Thai flavour
Thai dishes are praised for authentic flavour, including a green curry that impressed a Thailand-travelled diner.
Zen Restaurant
Barsha Heights
Zen Restaurant is a Thai-led Asian restaurant in Barsha Heights, serving dine-in and takeaway favourites across Thai, Chinese and Indian cooking. Reviews point to the Thai green curry, Pad Thai and street-food-style setting as strong reasons to try it, especially when you want boldly seasoned food rather than bland fare.
Reputation Score
4.3
★★★★☆
145 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Fresh cooking
Several reviews describe the food as fresh and made to order, with deliveries often arriving hot.
Street setting
The decor and food-court layout create a casual Asian street-food atmosphere rather than a formal dining room.
Spicy dishes
Diners who prefer pronounced heat particularly enjoy the spicy food and Pad Thai.
Broad choice
The menu brings together several Asian cuisines, which suits groups with different cravings.
Helpful service
Reviews repeatedly mention cheerful, friendly staff who help with orders and recommendations.
Good portions
One group of five described the meal as filling and paid AED 260 including VAT.
What to Eat at Zen 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 Zen 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.
These items at Zen Restaurant got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 2
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Pad thai Net +2
“Definitely try their pad thai which are superbly delicious.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Definitely try their pad thai which are superbly delicious.”September 2019
“- Pad Thai Noodles”May 2018
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Sushi Net +2
“I think its freshly made thats why my order took one hour but its worth it coz its my first sushi and i absolutely loved it”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I think its freshly made thats why my order took one hour but its worth it coz its my first sushi and i absolutely loved it”August 2024
“This restaurant is making a good sushi, and it is recommended 👌”July 2025
Honorable mentions (19)
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Bbq chicken satays Net +1
“Well what else can one expect when you have 3 restaurants under one roof! Their bbq chicken satays are highly recommended! Along with short ribs main dish!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Well what else can one expect when you have 3 restaurants under one roof! Their bbq chicken satays are highly recommended! Along with short ribs main dish!”October 2019
-
Chicken fried rice Net +1
“Friendly staff, good food- we had ordered egg fried rice but chicken fried rice was served. Service was fast, quantity can be increased.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Friendly staff, good food- we had ordered egg fried rice but chicken fried rice was served. Service was fast, quantity can be increased.”November 2018
-
Chicken skewers Net +1
“It’s an awesome place to bring your friends . Food is great ! A great Street food experience ! Their chicken skewers is tender and tasty and the rest of the Asian foods.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“It’s an awesome place to bring your friends . Food is great ! A great Street food experience ! Their chicken skewers is tender and tasty and the rest of the Asian foods.”February 2020
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Chicken wings Net +1
“Outstanding food! Chili beef, zen rice and chicken wings some of my favorites. Also price fair for quality and quantity. Well done streetery”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Outstanding food! Chili beef, zen rice and chicken wings some of my favorites. Also price fair for quality and quantity. Well done streetery”May 2022
-
Chicken wontons Net +1
“*Chicken wontons dipped in aromatic sesame soy sauce to give that smooth and marinated soupy taste .”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“*Chicken wontons dipped in aromatic sesame soy sauce to give that smooth and marinated soupy taste .”June 2020
-
Chili beef Net +1
“Outstanding food! Chili beef, zen rice and chicken wings some of my favorites. Also price fair for quality and quantity. Well done streetery”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Outstanding food! Chili beef, zen rice and chicken wings some of my favorites. Also price fair for quality and quantity. Well done streetery”May 2022
-
Cucumber salad Net +1
“Starting with fresh *Cucumber Salad , so good and refreshing.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Starting with fresh *Cucumber Salad , so good and refreshing.”June 2020
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Fried rice with chicken Net +1
“Has the fried rice with chicken. Best I've ever had !!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Has the fried rice with chicken. Best I've ever had !!”April 2018
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Green curry Net +1
“Great green curry. One of the best I’ve had outside Thailand.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Great green curry. One of the best I’ve had outside Thailand.”February 2019
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Korean chicken wings Net +1
“*Korean chicken Wings , juicy and so tender that falls off the bone.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“*Korean chicken Wings , juicy and so tender that falls off the bone.”June 2020
-
Kung pao Net +1
“*Kung Pao was another hit dish, perfectly cube cut chicken with thick soya sauce with crunchy peanuts served with fried rice.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“*Kung Pao was another hit dish, perfectly cube cut chicken with thick soya sauce with crunchy peanuts served with fried rice.”June 2020
-
Lemon grass and ginger Net +1
“* Drink of course Lemon grass and ginger surely give you that zingy and very refreshing taste .”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“* Drink of course Lemon grass and ginger surely give you that zingy and very refreshing taste .”June 2020
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Red curry beef Net +1
“I have placed an order for 2 Phad Phed Beef and BBQ Chicken, You have sent me what looks like Red Curry Beef. Phad Phed doesn’t have that much coconut milk like Red Curry does. Nevertheless, the food was delicious and I would still be ordering from this place.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I have placed an order for 2 Phad Phed Beef and BBQ Chicken, You have sent me what looks like Red Curry Beef. Phad Phed doesn’t have that much coconut milk like Red Curry does. Nevertheless, the food was delicious and I would still be ordering from this place.”December 2022
-
Sesame prawn toast Net +1
“My personal favourites are: - Sesame Prawn Toast”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“My personal favourites are: - Sesame Prawn Toast”May 2018
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Short ribs main dish Net +1
“Well what else can one expect when you have 3 restaurants under one roof! Their bbq chicken satays are highly recommended! Along with short ribs main dish!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Well what else can one expect when you have 3 restaurants under one roof! Their bbq chicken satays are highly recommended! Along with short ribs main dish!”October 2019
-
Thai green curry Net +1
“Had the Thai green curry with white rice today. Having been to Thailand and as a big fan of Thai food in general the curry hit the spot instantly. If I were to be picky I would say that if you’re going to include whole lemon grass pieces in the curry, I would make them bigger and I wouldn’t use the root end just so unsuspecting guests wouldn’t bite into it thinking it was chicken or a bamboo shoot or something else entirely.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Had the Thai green curry with white rice today. Having been to Thailand and as a big fan of Thai food in general the curry hit the spot instantly. If I were to be picky I would say that if you’re going to include whole lemon grass pieces in the curry, I would make them bigger and I wouldn’t use the root end just so unsuspecting guests wouldn’t bite into it thinking it was chicken or a bamboo shoot or something else entirely.”July 2022
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Thai styled salad Net +1
“*Thai Styled Salad simple and decent with crunch of red onions lifts the taste buds .”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“*Thai Styled Salad simple and decent with crunch of red onions lifts the taste buds .”June 2020
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Treasure sushi box 16 pcs Net +1
“I got a delivery for Treasure Sushi Box 16 pcs, and it was very good 👍”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I got a delivery for Treasure Sushi Box 16 pcs, and it was very good 👍”July 2025
-
Zen rice Net +1
“Outstanding food! Chili beef, zen rice and chicken wings some of my favorites. Also price fair for quality and quantity. Well done streetery”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Outstanding food! Chili beef, zen rice and chicken wings some of my favorites. Also price fair for quality and quantity. Well done streetery”May 2022
Tips for a Better Visit
Allow time. For delivery, allow extra time: one sushi order took an hour and another delivery took two hours.
Check orders. Confirm takeaway items when they arrive, since a Phad Phed order was reportedly sent as Red Curry Beef.
Plan parking. Allow time to park; one customer waited 15 minutes for a space.
Ask about heat. If dining in, check the AC situation first because a past review found the restaurant and washroom uncomfortably hot.
Expect lemongrass. In the green curry, watch for whole lemongrass pieces, which one reviewer found easy to mistake for food.
Choose spice. If you enjoy heat, ask for the spicier dishes; one Indian diner singled out the Pad Thai for its bold flavour.
Plan the visit
Practical details
jlt cluster D Inside Streetery Food Hall by ZEN Dubai
Al Thanyah Fifth, Dubai
Common Concerns
Parking
Parking can be difficult; one diner waited 15 minutes to find a spot.
Restaurant heat
A past review reported broken AC, excessive heat inside and very hot washroom water.
Delivery delays
Delivery timing has been inconsistent, with one order taking two hours and arriving cold.
Order errors
A delivery review says Phad Phed Beef and BBQ Chicken were replaced with what looked like Red Curry Beef.
Small portions
One diner felt the quantity could be increased, after receiving the wrong fried-rice order.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
AED 260
a filling meal
“5 of us ate a filling meal, with good portions and enjoyed it for AED 260 ( approx $70) including VAT! I wish I had taken pictures of the food”Google review · October 2018
DXB
LOCAL
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The Bottom Line
Zen Restaurant is a Thai-led Asian spot in Barsha Heights with dine-in and takeaway. The reviews make it most appealing for Thai food with noticeable seasoning: Thai green curry, Pad Thai Noodles, BBQ chicken and fried rice all receive specific praise. The menu also covers other Asian cuisines, so it can work for a group that does not want the same thing.
The setting leans casual and street-food-inspired, with food-court-style decor rather than polished fine dining. Customers describe fresh, made-to-order food, friendly service and portions that can feed a group; five diners reported a filling meal for AED 260 including VAT. A Thailand-travelled reviewer said the green curry “hit the spot instantly,” which is a useful signal for Thai-food regulars.
There are practical caveats. Parking may take time, and one customer waited 15 minutes for a space. Older dine-in feedback reported a broken AC and intense heat, so check conditions before settling in.
Delivery has ranged from under 30 minutes in one long-term account to one or two hours in other reviews, with one late order arriving cold. For takeaway, check that the dishes match your order.