Pakistani Flavour
Several diners describe the food as recognisably Pakistani, including one who compared it with the taste of Lahore.
Pak Darbar Restaurant JLT
Jumeirah Lake Towers
Pak Darbar Restaurant JLT serves Pakistani comfort food in Jumeirah Lake Towers, with breakfast favourites such as kheema parathas and nihari alongside grills and biryani. Reviews also point to outdoor lakeside seating, making it a practical choice for a casual meal with a view.
Reputation Score
4.0
★★★★☆
1,420 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Breakfast Favourites
Kheema parathas are singled out as a standout Desi breakfast, while nihari is also recommended.
Lake Views
Outdoor seating looks particularly appealing at night, when diners can see JLT lights reflected on the still lake.
Good Value
Multiple reviews describe the food as affordable, including a hot mutton biryani and chicken tikka meal praised for its low price.
Large Portions
Portions can be substantial enough that one diner took some food away after finding the serving too large to finish.
Quick Meals
Some diners report hot food arriving quickly, including a mutton biryani and chicken tikka order described as fast and fuss-free.
What to Eat at Pak Darbar Restaurant JLT 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 Pak Darbar Restaurant JLT, 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 Pak Darbar Restaurant JLT got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 1
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Chicken biryani Net +2
“non veg and veg both are available...but chicken biryani was eaten more here and it's quite fresh....Other foods are a little spicy...”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“non veg and veg both are available...but chicken biryani was eaten more here and it's quite fresh....Other foods are a little spicy...”May 2024
“I especially loved the [specific dish, e.g., chicken biryani], which was rich in spices and had the perfect balance of heat and flavor.”November 2025
Honorable mentions (19)
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Challah bread with kheema Net +1
“Personally, I like the challah bread with kheema! The flavors are amazing – so mouthful.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Personally, I like the challah bread with kheema! The flavors are amazing – so mouthful.”January 2023
-
Chapal kababa Net +1
“Mazzzzzaaaaaaaa.even their chapal kababa...... OMG waooo”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Mazzzzzaaaaaaaa.even their chapal kababa...... OMG waooo”April 2025
-
Chicken kabab pulao Net +1
“We tried Chicken Peshawari karrahi and Chicken kabab Pulao. Good taste, like Pakistani home food.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We tried Chicken Peshawari karrahi and Chicken kabab Pulao. Good taste, like Pakistani home food.”December 2022
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Chicken peshawari karrahi Net +1
“We tried Chicken Peshawari karrahi and Chicken kabab Pulao. Good taste, like Pakistani home food.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We tried Chicken Peshawari karrahi and Chicken kabab Pulao. Good taste, like Pakistani home food.”December 2022
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Chicken tikka Net +1
“Food was served hot, and the chicken tikka had a tinge of lemon (or lime), that brings out the flavor of the chicken. Simple fare done well. Very affordable as well.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food was served hot, and the chicken tikka had a tinge of lemon (or lime), that brings out the flavor of the chicken. Simple fare done well. Very affordable as well.”March 2024
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Chicken tikka pulao Net +1
“Ordered the chicken Tikka Pulao. Amazing taste. Highly recommended”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Ordered the chicken Tikka Pulao. Amazing taste. Highly recommended”July 2025
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Chilly chicken Net +1
“Chilly chicken was so yummy🤤”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Chilly chicken was so yummy🤤”June 2024
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Dal rice Net +1
“Good service, I went in for a simple dal rice, it was delicious.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Good service, I went in for a simple dal rice, it was delicious.”January 2025
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Fish chili Net +1
“Coffee was so good, Had a fish chili and ordered a mixture of snacks too. OMG, best fish chili ever.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Coffee was so good, Had a fish chili and ordered a mixture of snacks too. OMG, best fish chili ever.”January 2022
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Halwa puri Net +1
“Halwa Puri, Paye (Goat) tasty, tea and lassi.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Halwa Puri, Paye (Goat) tasty, tea and lassi.”September 2021
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Kheema parathas Net +1
“The best Kheema parathas in town....loved the Pakistani cuisine....my fav place for a Desi breakfast.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The best Kheema parathas in town....loved the Pakistani cuisine....my fav place for a Desi breakfast.”April 2023
-
Lamb chops Net +1
“Outstanding Lamb Chops! These lamb chops were perfection from start to finish! Tender, juicy, and packed with rich, savory flavor.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Outstanding Lamb Chops! These lamb chops were perfection from start to finish! Tender, juicy, and packed with rich, savory flavor.”October 2025
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Large mix grill mandi Net +1
“Had a great dining experience at Pak Darbar Restaurant (JLT). The food was delicious, well-seasoned, and served hot. Highly recommend the Large Mix Grill Mandi — generous portion, perfectly cooked meats, and amazing flavor. Definitely worth trying. Will be back again.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Had a great dining experience at Pak Darbar Restaurant (JLT). The food was delicious, well-seasoned, and served hot. Highly recommend the Large Mix Grill Mandi — generous portion, perfectly cooked meats, and amazing flavor. Definitely worth trying. Will be back again.”December 2025
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Mutton grill chops Net +1
“One of the best restaurants for Pakistani mutton dishes. Their mutton grill chops is a must try item”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“One of the best restaurants for Pakistani mutton dishes. Their mutton grill chops is a must try item”March 2025
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Mutton peshawari Net +1
“Mutton Peshawari was good .”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Mutton Peshawari was good .”June 2024
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Paye (goat) Net +1
“Halwa Puri, Paye (Goat) tasty, tea and lassi.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Halwa Puri, Paye (Goat) tasty, tea and lassi.”September 2021
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Pulav Net +1
“Pulav wa decent.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Pulav wa decent.”July 2025
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Samosa Net +1
“So a random visit at Buhari and amazed with there taste and service. I just had a cup of tea and tried Samosa and the taste was beyond my expectations and what surprised me was the prices.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“So a random visit at Buhari and amazed with there taste and service. I just had a cup of tea and tried Samosa and the taste was beyond my expectations and what surprised me was the prices.”July 2026
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Sheikh kebab Net +1
“The sheikh kebab is amazing and tender.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The sheikh kebab is amazing and tender.”January 2023
Drinks 4
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Chai Net +1
“hubby and i love eating here.. so affordable, delicious pakistani foods, and they have a very good staff service! i enjoy their chai, it isn't overly sweet. the ambiance is good. they have outside eating place, best time to visit is during night because of the view of JLT community and lights are kind of reflects on the stilled lake.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“hubby and i love eating here.. so affordable, delicious pakistani foods, and they have a very good staff service! i enjoy their chai, it isn't overly sweet. the ambiance is good. they have outside eating place, best time to visit is during night because of the view of JLT community and lights are kind of reflects on the stilled lake.”February 2023
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Coffee Net +1
“Coffee was so good, Had a fish chili and ordered a mixture of snacks too. OMG, best fish chili ever.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Coffee was so good, Had a fish chili and ordered a mixture of snacks too. OMG, best fish chili ever.”January 2022
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Home made masala chai Net +1
“Washed it all with home made masala chai 😋 Yummilicious👌”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Washed it all with home made masala chai 😋 Yummilicious👌”May 2025
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Lassi Net +1
“Halwa Puri, Paye (Goat) tasty, tea and lassi.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Halwa Puri, Paye (Goat) tasty, tea and lassi.”September 2021
What to Avoid (6)
Food 6
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Biriyani rice Net −1
“Worst experience ever, Quality of Biriyani rice served was not at all acceptable.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Worst experience ever, Quality of Biriyani rice served was not at all acceptable.”June 2026
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Chapli kabab Net −1
“We ordered Chapli Kabab and Chicken Momos. The kabab was average, with some parts oddly tasting like fried egg. The momos had a thick, chewy outer covering and the chicken filling tasted undercooked with a raw smell. On top of that, the food took 45 minutes to arrive and the staff carried unnecessary attitude throughout the service.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“We ordered Chapli Kabab and Chicken Momos. The kabab was average, with some parts oddly tasting like fried egg. The momos had a thick, chewy outer covering and the chicken filling tasted undercooked with a raw smell. On top of that, the food took 45 minutes to arrive and the staff carried unnecessary attitude throughout the service.”January 2026
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Chicken momos Net −1
“We ordered Chapli Kabab and Chicken Momos. The kabab was average, with some parts oddly tasting like fried egg. The momos had a thick, chewy outer covering and the chicken filling tasted undercooked with a raw smell. On top of that, the food took 45 minutes to arrive and the staff carried unnecessary attitude throughout the service.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“We ordered Chapli Kabab and Chicken Momos. The kabab was average, with some parts oddly tasting like fried egg. The momos had a thick, chewy outer covering and the chicken filling tasted undercooked with a raw smell. On top of that, the food took 45 minutes to arrive and the staff carried unnecessary attitude throughout the service.”January 2026
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Haleem Net −1
“The food is not worth it. It doesn't taste good at all, and they charge way too much. Their prices are extremely high. I ordered a single haleem, and they charged me 14 dirhams for it, whereas the same thing costs around 7 dirhams at a regular restaurant. They are charging double the price for everything."”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The food is not worth it. It doesn't taste good at all, and they charge way too much. Their prices are extremely high. I ordered a single haleem, and they charged me 14 dirhams for it, whereas the same thing costs around 7 dirhams at a regular restaurant. They are charging double the price for everything."”June 2026
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Momo Net −1
“Waited for the longest time just for a plate of kebab and momo. Kebab was not bad to be honest, but the momo.. It was so thick and chewy. Overall such a bad experience.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Waited for the longest time just for a plate of kebab and momo. Kebab was not bad to be honest, but the momo.. It was so thick and chewy. Overall such a bad experience.”January 2026
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Parantha Net −1
“Lazy weekend and craving to indulge in heavy breakfast so ordered haleem, chana, parantha, halwa and roghni naan. Tasty and delicious food delievred quickly and packed nicely. Paranthas were too oily but i guess on e in a while its good to lubricate our system😜 Avoid paranthas and rest breads are fine👌”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Lazy weekend and craving to indulge in heavy breakfast so ordered haleem, chana, parantha, halwa and roghni naan. Tasty and delicious food delievred quickly and packed nicely. Paranthas were too oily but i guess on e in a while its good to lubricate our system😜 Avoid paranthas and rest breads are fine👌”May 2025
Tips for a Better Visit
Visit At Night. Choose an evening visit if you want the outdoor lake setting; one reviewer specifically preferred the JLT lights reflected on the water.
Check Timing. Ask about breakfast cut-off times before ordering: one diner was told Halwa Puri is served only until 11am.
Confirm Prices. Check the amount against the menu before paying, as one customer reported being charged almost double the listed price.
Avoid Crowds. Off-peak visits may be easier: a busy review described understaffing, refused table cleaning and a 45-minute food wait.
Mind The Oil. If you prefer lighter food, consider skipping the parathas; one breakfast order found them too oily while the other breads were fine.
Confirm Ingredients. Be explicit about the dish you want before accepting it: two reviews describe an egg order being given as beef brain instead.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Cluster T
Al Thanyah Fifth - Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
| Mon | 4:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Tue | 4:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Wed | 4:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Thu | 4:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Fri | 4:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Sat | 4:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Sun | 4:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
Common Concerns
Uneven Service
Several recent reviews report rude or inattentive staff, including a 15-minute wait before anyone attended to a regular table.
Long Waits
Busy periods can mean lengthy waits; one table waited 45 minutes for chapli kabab and chicken momos.
Food Inconsistency
Food quality varies: reviews mention unacceptable biryani rice, stale paye and momos with chewy dough and a raw-smelling filling.
Heavy Seasoning
One diner found the food excessively oily and spicy, while the parathas were also described as particularly oily.
Price Disputes
Some customers say they were charged more than expected, including one report of nearly double the menu price.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
14 dirhams
single haleem
“I ordered a single haleem, and they charged me 14 dirhams for it, whereas the same thing costs around 7 dirhams at a regular restaurant”Google review · June 2026
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Pak Darbar Restaurant JLT is a Pakistani restaurant in Jumeirah Lake Towers with a menu that suits hearty, casual eating. Breakfast is a major draw: reviewers mention kheema parathas, halwa puri, chana, nihari and masala chai, while dinner favourites include chicken tikka pulao, biryani, chapli kabab and grills. The Large Mix Grill Mandi is praised for generous portions and well-cooked meats.
The outdoor seating is one of the branch’s clearest advantages. Diners describe a peaceful lakeside setting and particularly attractive views of JLT lights at night. Prices are often described as affordable, and some reviewers found portions large enough to take away.
Service can also be quick when the branch is running smoothly. That consistency is the main caveat. Recent reviews describe rude or inattentive staff, a 45-minute wait during a busy visit, cold bread and uneven dishes including poor biryani rice and chewy momos.
Food can also be oily or heavily spiced. Pricing deserves a quick check before paying, with one customer reporting nearly double the listed menu price. If you have dietary restrictions, confirm the dish clearly; two diners said an egg order was mistakenly served as beef brain.