Palabok favourite
Palabok is the standout order, with repeat customers calling it one of the best they have found in Dubai.
Russell Dave Bakery - International City
International City
Russell Dave Bakery in International City combines Filipino breads with a wider Filipino food menu. Reviews especially point to palabok, fresh pandesal and cheese bread, while takeaway and delivery make it useful for everyday cravings or small celebrations.
Reputation Score
4.3
★★★★☆
113 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Fresh breads
Customers repeatedly mention soft, fresh breads, especially cheese bread, Spanish bread and pandesal.
Home flavours
The Filipino dishes are described as authentic and comforting, with goto and bopis reminding diners of home.
Filled siopao
The siopao is praised for being generously packed with filling, making it a popular delicacy rather than just a quick snack.
Event orders
Palabok platters and kakanin have been ordered for celebrations, and one customer said the bibingka was a birthday-party favourite.
Helpful service
Several visits mention attentive staff who explain dishes, give recommendations and handle requests warmly.
Reasonable value
Reviews describe the food as budget friendly, with good portions and reasonable pricing for online orders.
Tips for a Better Visit
Reserve ahead. Call or reserve before visiting if you want particular baked goods; one review says products sell quickly.
Check orders. For delivery or takeaway, check every item before leaving or accepting it because customers have reported missing and wrong products.
Allow extra time. Avoid tight schedules for delivery or phone orders; one customer waited 1 hour and 20 minutes and cancelled.
Try pickup. Pickup can suit this small International City branch better than a long sit-down meal, especially if you already know what you want.
Message early. If using WhatsApp, contact the bakery well ahead: one online customer reported a response time of around two hours.
Confirm pricing. Check the bill and any bag or per-item charges before paying; one customer questioned extra amounts on a pandesal and siopao purchase.
Plan the visit
Practical details
International City - England Cluster - Dubai
International City - England Cluster, Dubai
| Mon | 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Tue | 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Wed | 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Thu | 7:00 AM – 8:30 PM |
| Fri | 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Sat | 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Sun | 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
Common Concerns
Order delays
Delivery and phone orders have sometimes taken hours; one customer waited 1 hour and 20 minutes before cancelling.
Order errors
Reviews report missing, incorrect and incomplete items, including an assorted bread order that arrived with only 10 pieces instead of more than 20.
Small space
The branch is described as very small, with limited seating that is not ideal for a longer dine-in meal.
Stock changes
Some newly introduced products are reportedly discontinued quickly, making favourites difficult to find again.
Inconsistent items
A few reviews describe problems with food quality, including an unpleasant halo-halo and a mouldy egg pie.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
5 aed
pandesal
“For 5 aed pandesal your staff asking for 25 fils additional, I ased him for what this additional 25 fils”Google review · January 2025
2 aed
paper bag
“I added order 2 siopao and he want to charge us 2 aed for paper bag”Google review · January 2025
6 aed per piece
siopao
“60 aed as the siopao 6 aed per piece”Google review · January 2025
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Russell Dave Bakery in International City is a Filipino bakery and eatery where the clearest draws are palabok, fresh breads and familiar comfort food. Customers return for pandesal, cheese bread, Spanish bread and generously filled siopao, while dishes such as goto, bopis and pancit bihon bring a home-style Filipino element beyond the bakery counter. Palabok is the strongest recurring recommendation.
It has been ordered as a regular meal, a platter for celebrations and a delivery favourite, while kakanin and bibingka have also appeared at birthday gatherings. Reviews describe the breads as soft, fluffy and fresh, and several customers consider the pricing reasonable or budget friendly. Staff are often described as accommodating, able to explain dishes and help with requests.
The practical picture is less consistent. The shop is small, with limited dine-in space, and some customers say popular goods sell quickly, so reserving ahead is sensible. Delivery and phone orders have also produced long waits, missing items and cancellations; WhatsApp replies were reported to take around two hours.
Check takeaway orders carefully and allow extra time, particularly when ordering for an event or on a tight schedule.