Makina chicken
Makina chicken is repeatedly highlighted as soft and juicy, with some reviews calling it a standout grill option.
ZAK Foods
Deira
ZAK Foods is a Deira restaurant known in reviews for home-style meals, including Makina chicken and shawarma. It has a welcoming indoor setting plus outdoor seating near the infinity bridge, while its 24/7 opening and late-night delivery make it useful for casual meals at unusual hours.
Reputation Score
4.3
★★★★☆
253 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Local chai
The chai uses traditional spices and was described as authentic, alongside a strong selection of snacks.
Bridge views
Outdoor diners can get an infinity bridge view, with one review specifically recommending the sunset outlook.
Late hours
The restaurant is described as open 24/7, making it an option for late dinners and night-time food orders.
Food variety
Reviews mention Chinese dishes, grills, shawarma, biryani and mixed noodles, giving the menu useful variety.
Value options
Some customers report affordable food and free home delivery, though other reviews disagree on pricing.
What to Eat at ZAK Foods 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 ZAK Foods, 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 ZAK Foods got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 10
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Spicy grills chicken / makina Net +1
“They have good Spicy Grills Chicken / Makina which is the must try item in the menu.”
Positive 2Negative 1
Review excerpts
“They have good Spicy Grills Chicken / Makina which is the must try item in the menu.”May 2024
“"At Zak - Where Flavor Meets Tradition, the Makheena grilled chicken is a masterpiece.”May 2024
-
Charcoal chicken Net +1
“Few must try food I felt Makena chicken full set, charcoal chicken, spicy shawarma & last but not the least “Falak” such a yummy juice!! please do try it!!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Few must try food I felt Makena chicken full set, charcoal chicken, spicy shawarma & last but not the least “Falak” such a yummy juice!! please do try it!!”June 2024
-
Chicken biryani Net +1
“We try veg and non veg dishes both was tasty 😋 and my favourite dish chicken biryani during the Ramadan too good 😊”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We try veg and non veg dishes both was tasty 😋 and my favourite dish chicken biryani during the Ramadan too good 😊”April 2024
-
Excellent shawarma Net +1
“Food is excellent! This is the real deal with fresh ingredients. falafel, fresh burger, excellent shawarma juicy nd spicy🥵🔥.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food is excellent! This is the real deal with fresh ingredients. falafel, fresh burger, excellent shawarma juicy nd spicy🥵🔥.”April 2023
-
Falafel Net +1
“Food is excellent! This is the real deal with fresh ingredients. falafel, fresh burger, excellent shawarma juicy nd spicy🥵🔥.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food is excellent! This is the real deal with fresh ingredients. falafel, fresh burger, excellent shawarma juicy nd spicy🥵🔥.”April 2023
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Fish tawa pathiri porotta combo Net +1
“Had a great experience! The Fish Tawa and Pathiri Porotta combo was absolutely delicious — especially perfect for evening. The food was fresh and flavorful.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Had a great experience! The Fish Tawa and Pathiri Porotta combo was absolutely delicious — especially perfect for evening. The food was fresh and flavorful.”October 2025
-
Fresh burger Net +1
“Food is excellent! This is the real deal with fresh ingredients. falafel, fresh burger, excellent shawarma juicy nd spicy🥵🔥.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food is excellent! This is the real deal with fresh ingredients. falafel, fresh burger, excellent shawarma juicy nd spicy🥵🔥.”April 2023
-
Grilled fish Net +1
“We had the grilled fish. It was delicious! Although it was a bit spicy.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We had the grilled fish. It was delicious! Although it was a bit spicy.”December 2023
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Makena chicken full set Net +1
“Few must try food I felt Makena chicken full set, charcoal chicken, spicy shawarma & last but not the least “Falak” such a yummy juice!! please do try it!!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Few must try food I felt Makena chicken full set, charcoal chicken, spicy shawarma & last but not the least “Falak” such a yummy juice!! please do try it!!”June 2024
-
Mexican shawarma Net +1
“We tried Mexican shawarma which also good”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We tried Mexican shawarma which also good”May 2024
Honorable mentions (4)
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Mixed grill Net +1
“It's a must-try item; I also enjoy the mixed grill.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“It's a must-try item; I also enjoy the mixed grill.”May 2024
-
Mixed noodles Net +1
“The mixed noodles was among the best dishes I've tasted here so far . Definitely going to visit again. A must visit for everyone who loves food.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The mixed noodles was among the best dishes I've tasted here so far . Definitely going to visit again. A must visit for everyone who loves food.”April 2023
-
Shawarma Net +1
“Their bar be que platters are amazing, shawarma is nice and other food is good too.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Their bar be que platters are amazing, shawarma is nice and other food is good too.”June 2023
-
Spicy shawarma Net +1
“Few must try food I felt Makena chicken full set, charcoal chicken, spicy shawarma & last but not the least “Falak” such a yummy juice!! please do try it!!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Few must try food I felt Makena chicken full set, charcoal chicken, spicy shawarma & last but not the least “Falak” such a yummy juice!! please do try it!!”June 2024
Drinks 2
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Chai Net +1
“Foodies This is mallu restaurant located in one Deira mall,their ambience are good and also their chai is very good , really I tasted a authentic chai with traditional spices , Eveeyone need to visit here and have your food, they will provide best snacks ever you had 🥰🥪🥞🍔🍔🥞🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭👍”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Foodies This is mallu restaurant located in one Deira mall,their ambience are good and also their chai is very good , really I tasted a authentic chai with traditional spices , Eveeyone need to visit here and have your food, they will provide best snacks ever you had 🥰🥪🥞🍔🍔🥞🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭👍”May 2025
-
Falak juice Net +1
“Falak juice was good..heavy but good..”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Falak juice was good..heavy but good..”August 2024
What to Avoid (2)
Food 2
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Chicken fried rice Net −1
“I ordered chicken fried rice, but what arrived was apparently a special "salt overload" edition. One bite was enough to make me question whether the chef was cooking or trying to preserve food for the next 100 years.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“I ordered chicken fried rice, but what arrived was apparently a special "salt overload" edition. One bite was enough to make me question whether the chef was cooking or trying to preserve food for the next 100 years.”June 2026
-
Normal falafels Net −1
“I ordered **normal falafels**, but they were so spicy I couldn’t eat them. When I complained, the restaurant flat-out denied it, even after I sent clear proof.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“I ordered **normal falafels**, but they were so spicy I couldn’t eat them. When I complained, the restaurant flat-out denied it, even after I sent clear proof.”March 2026
Tips for a Better Visit
Check orders. For delivery, confirm the dish at handover: one customer ordered chicken ghee rice but received beef ghee rice.
Allow time. If ordering grilled chicken, allow extra time or ask for an estimate before settling in; one order took 45 minutes.
Order outside. Using the outdoor seating may require ordering at the cash counter rather than waiting for a waiter to come over.
Plan parking. For the infinity bridge view, use the designated parking area; one review says it is paid and about two minutes away.
Ask about spice. Check spice levels before ordering, since a customer found the grilled fish a bit spicy and another found the falafel too hot.
Try evenings. The Fish Tawa and Pathiri Porotta combo was described as especially suited to an evening meal.
Plan the visit
Practical details
New Gold souk extension - ZAK Foods-AL Moza 3 - Corniche road
Al Corniche - Deira, Dubai
| Mon | 12:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Tue | 12:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Wed | 12:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Thu | 12:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Fri | 12:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Sat | 12:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Sun | 12:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
Common Concerns
Delivery issues
Several customers report very late deliveries, unresponsive staff and orders arriving with the wrong dish or charge.
Order accuracy
One delivery customer ordered chicken ghee rice but received beef ghee rice instead.
Long waits
A grill chicken order took 45 minutes, and the customer said the delay was not explained in advance.
Inconsistent seasoning
One customer received chicken fried rice described as excessively salty, with the replacement reportedly just as disappointing.
Counter ordering
Outdoor seating may not include table service; one reviewer had to order at the cash counter.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
ZAK Foods is a Deira restaurant with a broad, casual menu and a setting that appeals to both diners and late-night customers. Reviews specifically mention Makina chicken, shawarma, Fish Tawa with Pathiri Porotta, and Chinese dishes such as mixed noodles. The restaurant is also described as open 24/7, with late-night delivery available.
The atmosphere is a genuine draw. Customers describe a warm, modern interior, outdoor seating and views towards the infinity bridge, particularly around sunset. The chai with traditional spices and the snack selection also stand out for anyone wanting something lighter than a full meal.
Some reviewers found the food fresh, flavorful and generous, while another called the Makina chicken average despite finding it soft and juicy. Service and delivery are less dependable. Customers have reported a 45-minute wait for grill chicken, counter ordering from the outdoor area, delayed deliveries and incorrect dishes, including beef ghee rice delivered instead of chicken ghee rice.
Pricing opinions are mixed: some call it affordable, while others say portions are small and prices are high for the Gold Souq area. If ordering delivery, check the dish carefully; for dining in, ask about wait times and spice levels first.