Fresh bread
Warm, soft bread is repeatedly praised, including bread served hot at the start of the meal.
Tahini Dubai
Trade Centre
Tahini Dubai is a Levantine restaurant in Trade Centre serving Lebanese and Mediterranean dishes in a calm, modern setting. Reviews point especially to its shawarma, hummus, warm fresh bread and mezze-style meals, with outdoor seating that suits relaxed lunches or informal meetings.
Reputation Score
4.6
★★★★★
543 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Strong shawarma
Shawarma is one of the restaurant’s most consistently praised dishes, especially for a quick Lebanese meal.
Tender meats
Reviews highlight tender grilled meats, including lamb, beef tenderloin and beef skewers.
Calm setting
The elegant, comfortable atmosphere works for a meal, quick meeting or informal work discussion.
Outdoor views
Outside seating has been praised for its backdrop and views, adding to the meal when the weather suits.
Mezze portions
The mezze-style format and generous appetizer portions work well for sharing several Lebanese starters.
Dietary care
One diner said staff took special care with allergies and dietary restrictions.
What to Eat at Tahini Dubai 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 Tahini Dubai, 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.
Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of Tahini Dubai, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.
Food 2
-
Hummus Net +5
“Decent place to dine in especially if you are a fan of hummus. Clean and cozy ambience”
Positive 5Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Decent place to dine in especially if you are a fan of hummus. Clean and cozy ambience”April 2025
“We finished the meals and everything was nice about the food. The main meals were decent. They weren’t bad. They weren’t excellent. They were decent. Nothing that will amaze anyone in general, the hummus and bread were lovely. Specially the bread was fresh.”January 2025
-
Shawarma Net +4
“Overall good service and they have very good shawarma.”
Positive 4Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Overall good service and they have very good shawarma.”July 2026
“One of the good place to have healthy food as well as unhealthy foods like desserts, they have bread as a speciality and healthy pizza, one can try their shawarma and bread with olive oil, it's delicious here.”May 2024
Honorable mentions (19)
-
Brownies Net +1
“They gave us a complementary lemon cake and brownies . Both were really delicious”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“They gave us a complementary lemon cake and brownies . Both were really delicious”August 2023
-
Chicken shawarma sandwich Net +1
“Food is amazing but the wait times are insane. For a simple chicken shawarma sandwich, they took 30 mins.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food is amazing but the wait times are insane. For a simple chicken shawarma sandwich, they took 30 mins.”February 2026
-
Chicken skewers Net +1
“Highly recommend chicken skewers and the hummus😋”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Highly recommend chicken skewers and the hummus😋”January 2024
-
Fatoush Net +1
“We have chosen Hummus , mutabal and fatoush and all were delicious .”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We have chosen Hummus , mutabal and fatoush and all were delicious .”August 2023
-
Hummus mignon Net +1
“Everything was delicious and the vibe is modern and sophisticated. Items tried: Hummus Mignon: Beef tenderloin, pine nuts, oilve oil Mussakan Chicken Rolls: Chicken, sumac, caramalized onion The beef tenderloin has this great savory taste from being freshly grilled and the bread that comes with your meal is also super fresh!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Everything was delicious and the vibe is modern and sophisticated. Items tried: Hummus Mignon: Beef tenderloin, pine nuts, oilve oil Mussakan Chicken Rolls: Chicken, sumac, caramalized onion The beef tenderloin has this great savory taste from being freshly grilled and the bread that comes with your meal is also super fresh!”November 2025
-
Kibbeh Net +1
“Kibbeh was fine.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Kibbeh was fine.”December 2024
-
Lamb shank Net +1
“If you love cinnamon you will love the lamb shank for sure .”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“If you love cinnamon you will love the lamb shank for sure .”August 2023
-
Lemon cake Net +1
“They gave us a complementary lemon cake and brownies . Both were really delicious”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“They gave us a complementary lemon cake and brownies . Both were really delicious”August 2023
-
Lemon olive oil cake Net +1
“Already craving their hibiscus & rose tea paired with the lemon olive oil cake! Devine!!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Already craving their hibiscus & rose tea paired with the lemon olive oil cake! Devine!!”September 2023
-
Levantine beef tenderloin Net +1
“We had a team lunch today at Tahini and left the restaurant soooo full! ❤️ Food was really amazing! I highly recommend the Oriental Rice & Lamb and Levantine Beef Tenderloin 👌 The ambiance is so cozy, too. The staff were so accomodating especially Ms. Marianna who looked after us from the time of my reservation till we finished our lunch. Will definitely go back!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We had a team lunch today at Tahini and left the restaurant soooo full! ❤️ Food was really amazing! I highly recommend the Oriental Rice & Lamb and Levantine Beef Tenderloin 👌 The ambiance is so cozy, too. The staff were so accomodating especially Ms. Marianna who looked after us from the time of my reservation till we finished our lunch. Will definitely go back!”December 2025
-
Mouhammara Net +1
“We had a combo selection; chose hummus, aubergine and mouhammara. Each of them are good size and was good to eat with bread.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We had a combo selection; chose hummus, aubergine and mouhammara. Each of them are good size and was good to eat with bread.”March 2024
-
Mutabal Net +1
“We have chosen Hummus , mutabal and fatoush and all were delicious .”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We have chosen Hummus , mutabal and fatoush and all were delicious .”August 2023
-
Oriental rice & lamb Net +1
“We had a team lunch today at Tahini and left the restaurant soooo full! ❤️ Food was really amazing! I highly recommend the Oriental Rice & Lamb and Levantine Beef Tenderloin 👌 The ambiance is so cozy, too. The staff were so accomodating especially Ms. Marianna who looked after us from the time of my reservation till we finished our lunch. Will definitely go back!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We had a team lunch today at Tahini and left the restaurant soooo full! ❤️ Food was really amazing! I highly recommend the Oriental Rice & Lamb and Levantine Beef Tenderloin 👌 The ambiance is so cozy, too. The staff were so accomodating especially Ms. Marianna who looked after us from the time of my reservation till we finished our lunch. Will definitely go back!”December 2025
-
Pistachio namoura Net +1
“And also try out their pistachio namoura it's yummy 😋, good seating arrangement, polite staff and hygiene well maintained.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“And also try out their pistachio namoura it's yummy 😋, good seating arrangement, polite staff and hygiene well maintained.”May 2024
-
Steak and fries Net +1
“the steak and fries was nice. The fries were perfect. The steak was a bit bland but tender at the same time”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“the steak and fries was nice. The fries were perfect. The steak was a bit bland but tender at the same time”January 2025
-
Beef shawarma Net 0
Only neutral feedback
“We ordered three appetizers and three main dishes (Kofta, chicken Shawarma and beef shawarma) all dishes were basic and okay.”
Positive 0Negative 0Neutral 1
-
Chicken shawarma Net 0
Only neutral feedback
“We ordered three appetizers and three main dishes (Kofta, chicken Shawarma and beef shawarma) all dishes were basic and okay.”
Positive 0Negative 0Neutral 1
-
Fattah Net 0
Only neutral feedback
“The fattah was ok but didn’t find all Lebanese appetizers.”
Positive 0Negative 0Neutral 1
-
Kofta Net 0
Only neutral feedback
“We ordered three appetizers and three main dishes (Kofta, chicken Shawarma and beef shawarma) all dishes were basic and okay.”
Positive 0Negative 0Neutral 1
Drinks 3
-
Cafe latte Net +1
“The cafe latte I had at last, was very good. Mild taste of espresso which I like and milk form was so smooth and soft. I really enjoyed it!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The cafe latte I had at last, was very good. Mild taste of espresso which I like and milk form was so smooth and soft. I really enjoyed it!”March 2024
-
Hibiscus & rose tea Net +1
“Already craving their hibiscus & rose tea paired with the lemon olive oil cake! Devine!!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Already craving their hibiscus & rose tea paired with the lemon olive oil cake! Devine!!”September 2023
-
Turkish coffee Net +1
“A busy restaurant near my hotel. Service was great, the food was excellent, Turkish coffee tasted good. The experience was great but the price a little steep... shawarma + coffee + bread for over 100 AED is like almost 50 AUD for a doner kebab and a coffee... different tier but...”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“A busy restaurant near my hotel. Service was great, the food was excellent, Turkish coffee tasted good. The experience was great but the price a little steep... shawarma + coffee + bread for over 100 AED is like almost 50 AUD for a doner kebab and a coffee... different tier but...”January 2024
What to Avoid (3)
Food 3
-
Avacdao and eggs Net −1
“Popped in for a quick breakfast - avacdao and eggs. Very nicely presented and good portion, just that the avocado was so cold- like straight from the fridge that the egg felt cold and not cooked. Nothing worse than that.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Popped in for a quick breakfast - avacdao and eggs. Very nicely presented and good portion, just that the avocado was so cold- like straight from the fridge that the egg felt cold and not cooked. Nothing worse than that.”June 2023
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Battata harra Net −1
“Battata harra is tasting tomato salsa All in all food is tasteless”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Battata harra is tasting tomato salsa All in all food is tasteless”December 2025
-
Chicken musakhan Net −1
“I expected chicken musakhan to be crispy but it was not, so if you like it crispy don’t order it.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“I expected chicken musakhan to be crispy but it was not, so if you like it crispy don’t order it.”December 2024
Tips for a Better Visit
Allow time. Build in extra time, especially for lunch: a chicken shawarma sandwich took 30 minutes in one review.
Try lemonade. Add the home-made or traditional lemonade; it is specifically recommended in multiple reviews.
Order bread. The warm fresh bread is a standout, so plan to enjoy it with hummus or other mezze.
Skip crispy. Do not order chicken musakhan expecting a crispy texture; one diner specifically found it was not crispy.
Check breakfast. Breakfast portions and preparation may vary: one review found the avocado so cold that the eggs felt cold too.
Consider outside. If you want a view, ask for outside seating; reviews describe the backdrop and atmosphere positively.
Plan the visit
Practical details
One Central, Precinct Building 5
Trade Center Second, Dubai
| Mon | 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Tue | 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Wed | 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Thu | 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Fri | 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Sat | 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Sun | 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
Common Concerns
Long waits
Service can be very slow; one review reports a 30-minute wait for a simple chicken shawarma sandwich.
Price concerns
Several diners felt the food was expensive relative to its taste or quality.
Mixed flavours
A critical review found the eggplant fattah mostly chickpeas and the batata harra similar to tomato salsa.
Limited breakfast
Breakfast was described as limited, and one reviewer also noted there is no shisha.
Inconsistent service
Some diners praised the staff, but others reported slow responses and poor attentiveness.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
over 100 AED
shawarma + coffee + bread
“shawarma + coffee + bread for over 100 AED is like almost 50 AUD for a doner kebab and a coffee”Google review · January 2024
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Tahini Dubai is a Lebanese and Levantine restaurant in Trade Centre, with a modern, comfortable setting and a menu suited to both quick office meals and longer shared lunches. Shawarma and hummus are reliable starting points, while warm fresh bread is one of the clearest recurring highlights. The mezze format also makes it easy to share several starters rather than commit to one large dish.
For a fuller meal, reviewers recommend the Oriental Rice & Lamb and Levantine Beef Tenderloin, while charcoal-grilled meats and beef skewers have been praised for tenderness. Home-made or traditional lemonade is another recurring suggestion. Outdoor seating adds a pleasant backdrop, and the calm interior has been used for informal work discussions and business lunches.
The main caution is timing. Multiple diners describe slow service, including a 30-minute wait for a chicken shawarma sandwich, so this is not always ideal when you are rushing back to the office. Value is mixed too: some reviewers call the prices fantastic, while others find the food expensive for its quality.
Breakfast is described as limited, and one diner found the avocado unusually cold. If crispy chicken musakhan matters to you, ask before ordering; one review specifically says it was not crispy.