Shawarma
The Emerald signature shawarma is a long-standing favourite, praised for balanced sauces and not being oily.
Emerald Restaurant (Deira)
Port Saeed
Emerald Restaurant is a family restaurant in Port Saeed with a broad menu that ranges from Indian dishes to shawarma and fried rice. Customers often come for the Emerald signature shawarma, biryani and karak, with several reviews also noting generous portions and affordable meals.
Reputation Score
3.9
★★★★☆
478 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Indian dishes
Reviews highlight the Hyderabadi biryani, butter chicken and other Indian dishes as tasty, filling choices.
Charcoal chicken
Charcoal chicken is described as juicy inside with smoky, crispy skin, alongside generous portions and fresh sides.
Reasonable meals
Several customers found the food affordable, including a two-person meal with fish, prawns, naan, fries and karak for 16 euros.
Accessible location
The restaurant is described as easy to reach near City Centre Deira Metro station.
Fresh food
One large order was described as tasty and hygienic, while another review praised the food as fresh and wholesome.
Outdoor seating
The restaurant has both outdoor and indoor seating, giving takeaway and dine-in visitors another seating option.
What to Eat at Emerald Restaurant (Deira) 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 Emerald Restaurant (Deira), 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.
Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of Emerald Restaurant (Deira), ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.
Food 2
-
Hyderabadi biriyani Net +2
“Had Hyderabad Biriyani and it was so yummy.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Had Hyderabad Biriyani and it was so yummy.”October 2023
“Very tasty, we even went there twice! Everything that we tried was very delicious, from Hyderabadi biriyani, to butter chicken, noodles and more! The portions are huge and the prices are very affordable. The service was perfect, friendly and always smiley. Simply amazing and I highly recommend it!”June 2025
-
Prawn masala Net +2
“Food is really delicious (our favorites are prawns masala+naan and mango coctail that you get In a bottle and can takeaway).”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food is really delicious (our favorites are prawns masala+naan and mango coctail that you get In a bottle and can takeaway).”March 2024
“Don’t miss their Prawn Masala with Butter Naan Rotti— it’s absolutely top-notch! Rich in spices, perfectly cooked prawns, and a taste that lingers — it’s the standout dish that keeps customers coming back.”May 2025
Honorable mentions (15)
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Brown bread sandwich with chicken Net +1
“One orange fresh Juice and Brown bread sandwich with chicken. Nice ambience with Arabic music . Multi-cuisine. Reasonable price and Good hospitality by waiters.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“One orange fresh Juice and Brown bread sandwich with chicken. Nice ambience with Arabic music . Multi-cuisine. Reasonable price and Good hospitality by waiters.”June 2023
-
Butter chicken Net +1
“Very tasty, we even went there twice! Everything that we tried was very delicious, from Hyderabadi biriyani, to butter chicken, noodles and more! The portions are huge and the prices are very affordable. The service was perfect, friendly and always smiley. Simply amazing and I highly recommend it!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Very tasty, we even went there twice! Everything that we tried was very delicious, from Hyderabadi biriyani, to butter chicken, noodles and more! The portions are huge and the prices are very affordable. The service was perfect, friendly and always smiley. Simply amazing and I highly recommend it!”June 2025
-
Butter naan rotti Net +1
“Don’t miss their Prawn Masala with Butter Naan Rotti— it’s absolutely top-notch! Rich in spices, perfectly cooked prawns, and a taste that lingers — it’s the standout dish that keeps customers coming back.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Don’t miss their Prawn Masala with Butter Naan Rotti— it’s absolutely top-notch! Rich in spices, perfectly cooked prawns, and a taste that lingers — it’s the standout dish that keeps customers coming back.”May 2025
-
Charcoal chicken Net +1
“Food Charcoal Chicken is a total winner. The chicken is perfectly charcoal-grilled juicy on the inside with that smoky, crispy skin that hits just right. Portions are generous, prices are fair, and everything tastes fresh.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food Charcoal Chicken is a total winner. The chicken is perfectly charcoal-grilled juicy on the inside with that smoky, crispy skin that hits just right. Portions are generous, prices are fair, and everything tastes fresh.”February 2026
-
Chicksilog Net +1
“The chicksilog is good specially the fried rice but the chicken is too small and its 23dhs should atleast biggest part of chicken.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The chicksilog is good specially the fried rice but the chicken is too small and its 23dhs should atleast biggest part of chicken.”February 2026
-
Diet special combo Net +1
“I recently visited Restaurants, and I 17 AED for Diet special combo must say. at I was quite impressed with their offerings.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I recently visited Restaurants, and I 17 AED for Diet special combo must say. at I was quite impressed with their offerings.”June 2023
-
Emerald signature shawarma Net +1
“My favourite is their emerald signature Shawarma.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“My favourite is their emerald signature Shawarma.”June 2024
-
Fruit juices Net +1
“Fruit juices and fried rice are so delicious.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Fruit juices and fried rice are so delicious.”August 2025
-
Mango coctail Net +1
“Food is really delicious (our favorites are prawns masala+naan and mango coctail that you get In a bottle and can takeaway).”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food is really delicious (our favorites are prawns masala+naan and mango coctail that you get In a bottle and can takeaway).”March 2024
-
Mutton briyani Net +1
“I absolutely love their mutton briyani..it's so yummy 😋”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I absolutely love their mutton briyani..it's so yummy 😋”April 2026
-
Naan Net +1
“Food is really delicious (our favorites are prawns masala+naan and mango coctail that you get In a bottle and can takeaway).”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food is really delicious (our favorites are prawns masala+naan and mango coctail that you get In a bottle and can takeaway).”March 2024
-
Papad Net +1
“Had the vegetable briyani which came with multiple condiments and papad. It was absolutely delightful.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Had the vegetable briyani which came with multiple condiments and papad. It was absolutely delightful.”April 2025
-
Peri-peri chicken Net +1
“I have tried peri-peri chicken and it was good but could find a fallen hair in the food.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I have tried peri-peri chicken and it was good but could find a fallen hair in the food.”June 2023
-
Vegetable briyani Net +1
“Had the vegetable briyani which came with multiple condiments and papad. It was absolutely delightful.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Had the vegetable briyani which came with multiple condiments and papad. It was absolutely delightful.”April 2025
-
Fried rice Net 0
Mixed feedback
“Fruit juices and fried rice are so delicious.”
Positive 1Negative 1
Review excerpts
“Fruit juices and fried rice are so delicious.”August 2025
Drinks 1
-
Karak Net +2
“For the last 3 years, I've been here for this karak and shawarma 😍. Really wonderful place, and food and beverages are very tasty and delicious. Must try and visit”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“For the last 3 years, I've been here for this karak and shawarma 😍. Really wonderful place, and food and beverages are very tasty and delicious. Must try and visit”September 2024
“Tastiest karak that we tried.”March 2024
What to Avoid (10)
Food 9
-
Beef biryani Net −1
“The Beef Biryani was priced at 16 AED, but I was shocked to find only two pieces of beef in my dish—one piece was mostly bone, and the other was just a small amount of meat. This felt quite unfair for the price. Additionally, the taste was lacking and did not meet my expectations at all.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The Beef Biryani was priced at 16 AED, but I was shocked to find only two pieces of beef in my dish—one piece was mostly bone, and the other was just a small amount of meat. This felt quite unfair for the price. Additionally, the taste was lacking and did not meet my expectations at all.”October 2024
-
Chicken manchurian Net −1
“The restaurant was mention that schezwan fried rice combo with chicken manchurian, but it’s not a combo it was just side dish with small cup, you can see in the picture also ….food is not bad but need to mention the menu properly thank you.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The restaurant was mention that schezwan fried rice combo with chicken manchurian, but it’s not a combo it was just side dish with small cup, you can see in the picture also ….food is not bad but need to mention the menu properly thank you.”June 2026
-
Chicken noodles Net −1
“I ordered chicken noodles and fried rice through Keeta. When I ordered from the Karama branch before, the portion size was generous. However, my first order from the Deira branch was disappointing—the quantity was almost half of what I usually received. I hope they maintain consistent portion sizes across all branches.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“I ordered chicken noodles and fried rice through Keeta. When I ordered from the Karama branch before, the portion size was generous. However, my first order from the Deira branch was disappointing—the quantity was almost half of what I usually received. I hope they maintain consistent portion sizes across all branches.”July 2026
-
Chicken qorma Net −1
“Honestly feedback, biryani taste was good but no salad 🥗 and chicken qorma taste was very…… you all people can see the photo what’s the color of qorma 🤪 Experience was not much good even food is expensive 😒”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Honestly feedback, biryani taste was good but no salad 🥗 and chicken qorma taste was very…… you all people can see the photo what’s the color of qorma 🤪 Experience was not much good even food is expensive 😒”July 2024
-
Chicken shawarma Net −1
“We ordered chicken shawarma, but it had no flavor at all.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“We ordered chicken shawarma, but it had no flavor at all.”December 2025
-
French fries Net −1
“The fries were unsalted, and no salt was provided in case we wanted to season them ourselves.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The fries were unsalted, and no salt was provided in case we wanted to season them ourselves.”December 2025
-
Hassan mathar Net −1
“I had the Hassan Mathar. It wasn’t served hot, and the taste was quite mild. The chicken filling was average—not bad, but nothing special. For AED 10, I don’t think it’s worth the price. It would be more reasonable if it cost around AED 8. I also mentioned these things at the pay counter, but they didn’t even care about the customer review.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“I had the Hassan Mathar. It wasn’t served hot, and the taste was quite mild. The chicken filling was average—not bad, but nothing special. For AED 10, I don’t think it’s worth the price. It would be more reasonable if it cost around AED 8. I also mentioned these things at the pay counter, but they didn’t even care about the customer review.”June 2026
-
Schezwan fried rice combo Net −1
“The restaurant was mention that schezwan fried rice combo with chicken manchurian, but it’s not a combo it was just side dish with small cup, you can see in the picture also ….food is not bad but need to mention the menu properly thank you.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The restaurant was mention that schezwan fried rice combo with chicken manchurian, but it’s not a combo it was just side dish with small cup, you can see in the picture also ….food is not bad but need to mention the menu properly thank you.”June 2026
-
Spicy shawarma Net −1
“I ordered one spicy shawarma and got burnt shawarma. I have taken the picture”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“I ordered one spicy shawarma and got burnt shawarma. I have taken the picture”January 2026
Drinks 1
-
Mango milk shake Net −1
“Not at all good mango milk shake which we have ordered it's really bad taste and not even fresh”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Not at all good mango milk shake which we have ordered it's really bad taste and not even fresh”May 2026
Tips for a Better Visit
Go early. Arrive early for lunch because some menu items may sell out later in the day.
Allow time. Build in extra time during breakfast or dine-in visits, as several customers reported long waits and missed table attention.
Check combos. Confirm what a combo includes before paying, especially when the menu photo suggests a larger accompaniment.
Plan parking. If you are collecting takeaway, plan around parking first; one customer could not find a space and was not handed the parcel outside.
Check shawarma. Inspect your shawarma on collection, since one order intended as spicy was reported as burnt.
Ask portions. Ask about serving size when ordering across branches, as the Deira portion was reported to be much smaller than Karama’s.
Plan the visit
Practical details
9 26b St
Port Saeed - Deira, Dubai
| Mon | 7:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Tue | 7:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Wed | 7:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Thu | 7:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Fri | 7:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Sat | 7:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Sun | 7:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
Common Concerns
Slow service
Waiting times are a recurring concern: one breakfast order took 28 minutes, while another dine-in visit took almost an hour.
Inconsistent portions
Portions can vary by branch; a customer said the Deira chicken noodles and fried rice serving was almost half the Karama portion.
Parking difficulty
A customer waiting for a takeaway order reported that no parking was available and staff would not bring the parcel to the car.
Mixed quality
Reviews report occasional quality problems, including a burnt shawarma, flavourless shawarma and an unsatisfactory mango milkshake.
Menu clarity
Check combo descriptions carefully: one customer expected chicken Manchurian but received only a small side dish.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
17 AED
Diet special combo
“I recently visited Restaurants, and I 17 AED for Diet special combo must say”Google review · June 2023
16 AED
Beef Biryani
“The Beef Biryani was priced at 16 AED, but I was shocked to find only two pieces of beef in my dish—one piece was mostly bone, and the other was just a small amount of meat”Google review · October 2024
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Emerald Restaurant is a family restaurant in Port Saeed with a wide-ranging menu, and it suits diners who want Indian comfort food, shawarma or a quick casual meal. Popular choices in the reviews include Emerald signature shawarma, Hyderabadi biryani, butter chicken, charcoal chicken and prawns masala with butter naan. Karak and fresh juices also get regular mentions.
The food can be very good when it lands well. Charcoal chicken was praised for juicy meat, smoky crispy skin, generous portions and fresh sides, while one group enjoyed large portions of biryani, butter chicken and noodles at affordable prices. The restaurant is also convenient for visitors near City Centre Deira Metro station, with indoor and outdoor seating.
Service is the main variable. Some customers describe friendly, attentive help, but others waited 28 minutes for breakfast, nearly an hour for dine-in food or had difficulty getting attention. Parking can also be awkward for takeaway collection.
Come early for lunch because dishes may sell out, allow extra time at busy periods, and confirm combo contents and portion sizes before paying. Recent reviews also flag uneven quality, including burnt or flavourless shawarma and an unappealing mango milkshake.