Signature Halwa
The chilled Halwa Shalwa combines Omani halwa with condensed milk, cardamom, rose water, saffron, milk biscuits and mahallabeya.
Shalwa
Umm Suqeim
Shalwa is a Khaleeji restaurant in Umm Suqeim, centred on local flavours presented in a contemporary café setting. Reviews point to the Omani Halwa Shalwa and Emirati-style coffee as the clearest reasons to stop by, whether you want dessert, breakfast or a relaxed coffee.
Reputation Score
4.7
★★★★★
3,338 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Arabic Coffee
The Emirati coffee is praised for its aroma, cardamom balance and traditional presentation.
Dessert Range
Customers specifically call out the basbousa cheesecake, sticky date cake and Gers Ogaili as worthwhile sweets.
Warm Service
Many reviews describe the team as friendly, attentive and welcoming, including during busy periods.
Karak Refills
Some visits include free-flow Karak tea, with kind refills during a family breakfast.
Local Flavours
The menu brings Emirati and Saudi influences together, including dishes such as qeema with paratha.
What to Eat at Shalwa 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 Shalwa, this list is based on 50 reviews, not every review of the restaurant. We still have more reviews to analyze, so the scores may change. 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 Shalwa got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 3
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Halwa shalwa Net +3
“I had the halwa shalwah, sticky date cake, gers ogaili, and Shaikha Zayed gahwa. The taste is a beautiful balance of old and new, with warm notes of cardamom, rose (ward), and saffron rich, authentic, and comforting. My favorite is the halwa shalwah 🤍 perfectly made and unforgettable.”
Positive 3Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I had the halwa shalwah, sticky date cake, gers ogaili, and Shaikha Zayed gahwa. The taste is a beautiful balance of old and new, with warm notes of cardamom, rose (ward), and saffron rich, authentic, and comforting. My favorite is the halwa shalwah 🤍 perfectly made and unforgettable.”January 2026
“We ordered their famous Halwa Shalwa and wow... this has to be one of the best desserts I've ever had. It's a traditional Omani halwa infused with condensed milk, cardamom, rose water and saffron, served over milk biscuits and silky mahallabeya. I was expecting it to be served warm, but it was actually a chilled dessert—and somehow that made it even better. Every spoonful was rich, fragrant and perfectly balanced without being overly sweet.”July 2026
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Sticky date cake Net +3
“Amazing place with amazing staff (Thanks to Ahmed) Sticky dates cake is a must try . One of the best in Dubai . Loved the new pop up location in Museum of Future”
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Review excerpts
“Amazing place with amazing staff (Thanks to Ahmed) Sticky dates cake is a must try . One of the best in Dubai . Loved the new pop up location in Museum of Future”March 2026
“I also tried the sticky date cake and halwa shalea. Both were very unique in taste and worth a try but again, they were too expensive.”May 2026
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Omani halwa Net +2
“Such a beautiful café that truly stands out for its Khaleeji inspired flavors the menu perfectly blends tradition with a modern touch and the Halwa Omani was an absolute highlight rich and perfectly balanced in sweetness and the taste of cardamom. You can really feel the Gulf essence in every bite”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Such a beautiful café that truly stands out for its Khaleeji inspired flavors the menu perfectly blends tradition with a modern touch and the Halwa Omani was an absolute highlight rich and perfectly balanced in sweetness and the taste of cardamom. You can really feel the Gulf essence in every bite”October 2025
Honorable mentions (16)
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Basbousa cheesecake Net +1
“The food always arrives hot and fresh 🔥 I especially love the basbousa cheesecake 😍 and their coffee is absolutely delicious ☕️”
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Review excerpts
“The food always arrives hot and fresh 🔥 I especially love the basbousa cheesecake 😍 and their coffee is absolutely delicious ☕️”May 2026
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Breakfast platter Net +1
“The food itself was delicious we tried the croissant, keema, and the breakfast platter, and we enjoyed the taste. However, the portion sizes were shockingly small, especially considering the very high prices. A platter with labneh, honey, shakshuka, and another serving of labneh was priced unreasonably high for such a tiny portion.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food itself was delicious we tried the croissant, keema, and the breakfast platter, and we enjoyed the taste. However, the portion sizes were shockingly small, especially considering the very high prices. A platter with labneh, honey, shakshuka, and another serving of labneh was priced unreasonably high for such a tiny portion.”June 2026
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Chef faisal’s signature paratha Net +1
“Shalwa’s all-day breakfast menu is launching tomorrow, and it’s definitely one to look forward to! The exclusive menu offers delicious and flavorful dishes, including a limited-time collaboration featuring Chef Faisal’s signature paratha.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Shalwa’s all-day breakfast menu is launching tomorrow, and it’s definitely one to look forward to! The exclusive menu offers delicious and flavorful dishes, including a limited-time collaboration featuring Chef Faisal’s signature paratha.”October 2025
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Chicken mudalal Net +1
“As for the food: Chicken Mudalal (67 AED) was good (8/10) but the portion was small for the price.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“As for the food: Chicken Mudalal (67 AED) was good (8/10) but the portion was small for the price.”March 2026
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Croissant Net +1
“The food itself was delicious we tried the croissant, keema, and the breakfast platter, and we enjoyed the taste.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food itself was delicious we tried the croissant, keema, and the breakfast platter, and we enjoyed the taste.”June 2026
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Date cake Net +1
“I tried two of their pastries and both were absolutely phenomenal — especially the date cake, which is truly to die for.”
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Review excerpts
“I tried two of their pastries and both were absolutely phenomenal — especially the date cake, which is truly to die for.”January 2026
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Dips platter Net +1
“We ordered the Dips Platter, which was absolutely tasty — especially the Egg & Tomato dip, which had a unique and delicious flavor.”
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Review excerpts
“We ordered the Dips Platter, which was absolutely tasty — especially the Egg & Tomato dip, which had a unique and delicious flavor.”November 2025
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Gers ogaili Net +1
“This was my time coming here. We ordered the cakes shown in the photo (Gers Ogaili and Halwa Shalwa) and they were both very tasty and full of flavour. We also ordered the Sheikh Zayed coffee. Very happy with everything :)”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“This was my time coming here. We ordered the cakes shown in the photo (Gers Ogaili and Halwa Shalwa) and they were both very tasty and full of flavour. We also ordered the Sheikh Zayed coffee. Very happy with everything :)”September 2025
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Halwa shalea Net +1
“I also tried the sticky date cake and halwa shalea. Both were very unique in taste and worth a try but again, they were too expensive.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I also tried the sticky date cake and halwa shalea. Both were very unique in taste and worth a try but again, they were too expensive.”May 2026
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Keema Net +1
“The food itself was delicious we tried the croissant, keema, and the breakfast platter, and we enjoyed the taste.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food itself was delicious we tried the croissant, keema, and the breakfast platter, and we enjoyed the taste.”June 2026
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Machbos laham Net +1
“Machbos laham (125 AED) was okay (7/10) but again, small portion.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Machbos laham (125 AED) was okay (7/10) but again, small portion.”March 2026
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Mutabaq Net +1
“The food is good the omelette and the paratha and the mutabaq.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food is good the omelette and the paratha and the mutabaq.”December 2025
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Paratha Net +1
“The food is good the omelette and the paratha and the mutabaq.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food is good the omelette and the paratha and the mutabaq.”December 2025
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Qeema with poratha Net +1
“One of the best places to experience a blend of Emirati and Saudi food. I tried the qeema with poratha; it was delicious but the portion was too small and the price was too high.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“One of the best places to experience a blend of Emirati and Saudi food. I tried the qeema with poratha; it was delicious but the portion was too small and the price was too high.”May 2026
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Shalwa dessert Net +1
“To end our meal, we had the Shalwa Dessert, and honestly, its taste was so good it felt like a dreamy experience.”
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Review excerpts
“To end our meal, we had the Shalwa Dessert, and honestly, its taste was so good it felt like a dreamy experience.”November 2025
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Shalwa omelette Net +1
“We also tried the Shalwa Omelette, and it was really good.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We also tried the Shalwa Omelette, and it was really good.”November 2025
Drinks 2
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Emarati coffee- shaikh zayed Net +3
“For coffee i would recommend Emarati coffee- Shaikh Zayed”
Positive 3Negative 0
Review excerpts
“For coffee i would recommend Emarati coffee- Shaikh Zayed”April 2026
“Arabic coffee “Sheikh Zayed” was delicious. The dessert was tasty and generous, enough to serve 4 to 6 people.”August 2025
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Karak tea Net +2
“Enjoyed the food and free flow Karak tea.”
Positive 3Negative 1
Review excerpts
“Enjoyed the food and free flow Karak tea.”July 2026
“10/10 really! Karak Chai was best I have ever had, the food was incredibly delicious and fresh.”December 2025
Honorable mentions (8)
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Authentic emirati coffee Net +1
“One of the highlights of the experience was their authentic Emirati coffee—rich in aroma, perfectly balanced with hints of cardamom, and served in the traditional style. It was easily one of the finest cups of coffee I’ve had.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“One of the highlights of the experience was their authentic Emirati coffee—rich in aroma, perfectly balanced with hints of cardamom, and served in the traditional style. It was easily one of the finest cups of coffee I’ve had.”May 2026
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Cappuccino Net +1
“The cappuccino was smooth and perfectly prepared to our request.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The cappuccino was smooth and perfectly prepared to our request.”December 2025
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Coffee with dates Net +1
“It’s my first time to try the coffee with dates and it was really good, I think I have a new favorite.”
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Review excerpts
“It’s my first time to try the coffee with dates and it was really good, I think I have a new favorite.”December 2025
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Date cloud latte Net +1
“The Date cloud latte and nostalgic coffee are definitive must try!”
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Review excerpts
“The Date cloud latte and nostalgic coffee are definitive must try!”April 2026
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Date matcha Net +1
“The date matcha was absolutely delicious — perfectly balanced, rich in flavor, and not overly sweet. Definitely one of the best matchas I’ve tried, highly recommend 🤍”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The date matcha was absolutely delicious — perfectly balanced, rich in flavor, and not overly sweet. Definitely one of the best matchas I’ve tried, highly recommend 🤍”May 2026
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Fresh mint tea Net +1
“We paired it with their fresh mint tea, and honestly, it was the perfect combination.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We paired it with their fresh mint tea, and honestly, it was the perfect combination.”July 2026
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Iced date cloud latte Net +1
“We tried the Sticky Date Cake 🍰 and the Iced Date Cloud Latte ☁️☕ — both were so good and the perfect combo of sweet and refreshing. 💛”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We tried the Sticky Date Cake 🍰 and the Iced Date Cloud Latte ☁️☕ — both were so good and the perfect combo of sweet and refreshing. 💛”September 2025
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Nostalgic coffee Net +1
“The Date cloud latte and nostalgic coffee are definitive must try!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Date cloud latte and nostalgic coffee are definitive must try!”April 2026
What to Avoid (4)
Food 4
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Basbousa Net −1
“However, the basbousa could use some improvement in terms of texture and flavor.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“However, the basbousa could use some improvement in terms of texture and flavor.”March 2026
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Egg omelette Net −1
“Food is meh but the service on the other hand is terrible the staff are lazy and unaware of the customers and slow , one staff member offered to show me the item picture and when i agreed he left and never came back and i saw him later serving other tables and wandering around , also they treat bread as gold the are so cheap around giving us enough bread to eat our orders that depends on bread to eat like egg omelette or foul as if they want us to eat foul with a fork and knife 🤣 , also this is the foul they served us with 2 pieces of bread and when asked for more they charge us even more… tourists trap, average food and terrible service”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Food is meh but the service on the other hand is terrible the staff are lazy and unaware of the customers and slow , one staff member offered to show me the item picture and when i agreed he left and never came back and i saw him later serving other tables and wandering around , also they treat bread as gold the are so cheap around giving us enough bread to eat our orders that depends on bread to eat like egg omelette or foul as if they want us to eat foul with a fork and knife 🤣 , also this is the foul they served us with 2 pieces of bread and when asked for more they charge us even more… tourists trap, average food and terrible service”November 2025
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Foul Net −1
“Food is meh but the service on the other hand is terrible the staff are lazy and unaware of the customers and slow , one staff member offered to show me the item picture and when i agreed he left and never came back and i saw him later serving other tables and wandering around , also they treat bread as gold the are so cheap around giving us enough bread to eat our orders that depends on bread to eat like egg omelette or foul as if they want us to eat foul with a fork and knife 🤣 , also this is the foul they served us with 2 pieces of bread and when asked for more they charge us even more… tourists trap, average food and terrible service”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Food is meh but the service on the other hand is terrible the staff are lazy and unaware of the customers and slow , one staff member offered to show me the item picture and when i agreed he left and never came back and i saw him later serving other tables and wandering around , also they treat bread as gold the are so cheap around giving us enough bread to eat our orders that depends on bread to eat like egg omelette or foul as if they want us to eat foul with a fork and knife 🤣 , also this is the foul they served us with 2 pieces of bread and when asked for more they charge us even more… tourists trap, average food and terrible service”November 2025
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Magali bites Net −1
“Magali bites (67 AED) had very little filling (4/10).”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Magali bites (67 AED) had very little filling (4/10).”March 2026
Tips for a Better Visit
Go Early. Visit early in the morning if you want a quieter table and a better chance of avoiding the queue.
Expect Waiting. Build in extra time at busy periods; one dessert visit involved a long line, though the customer felt it was worth waiting.
Choose Sofas. If comfort matters, ask for a sofa table rather than relying on the wooden chairs.
Try Halwa. For a first dessert, order the Halwa Shalwa or Omani Halwa; both are repeatedly highlighted by customers.
Ask Ingredients. If you have dietary questions, ask for detailed ingredient information before ordering, as one diner found staff answers unclear.
Plan the visit
Practical details
57WJ+X2P The District Dubai Mall - 15 9b St
Umm Suqeim - Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai
| Mon | 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Tue | 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Wed | 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Thu | 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Fri | 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Sat | 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Sun | 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
Common Concerns
Small Portions
Several diners felt dishes such as qeema with paratha and the breakfast platter were too small for their prices.
Busy Queues
Long lines and limited seating can be part of the experience, especially during busy periods.
Service Delays
Some visits involved delayed ordering, forgotten orders, or having to ask for the menu more than once.
Seating Comfort
The wooden chairs were described as uncomfortable, while another review mentioned cramped tables and limited personal space.
Basbousa Texture
One customer enjoyed the coffee but found the basbousa’s texture and flavour in need of improvement.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
67 AED
Chicken Mudalal
“As for the food: Chicken Mudalal (67 AED) was good (8/10) but the portion was small for the price”Google review · March 2026
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Shalwa is a Khaleeji restaurant in Umm Suqeim where the strongest draw is the blend of local recipes and modern café presentation. Come for the Omani Halwa Shalwa, Emirati coffee or a dessert-and-tea stop; breakfast also gets attention, particularly the qeema with paratha and Shalwa omelette. The Halwa Shalwa is the signature order in the reviews: a chilled Omani halwa dessert layered with milk biscuits and mahallabeya, flavoured with condensed milk, cardamom, rose water and saffron.
Other recurring favourites include sticky date cake, basbousa cheesecake, Gers Ogaili, date cloud latte and Sheikh Zayed coffee. The coffee is often praised for its cardamom-led aroma, while Karak tea has been described as free-flowing on some visits. The setting is warm, Arabic-inspired and comfortable enough for lingering over coffee, although seating can be tight and wooden chairs may become uncomfortable.
Expect queues at busy times, so an early visit is the safer bet. Value is mixed. Some diners found the food fresh and reasonably priced for a mall café, while others considered portions too small for the high prices, citing a breakfast platter and qeema with paratha.
Service is often welcoming, but delays and unclear ingredient answers have also appeared in reviews.