Generous portions
Several reviews describe the portions as large, with servings suitable for sharing.
O'Doner La Mer
Jumeirah
O'Doner La Mer is a Turkish restaurant in Jumeirah with colourful, traditional-inspired interiors and indoor and outdoor seating near the sea. Reviews point to generous portions and distinctive dishes such as the Pineapple Kebab, while the waterfront setting makes it appealing after a beach visit.
Reputation Score
4.3
★★★★☆
887 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Waterfront setting
The La Mer location offers outdoor seating and views close to the sea.
Pineapple Kebab
The signature-style dish is a whole pineapple filled with slow-cooked lamb and rice, making it one of the restaurant’s more unusual orders.
Turkish tea
Turkish tea is a standout for tea drinkers, and one reviewer specifically enjoyed the free refills.
Breakfast option
The restaurant serves breakfast, and one review specifically noted professional service during a breakfast visit.
Colourful decor
Traditional tiles, colourful crockery and bright interiors give the dining room a strong Turkish visual character.
Fast service
Some diners reported quick delivery of food and efficient service during their visits.
What to Eat at O'Doner La Mer 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 O'Doner La Mer, this list is based on 50 reviews, not every review of the restaurant. We still have more reviews to analyze, so the scores may change. 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 O'Doner La Mer got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 5
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Pineapple kebab Net +5
“I myself will recommend the PINEAPPLE KEBAB it is out of this world.”
Positive 6Negative 1
Review excerpts
“I myself will recommend the PINEAPPLE KEBAB it is out of this world.”October 2019
“Special mention to the Pineapple Kebab Which is One of Unique Dish & Never Tasted 😋 Totally recommend - Must try Dish Pineapple Kebab 👍🏻👍🏻”February 2022
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Doner Net +3
“I'd recommend this place for a quick bite of doner and also for a full-fledged meal!”
Positive 3Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I'd recommend this place for a quick bite of doner and also for a full-fledged meal!”October 2018
“I was not a big fan of Turkish Food, but OMG O’Doner has changed my opinion about Turkish Cusine, yummy Kebabs, Doner, and Milk Cake were totally out of the world.”October 2022
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Antakya kunefe Net +2
“For the desserts we had the Kunafe with cotton candy show...my kids did enjoy that....”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“For the desserts we had the Kunafe with cotton candy show...my kids did enjoy that....”September 2022
“For desserts, we had Antakya Kunefe and hubby chose Turkish Coffee with Ice-cream. The Kunefe was good but I've had better once before.”February 2020
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Baklava Net +2
“The baklava was really good and the pomegranate juice was super fresh.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The baklava was really good and the pomegranate juice was super fresh.”January 2020
“Enjoyed Authentic Turkish cuisine despite am not a big fan of this cuisine. From starters , main dish to baklawa. Mint tea was a cherry on top.”February 2022
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Dynamo filleto Net +2
“They have good tasty dish called Dynamite Filletto, it’s made of steak stuffed with cheese. It is really tasty.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“They have good tasty dish called Dynamite Filletto, it’s made of steak stuffed with cheese. It is really tasty.”March 2022
“Totally impressive turkish cuisine, every dish is worth the money. i loved their cheesy kabab’s (DYNAMITE FELLITO) & icecream with pistachio pastry”October 2022
Honorable mentions (12)
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Ayran Net +1
“Strawberry mojito and Ayran are a must-try.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Strawberry mojito and Ayran are a must-try.”February 2020
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Baklava filled with ice cream Net +1
“We ended our dinner with a Baklava filled with ice cream which was delicious and would recommend it for sure.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ended our dinner with a Baklava filled with ice cream which was delicious and would recommend it for sure.”December 2021
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Chicken grilled wings Net +1
“Pineapple Kebab and Chicken Grilled Wings was my most favorite from the menu🤤”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Pineapple Kebab and Chicken Grilled Wings was my most favorite from the menu🤤”April 2022
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Fries Net +1
“I had the best Homemade burger ever , we were passing by and Karim convinced Us to try their burger , I was surprised by the tasty burger and the amazing fries , I would recommend O’Doner for a tasty burger thanks again to Karim”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I had the best Homemade burger ever , we were passing by and Karim convinced Us to try their burger , I was surprised by the tasty burger and the amazing fries , I would recommend O’Doner for a tasty burger thanks again to Karim”January 2021
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Homemade burger Net +1
“I had the best Homemade burger ever , we were passing by and Karim convinced Us to try their burger , I was surprised by the tasty burger and the amazing fries , I would recommend O’Doner for a tasty burger thanks again to Karim”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I had the best Homemade burger ever , we were passing by and Karim convinced Us to try their burger , I was surprised by the tasty burger and the amazing fries , I would recommend O’Doner for a tasty burger thanks again to Karim”January 2021
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Icecream with pistachio pastry Net +1
“Totally impressive turkish cuisine, every dish is worth the money. i loved their cheesy kabab’s (DYNAMITE FELLITO) & icecream with pistachio pastry”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Totally impressive turkish cuisine, every dish is worth the money. i loved their cheesy kabab’s (DYNAMITE FELLITO) & icecream with pistachio pastry”October 2022
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Lamb leg Net +1
“I highly recommend trying the lamb leg.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I highly recommend trying the lamb leg.”August 2023
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Milk cake Net +1
“I was not a big fan of Turkish Food, but OMG O’Doner has changed my opinion about Turkish Cusine, yummy Kebabs, Doner, and Milk Cake were totally out of the world.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I was not a big fan of Turkish Food, but OMG O’Doner has changed my opinion about Turkish Cusine, yummy Kebabs, Doner, and Milk Cake were totally out of the world.”October 2022
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Mix kebab platter Net +1
“Also like the Mix Kebab Platter. The portion sizes are huge, and we loved both these dishes.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Also like the Mix Kebab Platter. The portion sizes are huge, and we loved both these dishes.”February 2020
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Mixed cheese pide Net +1
“My favorite dishes are pineapple kabab where you can ONLY find it there,not anywhere else so it is so unique.Also mixed cheese pide is amazing!!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“My favorite dishes are pineapple kabab where you can ONLY find it there,not anywhere else so it is so unique.Also mixed cheese pide is amazing!!”March 2021
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Mixed grill Net +1
“If you like grills I would recommend their mixed grill.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“If you like grills I would recommend their mixed grill.”February 2022
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Sandwiches Net +1
“The sandwiches are a must try!!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The sandwiches are a must try!!”February 2023
Drinks 4
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Turkish tea Net +5
“I am a big fan of Turkish tea and this place has free refill of the tea which I really enjoyed!”
Positive 5Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I am a big fan of Turkish tea and this place has free refill of the tea which I really enjoyed!”January 2023
“Cute place with amazing service and good food :) turkish tea was delicious 🖤”December 2022
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Mint tea Net +1
“Mint tea was a cherry on top.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Mint tea was a cherry on top.”February 2022
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Pomegranate juice Net +1
“The baklava was really good and the pomegranate juice was super fresh.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The baklava was really good and the pomegranate juice was super fresh.”January 2020
-
Strawberry mojito Net +1
“Strawberry mojito and Ayran are a must-try.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Strawberry mojito and Ayran are a must-try.”February 2020
What to Avoid (6)
Food 5
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Iskander kebab Net −1
“The worst service ever and the iskender kebab was cold so we said to them why is cold and they took it and came back with the same dish that was cold 10 people working but none of them available if it was in australia this would never happen now i can guess why the rating is so down in the end they brought another one much better then the first one but this should not happen in the restaurant with over 10 employees”
Positive 1Negative 2Neutral 1
Critical review excerpts
“The worst service ever and the iskender kebab was cold so we said to them why is cold and they took it and came back with the same dish that was cold 10 people working but none of them available if it was in australia this would never happen now i can guess why the rating is so down in the end they brought another one much better then the first one but this should not happen in the restaurant with over 10 employees”November 2019
“The taste of the meat in Iskander was not even close to the real Iskander.”October 2022
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Doner in pita Net −1
“The meat in pilav donar was extremely dry and chewy, looks not fresh, doner in pita was was chewy and not soft.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The meat in pilav donar was extremely dry and chewy, looks not fresh, doner in pita was was chewy and not soft.”October 2022
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Kuzu incik Net −1
“The Kuzu Incik was not good, the meat was dry and the burghul wasn’t made in the right authentic turkish way.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The Kuzu Incik was not good, the meat was dry and the burghul wasn’t made in the right authentic turkish way.”March 2022
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Pilav donar Net −1
“The meat in pilav donar was extremely dry and chewy, looks not fresh, doner in pita was was chewy and not soft.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The meat in pilav donar was extremely dry and chewy, looks not fresh, doner in pita was was chewy and not soft.”October 2022
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Turkish mousakka with meat Net −1
“The Turkish Mousakka with Meat was too oily and lacked the flavour usually associated with this dish.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The Turkish Mousakka with Meat was too oily and lacked the flavour usually associated with this dish.”February 2020
Drinks 1
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Turkish coffee with ice-cream Net −1
“For desserts, we had Antakya Kunefe and hubby chose Turkish Coffee with Ice-cream. The Kunefe was good but I've had better once before. The Turkish Coffee with Ice-cream was a bad choice on our part. Both the components would have tasted better on their own.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“For desserts, we had Antakya Kunefe and hubby chose Turkish Coffee with Ice-cream. The Kunefe was good but I've had better once before. The Turkish Coffee with Ice-cream was a bad choice on our part. Both the components would have tasted better on their own.”February 2020
Tips for a Better Visit
Try winter. Choose outdoor seating in winter for the sea view; one review specifically cautions that it is unsuitable for UAE summers.
Share signature. Consider sharing the Pineapple Kebab: a review describes it as a whole pineapple filled with tender lamb and rice and enough for two.
Order tea. If you enjoy tea, ask about the Turkish tea refill; a diner particularly liked receiving free refills.
Check hot dishes. If ordering Iskender, check that it arrives hot before settling in; one customer reported receiving it cold initially.
Try breakfast. Breakfast is available, so the restaurant can work as a morning stop as well as a lunch or dinner venue.
Plan the visit
Practical details
L 19 La Mer Dubai, Jumeirah 1
Jumeirah - Jumeirah 1, Dubai
Common Concerns
High pricing
Multiple reviews describe the restaurant as expensive, with one linking the higher prices to its beach location.
Inconsistent quality
Food feedback is mixed: some diners found dishes authentic and delicious, while others reported dry meat and disappointing Iskender.
Service delays
A few reviews mention inattentive service, including repeated requests for drinks or the bill.
Indoor sunshine
One diner said sunshine can reach the indoor seating, which may affect comfort at certain times.
Oily moussaka
The Turkish Moussaka with Meat was described as too oily and lacking its expected flavour.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
O'Doner La Mer is a Turkish restaurant in Jumeirah that suits a meal after time at the beach, especially if you want generous portions, colourful Turkish-inspired surroundings and outdoor seating near the water. The menu covers breakfast through dinner, with reviews highlighting the Pineapple Kebab, Iskender kebab, mixed grill and Turkish tea. The Pineapple Kebab is the most distinctive order mentioned.
One review describes a whole pineapple filled with rice and lamb leg cooked for several hours, with enough to share. The mixed grill is useful when you want to sample several grilled meats, while Turkish tea is a popular finish; one diner enjoyed the free refills. Breakfast also received a positive mention for professional service.
The setting is a real draw, but it comes with trade-offs. Several diners found prices high or above regular Dubai levels, and one noted that sunshine can reach the indoor seating. Food and service are not completely consistent: reviews include reports of dry, chewy doner meat, a cold Iskender and delays with drinks or the bill, alongside many accounts of quick service and fresh, tasty food.
Outdoor seating is most comfortable in winter, and checking hot dishes when they arrive is sensible.