Emirati breakfast
Breakfast is a standout, with Emirati, Arabic and Indian choices and consistently strong reviews for flavour and presentation.
مطعم هود الشعبي/ Houd traditional restaurant
Ras Al Khor
Houd is a traditional Emirati restaurant in Ras Al Khor serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, with an Indian food section as well. Reviews make it especially worth considering for Emirati breakfast, freshly made regag and filling dishes such as machboos chicken, in a relaxed setting away from Dubai’s busier areas.
Reputation Score
4.2
★★★★☆
441 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Machboos chicken
The machboos chicken was described as heavenly, with the flavour strong enough to make a first-time visitor crave more.
Fresh regag
Regag is freshly prepared and can be ordered with meat or shrimp; one reviewer also noted that it is customizable.
Family privacy
Families can request a partition or use the provided screens for extra privacy while dining.
Generous portions
Portions can be substantial: an Emirati breakfast package for two was described as more than enough for a feast.
Easy parking
Parking is available in front of the restaurant and around it, making the Ras Al Khor stop relatively convenient by car.
Cheese luqaimat
Cheese luqaimat is a repeat-order favourite, with one returning customer visiting Dubai again specifically for it.
What to Eat at مطعم هود الشعبي/ Houd traditional 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 مطعم هود الشعبي/ Houd traditional 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 مطعم هود الشعبي/ Houd traditional restaurant got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 2
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Regag Net +3
“The local snacks here are absolutely amazing! 😍😍The regag was delicious, fresh, and full of authentic flavor. Excellent food quality, great taste, and a wonderful experience overall. Definitely one of the best places to enjoy traditional local snacks!”
Positive 3Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The local snacks here are absolutely amazing! 😍😍The regag was delicious, fresh, and full of authentic flavor. Excellent food quality, great taste, and a wonderful experience overall. Definitely one of the best places to enjoy traditional local snacks!”June 2026
“my fav spot for rgag they’re very nice and quick with the food !! nice service and nice guys as well”August 2023
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Emirati breakfast Net +2
“Best Emirati breakfast I’ve ever tried. This small restaurant truly competes with the most famous Emirati restaurants in the UAE. Everything we tried was absolutely amazing flavors, quality, and presentation were all on point. The service is top-notch, and the staff are incredibly friendly and welcoming, which makes the experience even better. Highly recommended if you’re looking for an authentic and memorable Emirati breakfast.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Best Emirati breakfast I’ve ever tried. This small restaurant truly competes with the most famous Emirati restaurants in the UAE. Everything we tried was absolutely amazing flavors, quality, and presentation were all on point. The service is top-notch, and the staff are incredibly friendly and welcoming, which makes the experience even better. Highly recommended if you’re looking for an authentic and memorable Emirati breakfast.”January 2026
“We ordered for work Emirati breakfast for 2 & the package was more than 2 wow mashallah it is a feast highly recommend 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟”June 2024
Honorable mentions (14)
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Biryani Net +1
“Best biryani and machboos I tried in my life.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Best biryani and machboos I tried in my life.”February 2026
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Chabab Net +1
“Favorite place to buy chabab (I don't know exactly the name but it's look like a pancake with cheese or honey if you like) it's really tasty. 😁”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Favorite place to buy chabab (I don't know exactly the name but it's look like a pancake with cheese or honey if you like) it's really tasty. 😁”October 2021
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Cheese luqaimat Net +1
“Every time i come back to dubai i must make a visit here for their amazing cheese Luqaimat. those are always always made to perfection”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Every time i come back to dubai i must make a visit here for their amazing cheese Luqaimat. those are always always made to perfection”April 2023
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Chicken biryani Net +1
“I ordered the regag, chicken biryani, harees and some karak—great and reasonably priced.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I ordered the regag, chicken biryani, harees and some karak—great and reasonably priced.”July 2023
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Chicken briyani Net +1
“Chicken Briyani was nice. And one of the best Karak .”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Chicken Briyani was nice. And one of the best Karak .”December 2025
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Chicken mendi half chicken option Net +1
“I ordered the new Chicken Mendi, half chicken option. the chicken taste is so yummy, the rice amount is a little too much for me, guess it is meant for two, or i just can't eat that amount lol.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I ordered the new Chicken Mendi, half chicken option. the chicken taste is so yummy, the rice amount is a little too much for me, guess it is meant for two, or i just can't eat that amount lol.”January 2022
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Keema barata Net +1
“Amazing food selection, I always go back to get Keema barata + karak and Milk with bread ١٠/١٠”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Amazing food selection, I always go back to get Keema barata + karak and Milk with bread ١٠/١٠”December 2022
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Luqaimat Net +1
“Had luqaimat and pancake with cheese and honey. My 2nd visit was specially for these to items again but this time I bring my friends also😆. Will come again soon.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Had luqaimat and pancake with cheese and honey. My 2nd visit was specially for these to items again but this time I bring my friends also😆. Will come again soon.”March 2024
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Machboos Net +1
“Best biryani and machboos I tried in my life.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Best biryani and machboos I tried in my life.”February 2026
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Machboos chicken Net +1
“The food is 10/10, did not disappoint as we came here hungry from an instagram recommendation. The food was cooked extremely well. All the food was so good, the best Arabic food we’ve tasted. They have all sorts of khubz regag, in meat, shrimp and is customizable, but our personal favorite was the machboos chicken. It was heavenly, made us crave for more just by tasting it.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food is 10/10, did not disappoint as we came here hungry from an instagram recommendation. The food was cooked extremely well. All the food was so good, the best Arabic food we’ve tasted. They have all sorts of khubz regag, in meat, shrimp and is customizable, but our personal favorite was the machboos chicken. It was heavenly, made us crave for more just by tasting it.”April 2026
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Milk with bread Net +1
“Amazing food selection, I always go back to get Keema barata + karak and Milk with bread ١٠/١٠”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Amazing food selection, I always go back to get Keema barata + karak and Milk with bread ١٠/١٠”December 2022
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Qouzy meat Net +1
“The food was great — we ordered the qouzy meat and shakshuka, and everything was perfectly done.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food was great — we ordered the qouzy meat and shakshuka, and everything was perfectly done.”May 2026
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Shakshuka Net +1
“The food was great — we ordered the qouzy meat and shakshuka, and everything was perfectly done.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food was great — we ordered the qouzy meat and shakshuka, and everything was perfectly done.”May 2026
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Syrah Net +1
“I loved the food and Syrah is the bestttt”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I loved the food and Syrah is the bestttt”July 2026
Drinks 1
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Karak Net +3
“Delicious meal! Generous portions and great vibe. Don’t miss the Karak!”
Positive 4Negative 1
Review excerpts
“Delicious meal! Generous portions and great vibe. Don’t miss the Karak!”April 2026
“Other snacks they serve are top notch as well especially with karak”April 2023
Tips for a Better Visit
Try breakfast. Start with breakfast if it is your first visit: the menu includes Emirati, Arabic and Indian options.
Share portions. Consider sharing the breakfast package for two; one reviewer found it large enough to feel like a feast.
Order regag. Ask for khubz regag with meat or shrimp, and check the customizable options if you want to shape the order.
Ask for privacy. If you are dining with family, ask about a partition or screen; reviewers said this added comfort and privacy.
Allow time. Build in extra time during busy periods, as one visit described the service as super slow even though the place is small.
Bring the car. Driving is practical: parking was reported directly in front of the restaurant and in the surrounding area.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Al Awir First - Dubai
Al Awir First, Dubai
| Mon | 6:30 AM – 10:30 PM |
| Tue | 6:30 AM – 10:30 PM |
| Wed | 6:30 AM – 10:30 PM |
| Thu | 6:30 AM – 10:30 PM |
| Fri | 6:30 AM – 10:30 PM |
| Sat | 6:30 AM – 10:30 PM |
| Sun | 6:30 AM – 10:30 PM |
Common Concerns
Slow service
Service is not consistently quick; several reviews call it very bad or super slow, despite other visits receiving excellent service.
Limited cooling
The small dining area was reported to have insufficient air conditioning on one visit.
Karak adjustment
One breakfast review liked the meal overall but felt the karak needed adjustment.
Mixed food
A few visitors found the food merely average or not tasty, so expectations should account for some inconsistency.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Houd is a small traditional Emirati restaurant in Ras Al Khor, suited to anyone looking for local food rather than a polished downtown dining scene. Breakfast is a major draw, with Emirati, Arabic and Indian choices. The menu also gives you plenty to explore, from khubz regag with meat or shrimp to machboos chicken, harees and cheese luqaimat.
Several reviews praise the food as fresh, well cooked and generously portioned. The Emirati breakfast package for two was described as a feast, while machboos chicken was one visitor’s standout dish. Cheese luqaimat has its own following, with a returning customer making a point of visiting for it.
Karak is also popular, although one reviewer thought it needed some adjustment. The atmosphere is cosy and traditional, and the restaurant has adjacent air-conditioned seating. Families can ask for a partition or screen for added privacy, and parking is available in front and around the restaurant.
Prices are generally described as affordable, with one breakfast review reporting an average of AED 50 per person. Service is mixed: some guests found it friendly and fast, while others reported very slow or poor service, so allow a little extra time.