Wakha Restaurant

Name: Wakha Restaurant
Address: Villa 673 - 673 Jumeira St, Umm Suqeim, Dubai, AE
Telephone: +97142341937

Umm Suqeim

Afghan restaurant Closed 04 234 1937

Wakha Restaurant is an Afghan and Shinwari restaurant in Umm Suqeim, known for freshly prepared meat dishes and traditional flavours. Reviews especially point to the lamb karahi and Wakha mixed platter, though the made-to-order kitchen can mean a substantial wait.

Reputation Score

4.2

★★★★☆

1,382 ratings

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The Good Stuff

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Shinwari Flavours

The lamb Shinwari karahi is repeatedly praised for its rich flavour, especially with fresh naan.

Large Platters

A mixed grill platter for two has been described as enough for three to four people, with meat, pulao, bread, soup and salad.

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What to Eat at Wakha Restaurant

These items at Wakha Restaurant got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!

Food 3

Lamb karahi Net +3

“The Afghani food was amazing—we tried the lamb karahi and kebabs, and both were packed with flavor.”
Chappli kebabs Net +2

“Wakha Platter, Chapli Kebab and Shinwari Style Lamb Karahi 🤤 Each n every item was cooked to perfection and their taste was on another level, definitely different from all the restaurants in Islamabad ❤️ I believe they’re pouring their heart out in the kitchen which you’ll actually taste in their food ✨”
Wakha platter Net +2

“We were served their Wakha Platter which is their version of Mixed Grill and it was served with their famous kabuli rice. The kebabs were right out of the grill with Meat and Chicken options. The dish was good for 3-4 adults. I loved how tender the meats were and I could taste the spices in each and every bite.”

Honorable mentions (38)

Aush soup Net +1

“Their lamb Shinwari Karahi, Aush Soup and BBQ was amazing.”
Bbq platter with rice Net +1

“We had BBQ Platter with rice, Shinwari Karahi, Houmas. Their lamb Shinwari Karahi, Aush Soup and BBQ was amazing. If you are in Dubai and their BBQ Platter and Shinwari is a must try. It os 5 Stars place all round, lovely ambiance and great food.”
Butter naan Net +1

“I had qeema naan, mintoo, mixed platter, lamb karahi, butter naan, regular naan. Everything is worth every bite.”
Chicken karahi Net +1

“Their chicken karahi and kabuli pulao are one of the best !”
Houmas Net +1

“We had BBQ Platter with rice, Shinwari Karahi, Houmas. Their lamb Shinwari Karahi, Aush Soup and BBQ was amazing.”
Kheer Net +1

“Kheer was good.”
Kulcha naan Net +1

“Best Kabuli Pulao with variety of mixed grill. Lamb karahi with proper Kulcha Naan which is very rarely available outside Pakistan. Service is remarkably smooth and professional. Really enjoyed every bite of it and would love to visit again whenever I visit Dubai next.”
Lamb chops Net +1

“Lamb chops were decent and so was the service quality.”
Lamb shenwari Net +1

“My personal favorite dishes are: • Shenwari Karahi Mutton • Lamb Shenwari • Pure Shenwari • Laralai Karahi • Platters Rice • Lassi Everything is perfectly cooked with rich flavors and excellent presentation.”
Lamb shinwari Net +1

“The food here is amazing! The lamb shinwari is incredibly flavorful, and the rice platter is excellent. Definitely worth a visit.”
Lamb shinwari kadhai Net +1

“We then tried their Lamb Shinwari Kadhai which was my favorite specially with the fresh hot naans. The kadhai was tomato based with spices and green chillies.”
Lamb shinwari karahi Net +1

“Their lamb Shinwari Karahi, Aush Soup and BBQ was amazing.”
Lamb tikka Net +1

“Wakha have the finest Lamb tikka along with other tast food options.”
Laralai karahi Net +1

“My personal favorite dishes are: • Shenwari Karahi Mutton • Lamb Shenwari • Pure Shenwari • Laralai Karahi • Platters Rice • Lassi Everything is perfectly cooked with rich flavors and excellent presentation.”
Matun appetizer Net +1

“I tried Wakha Platter and Matun "appetizer" and they were super delicious.”
Mintoo Net +1

“I had qeema naan, mintoo, mixed platter, lamb karahi, butter naan, regular naan. Everything is worth every bite.”
Mix grill platter Net +1

“A mix grill platter for 2 - easily a meal for 3 to 4. Mix of grill meat on a bed of rice pulav with a huge meat cut in the pulav. Tasty Pickled vegetables, very different from the Arabic style.”
Mixed platter Net +1

“I had qeema naan, mintoo, mixed platter, lamb karahi, butter naan, regular naan. Everything is worth every bite.”
Mutton chops Net +1

“Had the best mutton chops so far in dubai. Very juice and full of flavour.”
Mutton kadahi Net +1

“The mutton kadahi was amazing.”
Namkeen rosh Net +1

“Delivering complete menu for meat lovers, specially grill platter, afghani pullao, lamb tikka & karrahi, but I enjoyed Namkeen Rosh - served in bowl.”
Peshawari kebab Net +1

“For dessert, we went with the Peshawari kebab, which was the perfect finish.”
Pilau rice Net +1

“And the pilau rice is deliciously fluffy and moist.”
Platter with rice and meat and chicken Net +1

“The platter with rice and meat and chicken was amazing.”
Platters rice Net +1

“My personal favorite dishes are: • Shenwari Karahi Mutton • Lamb Shenwari • Pure Shenwari • Laralai Karahi • Platters Rice • Lassi Everything is perfectly cooked with rich flavors and excellent presentation.”
Pure shenwari Net +1

“My personal favorite dishes are: • Shenwari Karahi Mutton • Lamb Shenwari • Pure Shenwari • Laralai Karahi • Platters Rice • Lassi Everything is perfectly cooked with rich flavors and excellent presentation.”
Qeema naan Net +1

“I had qeema naan, mintoo, mixed platter, lamb karahi, butter naan, regular naan. Everything is worth every bite.”
Qehwa Net +1

“Starter soup and finishing qehwa are complimentary and boy they are both amazing, totally in par with the standard and not like just complimentary okayish food.”
Regular naan Net +1

“I had qeema naan, mintoo, mixed platter, lamb karahi, butter naan, regular naan. Everything is worth every bite.”
Rice platter Net +1

“The food here is amazing! The lamb shinwari is incredibly flavorful, and the rice platter is excellent. Definitely worth a visit.”
Roti Net +1

“The roti, chappli kebabs and karahi was very tasty and fresh but the grilled meats on pulao were dry.”
Shenwari karahi mutton Net +1

“My personal favorite dishes are: • Shenwari Karahi Mutton • Lamb Shenwari • Pure Shenwari • Laralai Karahi • Platters Rice • Lassi Everything is perfectly cooked with rich flavors and excellent presentation.”
Shinwari karahi Net +1

“We had BBQ Platter with rice, Shinwari Karahi, Houmas. Their lamb Shinwari Karahi, Aush Soup and BBQ was amazing. If you are in Dubai and their BBQ Platter and Shinwari is a must try. It os 5 Stars place all round, lovely ambiance and great food.”
Shinwari style lamb karahi Net +1

“Wakha Platter, Chapli Kebab and Shinwari Style Lamb Karahi 🤤 Each n every item was cooked to perfection and their taste was on another level, definitely different from all the restaurants in Islamabad ❤️ I believe they’re pouring their heart out in the kitchen which you’ll actually taste in their food ✨”
Tikka Net +1

“If you're looking for authentic lamb karahi and tikka, this is the place to visit. The food is full of flavor, the ambience is pleasant, and the service is excellent. Since the meat is cooked fresh after you place your order, there is a bit of a wait, but that's exactly how a great karahi should be made, and it's well worth it.”
Wakha hawaiin Net +1

“We started off with the Wakha Hawaiin, which was an excellent tropical drink, served in a half cut pineapple, delicious taste.”
Wakha mixed platter Net +1

“The Wakha mixed platter was a delightful dish which had mutton, chicken, lamb chops, served with flavoured jasmine rice. This was good enough for 4 adults, the flavours were terrific as they use natural ingredients such as green spices, tomatoes, salt and lamb fat or fresh butter while all of their signature cuisine is 100% hala”
Zafrani kebab Net +1

“Yesterday (23/10/2022), I went to Wakha again with a friend of mine from UK and we had Chapli Kebab and Zafrani Kebab. I never ever tried Chapli kebab like these ones, they were so delicious and hardly any fat in them. Normally you will oil or fat dripping from the Kebabs.”

Drinks 1

Lassi Net +1

“My personal favorite dishes are: • Shenwari Karahi Mutton • Lamb Shenwari • Pure Shenwari • Laralai Karahi • Platters Rice • Lassi Everything is perfectly cooked with rich flavors and excellent presentation.”

What to Avoid (3)

Food 3

Chicken karari Net −1

“Went after some time and must say good quality wasn’t as good as last time. Especially the chicken karari was disappointing.”
Chicken shanwari Net −1

“We wasted our money. We ordered chicken shanwari chicken tikka Uff never been in my life this taste it was not cooked well n second order was chicken tikka I don’t know the cook was unexperienced. Very disappointed will never go again.”
Chicken tikka Net −1

“We wasted our money. We ordered chicken shanwari chicken tikka Uff never been in my life this taste it was not cooked well n second order was chicken tikka I don’t know the cook was unexperienced. Very disappointed will never go again.”

Tips for a Better Visit

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Call Ahead. Call and order before arriving if you want to reduce the wait; fresh preparation can take 45 minutes to an hour.

Allow Time. Do not plan a rushed meal: one diner waited about 45 minutes for freshly prepared food.

Plan the visit

Practical details

Villa 673 - 673 Jumeira St

Umm Suqeim Second - Umm Suqeim 2, Dubai

04 234 1937

Mon	12:00 PM – 2:00 AM
Tue	12:00 PM – 2:00 AM
Wed	12:00 PM – 2:00 AM
Thu	12:00 PM – 2:00 AM
Fri	12:00 PM – 3:00 AM
Sat	12:00 PM – 3:00 AM
Sun	12:00 PM – 2:00 AM

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Common Concerns

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Long Delays

Service times can stretch well beyond the estimate: one review reported waiting 55 minutes after being told 30–35 minutes.

Hygiene Issues

A review described sticky tables, a bad smell on the terrace and unclean conditions at the Jumeirah branch.

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The Bottom Line

Wakha Restaurant brings Afghan and Shinwari cooking to Umm Suqeim, with a menu that suits meat-focused meals and family gatherings. The dishes most often singled out include lamb Shinwari karahi, the Wakha or mixed grill platter, Kabuli pulao and chapli kebab. The kitchen cooks meat after you order, which helps explain why several diners found the food fresh and flavourful but also waited 30–60 minutes.

The mixed grill is a practical group order: one review said a platter listed for two fed three to four people, while another praised the tender meats and Kabuli rice. Mantou, lamb chops and complimentary soup also receive specific praise. Outdoor seating is popular in cooler weather, and reviews mention valet, free parking and, at one visit, separate parking.

Smoking and non-smoking areas have also been reported. The main caution is inconsistency. Alongside enthusiastic reports of excellent food and polite service, diners describe undercooked chicken or BBQ, small gravy portions, inattentive staff and waits longer than promised.

One review also reported sticky tables and a bad smell, while others found the Jumeirah interiors dated or under renovation. Call ahead if time matters, and consider visiting with a group so the larger platters make more sense.