Wide choice
The menu has a broad range of Indian and Chinese options, including vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.
Petpooja Restaurant - Indian, southindian, Chinese food
International City
Petpooja is an Indian restaurant in International City with North and South Indian dishes, Chinese food and chaat. Reviews particularly point to pani puri, samosas, biryani and jalebi, with dine-in, delivery and occasional outside seating available.
Reputation Score
3.8
★★★★☆
446 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Pani puri
Pani puri is one of the restaurant’s most consistently mentioned snacks, with several reviews calling it very good or mouth-watering.
Samosas Jalebi
Samosas and jalebi receive specific praise, including one review that rated both excellent.
Delivery
Some delivery customers report prompt arrival, including food delivered at the promised time and neatly packed.
Family option
The kitchen prepares special food for children when requested, which is useful for family visits.
Outside seating
Outside seating has been added, giving diners an alternative to the indoor area.
What to Eat at Petpooja Restaurant - Indian, southindian, Chinese food 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 Petpooja Restaurant - Indian, southindian, Chinese food, 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 Petpooja Restaurant - Indian, southindian, Chinese food got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 4
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Jilebi Net +4
“Tried the samosas and jilebi...both were excellent.”
Positive 4Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Tried the samosas and jilebi...both were excellent.”June 2020
“They have the best jalebis i have ever eaten in my life, they taste good even after a week of my keeping them refridgerated.”November 2019
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Pani poori Net +4
“Good restaurant with very nice interior inside quite place and friendly staff it was my first time to visit i try pani poori it was vey good taste hope to try some other disshes soon at restaurant”
Positive 4Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Good restaurant with very nice interior inside quite place and friendly staff it was my first time to visit i try pani poori it was vey good taste hope to try some other disshes soon at restaurant”February 2022
“It waters my mouth just after reading its name! Yeah! If you are looking gor chat pata chaat and pani puri this the best place to go. Ps order fast their service is bit slow!”June 2018
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Paneer adhraki Net +3
“Mouth watering pani puri , Paneer adhraki , Nawabi Biryani was just finger licking good .. crunchy munchy Jalebis .. justtttt yummmmmy”
Positive 3Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Mouth watering pani puri , Paneer adhraki , Nawabi Biryani was just finger licking good .. crunchy munchy Jalebis .. justtttt yummmmmy”June 2020
“Paneer Adhraki & Butter Chicken were also good in taste.”June 2020
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Samosas Net +2
“Amazing Samosa and Jaelbi. Will visit again. Highly recommended”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Amazing Samosa and Jaelbi. Will visit again. Highly recommended”June 2020
“Tried the samosas and jilebi...both were excellent.”June 2020
Honorable mentions (17)
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Aloo dum biryani Net +1
“Taste of food is great here. Feels like home. Chef Raj mohan has superb cooking skills. Must try aloo Paratha and aloo dum biryani.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Taste of food is great here. Feels like home. Chef Raj mohan has superb cooking skills. Must try aloo Paratha and aloo dum biryani.”May 2022
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Aloo paratha Net +1
“Taste of food is great here. Feels like home. Chef Raj mohan has superb cooking skills. Must try aloo Paratha and aloo dum biryani.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Taste of food is great here. Feels like home. Chef Raj mohan has superb cooking skills. Must try aloo Paratha and aloo dum biryani.”May 2022
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Biryani Net +1
“Great food! I loved their Biryani, Dal Tadka , Paneer adhraki and chicken tikka. Really good”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Great food! I loved their Biryani, Dal Tadka , Paneer adhraki and chicken tikka. Really good”June 2020
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Bombay vadapav Net +1
“Had Bombay vadapav from this place. Didn't dine in had placed a order. Food arrived timely (30mins)and packed neatly too . Tasted quite nice, though I wouldn't rate this as one of the best vadapav s in town , it was decent enough . Would love try couple of their main course too soon”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Had Bombay vadapav from this place. Didn't dine in had placed a order. Food arrived timely (30mins)and packed neatly too . Tasted quite nice, though I wouldn't rate this as one of the best vadapav s in town , it was decent enough . Would love try couple of their main course too soon”July 2018
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Butter chicken Net +1
“Paneer Adhraki & Butter Chicken were also good in taste.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Paneer Adhraki & Butter Chicken were also good in taste.”June 2020
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Chicken butter masala Net +1
“We had Chicken tikka masala, Chicken butter masala with Paratha and Tawa roti which was tasty.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We had Chicken tikka masala, Chicken butter masala with Paratha and Tawa roti which was tasty.”May 2023
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Chicken tikka Net +1
“Great food! I loved their Biryani, Dal Tadka , Paneer adhraki and chicken tikka. Really good”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Great food! I loved their Biryani, Dal Tadka , Paneer adhraki and chicken tikka. Really good”June 2020
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Chicken tikka biryani Net +1
“Definitely a 5star..we tried food here yesterday,chicken tikka Biryani and Pani poori, Taste was amazingly amazing..Interiors were so beautiful,ambience is too good, freshly maintained. only drawback was Quantity was little less i felt,but taste wise 5stars..Royal taste of Biryani with so many gravy,salad,pickle served..😋”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Definitely a 5star..we tried food here yesterday,chicken tikka Biryani and Pani poori, Taste was amazingly amazing..Interiors were so beautiful,ambience is too good, freshly maintained. only drawback was Quantity was little less i felt,but taste wise 5stars..Royal taste of Biryani with so many gravy,salad,pickle served..😋”May 2022
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Chicken tikka masala Net +1
“We had Chicken tikka masala, Chicken butter masala with Paratha and Tawa roti which was tasty.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We had Chicken tikka masala, Chicken butter masala with Paratha and Tawa roti which was tasty.”May 2023
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Chinese combo Net +1
“Very delicious food and the Chinese combo was mouth watering..”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Very delicious food and the Chinese combo was mouth watering..”June 2020
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Dal tadka Net +1
“Great food! I loved their Biryani, Dal Tadka , Paneer adhraki and chicken tikka. Really good”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Great food! I loved their Biryani, Dal Tadka , Paneer adhraki and chicken tikka. Really good”June 2020
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Gobi paratha Net +1
“Yesterday we had Gobi Paratha and Tava Pulav. Gobi Paratha was excellent but taste of Tava Pulav was not like earlier.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Yesterday we had Gobi Paratha and Tava Pulav. Gobi Paratha was excellent but taste of Tava Pulav was not like earlier.”June 2022
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Kadhai chicken Net +1
“First time I tried kadhai chicken along with kebabs, and it really had the authenticity of North India.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“First time I tried kadhai chicken along with kebabs, and it really had the authenticity of North India.”June 2020
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Nawabi biryani Net +1
“Mouth watering pani puri , Paneer adhraki , Nawabi Biryani was just finger licking good .. crunchy munchy Jalebis .. justtttt yummmmmy”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Mouth watering pani puri , Paneer adhraki , Nawabi Biryani was just finger licking good .. crunchy munchy Jalebis .. justtttt yummmmmy”June 2020
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Pet pooja s combos Net +1
“Try out pet pooja s combos that take your taste buds for a ride ... The only downside would be it's not a budget restaurant, it's a bit on the higher mid tier .. but the food is worth it.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Try out pet pooja s combos that take your taste buds for a ride ... The only downside would be it's not a budget restaurant, it's a bit on the higher mid tier .. but the food is worth it.”November 2019
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Rosogulla Net +1
“I eat daal an rice with rosogulla I find it's good like it”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I eat daal an rice with rosogulla I find it's good like it”December 2022
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Tandoori mushroom Net +1
“We ordered tandoori mushroom in appetizer , really tasty .”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered tandoori mushroom in appetizer , really tasty .”June 2020
What to Avoid (12)
Food 12
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Butter tawa chapati Net −1
“I just ordered Paneer Tikka with Butter Tawa Chapati . The chapati had no butter and the vegetable were raw and full of red chilli Powder and full of whole Dhaniya seeds.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“I just ordered Paneer Tikka with Butter Tawa Chapati . The chapati had no butter and the vegetable were raw and full of red chilli Powder and full of whole Dhaniya seeds.”May 2022
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Chicken Net −1
“Ordered a non veg thali which costed 32 dhs. Based on the quality of the food it should cost 10dhs only. Chicken was frozen with a foul smell. Small portion of Pulao was included which was uncooked.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Ordered a non veg thali which costed 32 dhs. Based on the quality of the food it should cost 10dhs only. Chicken was frozen with a foul smell. Small portion of Pulao was included which was uncooked.”October 2019
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Dhai balla Net −1
“20-11-2018 we went to this hotel we ordered dhai balla after eating 2 3 spoon I called waiter n told him that this is completely spoiled it’s stinking he took it back n dint even check it and charged us for 2 plates we are not bothered for money but due to spoiled food my stomach was paining badly whenever u guys go there before eating check the Food coz they dnt serve the fresh food..”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“20-11-2018 we went to this hotel we ordered dhai balla after eating 2 3 spoon I called waiter n told him that this is completely spoiled it’s stinking he took it back n dint even check it and charged us for 2 plates we are not bothered for money but due to spoiled food my stomach was paining badly whenever u guys go there before eating check the Food coz they dnt serve the fresh food..”November 2018
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Egg sandwich Net −1
“egg sandwich: bread was not fresh at all... I think they used bread which is 3/4 days before, no taste except mint chutny,”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“egg sandwich: bread was not fresh at all... I think they used bread which is 3/4 days before, no taste except mint chutny,”April 2021
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Masala dosa Net −1
“ordered masala dosa and egg sandwich. they provided sambar with dosa with was disgusting, it was bitter, runny, no flavor, dosa was not crispy at all, it was not fresh, only coconut chutny was average.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“ordered masala dosa and egg sandwich. they provided sambar with dosa with was disgusting, it was bitter, runny, no flavor, dosa was not crispy at all, it was not fresh, only coconut chutny was average.”April 2021
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Naan Net −1
“The food was burnt specially the naan. The stir fried noodles was Soo spicy. The waiters and staff is confused . I wouldn't recommend. Not a great experience.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The food was burnt specially the naan. The stir fried noodles was Soo spicy. The waiters and staff is confused . I wouldn't recommend. Not a great experience.”April 2022
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Non veg thali Net −1
“Ordered a non veg thali which costed 32 dhs. Based on the quality of the food it should cost 10dhs only. Chicken was frozen with a foul smell. Small portion of Pulao was included which was uncooked.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Ordered a non veg thali which costed 32 dhs. Based on the quality of the food it should cost 10dhs only. Chicken was frozen with a foul smell. Small portion of Pulao was included which was uncooked.”October 2019
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Paneer tikka Net −1
“I just ordered Paneer Tikka with Butter Tawa Chapati . The chapati had no butter and the vegetable were raw and full of red chilli Powder and full of whole Dhaniya seeds.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“I just ordered Paneer Tikka with Butter Tawa Chapati . The chapati had no butter and the vegetable were raw and full of red chilli Powder and full of whole Dhaniya seeds.”May 2022
-
Pulao Net −1
“Ordered a non veg thali which costed 32 dhs. Based on the quality of the food it should cost 10dhs only. Chicken was frozen with a foul smell. Small portion of Pulao was included which was uncooked.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Ordered a non veg thali which costed 32 dhs. Based on the quality of the food it should cost 10dhs only. Chicken was frozen with a foul smell. Small portion of Pulao was included which was uncooked.”October 2019
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Stir fried noodles Net −1
“The food was burnt specially the naan. The stir fried noodles was Soo spicy. The waiters and staff is confused . I wouldn't recommend. Not a great experience.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The food was burnt specially the naan. The stir fried noodles was Soo spicy. The waiters and staff is confused . I wouldn't recommend. Not a great experience.”April 2022
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Tava pulav Net −1
“Yesterday we had Gobi Paratha and Tava Pulav. Gobi Paratha was excellent but taste of Tava Pulav was not like earlier.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Yesterday we had Gobi Paratha and Tava Pulav. Gobi Paratha was excellent but taste of Tava Pulav was not like earlier.”June 2022
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Veg platter Net −1
“No wonder why they give tremendous discount. I guess the veg platter was just flipped upside down in spices and delivered without even cooking.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“No wonder why they give tremendous discount. I guess the veg platter was just flipped upside down in spices and delivered without even cooking.”March 2021
Tips for a Better Visit
Try Chaat. If you are visiting for a snack, start with pani puri or chaat; these are among the most clearly praised items.
Ask Ahead. Families can ask for special food for children when ordering, rather than assuming it is listed on the menu.
Allow Time. Build in extra time for dine-in orders, as one customer specifically reported a long wait after ordering.
Check Menu. Confirm the current menu and prices before ordering; one review said the menu had changed and prices had risen.
Choose Carefully. For a more reliable first order, consider dishes with repeated positive mentions such as biryani, pani puri, samosas or jalebi.
Check Freshness. Check snacks and sides when they arrive, since reviews mention both burnt vadas and slightly raw samosa covering.
Plan the visit
Practical details
International City Russian Cluster V4 shop number 2 and 4
International City - Russia Cluster, Dubai
Common Concerns
Uneven quality
Food quality is inconsistent: reviews range from excellent dishes to burnt naan, undercooked food and raw vegetables.
Small portions
Several customers felt portions were too small, including a review describing the mix grill pieces as unusually tiny.
Slow service
Waiting after ordering has been a recurring concern in some reviews, especially during dine-in visits.
Thali value
One customer found the South Indian thali sparse and expensive, with only a small serving of rice.
Hygiene concerns
Older reviews raise serious hygiene concerns, including fruit flies in drinking glasses and a complaint about spoiled dahi balla.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Petpooja is an Indian restaurant in International City where you can dine in, order delivery, or drop by for Indian street food alongside North Indian, South Indian and Chinese dishes. The clearest draw in the reviews is chaat, especially pani puri, while samosas, jalebi and biryani also get repeated attention. A special children’s dish can be prepared on request.
There are some strong individual recommendations: chicken tikka biryani, aloo paratha, paneer adhraki, butter chicken and Chinese combo all appear in positive reviews. Customers also mention friendly staff, neat packing and delivery arriving at the promised time. Outside seating has been added, and some diners describe the interior as pleasant and quiet.
The experience is not completely consistent. Reviews report burnt naan, raw vegetables, undercooked food, a bitter and watery sambar with masala dosa, and portions that felt too small. Waiting after ordering can also be lengthy.
A South Indian thali was criticised as expensive for its limited contents, while older reviews raise hygiene concerns. For a first visit, start with a well-mentioned snack or dish and confirm current prices before ordering, as one customer said the menu had changed substantially. If dining in, allow extra time rather than expecting a quick meal.