Nalan Express Restaurant Al Nahda

Name: Nalan Express Restaurant Al Nahda
Address: 5, Smark 4 Building, Plot 231 - 197, Al Nahda, Dubai, AE
Telephone: +971501582891

Al Nahda

Restaurant 0 501 582 891

Nalan Express Restaurant in Al Nahda serves Tamil and South Indian food, with biryani and filling breakfast dishes among the main draws. Reviews also point to generous meals, homely flavours and affordable options for everyday dining or larger party orders.

Reputation Score

4.6

★★★★★

432 ratings

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The Good Stuff

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Biryani

Mutton biryani is repeatedly praised for its flavour, generous quantity and party-order accompaniments such as chicken 65, egg, raita and payasam.

Breakfast

Breakfast starts from 7 am, with regulars highlighting dishes such as pongal, vada, idli, set dosa and egg lapa.

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What to Eat at Nalan Express Restaurant Al Nahda

These items at Nalan Express Restaurant Al Nahda got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!

Food 8

Mutton biryani Net +7

“Food taste amazing here! Especially their biryani specifically the mutton biryani.”
Butter chicken Net +3

“Though it's a small setup the food is amazingly good. Tried butter chicken, parotta, idly, dosa, khushka rice, mutton biryani, egg curry. Everything was superb. Service and hospitality is equally good. Mr KK is very friendly to his customers and always has the right suggestions. This is a place where I would visit again and again because the food is so good.”
Idli Net +3

“The food quality in terms of breakfast is really good, I have tried pongal vada, idly, set dosa, their sambar and chutney were finger licking good.”
Beef biriani Net +2

“Beef biriani in siraga samba rice was super taste.”
Chicken curry Net +2

“Especially their own chicken curry and mutton curry, briyani. It’s too good.”
Dosa Net +2

“My kids had Dosa and they loved it too........OVERALL DO NOT MISS THIS RESTAURANT...”
Fulka Net +2

“The ambience here was so nice with variety of foods with delicious taste...must try is chicken podi fry which is chef special also fulka and butter chicken. The staffs here was also kind and nice, the service there is also very good and the food was quickly served as possible. Even though the place is quite small don't worry the food quality and staff there is superb.”
Payasam Net +2

“The Payasam was a fantastic finish to the lunch.”

Honorable mentions (42)

Andhra non-veg meals Net +1

“I just visited Nalan Express Restaurant in Al Nahda and tried their Andhra Non-Veg Meals, and I must say, it was a delightful experience. The meal was packed with authentic flavors that stayed true to the rich and spicy Andhra cuisine. The variety on the plate was impressive, with perfectly cooked rice, tangy sambar, spicy curries, and a well-seasoned non-veg dish (chicken and fish) that really hit the spot.”
Brinjal gravy Net +1

“Loved their Brinjal gravy.”
Bun parotta Net +1

“Tried their Veg meals, Briyanis, Egg dosa, Podi Idli, Bun parotta. Didn't disappoint.”
Cabbage poriyal Net +1

“The food arrived and when we had the first mouth itself our impression changed. It was amazing. There was chicken kulambu, sambar, vatha kulambu, paruppu kootu, cabbage poriyal, rasam and buttermilk. Everything was super amazing.”
Chappathi Net +1

“Chappathi was really sift.”
Chicken 65 boneless Net +1

“I recently ordered from Nalan Express and was blown away by the incredible flavors of their Quil Biryani, Mutton, and Chicken 65 Boneless. The dishes were not only delicious but also exceeded my expectations in terms of quality and freshness.”
Chicken briyani Net +1

“Mutton biryani and chicken briyani is a must try with abundant quantity , great quality and great taste.”
Chicken fried rice Net +1

“My friends had chicken tandoori and chicken fried rice. Both are excellent for them.”
Chicken podi fry Net +1

“The ambience here was so nice with variety of foods with delicious taste...must try is chicken podi fry which is chef special also fulka and butter chicken. The staffs here was also kind and nice, the service there is also very good and the food was quickly served as possible. Even though the place is quite small don't worry the food quality and staff there is superb.”
Chicken tandoori Net +1

“My friends had chicken tandoori and chicken fried rice. Both are excellent for them.”
Chilli beef Net +1

“Whoever looking for real taste must try this restaurant, am a big fan of this restaurant especially for mutton nenju ellumbu soup and whatever I ordered here ( like fried rice, chilli beef ,parotta, butter chicken, kangakarrupu chicken etc) really taste good and it is the first restaurant wr I found all items are good.”
Dum biryani, tamil style Net +1

“Great food. Visited the restaurant as a family of 3. We tried the Tamil cuisine. Dum biryani, Tamil style was authentic and very tasty. Service was outstanding.”
Egg biryani Net +1

“The food was amazing. Egg biryani, veechu parotta and their special chicken curry. Add to it, they gave a sample of their mutton biryani to taste and that was amazing.”
Egg curry Net +1

“Though it's a small setup the food is amazingly good. Tried butter chicken, parotta, idly, dosa, khushka rice, mutton biryani, egg curry. Everything was superb. Service and hospitality is equally good. Mr KK is very friendly to his customers and always has the right suggestions. This is a place where I would visit again and again because the food is so good.”
Egg dosa Net +1

“Tried their Veg meals, Briyanis, Egg dosa, Podi Idli, Bun parotta. Didn't disappoint.”
Egg kothu parotta Net +1

“The Paratta and chicken curry combo and egg kothu parotta which we had tried earlier was very tasty too.”
Egg lapa Net +1

“Nalan….”The good” that’s what’s it means… still doing Sunday morning drive from Jebel Ali to Qusais to have special breakfast with Egg lapa. Feel good restaurant!!!!!”
Fried rice Net +1

“Whoever looking for real taste must try this restaurant, am a big fan of this restaurant especially for mutton nenju ellumbu soup and whatever I ordered here ( like fried rice, chilli beef ,parotta, butter chicken, kangakarrupu chicken etc) really taste good and it is the first restaurant wr I found all items are good.”
Gobi 65 starter Net +1

“We had our dinner at Nalan today, enjoyed the dishes thoroughly, Gobi 65 starter was so crispy, soft and tasty.”
Idiyappam Net +1

“Have become a big fan of Idiyappam and Paya for Sunday Breakfasts which has become regular.”
Kaara podi chicken Net +1

“We ordered kaara podi chicken and another chicken dish for our son. It was simply superb.”
Kangakarrupu chicken Net +1

“Whoever looking for real taste must try this restaurant, am a big fan of this restaurant especially for mutton nenju ellumbu soup and whatever I ordered here ( like fried rice, chilli beef ,parotta, butter chicken, kangakarrupu chicken etc) really taste good and it is the first restaurant wr I found all items are good.”
Karapodi chicken Net +1

“Authentic south indian food. Reasonable price. Especially karapodi chicken superb.....”
Khushka rice Net +1

“Though it's a small setup the food is amazingly good. Tried butter chicken, parotta, idly, dosa, khushka rice, mutton biryani, egg curry. Everything was superb. Service and hospitality is equally good. Mr KK is very friendly to his customers and always has the right suggestions. This is a place where I would visit again and again because the food is so good.”
Kottu parota Net +1

“The Kottu Parota is a must try!”
Mutton curry Net +1

“Especially their own chicken curry and mutton curry, briyani. It’s too good.”
Mutton nenju ellumbu soup Net +1

“Whoever looking for real taste must try this restaurant, am a big fan of this restaurant especially for mutton nenju ellumbu soup and whatever I ordered here ( like fried rice, chilli beef ,parotta, butter chicken, kangakarrupu chicken etc) really taste good and it is the first restaurant wr I found all items are good.”
Mutton seeraga samba biryani Net +1

“We had ordered 2kg mutton seeraga samba biryani for a small get together in our home. It came with accompaniments like chicken 65, Brinjal gravy, Onion Raita, Boiled egg and Payasam. The staff assured us that the delivery would be on time and the quality and quantity would not be compromised. And the best part is they went above and beyond everything to make sure that they kept up their promise. We had an awesome lunch and our friends couldn't stop appreciating the amazing taste of the Mutton Biryani.”
Nalan biryani Net +1

“Nalan Biryani is most delicious biryani I ever had.”
Nalan spl. chicken curry Net +1

“Food was delicious and most importantly it was very fresh. Parota, Nalan Spl. Chicken curry, Mutton Biriyani, all were simply exquisite!”
Paratta Net +1

“The Paratta and chicken curry combo and egg kothu parotta which we had tried earlier was very tasty too.”
Paruppu kootu Net +1

“The vatha kulambu, paruppu kootu and cabbage were finger licking good.”
Paya Net +1

“Have become a big fan of Idiyappam and Paya for Sunday Breakfasts which has become regular.”
Podi idli Net +1

“Tried their Veg meals, Briyanis, Egg dosa, Podi Idli, Bun parotta. Didn't disappoint.”
Pompfret fish fry Net +1

“Pompfret fish fry too tasted amazing like homemade fish fry.”
Quil biryani Net +1

“I recently ordered from Nalan Express and was blown away by the incredible flavors of their Quil Biryani, Mutton, and Chicken 65 Boneless. The dishes were not only delicious but also exceeded my expectations in terms of quality and freshness.”
Set dosa Net +1

“The food quality in terms of breakfast is really good, I have tried pongal vada, idly, set dosa, their sambar and chutney were finger licking good.”
Special chicken curry Net +1

“The food was amazing. Egg biryani, veechu parotta and their special chicken curry. Add to it, they gave a sample of their mutton biryani to taste and that was amazing.”
Vatha kulambu Net +1

“The vatha kulambu, paruppu kootu and cabbage were finger licking good.”
Veechu parotta Net +1

“The food was amazing. Egg biryani, veechu parotta and their special chicken curry. Add to it, they gave a sample of their mutton biryani to taste and that was amazing.”
Veg kadai Net +1

“Good taste. Pocket friendly and friendly staff. I had Fulka and veg kadai.”
Veg thali Net +1

“Homely taste, we had been here couple of times and very satisfied with their food especially the veg thali. Good quality and reasonably priced.”

What to Avoid (1)

Food 1

Naatukozhi biriyani Net −1

“Based on my own experience, except prawn dishes and naatukozhi biriyani they are super good in everything.”

Tips for a Better Visit

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Check location. Look behind the building rather than along the main line; the outlet is easy to miss.

Avoid peaks. Choose your timing carefully if you want a seat, as the limited seating can mean waiting during peak periods.

Plan the visit

Practical details

5, Smark 4 Building, Plot 231 - 197

Al Nahda - Al Nahda 1, Dubai

0 501 582 891

Get directions

Common Concerns

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Small seating

The restaurant is repeatedly described as small, compact or congested, with limited seating that can become difficult during busy periods.

Hard to find

The outlet is at the back of the building and can be easy to miss unless you are specifically looking for it.

Customer-reported prices

These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.

10 Dirhams

veg meals

“Today I tried with lunch menu and had veg meals only costed 10 Dirhams to me”

Google review · May 2023

DXB
LOCAL

The Bottom Line

Nalan Express Restaurant is a compact South Indian restaurant in Al Nahda with a strong Tamil focus. It is particularly useful when you want a filling, reasonably priced meal rather than a polished, spacious dining room. Mutton biryani is the standout: reviews call it classic and mention generous quantities, while a 2kg seeraga samba biryani party order arrived with chicken 65, brinjal gravy, onion raita, boiled egg and payasam.

The menu also works for breakfast, vegetarian meals and everyday non-vegetarian plates. Breakfast begins at 7 am, and customers return for pongal vada, idli, set dosa and egg lapa. Lunch reviews mention fresh fish and chicken meals, while the Andhra Non-Veg Meals came with rice, sambar, curries, chicken and fish.

The food is often described as homely, less oily and good value; one review recorded veg meals at 10 Dirhams. The trade-off is space. Several reviewers found the outlet small or congested, and one warned that peak-time seating may involve a wait.

It is also tucked behind the building and easy to miss. If ordering parcels, allow some flexibility because a reviewer reported occasional delays. For gatherings, larger delivery orders received especially strong feedback.