Turkish grills
The Adana kebab, lamb chops and lamb tikka receive especially specific praise for seasoning, tenderness and flavour.
Taxim Cafe - Turkish Restaurant
Al Barsha
Taxim Cafe is a Turkish restaurant in Al Barsha with both familiar grills and regional street-food specialities. Reviews particularly point to the Adana kebab, lahmacun and baklava, while the friendly service and reasonable pricing make it appealing for a casual dinner or Turkish breakfast.
Reputation Score
4.7
★★★★★
132 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Street food
The menu goes beyond standard grills with Turkish street-food dishes such as kokorec and the Taxim Signature Burger.
Desserts
Baklava is repeatedly highlighted, including a version served with ice cream; one reviewer preferred the desserts to the main courses.
Friendly service
Reviews describe the staff as welcoming, attentive and helpful, including quick handling of a request to replace a spicy dish.
Reasonable prices
Several diners found the food affordable, with good portions and presentation for the prices charged.
Outdoor seating
There is terrace seating that reviewers enjoyed for dinner and described as pleasant on winter evenings.
What to Eat at Taxim Cafe - Turkish Restaurant 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 Taxim Cafe - Turkish Restaurant, 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 Taxim Cafe - Turkish Restaurant got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 8
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Laham ajin Net +5
“Best Turkish kitchen in the Dubai Loved the *lahmacun* and all foods”
Positive 5Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Best Turkish kitchen in the Dubai Loved the *lahmacun* and all foods”March 2022
“Outside of eating in Türkiye, best To Turkish Food in Dubai. Best lahmacun I have had in along time. Great friendly staff and very affordable pricing. Definitely recommend this spot if you're in the mood for some genuine Turkish Food.”May 2023
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Adana kebab Net +4
“The only place i enjoyed turkish food outside of turkey! Tried the Adana Kebab and Taxim Signature Burger! Fell in love with it...❤❤❤”
Positive 4Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The only place i enjoyed turkish food outside of turkey! Tried the Adana Kebab and Taxim Signature Burger! Fell in love with it...❤❤❤”October 2022
“Wow! This foods are amazing 👉 cheese pide , gavurdagi salad, mixed grilled, Adana kebab especially asado 👍”February 2022
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Baklava Net +4
“Perfect all the best specially baklava. But you have to work on some sandwiches size it is really not filling at all (islak was really disappointing)”
Positive 4Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Perfect all the best specially baklava. But you have to work on some sandwiches size it is really not filling at all (islak was really disappointing)”April 2022
“a little trip down memory lane with this cute little place , it took me back to my visit to istanbul ♥️ lovely staff , the food is amazingly delicious well seasoned the salad is so good , grilled meats platter is wow and, you gotta try the Baklava best i had in dubai, well done taxim ♥️”February 2022
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Kokorec Net +2
“If you're in the mood for delicious Turkish street food, look no further than Taxim Cafe. This hidden gem in Al Barsha offers a mouthwatering menu of flavorful dishes that are sure to satisfy. From the savory kebabs to the crispy kokorec, every dish is expertly prepared and bursting with flavor. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, and the friendly staff make you feel right at home. Overall, Taxim is a must-visit for anyone who loves Turkish cuisine, especially Turkish street food, and great food.”
Positive 3Negative 1
Review excerpts
“If you're in the mood for delicious Turkish street food, look no further than Taxim Cafe. This hidden gem in Al Barsha offers a mouthwatering menu of flavorful dishes that are sure to satisfy. From the savory kebabs to the crispy kokorec, every dish is expertly prepared and bursting with flavor. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, and the friendly staff make you feel right at home. Overall, Taxim is a must-visit for anyone who loves Turkish cuisine, especially Turkish street food, and great food.”April 2023
“Taste was very good and price was reasonable. Was looking for original Kokorec taste in Dubai, I think this is the right place. Overall a place that must be visited 👍”March 2022
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Baklava with ice cream Net +2
“2- Baklava with ice cream so good too. 21”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“2- Baklava with ice cream so good too. 21”September 2022
“I ordered the “laham ajin and beyti” they were super tasty and ended it with the baklava with ice cream.”May 2023
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Doner Net +2
“The food was delicious whether it is their doner, salad or desserts you can not go wrong. Staff are super friendly. It was our first time trying it and will not be the last .”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food was delicious whether it is their doner, salad or desserts you can not go wrong. Staff are super friendly. It was our first time trying it and will not be the last .”June 2023
“They have good iskender an d doner i love it”December 2022
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Lamb chops Net +2
“👌🏽 I really like every food they have, they are all tasty even the sauce 🙈 also especially the lamb chops, the best 🤩 I’d recommend the restaurant to everyone!”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“👌🏽 I really like every food they have, they are all tasty even the sauce 🙈 also especially the lamb chops, the best 🤩 I’d recommend the restaurant to everyone!”February 2022
“Food was VERY good, highlights were the Adana Kebab which was nicely spiced, the lamb chop and the lamb tikka which were tender and full of flavour.”February 2022
-
Mixed grils Net +2
“Mix grill was ok nothing special about mix grill.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Mix grill was ok nothing special about mix grill.”May 2022
“Wow! This foods are amazing 👉 cheese pide , gavurdagi salad, mixed grilled, Adana kebab especially asado 👍”February 2022
Honorable mentions (20)
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Asado Net +1
“Wow! This foods are amazing 👉 cheese pide , gavurdagi salad, mixed grilled, Adana kebab especially asado 👍”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Wow! This foods are amazing 👉 cheese pide , gavurdagi salad, mixed grilled, Adana kebab especially asado 👍”February 2022
-
Atom Net +1
“But their “Atom” thats very delicious we had 3.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“But their “Atom” thats very delicious we had 3.”May 2022
-
Beyti Net +1
“I ordered the “laham ajin and beyti” they were super tasty and ended it with the baklava with ice cream.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I ordered the “laham ajin and beyti” they were super tasty and ended it with the baklava with ice cream.”May 2023
-
Cheese pide Net +1
“Wow! This foods are amazing 👉 cheese pide , gavurdagi salad, mixed grilled, Adana kebab especially asado 👍”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Wow! This foods are amazing 👉 cheese pide , gavurdagi salad, mixed grilled, Adana kebab especially asado 👍”February 2022
-
Chicken tikka Net +1
“The chicken tikka and wings were a close second! Everything was well presented and very tasty, hummus, yoghurt and breads were perfectly on point. Never had yoghurt like that before!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The chicken tikka and wings were a close second! Everything was well presented and very tasty, hummus, yoghurt and breads were perfectly on point. Never had yoghurt like that before!”February 2022
-
Doner beyti Net +1
“we ordered lahmacun, doner beyti, and baklava. Everything was perfect.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“we ordered lahmacun, doner beyti, and baklava. Everything was perfect.”May 2023
-
Gavurdagi salad Net +1
“Wow! This foods are amazing 👉 cheese pide , gavurdagi salad, mixed grilled, Adana kebab especially asado 👍”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Wow! This foods are amazing 👉 cheese pide , gavurdagi salad, mixed grilled, Adana kebab especially asado 👍”February 2022
-
Grilled meats platter Net +1
“a little trip down memory lane with this cute little place , it took me back to my visit to istanbul ♥️ lovely staff , the food is amazingly delicious well seasoned the salad is so good , grilled meats platter is wow and, you gotta try the Baklava best i had in dubai, well done taxim ♥️”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“a little trip down memory lane with this cute little place , it took me back to my visit to istanbul ♥️ lovely staff , the food is amazingly delicious well seasoned the salad is so good , grilled meats platter is wow and, you gotta try the Baklava best i had in dubai, well done taxim ♥️”February 2022
-
Iskandarani Net +1
“Was craving Turkish food and found this place off instagram. Absolutely amazing food - Adana kabab was wonderful, Iskandarani totally hit the spot. Topped it off with baklava which was also amazing. Their service was also on point - absolutely recommended!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Was craving Turkish food and found this place off instagram. Absolutely amazing food - Adana kabab was wonderful, Iskandarani totally hit the spot. Topped it off with baklava which was also amazing. Their service was also on point - absolutely recommended!”July 2023
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Iskender Net +1
“They have good iskender an d doner i love it”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“They have good iskender an d doner i love it”December 2022
-
Iskender kebab Net +1
“We are visiting 2nd time in Taxim and we ordered iskender kebab , lahamjun and kokorec... All 3 dishes are very very delicious...”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We are visiting 2nd time in Taxim and we ordered iskender kebab , lahamjun and kokorec... All 3 dishes are very very delicious...”June 2022
-
Kunafa Net +1
“Food was really amazing, everything was so tasty and ravishing the meat and kunafa. The guy named bassam who served us was really helpful in making us choose the right order”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food was really amazing, everything was so tasty and ravishing the meat and kunafa. The guy named bassam who served us was really helpful in making us choose the right order”May 2022
-
Lamb tikka Net +1
“Food was VERY good, highlights were the Adana Kebab which was nicely spiced, the lamb chop and the lamb tikka which were tender and full of flavour.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food was VERY good, highlights were the Adana Kebab which was nicely spiced, the lamb chop and the lamb tikka which were tender and full of flavour.”February 2022
-
Lokkum rolls Net +1
“Lokkum roll was a new dish for me..but delicious.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Lokkum roll was a new dish for me..but delicious.”May 2022
-
Sulatec Net +1
“They offered us free desert named Sulatec which is too yummy....”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“They offered us free desert named Sulatec which is too yummy....”June 2022
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Taxim signature burger Net +1
“The only place i enjoyed turkish food outside of turkey! Tried the Adana Kebab and Taxim Signature Burger! Fell in love with it...❤❤❤”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The only place i enjoyed turkish food outside of turkey! Tried the Adana Kebab and Taxim Signature Burger! Fell in love with it...❤❤❤”October 2022
-
Taxim signature salad Net +1
“1- taxim signature Salad. It was so so good you should never missed it. It cost 21.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“1- taxim signature Salad. It was so so good you should never missed it. It cost 21.”September 2022
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Turkish bread simit Net +1
“We had amazing turkish breakfast here with my kids. Authentic turkish bread simit and pure bf spreads. We loved it here”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We had amazing turkish breakfast here with my kids. Authentic turkish bread simit and pure bf spreads. We loved it here”August 2022
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Turkish breakfast Net +1
“We had amazing turkish breakfast here with my kids. Authentic turkish bread simit and pure bf spreads. We loved it here”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We had amazing turkish breakfast here with my kids. Authentic turkish bread simit and pure bf spreads. We loved it here”August 2022
-
Wings Net +1
“The chicken tikka and wings were a close second! Everything was well presented and very tasty, hummus, yoghurt and breads were perfectly on point. Never had yoghurt like that before!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The chicken tikka and wings were a close second! Everything was well presented and very tasty, hummus, yoghurt and breads were perfectly on point. Never had yoghurt like that before!”February 2022
What to Avoid (1)
Food 1
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Islak Net −1
“Perfect all the best specially baklava. But you have to work on some sandwiches size it is really not filling at all (islak was really disappointing)”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Perfect all the best specially baklava. But you have to work on some sandwiches size it is really not filling at all (islak was really disappointing)”April 2022
Tips for a Better Visit
Preorder shoulder. Ask ahead about lamb shoulder: one review says it is available by preorder only.
Plan parking. Allow extra time to find parking, as the surrounding restaurant area can make spaces difficult to secure.
Try dessert. Leave room for baklava with ice cream; several reviews treat the desserts as a highlight.
Consider terrace. For an evening visit in cooler weather, ask about the outdoor seating used by diners in winter.
Check sandwich size. If ordering the islak sandwich, note one review found it too small to be filling.
Try breakfast. Taxim is not limited to dinner; a reviewer enjoyed Turkish breakfast with simit and breakfast spreads with children.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Dawoud Abdulrahman Building
Al Barsha - Al Barsha 1, Dubai
Common Concerns
Parking
Parking can be difficult because the surrounding Al Barsha area has many restaurants.
Small venue
The restaurant has a limited number of tables, so seating may be tight at busy times.
Mixed dishes
One diner found the kokorec unlike the version they had in Ankara, while another called the mixed grill merely average.
Small sandwich
The islak sandwich was described as disappointing and not filling enough.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Taxim Cafe is a Turkish restaurant in Al Barsha that suits diners looking for grilled meats, Turkish street food or a relaxed breakfast. Reviews repeatedly mention the Adana kebab, lahmacun, doner and lamb dishes, while kokorec and the Taxim Signature Burger add less familiar options. Turkish breakfast is also available, with one family praising the simit and breakfast spreads.
Dessert deserves its own attention. Baklava, especially with ice cream, is a recurring favourite, and one diner liked the desserts more than the main courses. The food is generally described as fresh, well presented and reasonably priced; one group paid 300dhs for four main dishes, a starter, salad and drinks.
Portions are often called generous, though the islak sandwich was criticised for being too small and disappointing. The setting is a small, clean restaurant with limited tables and some outdoor seating. The terrace can be pleasant on winter evenings, but parking may take patience because several restaurants share the surrounding area.
If lamb shoulder is on your mind, ask in advance: a reviewer was told it is available by preorder only. Staff are consistently described as warm, attentive and quick to respond to requests.