Pakistani Taste
Reviews repeatedly describe the food as authentic Pakistani cooking, with home-style flavour rather than generic restaurant fare.
Nawabi Restaurant
Al Barsha
Nawabi Restaurant in Al Barsha serves Pakistani and desi comfort food, with breakfast favourites such as nihari and halwa puri alongside grilled dishes. Reviews also point to generous value, a clean family setting and a broad menu, though service and cooking consistency can vary.
Reputation Score
4.3
★★★★☆
558 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Strong Breakfast
Breakfast stands out for nihari, roti and the halwa puri set, with other morning dishes such as qeema and chanay also mentioned.
Good Value
One family of two adults and a child reported paying 145 aed for dinner, making the restaurant notably affordable compared with upscale alternatives.
Fresh Bread
A review specifically praised the freshly baked bread served with mutton karahi and tikka.
Menu Range
Beyond Pakistani staples, the menu includes grilled dishes, Chinese food, breakfast and drinks, giving groups different options.
Clean Setting
Several diners mention a neat, clean setup and a family-friendly atmosphere.
What to Eat at Nawabi 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 Nawabi 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 Nawabi Restaurant got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 3
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Chicken tikka Net +2
“We loved the food, and the service was good and fast. We liked Chicken Peshawari and Chicken Tikka. Chicken Peshawari is worth giving it a try. Tikka Biryani needs an improvement.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We loved the food, and the service was good and fast. We liked Chicken Peshawari and Chicken Tikka. Chicken Peshawari is worth giving it a try. Tikka Biryani needs an improvement.”November 2022
“I had the pleasure of trying several dishes, including the chicken tikka, biryani, boneless handi, dal mash with roti, and kebabs. Everything was incredibly fresh, flavorful, and simply fantastic.”January 2025
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Nihari Net +2
“Had breakfast…good food Nihari, Mutton Qeema and Chanay with Kulcha Kulcha could have been better :)”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Had breakfast…good food Nihari, Mutton Qeema and Chanay with Kulcha Kulcha could have been better :)”May 2024
“I go there all the time for breakfast! It’s budget friendly and tastes amazing. I wouldn’t recommend there Chinese as it was very oily but the Nihari , roti, halwa puri set is too die for!!!”December 2023
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Zeera rice Net +2
“The chicken is perfectly spiced up, the jeera rice was so tasty you could eat it on it's own but the best dishes were the chicken dishes with different spices similar to indian dishes like masala, korma, etc.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The chicken is perfectly spiced up, the jeera rice was so tasty you could eat it on it's own but the best dishes were the chicken dishes with different spices similar to indian dishes like masala, korma, etc.”January 2025
“That's why, I invited a friend and we try other dish, chicken cheese and zeera rice, the tasty it was amazing, flavours, and even the dessert, that the admin gave us, it was delicious!”August 2023
Honorable mentions (25)
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Roti Net +1
“I go there all the time for breakfast! It’s budget friendly and tastes amazing. I wouldn’t recommend there Chinese as it was very oily but the Nihari , roti, halwa puri set is too die for!!!”
Positive 2Negative 1
Review excerpts
“I go there all the time for breakfast! It’s budget friendly and tastes amazing. I wouldn’t recommend there Chinese as it was very oily but the Nihari , roti, halwa puri set is too die for!!!”December 2023
“I had the pleasure of trying several dishes, including the chicken tikka, biryani, boneless handi, dal mash with roti, and kebabs. Everything was incredibly fresh, flavorful, and simply fantastic.”January 2025
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Balti ghost Net +1
“we tired balti ghost which is mutton coocked in dasi ghee.we liked it .must try this dish full punjabi mahool.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“we tired balti ghost which is mutton coocked in dasi ghee.we liked it .must try this dish full punjabi mahool.”August 2023
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Balti gosht Net +1
“Try the Balti Gosht. Kapow.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Try the Balti Gosht. Kapow.”August 2024
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Beef nali pulau Net +1
“Yesterday I tried the Beef Nali Pulau at Nawabi Restaurant Albusra which was very tasty.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Yesterday I tried the Beef Nali Pulau at Nawabi Restaurant Albusra which was very tasty.”August 2023
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Boneless handi Net +1
“I had the pleasure of trying several dishes, including the chicken tikka, biryani, boneless handi, dal mash with roti, and kebabs. Everything was incredibly fresh, flavorful, and simply fantastic.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I had the pleasure of trying several dishes, including the chicken tikka, biryani, boneless handi, dal mash with roti, and kebabs. Everything was incredibly fresh, flavorful, and simply fantastic.”January 2025
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Chanay Net +1
“Had breakfast…good food Nihari, Mutton Qeema and Chanay with Kulcha Kulcha could have been better :)”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Had breakfast…good food Nihari, Mutton Qeema and Chanay with Kulcha Kulcha could have been better :)”May 2024
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Chapli kebab Net +1
“The chapli kebab was good but it was given after the main course was served with 1 solo slice of tomato.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The chapli kebab was good but it was given after the main course was served with 1 solo slice of tomato.”September 2023
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Chichen sinawari Net +1
“We ordered pani poori, noodels, Chichen sinawari & sahi panner with some rogni nana. And every was on top of list. Super super delicious and love to visit again to try there grill & BBQ platter.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered pani poori, noodels, Chichen sinawari & sahi panner with some rogni nana. And every was on top of list. Super super delicious and love to visit again to try there grill & BBQ platter.”July 2023
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Chicken biryani Net +1
“Chicken Biryani AED15, so tasty, location and atmosphere value double price.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Chicken Biryani AED15, so tasty, location and atmosphere value double price.”May 2023
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Chicken cheese Net +1
“That's why, I invited a friend and we try other dish, chicken cheese and zeera rice, the tasty it was amazing, flavours, and even the dessert, that the admin gave us, it was delicious!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“That's why, I invited a friend and we try other dish, chicken cheese and zeera rice, the tasty it was amazing, flavours, and even the dessert, that the admin gave us, it was delicious!”August 2023
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Chicken nihari Net +1
“Their chicken Nihari is a must try.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Their chicken Nihari is a must try.”October 2022
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Chicken peshawari Net +1
“We loved the food, and the service was good and fast. We liked Chicken Peshawari and Chicken Tikka. Chicken Peshawari is worth giving it a try. Tikka Biryani needs an improvement.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We loved the food, and the service was good and fast. We liked Chicken Peshawari and Chicken Tikka. Chicken Peshawari is worth giving it a try. Tikka Biryani needs an improvement.”November 2022
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Dal mash Net +1
“I had the pleasure of trying several dishes, including the chicken tikka, biryani, boneless handi, dal mash with roti, and kebabs. Everything was incredibly fresh, flavorful, and simply fantastic.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I had the pleasure of trying several dishes, including the chicken tikka, biryani, boneless handi, dal mash with roti, and kebabs. Everything was incredibly fresh, flavorful, and simply fantastic.”January 2025
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Fish pulso Net +1
“I really appreciate the service, food, the confortable place, I went there to my friend, because a day before, I ordered the fish pulso and it was amazing dish!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I really appreciate the service, food, the confortable place, I went there to my friend, because a day before, I ordered the fish pulso and it was amazing dish!”August 2023
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Halwa puri set Net +1
“I go there all the time for breakfast! It’s budget friendly and tastes amazing. I wouldn’t recommend there Chinese as it was very oily but the Nihari , roti, halwa puri set is too die for!!!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I go there all the time for breakfast! It’s budget friendly and tastes amazing. I wouldn’t recommend there Chinese as it was very oily but the Nihari , roti, halwa puri set is too die for!!!”December 2023
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Karachi biryani Net +1
“The real taste of Karachi biryani.. amazing F&B service you will feel your are in 5star hotels resturant.. Very professional staff they have it..”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The real taste of Karachi biryani.. amazing F&B service you will feel your are in 5star hotels resturant.. Very professional staff they have it..”November 2022
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Korma Net +1
“The chicken is perfectly spiced up, the jeera rice was so tasty you could eat it on it's own but the best dishes were the chicken dishes with different spices similar to indian dishes like masala, korma, etc.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The chicken is perfectly spiced up, the jeera rice was so tasty you could eat it on it's own but the best dishes were the chicken dishes with different spices similar to indian dishes like masala, korma, etc.”January 2025
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Matka mutton Net +1
“We ordered matka mutton which wasn’t exactly the traditional matka mutton but the taste was very good any way.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered matka mutton which wasn’t exactly the traditional matka mutton but the taste was very good any way.”November 2022
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Mix grilled chicken Net +1
“We found our new favorite for grilled chicken apart from the usual. We love the mix grilled chicken at Nawabi ♥.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We found our new favorite for grilled chicken apart from the usual. We love the mix grilled chicken at Nawabi ♥.”November 2024
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Mutton charsi karhai Net +1
“Mutton charsi karhai was so delicious and well balanced with spices, making it perfectly suited for all ages to enjoy.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Mutton charsi karhai was so delicious and well balanced with spices, making it perfectly suited for all ages to enjoy.”December 2024
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Mutton qeema Net +1
“Had breakfast…good food Nihari, Mutton Qeema and Chanay with Kulcha Kulcha could have been better :)”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Had breakfast…good food Nihari, Mutton Qeema and Chanay with Kulcha Kulcha could have been better :)”May 2024
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Noodels Net +1
“We ordered pani poori, noodels, Chichen sinawari & sahi panner with some rogni nana. And every was on top of list. Super super delicious and love to visit again to try there grill & BBQ platter.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered pani poori, noodels, Chichen sinawari & sahi panner with some rogni nana. And every was on top of list. Super super delicious and love to visit again to try there grill & BBQ platter.”July 2023
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Pani poori Net +1
“We ordered pani poori, noodels, Chichen sinawari & sahi panner with some rogni nana. And every was on top of list. Super super delicious and love to visit again to try there grill & BBQ platter.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered pani poori, noodels, Chichen sinawari & sahi panner with some rogni nana. And every was on top of list. Super super delicious and love to visit again to try there grill & BBQ platter.”July 2023
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Rogni nana Net +1
“We ordered pani poori, noodels, Chichen sinawari & sahi panner with some rogni nana. And every was on top of list. Super super delicious and love to visit again to try there grill & BBQ platter.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered pani poori, noodels, Chichen sinawari & sahi panner with some rogni nana. And every was on top of list. Super super delicious and love to visit again to try there grill & BBQ platter.”July 2023
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Sahi panner Net +1
“We ordered pani poori, noodels, Chichen sinawari & sahi panner with some rogni nana. And every was on top of list. Super super delicious and love to visit again to try there grill & BBQ platter.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered pani poori, noodels, Chichen sinawari & sahi panner with some rogni nana. And every was on top of list. Super super delicious and love to visit again to try there grill & BBQ platter.”July 2023
Drinks 2
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Mango lassi Net +1
“authentic pakistani cuisine. loved the mango lassi, i think its one of the best in town.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“authentic pakistani cuisine. loved the mango lassi, i think its one of the best in town.”October 2023
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Sweet lassi Net +1
“Also, I have never had a better sweet Lassi before!!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Also, I have never had a better sweet Lassi before!!”November 2023
What to Avoid (11)
Food 11
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Aloo paratha Net −1
“There aloo paratha were also tasteless!”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“There aloo paratha were also tasteless!”December 2023
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Chicken pulao Net −1
“a little disappointed with the chicken to rice portion for the chicken pulao tho. either way, would come back.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“a little disappointed with the chicken to rice portion for the chicken pulao tho. either way, would come back.”October 2023
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Chicken samosa Net −1
“I also ordered chicken samosa and potato samosa. Chicken had a weird spice smell as if it was covering up something.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“I also ordered chicken samosa and potato samosa. Chicken had a weird spice smell as if it was covering up something.”September 2023
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Karachi chicken biryani Net −1
“I ordered karachi chicken biryani from this restaurant via noon… this is the worst biryani i ever had in my life …. Chicken and rice both werent cooked properly…i threw all biryani ….”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“I ordered karachi chicken biryani from this restaurant via noon… this is the worst biryani i ever had in my life …. Chicken and rice both werent cooked properly…i threw all biryani ….”January 2025
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Kulcha Net −1
“Had breakfast…good food Nihari, Mutton Qeema and Chanay with Kulcha Kulcha could have been better :)”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Had breakfast…good food Nihari, Mutton Qeema and Chanay with Kulcha Kulcha could have been better :)”May 2024
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Paya Net −1
“Also last time we had paya that were so smelly and un-cooked.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Also last time we had paya that were so smelly and un-cooked.”December 2023
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Rajma Net −1
“Today We Order Rajma And Chicken Bonless Handi But Inside Rajma Too much Smell Very Bad Experience Walla 😡”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Today We Order Rajma And Chicken Bonless Handi But Inside Rajma Too much Smell Very Bad Experience Walla 😡”October 2023
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Shish tawook Net −1
“The food was below average. I expected a good taste but the mutton karahi was under cooked and the shish tawook was the worst that could exist. Very very disappointed.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The food was below average. I expected a good taste but the mutton karahi was under cooked and the shish tawook was the worst that could exist. Very very disappointed.”March 2025
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Tikka biryani Net −1
“We loved the food, and the service was good and fast. We liked Chicken Peshawari and Chicken Tikka. Chicken Peshawari is worth giving it a try. Tikka Biryani needs an improvement.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“We loved the food, and the service was good and fast. We liked Chicken Peshawari and Chicken Tikka. Chicken Peshawari is worth giving it a try. Tikka Biryani needs an improvement.”November 2022
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White chicken kadhai Net −1
“Ordered white chicken kadhai and it smelled like rotten / decomposed trash. The cook should be fired immediately. The food was unhygienic, please avoid this place.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Ordered white chicken kadhai and it smelled like rotten / decomposed trash. The cook should be fired immediately. The food was unhygienic, please avoid this place.”April 2024
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Karahi mutton Net −2
“Ordered karahi mutton. Now people should know mutton is a tougher meat than lamb. Its older and needs much more time to cook. There is no lamb on their menu, just mutton. So unless it's cooked properly, it's not going to be good. Unfortunately the mutton was terrible. It was served raw and would make you ill.”
Positive 0Negative 2
Critical review excerpts
“Ordered karahi mutton. Now people should know mutton is a tougher meat than lamb. Its older and needs much more time to cook. There is no lamb on their menu, just mutton. So unless it's cooked properly, it's not going to be good. Unfortunately the mutton was terrible. It was served raw and would make you ill.”September 2023
“The food was below average. I expected a good taste but the mutton karahi was under cooked and the shish tawook was the worst that could exist. Very very disappointed.”March 2025
Tips for a Better Visit
Carry Cash. Bring cash for a dine-in visit because one recent review says cards were not accepted.
Avoid Rush. Visit outside busy periods if possible: a crowded family dinner brought service delays and crowd-management issues.
Ask Spice. If you prefer milder or stronger food, ask the staff to adjust the spice level; a diner says alterations are possible.
Plan Parking. Allow extra time for parking: one review says paid parking may be a little farther away in this busy area.
Try Breakfast. For a morning visit, consider the nihari, roti and halwa puri set, which a regular described as especially good.
Check Availability. Ask before ordering a mutton special, since one regular notes that some mutton dishes are not always available.
Plan the visit
Practical details
456W+5R7 Residence 1451
Al Barsha First - Al Barsha, Dubai
Common Concerns
Cooking Issues
Some diners reported undercooked mutton, roti and biryani, while another described white chicken kadhai as spoiled-smelling.
Delivery Delays
A nearby delivery reportedly took more than 90 minutes, with calls unanswered by both the restaurant and delivery rider.
Cash Needed
One recent diner said cards were not accepted, so carrying cash is important.
Busy Service
A family visit during a crowded period involved delays and prompted criticism of crowd management.
Uneven Menu
The Chinese dishes were described as very oily, and individual dishes such as grilled chicken and kulcha also received mixed feedback.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
145 aed
dinner for 2 adults + 1 kid
“The best part? A dinner for 2 adults + 1 kid was 145 aed”Google review · January 2025
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Nawabi Restaurant is a Pakistani dining spot in Al Barsha with a menu broad enough for breakfast, family meals and grilled-food cravings. The clearest draws are nihari with roti, mutton karahi and Balti Gosht; reviews also mention chicken tikka, biryani and mixed grills. The cooking is often described as authentic, generously spiced and home-style rather than polished or generic.
Breakfast is a particularly useful reason to come. Diners have enjoyed nihari, mutton qeema, chanay with kulcha and a halwa puri set, while mango lassi and sweet lassi get their own praise. Families can find plenty of choice, and several reviews describe the restaurant as clean and comfortable, though it can become crowded at busy times.
Prices are repeatedly called reasonable. One group reported dinner for two adults and a child at 145 aed, while a separate review mentioned Chicken Biryani at AED15. That makes it appealing for casual, value-conscious meals, but portions and quality are not universally consistent.
The main caution is uneven execution: reviews report undercooked mutton, roti and biryani, plus an oily Chinese dish. Delivery has also taken over 90 minutes in one case. Carry cash, plan for paid parking farther away, and consider asking about spice levels and mutton availability before ordering.