Koshari
The koshari is praised as hot, fresh and generous, with lentils, rice, fried onions, tomato sauce and garlic.
Shahbandar
Al Karama
Shahbandar is an Egyptian restaurant in Al Karama where customers come for traditional dishes such as fatayer, koshari and mandi. Reviews also point to a relaxed setting with indoor and open-air seating, including views towards Dubai Frame.
Reputation Score
4.1
★★★★☆
355 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Chicken Pie
Chicken pie is a standout for at least one repeat visitor, who specifically liked both its taste and quantity.
Seafood Sharing
A 2kg fried mixed seafood order reportedly fed 11 adults and included pita, tahini, salad, tomato curry and fries.
Warm Setting
The restaurant has two floors, closed and open areas, and a view towards Dubai Frame, giving diners different seating choices.
Fatayer
Fatayer receives strong praise for its authentic Arabic flavour, including a cheese fatayer and mixed varieties.
Helpful Service
Several diners describe the service as attentive and welcoming, including staff who explain dishes and make recommendations.
What to Eat at Shahbandar 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 Shahbandar, 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.
Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of Shahbandar, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.
Food 10
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Egyptian molokhya dish Net +2
“the staffs are very nice and they recommend the food for us. the atmosphere is very nice and relaxing overlooking the dubai frame and burj khalifa. the food we ordered roasted duck and molokia is very delicious though the arabic bread is not freshly made but overall is taste fine.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“the staffs are very nice and they recommend the food for us. the atmosphere is very nice and relaxing overlooking the dubai frame and burj khalifa. the food we ordered roasted duck and molokia is very delicious though the arabic bread is not freshly made but overall is taste fine.”May 2025
“I love to try traditional food i had the best Egyptian Molokhya Dish in Shahbandar restaurant also tried the fatayer and the koushary i wanna thank the chefs and everyone in this restaurant from the great elegance serving they are so amazing people”October 2025
-
Koshari Net +2
“As a Filipino who loves tasting different cuisine. I found Koshari here absolutely delicious! It was fresh, served hot, well-prepared and full of flavor. The portion size was just right. I’ll definitely order again soon!”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“As a Filipino who loves tasting different cuisine. I found Koshari here absolutely delicious! It was fresh, served hot, well-prepared and full of flavor. The portion size was just right. I’ll definitely order again soon!”September 2025
“I recently tried the koshari at Shahbandar Restaurant, and it was absolutely delicious! The dish was perfectly balanced with tender lentils, fluffy rice, and crispy fried onions on top. The tangy tomato sauce and the hint of garlic really elevated the flavors, making every bite satisfying. The portion size was generous, and the spices were just right—not too overpowering but flavorful enough to keep me coming back for more. Shahbandar’s koshari is definitely a must-try for anyone craving authentic Egyptian comfort food. Highly recommended!”August 2025
-
Cheese fatayer Net +1
“Food is really delicious. I had dinned following with cheese fatayer and mandi. It was really great experience.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food is really delicious. I had dinned following with cheese fatayer and mandi. It was really great experience.”October 2025
-
Chicken mandi Net +1
“Food is great, I visit the restaurant last week and I like the Lamb mandi and chicken Mandi. I will definitely back next time.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food is great, I visit the restaurant last week and I like the Lamb mandi and chicken Mandi. I will definitely back next time.”December 2025
-
Chicken mazbi Net +1
“I have ordered chicken mazbi it's so tastful & also amazing service I never had experienced like this kind of this taste I really happy to order from shahbandar restaurant”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I have ordered chicken mazbi it's so tastful & also amazing service I never had experienced like this kind of this taste I really happy to order from shahbandar restaurant”November 2025
-
Chicken pie Net +1
“Must try dish over there is chicken pie. I loved the taste and quantity.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Must try dish over there is chicken pie. I loved the taste and quantity.”June 2026
-
Fried mixed seafood plate Net +1
“We recently ordered 2kgs of the Fried Mixed Seafood Plate for an office gathering, and the experience was truly impressive. The seafood was fresh, well-seasoned, and perfectly fried — crisp on the outside, tender within, and full of flavour.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We recently ordered 2kgs of the Fried Mixed Seafood Plate for an office gathering, and the experience was truly impressive. The seafood was fresh, well-seasoned, and perfectly fried — crisp on the outside, tender within, and full of flavour.”November 2025
-
Koushary Net +1
“I love to try traditional food i had the best Egyptian Molokhya Dish in Shahbandar restaurant also tried the fatayer and the koushary i wanna thank the chefs and everyone in this restaurant from the great elegance serving they are so amazing people”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I love to try traditional food i had the best Egyptian Molokhya Dish in Shahbandar restaurant also tried the fatayer and the koushary i wanna thank the chefs and everyone in this restaurant from the great elegance serving they are so amazing people”October 2025
-
Roasted duck Net +1
“the staffs are very nice and they recommend the food for us. the atmosphere is very nice and relaxing overlooking the dubai frame and burj khalifa. the food we ordered roasted duck and molokia is very delicious though the arabic bread is not freshly made but overall is taste fine.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“the staffs are very nice and they recommend the food for us. the atmosphere is very nice and relaxing overlooking the dubai frame and burj khalifa. the food we ordered roasted duck and molokia is very delicious though the arabic bread is not freshly made but overall is taste fine.”May 2025
-
Lamb mandi Net 0
Mixed feedback
“Food is great, I visit the restaurant last week and I like the Lamb mandi and chicken Mandi. I will definitely back next time.”
Positive 1Negative 1
Review excerpts
“Food is great, I visit the restaurant last week and I like the Lamb mandi and chicken Mandi. I will definitely back next time.”December 2025
What to Avoid (5)
Food 5
-
Mixed chicken fatayer Net −1
“Today, we ordered the mixed chicken fatayer with the expectation that it would be delicious. However, when we ate it, all we got was disappointment.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Today, we ordered the mixed chicken fatayer with the expectation that it would be delicious. However, when we ate it, all we got was disappointment.”March 2025
-
Muhalbia Net −1
“Muhalbia tasted weirdly!”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Muhalbia tasted weirdly!”June 2023
-
Pastirma pie Net −1
“Pastirma pie had a few pieces of pastirma”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Pastirma pie had a few pieces of pastirma”June 2023
-
Pudding and nuts pie Net −1
“Pudding and nuts pie has no filling at all”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Pudding and nuts pie has no filling at all”June 2023
-
Ramadan iftar meals Net −1
“I ordered Ramadan Iftar meals but it was not as seen in Ad - Missing water, dates and other additions. I called them twice they promised to send it but never sent.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“I ordered Ramadan Iftar meals but it was not as seen in Ad - Missing water, dates and other additions. I called them twice they promised to send it but never sent.”February 2026
Tips for a Better Visit
Check Bills. Review the bill before paying, as one customer reported an extra water charge.
Allow Time. If ordering delivery, allow plenty of time: one order stayed in preparation for more than an hour and a half before cancellation.
Confirm Extras. When ordering set meals or add-ons, confirm every inclusion and charge; an Iftar order was missing water, dates and other additions.
Group Orders. For an office or family gathering, the seafood platter is worth considering: a 2kg order reportedly served 11 adults.
Ask About Bread. If breakfast or bread is important to your meal, ask about freshness first because one regular customer found it unusually hard.
Parking Cost. Plan for paid parking when visiting, since a customer specifically noted that parking slots are paid.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Sheikh Rashid Rd
Al Karama, Dubai
| Mon | 7:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Tue | 7:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Wed | 7:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Thu | 7:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Fri | 7:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Sat | 7:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Sun | 7:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
Common Concerns
Mandi Quality
One diner received a lamb mandi with reheated-tasting rice and meat described as fully burned and very hard.
Delivery Issues
Delivery reviews include missing items, a cancelled order and a wait of more than 90 minutes for two meals.
Seating Cleanliness
A review reports uncomfortable high tables, an unclean table and very dirty restroom facilities.
Bread Texture
A regular breakfast customer says the bread has recently become very hard compared with its previous softer texture.
Bill Confusion
One diner reported an extra water charge and advised customers to check the bill before paying.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Shahbandar is an Egyptian restaurant in Al Karama with a menu that appeals to people looking for traditional comfort food rather than a narrow speciality. Reviews most often point to fatayer, koshari and mandi, while the fried mixed seafood plate can work well for a group meal. The koshari has been described as hot, fresh and generously portioned, with lentils, rice, fried onions, tomato sauce and garlic.
Chicken pie also has a repeat customer who liked its taste and quantity. For larger gatherings, one review says a 2kg fried mixed seafood order was more than enough for 11 adults and arrived with pita, tahini, salad, tomato curry and fries. The setting is a draw: there are closed and open areas across two floors, with views towards Dubai Frame.
Some diners describe a warm welcome and helpful explanations of the menu, but service is not consistently smooth. Other reviews mention slow service, difficult communication, uncomfortable seating and poor cleanliness, including a dirty table and restroom. Check your bill and confirm any extras before paying.
Delivery deserves extra caution too, with reports of missing items, omitted Iftar additions and one order cancelled after a wait of more than 90 minutes. Parking is paid.