Grilled meats
Reviews consistently highlight tender lamb, kebabs, shashlik and well-cooked steaks, with butchery and meat quality as a clear strength.
Günaydin
Downtown Dubai
Günaydin is a Turkish restaurant in Downtown Dubai’s Souk Al Bahar, centred on grilled meats and steaks. Customers come for dishes such as lamb rack and shashlik, then stay for outdoor seating with views of the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain shows.
Reputation Score
4.3
★★★★☆
2,703 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Fountain views
Outdoor tables can look directly towards the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain, including the light and water shows.
Steak cooking
The T-bone, filet, wagyu striploin and Tomahawk were each praised for careful cooking, tenderness or flavour.
Fresh bread
Several diners mention warm or freshly baked Turkish bread, often served with dipping sides.
Helpful service
Staff are often praised for fast service and useful ordering advice, including recommendations on meat cuts.
Drinks choice
Reviews mention alcohol, international wine, fresh juices, cocktails, beer and Turkish tea or coffee alongside the food.
What to Eat at Günaydin 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 Günaydin, 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 Günaydin, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.
Food 10
-
Adana Net +1
“The kebabs and starters were good. Especially the Adana.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The kebabs and starters were good. Especially the Adana.”June 2026
-
Chicken shish tawook Net +1
“Lamb melted off the bone, chicken shish tawook, felt like butter on the tongue, and that bread-warm, just-baked, impossible not to finish.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Lamb melted off the bone, chicken shish tawook, felt like butter on the tongue, and that bread-warm, just-baked, impossible not to finish.”September 2025
-
Dessert with pistachio Net +1
“The dessert with pistachio is the most delicious in the world!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The dessert with pistachio is the most delicious in the world!”November 2025
-
Fillet cutlets Net +1
“Food was nice, all dishes came fresh, bread was cold but not old, T bone steak was perfectly done, the fillet cutlets was also very tender, their Kebabs are also very nice, I didn't try the chicken but I guess was not bad as well.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food was nice, all dishes came fresh, bread was cold but not old, T bone steak was perfectly done, the fillet cutlets was also very tender, their Kebabs are also very nice, I didn't try the chicken but I guess was not bad as well.”July 2026
-
Fillet steak Net +1
“The waiter was very enthusiastic, he recommended we order fillet steak and special lamb rack and they were surprisingly great.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The waiter was very enthusiastic, he recommended we order fillet steak and special lamb rack and they were surprisingly great.”February 2025
-
Hummus Net +1
“We also enjoyed the tabouleh and hummus.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We also enjoyed the tabouleh and hummus.”June 2018
-
Katmer Net +1
“The same goes for desserts , the katmer was real dessert not merely baked stuff flooded with sugar and syrup .”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The same goes for desserts , the katmer was real dessert not merely baked stuff flooded with sugar and syrup .”November 2025
-
Kebab with pistachio Net +1
“The most delicious kebab with pistachio is 1500 meters away!, the lamb is fabulous!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The most delicious kebab with pistachio is 1500 meters away!, the lamb is fabulous!”November 2025
-
Lamb rack Net +1
“The Tomahawk and lamb rack were a real treat, exhibiting the chef's expertise in grilling.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Tomahawk and lamb rack were a real treat, exhibiting the chef's expertise in grilling.”November 2024
-
Seabass slice appetizer Net +1
“The combination of Turkish breads and delicious dipping sides sets a great foundation for a great meal, and the salad and seabass slice appetizer were standout dishes.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The combination of Turkish breads and delicious dipping sides sets a great foundation for a great meal, and the salad and seabass slice appetizer were standout dishes.”November 2024
Honorable mentions (9)
-
Shashlik Net +1
“The highlight was definitely the shashlik; it was absolutely the best.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The highlight was definitely the shashlik; it was absolutely the best.”November 2025
-
Soaked walnuts Net +1
“P.S. it probably the only Place in Dubai where you can taste the most fantastic soaked walnuts from Turkey!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“P.S. it probably the only Place in Dubai where you can taste the most fantastic soaked walnuts from Turkey!”March 2026
-
Special lamb rack Net +1
“The waiter was very enthusiastic, he recommended we order fillet steak and special lamb rack and they were surprisingly great.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The waiter was very enthusiastic, he recommended we order fillet steak and special lamb rack and they were surprisingly great.”February 2025
-
T bone steak Net +1
“Food was nice, all dishes came fresh, bread was cold but not old, T bone steak was perfectly done, the fillet cutlets was also very tender, their Kebabs are also very nice, I didn't try the chicken but I guess was not bad as well.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food was nice, all dishes came fresh, bread was cold but not old, T bone steak was perfectly done, the fillet cutlets was also very tender, their Kebabs are also very nice, I didn't try the chicken but I guess was not bad as well.”July 2026
-
Tabouleh Net +1
“We also enjoyed the tabouleh and hummus.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We also enjoyed the tabouleh and hummus.”June 2018
-
Tomahawk Net +1
“The Tomahawk and lamb rack were a real treat, exhibiting the chef's expertise in grilling.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Tomahawk and lamb rack were a real treat, exhibiting the chef's expertise in grilling.”November 2024
-
Tulum salad Net +1
“Amazing food and great service. Loved tulum salad and sea-bass. Thank you so much”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Amazing food and great service. Loved tulum salad and sea-bass. Thank you so much”June 2026
-
Wagyu striploin Net +1
“The wagyu striploin was so soft, tender, not chewy and delicious with the special sauce the restaurant had prepared.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The wagyu striploin was so soft, tender, not chewy and delicious with the special sauce the restaurant had prepared.”December 2023
-
Kebab platter for 2 Net 0
Only neutral feedback
“the food was average - ordered the Kebab platter for 2, cost just over AED500. the beef was tough, took alot of chews to dissolve it, so was the lamb. the chicken however was delicious.”
Positive 0Negative 0Neutral 1
Drinks 2
-
Mint lemonade Net +1
“I had a perfectly cooked filet. Mint lemonade is tasty! The fresh baked breads are wonderful!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I had a perfectly cooked filet. Mint lemonade is tasty! The fresh baked breads are wonderful!”November 2025
-
Traditional turkish tea Net +1
“We ended it with a traditional Turkish tea that transported us to the heart of Istanbul while causally watching the most beautiful water show in Dubai mall.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ended it with a traditional Turkish tea that transported us to the heart of Istanbul while causally watching the most beautiful water show in Dubai mall.”December 2023
What to Avoid (5)
Food 4
-
Cheese dip Net −1
“The cheese dip is very pungent and may not be for everybody. The rest of the meal was well made and worth trying.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The cheese dip is very pungent and may not be for everybody. The rest of the meal was well made and worth trying.”December 2022
-
Creamy spinach Net −1
“the creamy spinach wasn't as creamy..very mild taste.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“the creamy spinach wasn't as creamy..very mild taste.”April 2025
-
Döner Net −1
“What kind of place serves a döner with 5 or 6 pieces of fries on the side? And even if I let that slide, what the hell is sending Coke in a cardboard cup? Are you McDonald’s or something? The minced meat in the lahmacun wasn’t even cooked. We threw every single one of them in the trash. As for the döner, it was literally just meat inside. You couldn’t even be bothered to add two slices of tomato, some onions, or a bit of lettuce.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“What kind of place serves a döner with 5 or 6 pieces of fries on the side? And even if I let that slide, what the hell is sending Coke in a cardboard cup? Are you McDonald’s or something? The minced meat in the lahmacun wasn’t even cooked. We threw every single one of them in the trash. As for the döner, it was literally just meat inside. You couldn’t even be bothered to add two slices of tomato, some onions, or a bit of lettuce.”August 2026
-
Lahmacun Net −1
“The minced meat in the lahmacun wasn’t even cooked. We threw every single one of them in the trash.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The minced meat in the lahmacun wasn’t even cooked. We threw every single one of them in the trash.”August 2026
Drinks 1
-
White wine Net −1
“The only thing we didn’t enjoy is white wine. But who drinks wine in Turkish restaurant?😅 Our fault.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The only thing we didn’t enjoy is white wine. But who drinks wine in Turkish restaurant?😅 Our fault.”May 2025
Tips for a Better Visit
Reserve outside. Book ahead for terrace seating, especially on busy weekends, if the fountain show is your priority.
Ask for guidance. The meat selection is broad, so ask the team for a recommendation rather than choosing blindly.
Share portions. For three or four people, one mix-grill platter for two plus mezzes may be enough, which can help manage the bill.
Time dinner. Try to align your meal with a fountain or light show, and consider an outside table for the clearest view.
Try off-peak. Weekend dinners can be busy and service may become distracted, so booking or visiting outside peak periods is sensible.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Souk Al Bahar
Burj Khalifa - Downtown Dubai, Dubai
| Mon | 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM |
| Tue | 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM |
| Wed | 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM |
| Thu | 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM |
| Fri | 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM |
| Sat | 9:30 AM – 1:00 AM |
| Sun | 9:30 AM – 1:00 AM |
Common Concerns
High pricing
The fountain-facing setting comes with a premium; one table reported a kebab platter for two at just over AED500 and an AED814 bill.
Inconsistent meat
One diner found the beef and lamb in a kebab platter tough, while the chicken was described as delicious.
Delivery failure
A delivery review reported an undercooked lahmacun and a very sparse döner, so takeaway quality may be less reliable than dining in.
Service lapses
A few reviews mention distracted or inattentive service, particularly when the restaurant is busy.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
just over AED500
Kebab platter for 2
“the food was average - ordered the Kebab platter for 2, cost just over AED500”Google review · April 2025
AED814
Bill for 2 pax
“the bill cost AED814 for 2 pax”Google review · April 2025
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Günaydin is a Turkish restaurant in Downtown Dubai’s Souk Al Bahar, known chiefly for grilled meat and a front-row setting near the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain. You can order steaks such as filet, T-bone or wagyu striploin, or go for Turkish dishes including shashlik, Adana kebab, lamb rack and fresh mezzes. The outdoor tables are the draw when a fountain or light show is running.
Food feedback is generally strong, especially on meat cooking, bread and fresh salads. A reviewer called the warm baked bread hard to stop eating, while another highlighted lamb that melted off the bone and chicken shish tawook. Desserts include baklava with ice cream and katmer; Turkish tea or coffee makes a natural finish.
Alcohol, wine, cocktails, beer and fresh juices are also mentioned. This is not a budget meal. One review put a kebab platter for two at just over AED500, and another reported an AED814 bill for two.
Quality and service are not perfectly consistent: one diner found beef and lamb tough, another needed to repeat requests, and a delivery order included undercooked lahmacun. Book ahead for terrace seating, especially at weekends, and ask for help choosing from the extensive meat selection.