Rivas Restaurant

Name: Rivas Restaurant
Address: Jumeira St - opposite burj ALARAB - inside THE MALL, Umm Suqeim, Dubai, AE
Telephone: +97143608880

Umm Suqeim

Restaurant Closed 04 360 8880

Rivas is a Persian home-style restaurant in Umm Suqeim where Iranian classics are the draw. Reviews point especially to juicy kebabs and slow-cooked lamb neck, while the Burj Al Arab view and welcoming bread-and-drink service add something to the meal.

Reputation Score

4.3

★★★★☆

919 ratings

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The Good Stuff

Showing 2 of 6

Juicy kebabs

Kebabs are repeatedly praised for being tender, juicy and well seasoned, with koobideh and Soltani among the standouts.

Lamb dishes

Lamb neck, lamb shank and whole stuffed chicken receive strong praise; the lamb neck is noted for its tenderness and rich flavour.

Let's go!

What to Eat at Rivas Restaurant

Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of Rivas Restaurant, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.

Food 4

Koobideh Net +4

“The koobideh was decent, nicely cooked but fairly standard.”
Lamb neck Net +3

“The lamb neck was tender and enjoyable, though the portion leaned on the smaller side.”
Ghormeh sabzi Net +2

“The ghormeh sabzi tasted familiar and comforting, though slightly mild.”
Whole stuffed chicken Net +2

“The kebabs, lamb neck, and for me the main highlight the whole stuffed chicken. What a meal”

Honorable mentions (32)

Ab ali dough Net +1

“And they also serve my personal favorite Ab Ali Dough (traditional yogurt drink)”
Baghali polo with lamb neck Net +1

“• Baghali Polo with Lamb Neck (AED 90): The lamb neck was tender, flavorful, and perfectly cooked.”
Baghali polo with lamb shank Net +1

“• Baghali Polo with Lamb Shank (AED 87): Another excellent dish, with the lamb shank being juicy and well-seasoned.”
Cholo gardan Net +1

“You can’t even find this good quality Persian dishes in Iran! Unbelievably delicious! We had Kebab Sorkh (the best), cholo gardan, and Morghe torsh!”
Falooda ice cream dessert Net +1

“The falooda ice cream dessert is a must to finish off with your meal.”
Faloodeh Net +1

“One of the best Iranian restaurants where you can taste the most delicious Iranian food. Mixed Tah Dig (crispy part of rice) and lamb shank is highly recommended. Keep some space for dessert -> Faloodeh and Ice cream (mixed) 🍨”
Garlic yogurt (mast masier) Net +1

“The appetizers were great, and the garlic yogurt (mast masier) was the highlight of the meal. It was really creamy and tangy, and it made an amazing dip for the complementary freshly baked bread.”
Gheimah Net +1

“The bread and Gheimah were very good. Kobeidah 7.5/10 tawook 8/10 🔥 Tahdig 6/10 Gheimah 8.5/10 ❤‍🔥”
Joojeh Net +1

“The joojeh stood out more, juicy and well seasoned, while the kabab torsh had a pleasant tang, even if the flavor didn’t fully develop.”
Kabab kateh Net +1

“I had the Kabab Kateh, as I like the way the rice is prepared. The meat was good, but did not wow me.”
Kabab torsh Net +1

“The joojeh stood out more, juicy and well seasoned, while the kabab torsh had a pleasant tang, even if the flavor didn’t fully develop.”
Kebab masti Net +1

“The #kebab masti was also very good.”
Kebab platter for 3 Net +1

“We got Kebab platter for 3 and it came with three different flavors of rice which were great.”
Kebab sorkh Net +1

“You can’t even find this good quality Persian dishes in Iran! Unbelievably delicious! We had Kebab Sorkh (the best), cholo gardan, and Morghe torsh!”
Lamb neck with tahgine rice cake Net +1

“The koobideh was among the best I had in Dubai, and the lamb neck with tahgine rice cake was also amazing.”
Lamb shank Net +1

“One of the best Iranian restaurants where you can taste the most delicious Iranian food. Mixed Tah Dig (crispy part of rice) and lamb shank is highly recommended. Keep some space for dessert -> Faloodeh and Ice cream (mixed) 🍨”
Lamp shank Net +1

“Mix Grills, Lamp shank, salad and bread. All were excellent”
Mix grills Net +1

“Mix Grills, Lamp shank, salad and bread. All were excellent”
Mixed tah dig Net +1

“One of the best Iranian restaurants where you can taste the most delicious Iranian food. Mixed Tah Dig (crispy part of rice) and lamb shank is highly recommended. Keep some space for dessert -> Faloodeh and Ice cream (mixed) 🍨”
Morghe torsh Net +1

“You can’t even find this good quality Persian dishes in Iran! Unbelievably delicious! We had Kebab Sorkh (the best), cholo gardan, and Morghe torsh!”
Negini kebab Net +1

“Mohammed shahata was very kind, the crispy rice was fantastic, negini kebab was really authentic.”
Olives with pomegranate Net +1

“The food was fantastic, everything from the assorted herbs to the olives with pomegranate to the kebabs was delicious, due to this, I think this may be one of the best kebabs I had in town.”
Persian pizza Net +1

“The kebabs and curries were excellent. A special revelation for me was the Persian pizza. Similar to a Chicago deep dish pizza, filled with toppings, and excellent flavor.”
Pizza Net +1

“I highly recommend trying Rivas Restaurant’s pizza and sandwiches. In addition to their excellent Iranian dishes, these two items are truly outstanding. We all gave the service, pizza, and sandwiches a perfect 100 out of 100.👍”
Platter 3 Net +1

“I really recommend Platter 3, which has 6 kebab skewers and rice with it.”
Saffron ice cream with butter chunks Net +1

“The tea and desert after the main course was just perfect too. Had the saffron ice cream with butter chunks (this hits you in the chest) and was shocked at how rich it was.”
Sekanjabin Net +1

“They welcomed us with a traditional Iranian drink made of honey/sugar, vinegar, and saffron (sekanjabin), along with a platter of cheese, walnuts, fresh herbs (sabzi), and warm bread. This welcoming gesture is one of the best parts of Iranian restaurant culture, and Rivas did it perfectly.”
Soltani kebab Net +1

“We ordered the Soltani kebab, which was well-cooked and very enjoyable.”
Tadig mix Net +1

“The Tadig Mix was a very nice dish and we'll sized.”
فسنجون بادمجون Net +1

“I tried فسنجون بادمجون for the first time, and it was absolutely delicious rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced.”
قیمه نثار Net +1

“The قیمه نثار was simply outstanding (محشر بود!) with amazing aroma and taste.”
Tahdig Net 0

Mixed feedback

“On the sides, the tahdig was a highlight, crispy and satisfying.”

What to Avoid (6)

Food 6

Brain and tongue sandwich Net −1

“We order brain and tongue sandwich it was the worst sandwich ever , it was smelly and tongue beef was not soft , if the tongue cooked well it is very soft and delicious, waste of time and money 👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻”
Doogh laban Net −1

“The doogh laban was below expectations, but the tea was a perfect ending to the meal.”
Joje kebab Net −1

“Food: The Joje Kebab we ordered was just average. As an Iranian, I’ve tried many Iranian restaurants, and unfortunately, this kebab didn’t stand out. The bread underneath the kebab wasn’t very fresh, although the bread with the nono panir was much better.”
Kashke bademjan Net −1

“• Kashk-e-Bademjan (AED 30): Unfortunately, I wasn’t a fan of this dish due to a strong lamb-fat aroma.”
Mahicheh Net −1

“And about the quality of the food , definitely not the best mahicheh I had , it was ok . I would give it 6 out of 10”
Tahdig plain Net −1

“• Tahdig Plain (AED 20): While crispy, it was quite oily.”

Tips for a Better Visit

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Reserve weekends. Book ahead for weekend visits: one review says the restaurant often needs reservations when it is busy.

Try tahdig. Consider the mixed tahdig with lamb shank, which a reviewer specifically recommended; it is the crispy rice option.

Plan the visit

Practical details

Jumeira St - opposite burj ALARAB - inside THE MALL

Umm Suqeim Third - Umm Suqeim 3, Dubai

04 360 8880

Mon	11:00 AM – 10:30 PM
Tue	11:00 AM – 10:30 PM
Wed	11:00 AM – 10:30 PM
Thu	11:00 AM – 10:30 PM
Fri	11:00 AM – 10:30 PM
Sat	11:00 AM – 10:30 PM
Sun	11:00 AM – 10:30 PM

Get directions

Common Concerns

Showing 2 of 5

Service gaps

Service is often praised, but some diners had to chase staff for water, lemon or the bill, and explanations of dishes were inconsistent.

Oily dishes

Some diners found the food or rice too greasy; one specifically found the plain tahdig quite oily and the rice heavy with butter.

Customer-reported prices

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

AED 90

Baghali Polo with Lamb Neck

“• Baghali Polo with Lamb Neck (AED 90): The lamb neck was tender, flavorful, and perfectly cooked”

Google review · December 2024

AED 87

Baghali Polo with Lamb Shank

“• Baghali Polo with Lamb Shank (AED 87): Another excellent dish, with the lamb shank being juicy and well-seasoned”

Google review · December 2024

DXB
LOCAL

The Bottom Line

Rivas is a Persian home-style restaurant in Umm Suqeim, and the main reason to come is the Iranian cooking. Kebabs, especially koobideh and mixed selections, are commonly described as juicy and well seasoned. Lamb neck is another recurring favourite, while the whole filled chicken, ghormeh sabzi and Persian pizza give you worthwhile alternatives to grilled meat.

There are thoughtful Persian touches too. One lunch began with sekanjabin, cheese, walnuts, fresh herbs and warm bread, and several diners enjoyed tea or Persian desserts afterwards. The setting is generally calm and comfortable, with some tables looking towards the Burj Al Arab.

Basement parking is another practical advantage. The experience is not perfectly consistent. Some guests found the service attentive and fast, but others had to remind staff about water, lemon or the bill.

Portion value also divides opinion: one review called the meal reasonably priced for three people, while others felt prices were high or rice portions modest. Richness is worth noting as well; tahdig, butter-heavy rice and some stews may feel oily or heavy. Reserve for weekends, and if ordering delivery, leave plenty of time after one reported two-hour wait.

Vegetarian choice appears limited.