Market Freshness
You can select seafood from the market and have it grilled or fried to your preference.
Yahya Seafood Restaurant
Deira
Yahya Seafood Restaurant in Deira’s Waterfront Market lets you order from the menu or buy fresh seafood from the market and have it cooked to your preference. Reviews particularly highlight grilled fish, fried prawns and the lively waterfront setting.
Reputation Score
3.7
★★★★☆
3,967 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Grilled Fish
Fresh fish brought from the market has been reported as perfectly grilled and served with friendly service.
Tom Yum
The seafood Tom Yum soup is a standout, with one reviewer calling it the best they had in Dubai.
Waterfront Seating
Indoor and outdoor seating includes a waterfront view, with the outdoor area especially enjoyable in cooler weather.
Fresh Preparation
One reviewer enjoyed fish cooked piping hot and exactly according to their instructions, with complimentary bread and garlic paste.
What to Eat at Yahya Seafood 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 Yahya Seafood 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.
Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of Yahya Seafood Restaurant, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.
Food 10
-
Fried jumbo shrimp Net +1
“The fried jumbo shrimp were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside—a definite highlight.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The fried jumbo shrimp were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside—a definite highlight.”October 2025
-
Fried shrimp Net +1
“The most delicious Tom Yum soup I've ever had, and the fried shrimp and squid are also very tasty, I highly recommend them.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The most delicious Tom Yum soup I've ever had, and the fried shrimp and squid are also very tasty, I highly recommend them.”January 2026
-
Friedcalamari Net +1
“Would suggest to stick to the basics here like their fried calamari which seems to be a local favourite.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Would suggest to stick to the basics here like their fried calamari which seems to be a local favourite.”August 2025
-
Grilled fish Net +1
“I liked that the guy at the counter recommended us to add tomatoes to our grilled fish preparation. It indeed added a lot of flavor.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I liked that the guy at the counter recommended us to add tomatoes to our grilled fish preparation. It indeed added a lot of flavor.”June 2023
-
Grilled seabass Net +1
“The grilled seabass was moist, flaky, and exceptionally well-seasoned, demonstrating the kitchen's mastery of simple preparation.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The grilled seabass was moist, flaky, and exceptionally well-seasoned, demonstrating the kitchen's mastery of simple preparation.”October 2025
-
Grilled tiger shrimp Net +1
“On our second visit, we ordered grilled tiger shrimp, regular shrimp, and fish, all of which were fantastic.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“On our second visit, we ordered grilled tiger shrimp, regular shrimp, and fish, all of which were fantastic.”August 2025
-
Jumbo shrimp Net +1
“We chose a selection of beautiful catch: seabass and salmon destined for the grill, and jumbo shrimp for the fryer.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We chose a selection of beautiful catch: seabass and salmon destined for the grill, and jumbo shrimp for the fryer.”October 2025
-
Milky cheese lobster Net +1
“Enjoy unforgettable flavors – we tried the milky cheese lobster (decadent!) and oil-lemon salmon (zesty and tender). Absolute win!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Enjoy unforgettable flavors – we tried the milky cheese lobster (decadent!) and oil-lemon salmon (zesty and tender). Absolute win!”June 2025
-
Oil-lemon salmon Net +1
“Enjoy unforgettable flavors – we tried the milky cheese lobster (decadent!) and oil-lemon salmon (zesty and tender). Absolute win!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Enjoy unforgettable flavors – we tried the milky cheese lobster (decadent!) and oil-lemon salmon (zesty and tender). Absolute win!”June 2025
-
Seabass Net +1
“We chose a selection of beautiful catch: seabass and salmon destined for the grill, and jumbo shrimp for the fryer.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We chose a selection of beautiful catch: seabass and salmon destined for the grill, and jumbo shrimp for the fryer.”October 2025
Honorable mentions (4)
-
Shrimp soup Net +1
“Our meal included perfectly cooked shrimp soup, fried shrimp, barbuna fish fry and friedcalamari. Also ordered a rice plate, salad and drinks. The food was seasoned to enhance their natural flavors, resulting in a delicious tast.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Our meal included perfectly cooked shrimp soup, fried shrimp, barbuna fish fry and friedcalamari. Also ordered a rice plate, salad and drinks. The food was seasoned to enhance their natural flavors, resulting in a delicious tast.”April 2026
-
Tiger shrimps Net +1
“We tried the tiger shrimps on our first visit, and they were delicious!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We tried the tiger shrimps on our first visit, and they were delicious!”August 2025
-
Fried fish Net 0
Mixed feedback
“Absolutely wonderful place to eat fresh fish and see food. We ordered TomYam soup which was delicious and fried fish, very tasty. Yosef helped us to have best experience on this Fish Market. We loved this place and will come back for sure.”
Positive 1Negative 1
Review excerpts
“Absolutely wonderful place to eat fresh fish and see food. We ordered TomYam soup which was delicious and fried fish, very tasty. Yosef helped us to have best experience on this Fish Market. We loved this place and will come back for sure.”July 2026
-
Fried prawns Net 0
Only neutral feedback
“Tried their fried prawns this time — while the flavor was just average, the size and quality of the shrimp were absolutely to die for.”
Positive 0Negative 0Neutral 1
What to Avoid (3)
Food 3
-
Calamari in red sauce Net −1
“Additionally, the calamari in red sauce tasted off, almost like raw fish.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Additionally, the calamari in red sauce tasted off, almost like raw fish.”January 2025
-
Fresh seafood Net −1
“We brought in fresh seafood, but the preparation was poor. The shrimp wasn’t cleaned properly, and there were bits of shell left on it. Additionally, the calamari in red sauce tasted off, almost like raw fish.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“We brought in fresh seafood, but the preparation was poor. The shrimp wasn’t cleaned properly, and there were bits of shell left on it. Additionally, the calamari in red sauce tasted off, almost like raw fish.”January 2025
-
Tom yum kung Net −1
“I explained we would like tom yum kung and few other small options, to which he replied that they will bring that to the table and we still need to order there. So we did, sat down and then another person came to take our order at the table. He offered one salad free of charge as a side (which I didn't want, but accepted), which they still tried to add to the bill and tried to convince me that it was already discounted, to which I took out my calculator and showed him it wasn't. They manually deducted it from the bill and we finally paid AED 290 for few prawns, 2x crab, mussels, tom yum kung and chips. Besides for being overpriced, the food lacked flavour and the soup wasn't spicy at all (my wife being Thai asked for extra spicy).”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“I explained we would like tom yum kung and few other small options, to which he replied that they will bring that to the table and we still need to order there. So we did, sat down and then another person came to take our order at the table. He offered one salad free of charge as a side (which I didn't want, but accepted), which they still tried to add to the bill and tried to convince me that it was already discounted, to which I took out my calculator and showed him it wasn't. They manually deducted it from the bill and we finally paid AED 290 for few prawns, 2x crab, mussels, tom yum kung and chips. Besides for being overpriced, the food lacked flavour and the soup wasn't spicy at all (my wife being Thai asked for extra spicy).”March 2026
Tips for a Better Visit
Clean First. Have your seafood cleaned at the market before taking it to the restaurant counter; one reviewer specifically recommends cleaning it on the spot.
Confirm Cooking. State the cooking method and seasoning clearly, then repeat the request at the counter because reviewers say instructions are not always followed.
Check Weights. Watch the scale while your seafood is weighed and check the bill before paying; one customer reported an extra charge that was later corrected.
Allow Time. Avoid arriving in a rush, particularly at busy periods: reviews mention waits of more than an hour and long lines at the cooking counter.
Choose Indoors. Indoor seating may be more comfortable in hot weather or if you want to avoid the market environment, where one reviewer noticed flies and cats.
Request Hot. Ask for food to be freshly prepared and served hot, especially if your order appears to have been sitting before reaching the table.
Plan the visit
Practical details
R16G, Water front Market Dubai
Corniche Deira - Deira, Dubai
| Mon | 10:00 AM – 12:30 AM |
| Tue | 10:00 AM – 12:30 AM |
| Wed | 10:00 AM – 12:30 AM |
| Thu | 10:00 AM – 12:30 AM |
| Fri | 10:00 AM – 12:30 AM |
| Sat | 10:00 AM – 12:30 AM |
| Sun | 10:00 AM – 12:30 AM |
Common Concerns
Added Charges
A review reports AED 22 per kg for cooking, plus a separate AED 30 table charge, making the market-to-table model feel poor value.
Long Waits
Several reviews describe waits of 40 minutes to over an hour, with later-arriving tables sometimes served first.
Inconsistent Cooking
Preparation can vary: reviewers mention cold food, overcooked prawns, dry fried fish and dishes that were too oily.
Order Errors
Some customers reported incorrect seasonings, improperly cleaned seafood or cooking that did not match their instructions.
Outdoor Disruption
One family was asked to move while eating during table cleaning and was splashed, with direct sun or indoor seating as the alternatives.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
AED 22 per kg
cooking charges
“The cooking charges have increased significantly to AED 22 per kg, which feels quite unreasonable for customers”Google review · May 2026
AED 30
table
“To make matters worse, there is an additional requirement to pay AED 30 for the table, which adds to the frustration”Google review · May 2026
AED 290
few prawns, 2x crab, mussels, tom yum kung and chips
“They manually deducted it from the bill and we finally paid AED 290 for few prawns, 2x crab, mussels, tom yum kung and chips”Google review · March 2026
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Yahya Seafood Restaurant sits in Deira’s Waterfront Market, where the main appeal is choosing seafood from the market and having it prepared at the restaurant. You can opt for grilling or frying, or order from the menu instead. Reviews mention grilled seabass, fried jumbo shrimp, fried calamari and seafood Tom Yum soup, with the soup receiving particularly enthusiastic feedback.
The market-to-table setup feels casual and authentic rather than polished. Indoor and outdoor seating are available, and the waterfront tables can be pleasant in cooler weather or around sunset. In hot weather, indoor seating may be the safer choice; one reviewer also mentioned flies and cats in the market surroundings.
Service and cooking are uneven. Some diners describe friendly, attentive staff and fish arriving piping hot, while others report waits exceeding an hour, cold or overcooked seafood, incorrect seasoning and seafood that was not cleaned properly. The process also needs close attention: confirm exactly how you want the fish cooked, watch the weighing, and check added charges.
One review cites AED 22 per kg for cooking and an additional AED 30 table fee, so clarify the full cost before ordering.