YAVA Restaurant

Name: YAVA Restaurant
Address: 51 Al Wasl Rd, Jumeirah, Dubai, AE
Telephone: +97145485733

Jumeirah

Palestinian restaurant Closed 04 548 5733

YAVA is a Palestinian restaurant in Jumeirah with a Mediterranean-leaning menu and a warm, homey setting indoors and out. Reviews make a strong case for exploring it at breakfast or dinner, particularly the generous breakfast tray and lamb shank orzo.

Reputation Score

4.7

★★★★★

719 ratings

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The Good Stuff

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Traditional Mains

The Mansaf is praised as perfectly cooked, flavorful and genuinely authentic.

Breakfast Spread

The breakfast tray is generous enough for three people to share, with one review saying it could feed four to five.

Let's go!

What to Eat at YAVA Restaurant

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

Food 7

Lamb shank orzo Net +6

“A exceptional Palestinian restaurant ! Food was so carefully prepared and full of flavour ! The Lamb Shank Orzo was so good ! Service was top notch , staff was welcoming and attentive but never overbearing! Will go back again !!”
Baked honey feta Net +5

“My top highlights of this the Baked Feta cheese with honey comb and the Lamb Shanks with Orzo. These two dishes is a must try.”
Vine leaves Net +5

“But this time, their lunch completely blew me away. The warq enab and maqloubeh were absolutely out of this world—rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. Every bite felt special.”
Chicken meatballs orzo Net +3

“And don’t forget to sample the Chicken Meatball Orzo, a hearty and satisfying option that’s perfect for any occasion.🤩”
Floating kibbeh Net +2

“The must try dishes which were the star of the show: 1- Floating kibbeh 2- Chicken meatballs orzo 3- the complimentary dips were delicious too!”
Hummus Net +2

“Every single dish hit. The hummus, the zaatar zebdeh with chili flakes…. amazing.”
Yava kebab Net +2

“But the real star of the evening was the dish I’ve been eyeing forever: the Yava Kebab A beautifully juicy, charcoal-grilled kebab laid over a bed of half-grilled aubergine, topped with fresh chopped tomatoes, paired with a touch of tahina garnish, and served with two perfectly grilled pita breads Every bite was rich, smoky, tender—simply divine.”

Honorable mentions (29)

Falafel toast Net +1

“for 3 people we shared the Yava Breakfast, the Falafel Toast, and the Pancakes- it was more than enough food. everything was super delicious and flavored.”
Fatteh Net +1

“We were lucky to try some new menu items, like the Fatteh and the shrimps salad, and I highly highly recommend them.”
Grilled chicken Net +1

“The grilled chicken was outstanding—juicy, well-marinated, and grilled just right. The beef dishes were just as delicious, tender, and full of flavor. On top of that, the service was very good, attentive, and welcoming. We’ll definitely be coming back.”
Halawa crème brûlée Net +1

“Pistachio cake is to DIE for and the halawa crème brûlée … I’d go back for that.”
Iced hibiscus Net +1

“I recommend the Lamb Maklouba which is specialty here. The iced hibiscus and iced sage were especially good and so refreshing.”
Iced sage Net +1

“I recommend the Lamb Maklouba which is specialty here. The iced hibiscus and iced sage were especially good and so refreshing.”
Kabsa Net +1

“The kabsa was also rich and well-balanced”
Keshek saj Net +1

“Zaatar Jabali Saj & Keshek Saj: The saj bread was perfectly thin and light. The Zaatar Jabali had that beautifully fresh, aromatic, and rustic herb flavor, while the Keshek was incredibly rich, savory, and authentic.”
Lahm b ajin Net +1

“We ordered a bunch of other dishes but devoured them before I could take a picture - the baked feta, Lahm b Ajin and Lamb Orzo were to die for. We’ll definitely be back.”
Lamb shank Net +1

“my favorite course would be the lamb shank, (just try it and thank me later.)”
Linguine al limone Net +1

“If you’re in the mood for something equally delightful, their Linguine Al Limone is an absolute must-try; the zesty flavors will leave you craving more.”
Mansaf Net +1

“We tried the Mansaf, and it was honestly one of the best we have had in Dubai—perfectly cooked, flavorful, and truly authentic.”
Manti Net +1

“Their risotto balls are delicious, manti was a standout, and definitely order the cheesecake and Turkish coffee!”
Mediterranean bagel Net +1

“Was too hungry to snap shots of the food but if there is one thing that is a must-try, it would be their Mediterranean Bagel. The food was delicious, the Turkish coffee was Turkish coffee-ing, and Anwar was a delight!”
Merameyih fizz Net +1

“Diverse menu with great options for pescatarians like me. The food was nothing less than mouthwatering taste, presentation, variety and OMG that Merameyih fizz”
Musakhan pretzel Net +1

“• Musakhan Pretzel (recommended by Anwar) — This twist on the classic Palestinian musakhan was absolutely delicious. Crispy on the outside, juicy inside, carrying that sumac-spiced chicken, caramelised onions and pine nuts. Yava’s creative and homage-rooted.”
North african tabouleh Net +1

“the North African Tabouleh is better than Tabouleh…”
Pistachio cake Net +1

“Pistachio cake is to DIE for and the halawa crème brûlée … I’d go back for that.”
Ramadan set menu Net +1

“Their Ramadan set menu is a must try.”
Risotto balls Net +1

“Their risotto balls are delicious, manti was a standout, and definitely order the cheesecake and Turkish coffee!”
Scampi Net +1

“The scampi was to die for and the hummus was rich and luxurious in the mouth. Everything looked really fresh.”
Shrimps salad Net +1

“We were lucky to try some new menu items, like the Fatteh and the shrimps salad, and I highly highly recommend them.”
Sojuk & cheese sourdough Net +1

“Sojuk & Cheese Sourdough: A total standout. The sourdough had the perfect crust and chew, topped with deeply flavorful, spiced sojuk and beautifully melted cheese. The balance of flavors was incredible.”
South african tabbouleh Net +1

“The South African tabbouleh was so fresh and flavourful, and the Yafawiye omg the crunch on it was insane.”
Yafawiye Net +1

“The South African tabbouleh was so fresh and flavourful, and the Yafawiye omg the crunch on it was insane.”
Yaffa sfeeha Net +1

“First time trying Yava Restaurant and everything was on point not a single mistake from the Maqluba to the Peach Iced Tea! The Yaffa Sfeeha and the Baked Honey Feta are absolute must tries. Great flavors, great experience, definitely coming back!”
Yava breakfast Net +1

“for 3 people we shared the Yava Breakfast, the Falafel Toast, and the Pancakes- it was more than enough food. everything was super delicious and flavored.”
Zaatar jabali saj Net +1

“Zaatar Jabali Saj & Keshek Saj: The saj bread was perfectly thin and light. The Zaatar Jabali had that beautifully fresh, aromatic, and rustic herb flavor, while the Keshek was incredibly rich, savory, and authentic.”
Zaatar zebdeh with chili flakes Net +1

“Every single dish hit. The hummus, the zaatar zebdeh with chili flakes…. amazing.”

Drinks 5

Turkish coffee Net +2

“Was too hungry to snap shots of the food but if there is one thing that is a must-try, it would be their Mediterranean Bagel. The food was delicious, the Turkish coffee was Turkish coffee-ing, and Anwar was a delight!”
Americano Net +1

“Even the Americano—which many places treat as an afterthought—was smooth, robust, and expertly brewed.”
Mint lemonade Net +1

“the mint lemonade tasted fresh.”
Peach iced tea Net +1

“First time trying Yava Restaurant and everything was on point not a single mistake from the Maqluba to the Peach Iced Tea! The Yaffa Sfeeha and the Baked Honey Feta are absolute must tries. Great flavors, great experience, definitely coming back!”
Turmeric tea Net +1

“Honey feta is phenomenal, so is a turmeric tea.”

What to Avoid (1)

Drinks 1

Virgin negroni Net −1

“We were also expecting more authentic Palestinian/Levantine dishes, so the Italian-leaning elements (like orzo and a virgin Negroni) were a bit off.”

Tips for a Better Visit

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Share Mains. Consider sharing a main: one review found the portions generous enough that this was the better approach.

Try Breakfast. For breakfast, the tray is a practical group order; one reviewer said it fed three to four people for 200 dirhams.

Plan the visit

Practical details

51 Al Wasl Rd

Jumeirah - Jumeirah 1, Dubai

04 548 5733

Mon	8:00 AM – 11:30 PM
Tue	8:00 AM – 11:30 PM
Wed	8:00 AM – 11:30 PM
Thu	8:00 AM – 11:30 PM
Fri	8:00 AM – 11:30 PM
Sat	8:00 AM – 11:30 PM
Sun	8:00 AM – 11:30 PM

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Common Concerns

Showing 2 of 4

Pricing

One reviewer felt the pricing was high for a casual dining setting.

Fusion Elements

A reviewer expecting strictly Palestinian or Levantine food found the orzo and virgin Negroni too Italian-leaning.

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The Bottom Line

YAVA is a Palestinian restaurant in Jumeirah where traditional home-style cooking meets a broader Mediterranean influence. You can come for breakfast, lunch or dinner; the breakfast tray, lamb shank orzo, musakhan pretzel and baked feta with honey are among the clearest review-backed starting points. The food is the main draw.

Mansaf was described as perfectly cooked and authentic, while the lamb shank in the maklouba was tender enough to melt apart. Portions can be generous, especially for shared mains, and the breakfast tray was said to feed four to five people comfortably. The setting is warm and homey, with colourful artwork, Arabic and Mediterranean touches, and both indoor and outdoor seating.

The outdoor tables are especially appealing in cooler weather, though one review reported a lot of flies. Service is a strong part of the experience, with reviewers describing the team as attentive, welcoming and knowledgeable. There is one pricing caution: a reviewer felt the bill was high for casual dining.

Also, the menu is not strictly traditional; its Italian-leaning touches, including orzo and a virgin Negroni, may not suit diners expecting only Palestinian or Levantine dishes. For groups, sharing a main is sensible, and the breakfast tray has a clearly reported group-value option.