Spicy shawarma
The spicy chicken shawarma has a particularly loyal following, including from a Dubai resident of 18 years.
Shiraz Nights
Al Rigga
Shiraz Nights is a Persian restaurant in Al Rigga that draws customers for shawarma, especially the spicy chicken version, as well as Iranian kebabs. The salad counter is another reason to stop in, with reviews mentioning complimentary salads and generous portions.
Reputation Score
4.1
★★★★☆
1,687 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Salad counter
Several reviews describe a complimentary or open salad bar with hummus, pickles, fruit and other sides.
Persian grills
Kebabs and mixed grills are recurring highlights, with one review praising saffron rice alongside generous beef kebabs.
Large portions
Some diners find the portions substantial, including a beef kebab-and-rice meal described as massive.
Transport access
Reviews place it about two minutes from Baniyas metro station, useful for a quick shawarma stop without driving.
What to Eat at Shiraz Nights 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 Shiraz Nights, 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 Shiraz Nights got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 10
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Bbq showrema Net +1
“Best iranian restaurant for mix grill kabab and more more we have experienced this restaurant many times must try their bbq showrema”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Best iranian restaurant for mix grill kabab and more more we have experienced this restaurant many times must try their bbq showrema”February 2023
-
Beef kebabs on rice Net +1
“I had ordered for their beef kebabs on rice and the serving was massive. White fluffy soft rice with saffron on top, served with 2 sticks of hot juicy kebabs, grilled chilli, grilled tomato and what looked like saffron rice cake with a crispy bottom. The kebabs by themselves were Amazing but as an Indian, I would have loved some gravy to have it with the rice but having it with the raita is just about ok.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I had ordered for their beef kebabs on rice and the serving was massive. White fluffy soft rice with saffron on top, served with 2 sticks of hot juicy kebabs, grilled chilli, grilled tomato and what looked like saffron rice cake with a crispy bottom. The kebabs by themselves were Amazing but as an Indian, I would have loved some gravy to have it with the rice but having it with the raita is just about ok.”December 2019
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Beef sharwarma Net +1
“Delicious beef sharwarma we can get here..”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Delicious beef sharwarma we can get here..”June 2026
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Chicken kebab Net +1
“Great place for people who love kebab and rice, the chicken kebab was great”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Great place for people who love kebab and rice, the chicken kebab was great”July 2022
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Chicken shawarma Net +1
“Supperb shwarma available here, must try. Very good taste at very cheap prices. You can get chicken shawarma, chicken spicy showarm, mutton showarma only at AED 6.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Supperb shwarma available here, must try. Very good taste at very cheap prices. You can get chicken shawarma, chicken spicy showarm, mutton showarma only at AED 6.”April 2019
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Chicken spicy showarm Net +1
“Supperb shwarma available here, must try. Very good taste at very cheap prices. You can get chicken shawarma, chicken spicy showarm, mutton showarma only at AED 6.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Supperb shwarma available here, must try. Very good taste at very cheap prices. You can get chicken shawarma, chicken spicy showarm, mutton showarma only at AED 6.”April 2019
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Kebab combos Net +1
“The food was really good. I had spicy chicken shawarma and one of the kebab combos. The sides of pickled vegetables was delicious. Didn’t enjoy the yogurt though. Must visit for kebab and shawarmas.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food was really good. I had spicy chicken shawarma and one of the kebab combos. The sides of pickled vegetables was delicious. Didn’t enjoy the yogurt though. Must visit for kebab and shawarmas.”January 2023
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Lamb chops Net +1
“If you are dining in, try the lamb chops that is so succulent and will elevate your taste buds.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“If you are dining in, try the lamb chops that is so succulent and will elevate your taste buds.”November 2023
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Minced chicken kebabs Net +1
“This place has been a long-standing favorite of mine since the 90s, with its consistent, authentic taste of Iranian kebabs. Every visit reinforces my desire to return. Their minced chicken and mixed kebabs, served with either rice or roti, along with the complimentary salads and fruits, provide a delightful complement to the main dish.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“This place has been a long-standing favorite of mine since the 90s, with its consistent, authentic taste of Iranian kebabs. Every visit reinforces my desire to return. Their minced chicken and mixed kebabs, served with either rice or roti, along with the complimentary salads and fruits, provide a delightful complement to the main dish.”October 2023
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Mix grill kabab Net +1
“Best iranian restaurant for mix grill kabab and more more we have experienced this restaurant many times must try their bbq showrema”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Best iranian restaurant for mix grill kabab and more more we have experienced this restaurant many times must try their bbq showrema”February 2023
Honorable mentions (8)
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Mixed grill platter Net +1
“Additionally, the mixed grill platter was a feast for the senses, offering a delightful combination of tender meats and flavorful spices.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Additionally, the mixed grill platter was a feast for the senses, offering a delightful combination of tender meats and flavorful spices.”August 2023
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Mixed kebabs Net +1
“This place has been a long-standing favorite of mine since the 90s, with its consistent, authentic taste of Iranian kebabs. Every visit reinforces my desire to return. Their minced chicken and mixed kebabs, served with either rice or roti, along with the complimentary salads and fruits, provide a delightful complement to the main dish.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“This place has been a long-standing favorite of mine since the 90s, with its consistent, authentic taste of Iranian kebabs. Every visit reinforces my desire to return. Their minced chicken and mixed kebabs, served with either rice or roti, along with the complimentary salads and fruits, provide a delightful complement to the main dish.”October 2023
-
Mutton biryani Net +1
“I went with the mutton biryani, and a banana milkshake side, (58AED). There's a salad bar too with middle east choices. The biryani had a real Iranian feel with the fruits and nuts in the rice, but I have a sweet tooth so quite liked it with the savoury meat.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I went with the mutton biryani, and a banana milkshake side, (58AED). There's a salad bar too with middle east choices. The biryani had a real Iranian feel with the fruits and nuts in the rice, but I have a sweet tooth so quite liked it with the savoury meat.”February 2022
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Mutton showarma Net +1
“Supperb shwarma available here, must try. Very good taste at very cheap prices. You can get chicken shawarma, chicken spicy showarm, mutton showarma only at AED 6.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Supperb shwarma available here, must try. Very good taste at very cheap prices. You can get chicken shawarma, chicken spicy showarm, mutton showarma only at AED 6.”April 2019
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Shwarma Net +1
“Supperb shwarma available here, must try. Very good taste at very cheap prices. You can get chicken shawarma, chicken spicy showarm, mutton showarma only at AED 6.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Supperb shwarma available here, must try. Very good taste at very cheap prices. You can get chicken shawarma, chicken spicy showarm, mutton showarma only at AED 6.”April 2019
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Spicey chicken shwarma Net +1
“I was advised to order the spicey chicken shwarma for 6.5 dirhams (£1.41) takeaway or 7 (£1.52) dirhams eat in. I stuck to this on each & every visit as it was soooo tasty not to mention cheap as chips.Very filling too. Well worth a try especially if you're on a budget. Highly recommended.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I was advised to order the spicey chicken shwarma for 6.5 dirhams (£1.41) takeaway or 7 (£1.52) dirhams eat in. I stuck to this on each & every visit as it was soooo tasty not to mention cheap as chips.Very filling too. Well worth a try especially if you're on a budget. Highly recommended.”February 2022
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Stews Net +1
“The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the food. Shiraz Nights serves up a delectable array of Persian dishes, each bursting with flavors and prepared with utmost care. From succulent kebabs to aromatic stews, the menu offered a diverse range of options to cater to different palates.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the food. Shiraz Nights serves up a delectable array of Persian dishes, each bursting with flavors and prepared with utmost care. From succulent kebabs to aromatic stews, the menu offered a diverse range of options to cater to different palates.”August 2023
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Sultani kabab Net +1
“The sultani kabab was also decent.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The sultani kabab was also decent.”September 2022
What to Avoid (1)
Food 1
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Minced kebab with rice Net −1
“We ordered the minced kebab with rice, and the entire experience was highly disappointing. For a total price of AED 51, the meal was incredibly overpriced and lacked any real value. Worse than the high cost was the quality of the food itself—it was completely bland and not tasty at all. The meat lacked seasoning, and the overall dish felt poorly prepared.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“We ordered the minced kebab with rice, and the entire experience was highly disappointing. For a total price of AED 51, the meal was incredibly overpriced and lacked any real value. Worse than the high cost was the quality of the food itself—it was completely bland and not tasty at all. The meat lacked seasoning, and the overall dish felt poorly prepared.”June 2026
Tips for a Better Visit
Order spicy. For the most consistently praised choice, try the spicy chicken shawarma; one long-term Dubai resident singled it out.
Clarify sides. Ask exactly which salad-bar items are included before serving yourself, especially hummus, because one diner found the setup unclear.
Visit off-peak. Avoid busy periods if you are short on time; a customer waited over 20 minutes before leaving without ordering.
Use metro. Baniyas metro is a practical alternative to driving, with one review placing the restaurant two minutes away.
Check bill. Review the VAT and any dine-in price differences before paying; diners have reported discrepancies between displayed and charged amounts.
Try kebabs. If dining in rather than grabbing shawarma, consider lamb chops; one review calls them succulent and especially worth trying.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Al Rigga - Deira - Dubai
Al Rigga - Deira, Dubai
| Mon | 8:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Tue | 8:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Wed | 8:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Thu | 8:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Fri | 8:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Sat | 8:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Sun | 8:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
Common Concerns
Hygiene concern
One diner reported seeing a rat in the shawarma preparation area after closing hours.
Slow service
Waiting times can be frustrating: one customer waited more than 20 minutes just to place an order.
Billing dispute
A family reported unclear hummus instructions and a VAT amount they believed exceeded the 5% calculation.
Rude service
Multiple reviews describe unfriendly cashier or staff behaviour, including an argument over change.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
58AED
mutton biryani and banana milkshake
“I went with the mutton biryani, and a banana milkshake side, (58AED)”Google review · February 2022
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Shiraz Nights is a Persian restaurant in Al Rigga with a strong reputation for shawarma, particularly spicy chicken shawarma. Customers also come for Iranian kebabs, mixed grills and rice dishes, while the open salad counter can add hummus, pickles, vegetables and sometimes fruit or halwa to the meal. Portions are often described as generous.
The experience is not completely consistent. Some diners praise fresh food, friendly service and excellent grills; others describe bland kebab, dry or disappointing shawarma, old-smelling meat and even mouldy rice. One review also reports seeing a rat in the shawarma preparation area after closing, so hygiene concerns should not be ignored.
Service can be another gamble. Reviews mention long waits, including more than 20 minutes just to order, as well as rude interactions at the cashier. A family dining there also reported confusion over whether hummus was included and questioned the VAT calculation.
Check the bill carefully, particularly if dining in, since customers have reported differences between brochure and charged prices. For a quick visit, the metro is useful: one reviewer puts the restaurant about two minutes from Baniyas metro station. The spicy chicken shawarma is the safest starting point according to the most enthusiastic feedback, while diners with more time can try the lamb chops or kebabs.