in there family... Enjoyed alot... With artist... Thnx alot... For paan shots awesome”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Ms. Harshdeep and Mr. Manoj given very excellent service.... Just feel like we are in there family... Enjoyed alot... With artist... Thnx alot... For paan shots awesome”May 2026
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Paneer tikka Net +1
“In food we tried the Paneer tikka and Hara Bhara kebabs in starters with Virgin Mojito and Coral Reef drinks.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“In food we tried the Paneer tikka and Hara Bhara kebabs in starters with Virgin Mojito and Coral Reef drinks.”August 2021
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Pani puri Net +1
“The food was delicious – especially the Baingan ka Bharta, full of flavour, and the Pani Puri, which was fresh and tangy.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food was delicious – especially the Baingan ka Bharta, full of flavour, and the Pani Puri, which was fresh and tangy.”August 2025
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Panner malai tikka Net +1
“Panner Tikka and Panner Malai Tikka is good in starter.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Panner Tikka and Panner Malai Tikka is good in starter.”August 2022
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Panner tikka Net +1
“Panner Tikka and Panner Malai Tikka is good in starter.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Panner Tikka and Panner Malai Tikka is good in starter.”August 2022
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Sarson ka saag Net +1
“For mains we had sarson ka saag n makki ki roti along with dal makhani, paneer butter masala. Being a punjabi I am really hard to impress with sarson ka saag as I always lookout for that yummy authentic taste of saag that I had eaten growing up in Punjab. And the saag I had here was pretty decent and I would say much better than many known places here in Dubai and I would be back to try this out whenever I am craving saag.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“For mains we had sarson ka saag n makki ki roti along with dal makhani, paneer butter masala. Being a punjabi I am really hard to impress with sarson ka saag as I always lookout for that yummy authentic taste of saag that I had eaten growing up in Punjab. And the saag I had here was pretty decent and I would say much better than many known places here in Dubai and I would be back to try this out whenever I am craving saag.”September 2021
Drinks 1
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Melon berry lemonade Net +1
“For drinks we had coral reef and melon berry lemonade and those were perfect thirst quenchers with our delicious punjabi meals.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“For drinks we had coral reef and melon berry lemonade and those were perfect thirst quenchers with our delicious punjabi meals.”September 2021
Tips for a Better Visit
Allow Time. If visiting on a weekend, allow extra time for the kitchen because one diner reported long waits for food.
Request Mild. If you prefer less heat, ask for dishes to be adjusted; one review says the chefs helped ensure the food was not too spicy.
Check Bill. Review the final bill for service and municipality charges, and confirm drink pricing before ordering.
Try Starters. For a vegetarian starter, consider Paneer Tikka or Paneer Malai Tikka, both specifically recommended by a diner.
Plan the visit
Practical details
FORTUNE ATRIUM HOTEL - Khalid Bin Al Waleed Rd
Bur Dubai, Dubai
| Mon | 7:00 PM – 3:00 AM |
| Tue | 7:00 PM – 3:00 AM |
| Wed | 7:00 PM – 3:00 AM |
| Thu | 7:00 PM – 3:00 AM |
| Fri | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM, 7:00 PM – 3:00 AM |
| Sat | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM, 7:00 PM – 3:00 AM |
| Sun | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM, 7:00 PM – 3:00 AM |
Common Concerns
Extra Charges
One customer objected to a 10% service charge and 7% municipality fee being added to the bill.
Drink Value
A review says a cold drink that normally cost 2 AED was charged at 25 AED.
Weak Cocktails
The summer cocktails and pitcher were criticised for having barely noticeable alcohol content or flavour.
Weekend Delays
A diner reported that food took a long time to reach the table on weekends.
Uneven Taste
One review found the food taste quite average, even though the ambience and entertainment were enjoyable.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
25 AED
cold drink
“A cold drink worth 2 AED is being sold for 25 AED, while the service quality is very poor”Google review · May 2026
DXB
LOCAL
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The Bottom Line
Desi Dhaba is a North Indian restaurant in Bur Dubai where the meal comes with a substantial entertainment component. You can eat Punjabi-style dishes, listen to live singers and watch Bhangra performances, with some reviews describing guests dancing on the floor or joining the performers. That makes the restaurant more suited to a lively evening than a quiet dinner.
The food has several strong review-backed talking points. Baingan ka Bharta was called full of flavour, Pani Puri fresh and tangy, and the creamy broccoli starter was praised for being well grilled. Older detailed reviews also highlight sarson ka saag with makki ki roti, dal makhani, paneer dishes and warm gajar ka halwa.
A few diners, however, found the overall food taste average, so expectations may vary by dish. Birthdays, anniversaries and larger gatherings are a clear strength: reviews mention a 16-person family meal, a 40-person company dinner and carefully arranged anniversary celebrations. Book ahead for groups.
Weekend service may take longer, and check the bill carefully: one customer reported a cold drink charged at 25 AED instead of 2 AED, while others objected to service and municipality charges. Cocktails also received criticism for weak alcohol flavour.