Zafran Indian Kitchen - Dubai Hills Mall

Name: Zafran Indian Kitchen - Dubai Hills Mall
Address: Al Khail Rd, Dubai Hills Estate, Dubai, AE
Telephone: +971549942435

Dubai Hills Estate

Indian restaurant Closed 0 549 942 435

Zafran Indian Kitchen is a contemporary Indian restaurant in Dubai Hills Estate, serving familiar classics alongside dishes such as Raan Zafran and Rampuri Biryani. Reviews point to tender meats, rich biryanis and a comfortable setting suited to casual meals, family dining and occasional Iftar buffets.

Reputation Score

4.5

★★★★★

1,252 ratings

Call Website Directions

The Good Stuff

Showing 2 of 7

Tender biryani

Rampuri Biryani is praised for tender lamb and balanced spices, while chicken biryani is another recurring favourite.

Raan Zafran

The Raan Zafran was reported to be so tender that the meat practically melted off the bone.

Let's go!

What to Eat at Zafran Indian Kitchen - Dubai Hills Mall

Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of Zafran Indian Kitchen - Dubai Hills Mall, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.

Food 6

Butter chicken Net +4

“Their butter chicken is rich and flavorful, while the biryani is perfectly spiced.”
Chicken biryani Net +2

“I haven’t tasted anything like chicken biryani since I was young and the taste sent me the whole way back to my youth.”
Garlic naan bread Net +2

“The best mango lassi and the best chicken biryani with garlic naan bread aside with chicken biryani.”
Naan Net +2

“The butter chicken was rich and creamy, paired well with soft naan and fragrant rice.”
Rampuri biryani Net +2

“* Rampuri Biryani: This lamb biryani was exceptional. The meat was tender, and the spices were beautifully balanced without being overwhelming.”
Shrimp masala Net +2

“Food is juicy and shrimp masala is perfect. Cant ask for more.”

Honorable mentions (31)

Baigan bharta Net +1

“In main course we ordered butter chicken and baigan bharta. Butter chicken was not good at all I feel the lemon grass flavour which was again a disappointment... baigan bharata , garlic naan was really nice and well seasoned.”
Chaat balak Net +1

“I had one of the best Chaat Balak here, and the outdoor ambiance was great, adding to the overall vibe.”
Chaat salad Net +1

“We started with the chaat salad, it was heavenly, then ordered the dhal makani, the vegetables biryani, the chicken Tikka, and the shrimp masala, every single dish was delicious 😋 my personal favorite was the chicken Tikka, the chicken was so tender and perfectly cooked, and the little pickle onions in the side salad were yummy.”
Chat platter Net +1

“We started with the Chat Platter, which was the perfect mix of flavors and textures to kick off the meal. It was vibrant, tangy, and exactly what you want in an authentic starter.”
Cheese naan Net +1

“The cheese Naan was too cheesy i will go next time with garlic naan although it was really good”
Chicken korma curry Net +1

“The Chicken Zaafran Biryani was truly amazing, the Chicken Korma curry was exceptionally delicious, and the Naan bread was remarkably fresh.”
Chicken tikka biryani Net +1

“Chicken tikka Biryani was amazing”
Chicken zaafran biryani Net +1

“The Chicken Zaafran Biryani was truly amazing, the Chicken Korma curry was exceptionally delicious, and the Naan bread was remarkably fresh.”
Chocolate fondant Net +1

“We finished the night with the Chocolate Fondant. It was decadent, warm, and the perfect sweet note to end such a savory meal.”
Coconut prawn curry Net +1

“The Papdi chaat and Coconut prawn curry are as delicious as always and the whole fish is a new favorite.”
Dal zafran Net +1

“Dal Zafran is always our favourite.”
Dhal makani Net +1

“We started with the chaat salad, it was heavenly, then ordered the dhal makani, the vegetables biryani, the chicken Tikka, and the shrimp masala, every single dish was delicious 😋 my personal favorite was the chicken Tikka, the chicken was so tender and perfectly cooked, and the little pickle onions in the side salad were yummy.”
Grilled fish Net +1

“Grilled fish was also superb.”
Iftar buffet Net +1

“Had an incredible Iftar buffet experience at Zafran and it was nothing short of amazing!”
Indian home style chicken curry Net +1

“* Indian Home Style Chicken Curry: This was a standout. It had that comforting, rich flavor you usually only find in home-cooked meals.”
Kebab platter Net +1

“Their Kebab platter is world-class by all means... a MUST try”
Kothmeer chicken korma Net +1

“Kothmeer Chicken korma was good”
Laccha paratha Net +1

“* Laccha Paratha: Perfectly flaky and buttery—the ideal companion for dipping into the curry.”
Long kebab Net +1

“Loved the long kebab & our seafood platter.”
Mango prawn avocado salad Net +1

“I recently tried Zafran Indian kitchen’s Seafood Sensation menu at Dubai Hills Mall, and it was a hit—especially the Oceanic Sea Platter and Mango Prawn Avocado Salad. Fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented.”
Mixed grill platter Net +1

“The food was very good, especially the fish and the mixed grill platter. There was no unpleasant smell, and the quality of the meat was excellent.”
Oceanic sea platter Net +1

“I recently tried Zafran Indian kitchen’s Seafood Sensation menu at Dubai Hills Mall, and it was a hit—especially the Oceanic Sea Platter and Mango Prawn Avocado Salad. Fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented.”
Pani puri passionfruit Net +1

“The pani puri passionfruit was a real surprise, but delicious!”
Papdi chaat Net +1

“The Papdi chaat and Coconut prawn curry are as delicious as always and the whole fish is a new favorite.”
Prawn coconut curry Net +1

“Prawn coconut curry was finger licking awesome”
Raan zafran Net +1

“We ordered the Raan Zafran and the Rampuri Biryani, and both dishes were absolutely packed with authentic flavor. The meat was so tender it practically melted off the bone.”
Seafood platter Net +1

“Loved the long kebab & our seafood platter.”
Tandoori chicken Net +1

“Loved the tandoori chicken, butter chicken, Zafran chicken biryani – rich flavours in a stylish, cozy setting. Must-try! ❤️🍲”
Vegetables biryani Net +1

“We started with the chaat salad, it was heavenly, then ordered the dhal makani, the vegetables biryani, the chicken Tikka, and the shrimp masala, every single dish was delicious 😋 my personal favorite was the chicken Tikka, the chicken was so tender and perfectly cooked, and the little pickle onions in the side salad were yummy.”
Zafran chicken biryani Net +1

“Loved the tandoori chicken, butter chicken, Zafran chicken biryani – rich flavours in a stylish, cozy setting. Must-try! ❤️🍲”
Palak paneer Net 0

Only neutral feedback

“Palak paneer was ok”

Drinks 2

Karak Net +1

“Don't miss to try their Karak, it's amazing”
Mango lassi Net +1

“The best mango lassi and the best chicken biryani with garlic naan bread aside with chicken biryani.”

What to Avoid (3)

Food 3

Chef's special misal pav Net −1

“The Chef's special Misal pav is of North Indian style not of Maharashtrian style.”
Chicken malai Net −1

“What was far more concerning, however, was that the ultimatum chicken, chicken tikka, and chicken malai were served raw.”
Ultimatum chicken Net −1

“What was far more concerning, however, was that the ultimatum chicken, chicken tikka, and chicken malai were served raw.”

Tips for a Better Visit

Showing 2 of 5

Request mild. If you do not handle heat well, ask for mild spice; one family said the kitchen prepared it successfully.

Check availability. Ask which dishes are currently available before settling on your order, especially if you have a specific favourite in mind.

Plan the visit

Practical details

Al Khail Rd

Hadaeq Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid, Dubai

0 549 942 435

Mon	12:00 PM – 11:30 PM
Tue	12:00 PM – 11:30 PM
Wed	12:00 PM – 11:30 PM
Thu	12:00 PM – 11:30 PM
Fri	12:00 PM – 12:30 AM
Sat	12:00 PM – 12:30 AM
Sun	12:00 PM – 11:30 PM

Get directions

Common Concerns

Showing 2 of 5

Menu gaps

Several dishes were unavailable without clear notice, leaving regulars to choose from the menu before discovering they could not order them.

Food safety

One review reported raw chicken dishes and an unsatisfactory response from management; this is a serious caution for diners.

Customer-reported prices

These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.

12 AED

paratha

“Also, the price of the paratha (12 AED) for such a small size is not reasonable, especially since it is just a single piece of dough with nothing special about it”

Google review · March 2026

DXB
LOCAL

The Bottom Line

Zafran Indian Kitchen in Dubai Hills Estate is a contemporary Indian restaurant with a menu built around biryanis, curries, kebabs and chaat. The strongest review-backed orders include Rampuri Biryani, Chicken tikka Biryani, Raan Zafran and the Chaat Platter. The lamb in the Rampuri version was described as tender, with balanced spices, while the Raan meat reportedly melted off the bone.

The setting is warm, modern and spacious, with reviews describing it as comfortable for family meals and groups. Mild spice requests have been handled successfully, and the food is generally considered suitable for children who prefer less heat. Free mall parking is another practical advantage.

During cooler weather, outdoor seating may be preferable, particularly if you find strong indoor air conditioning uncomfortable. There are some reasons to check details before ordering. A regular customer reported that several familiar dishes had been unavailable without clear notice, while other reviews mention tough biryani meat, cold butter chicken and a serious allegation of undercooked chicken.

Service is often praised, but busy weekends can stretch the team. Pricing is not fully documented, though one diner felt an AED 12 paratha was too small for its cost. The Iftar buffet has also received positive comments for its curries, kebabs, biryanis and desserts.