The 5 Best BBQ Restaurants in Dubai
Are you craving for some tender, mouth-watering dishes to satisfy your palate? Well, you might want to check out the smoky and savoury flavours of the best BBQ restaurants in Dubai.
Whether you’re after a delicious brisket, or perhaps some smoked chicken, it’s nice to know the best places to hang. To help you with this, we’ve gathered a list of the best BBQ restaurants in Dubai here:
How Much Does it Cost to Eat at a BBQ Restaurant in Dubai
The prices of menu items will vary from place to place. Check out the table below to see how much you can expect to spend when eating at a BBQ restaurant here:
Choosing the Best BBQ Restaurants in Dubai
When it comes to choosing the best BBQ restaurants in Dubai, we’ve taken a look at the following factors:
1. Barbeque Nation Dubai
| RATING | |
| FACILITIES | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| SERVICE | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| ⮕FOOD | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| ⮕AMBIANCE | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| ⮕PROFESSIONALISM | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| ⮕WAITING TIMES | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| ACCESSIBILITY | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Barbeque Nation is a very popular Indian BBQ restaurant. They have over 197 branches across India, Malaysia, Oman, and of course, the UAE.
The restaurant is known for its live-grilling feature, with every table having a grill so you can cook your food yourself. We think this is quite convenient as it allows customers to eat at their own pace.
Food is quite delicious, with satisfied diners praising most of the Indian-style dishes. We think their chicken in particular is quite good and doesn’t taste too dry at all.
Aside from Indian options like chicken masala, mutton handi, and grilled fish, they also serve some Chinese dishes on the live counter for customers looking for it.
Vegetarians don’t need to feel left out as well. The place serves some options like corn, paneer, mushrooms, and more if that’s what you’re looking for.
We should note that the place can be quite pricier than most other places. However, we think the variety and taste of the food makes it a good value for money.
Staff is also quite attentive and they are always responsive to customers asking for service or requests. They’re also quite clear when answering any questions we ask them.
Their place in Al Barsha is quite accessible. However, we do want to advise that parking is quite limited around the restaurant, requiring you to use RTA parking around the area.
Pros
- Delicious food options
- Good variety for vegetarian diners
Cons
- Limited parking space
- Food can be pricier compared to other areas
Customer Reviews
“Nice pleasant atmosphere all around but usually busy place”
“Taste of food is very nice, quality is good. Nice pleasant atmosphere all around but usually busy place. Service and staff is very friendly. Need a reservation before you arrive to avoid long waiting. No private parking from restaurant, but RTA paid parking available all around.” – Jaleel Taj
“The buffet spread was amazing and the grilled shrimp were delicious”
“It’s heaven for people who love grilled chicken. Shrimps and meat. Loved the concept of having a grill on your table. The buffet spread was amazing and the grilled shrimp were delicious.” – Goldwyn Cyrus
2. Hashmi Barbeque Restaurant
| RATING | |
| FACILITIES | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| SERVICE | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| ⮕FOOD | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| ⮕AMBIANCE | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| ⮕PROFESSIONALISM | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| ⮕WAITING TIMES | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| ACCESSIBILITY | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Having branched out from its original location in Nairobi, Kenya, Hashmi Barbeque is one of the top spots for African-style ‘Nyaa Choma’, a very flavourful BBQ.
Their food certainly lives up to the hype, offering savoury and smoky flavours in their chicken, beef, and even vegetable options. They also have other options like seafood and mutton if that’s what strikes your fancy.
In our opinion, they could expand their vegetarian options a bit more though. Their vegetarian-friendly options feel a bit limited since it’s mostly constrained to sides.
The dining establishment itself is quite nice. We think their decoration and lighting lends the place a very comfortable and relaxing ambiance while dining.
The seats are adequately spaced, giving groups enough room to move around. In our opinion, this makes them a good option for families and bigger friend groups.
We think the opening hours can be quite limited at times. There’s a couple of days when it’s only open in the afternoons up to the evenings and it’s also closed on Mondays.
Depending on your free time, it could be a bit challenging to make time to give the BBQ place a visit.
Still, their good food and ambiance do highlight them as one of the best places to eat out. So if you can find the time to visit the restaurant, we definitely recommend it.
Pros
- Delicious food options
- Spacious seating perfect for groups and families
Cons
- Opening hours can be quite limited
- Options aren’t as big as other places
Customer Reviews
“Food is very nice, the atmosphere is warm and comfortable and the staff are helpful”
“Food is very nice, the atmosphere is warm and comfortable and the staff are helpful. The restaurant itself is quite big so great for friends/family dining. The portion and quantities are appropriate. Just the option of food items is very limited (one page) if there would be more options it would’ve been nicer.” – Priyanjana Kumar
“Great hospitality buy aside from that this family run BBQ restaurant provides one of the most flavorful experience you’ll get”
“Honestly one of my favorite places to eat. I’d say I eat there at least once a week! Great hospitality buy aside from that this family run BBQ restaurant provides one of the most flavorful experience you’ll get. The chicken is chargrilled and honestly the taste is immense. Fries are exceptional!” – Irfan Azeem
3. Absolute Barbecues
| RATING | |
| FACILITIES | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| SERVICE | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| ⮕FOOD | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| ⮕AMBIANCE | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| ⮕PROFESSIONALISM | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| ⮕WAITING TIMES | ★★★★☆ (45) |
| ACCESSIBILITY | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Absolute Barbecues is a casual dining restaurant initially started in India. They have since expanded to the UAE back in 2014, bringing in some of the best barbecue flavours from their home country.
The restaurant is quite spacious, with enough accommodation to let the smoke from the grilling dissipate so that it doesn’t become too troublesome.
We think the tables are adequately spaced, letting customers focus on their own grilling experience. Atmosphere is decent though we did find the place heating up significantly as more customers come in.
Absolute Barbecue offers a DIY dining experience where diners will be brought their choice of meat, seafood, and vegetables to grill themselves on the live grill.
While it’s not a very unique concept, it does help with serving time in theory though we did encounter some wait time for the ingredients. In our opinion, this does make it an easier place to recommend for eaters who want their meats done a certain way.
We did find that reserving specific tables in the restaurants can be difficult over the phone. Some customers have reported needing to be seated at a different table in order to get into the restaurant.
Nonetheless, it is a very delicious gastronomical stop for those looking for different grilling experiences. Zomato Pro members can even get a discount for their orders so if that is you, then Absolute Barbecue is definitely a place to check out.
Pros
- Good vegetarian options
- Discount for Zomato Pro members
Cons
- Reserving specific tables can be challenging on busy days
- Significant wait time for some food items
Customer Reviews
“An Indian buffet worth trying while you are in Dubai”
“Great taste at amazing value. An Indian buffet worth trying while you are in Dubai. Very welcoming staff and Mr. Rahul gave an exceptional service along with Captain Abdul. Thank you so much for an amazing experience.” – Namrata Prakash
“Every time you would have a relishing dining experience with lovely atmosphere and great service”
“Visited this outlet many times for various occasions from birthdays to anniversaries, office dinners, business lunches. Every time you would have a relishing dining experience with lovely atmosphere and great service. They make make sure that your time is well spent and you go will happy memories and always feel like coming again.” – Varun Handa
4. Sumibiya Korean BBQ
| RATING | |
| FACILITIES | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| SERVICE | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| ⮕FOOD | ★★★☆☆ (3.5/5) |
| ⮕AMBIANCE | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| ⮕PROFESSIONALISM | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| ⮕WAITING TIMES | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| ACCESSIBILITY | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
For those looking for a ‘yakiniku-style’ dining experience, then Sumibiya is worth checking out. It bills itself as one of the first Korean ‘yakiniku-style’ style eateries in Dubai.
Guests can get their ingredients and grill it themselves on the table, creating a relaxed and casual experience for friends. They have individual tables and even semi-private booths, so guests can choose their comfort level.
Service is quite friendly and attentive as well. Staff are able to respond well to our requests and inquiries, helping us set up the grill and tables.
Food is quite mixed in terms of reception. On one hand, we did think that their food is quite good, with good portion size, flavours and options for meat, seafood, and vegetables.
However, it’s not an authentic Korean taste. We think the seasonings and marinades they use reminded us more of Indian and Arabic cuisine than Korean flavours.
For customers who are looking for an authentic Korean BBQ, this may not be the best place. If that isn’t a problem, then we think customers can still enjoy the communal experience and good portion sizes.
Ambiance and service is excellent too which is another point in its favour. In our opinion, the establishment is quite accessible, with valet parking making it convenient for customers.
So while it’s not the best for those looking for the most authentic Korean experience, it is still a good place to visit in terms of food options and atmosphere.
Pros
- Excellent and friendly service
- Valet parking is convenient
Cons
- Food isn’t completely authentic Korean
- Price can be quite expensive outside of certain promos and deals
Customer Reviews
“So many options and such great food coupled with the exceptional service”
“The staff at Sumibiya was extremely welcoming and the food was absolutely delicious! So many options and such great food coupled with the exceptional service definitely left me speechless. Excited to visit again.” – Qareena Nore
“Loved the food and ambience”
“Loved the food and ambience. All staffs are very accommodating especially to Ms. Flor who assisted us and making sure that everything is settled for us.” – Jennifer’s Crib
5. Hurricane’s Grill
| RATING | |
| FACILITIES | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| SERVICE | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| ⮕FOOD | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| ⮕AMBIANCE | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| ⮕PROFESSIONALISM | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| ⮕WAITING TIMES | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| ACCESSIBILITY | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Hurricane’s Grill is a famous spot in Australia for their steak, ribs, and burgers, and they’ve brought these flavours to the thriving city of Dubai.
We like the ambiance of this establishment with spacious floors and a good view of the greenery and fountains outside. We think noise levels are very good as well, and it’s still easy to talk to your companions while dining.
Food options are quite diverse, with heavy emphasis on their barbecue. In our opinion, their steaks and ribs are some of the best items to go for.
There is some wait time on the bigger items like the Lamb, but overall, we found this to be quite reasonable, given the flavours served on the plate.
For the price you spend, the portions offer value for your money. We have even seen some customers find the amount of sides they get to be quite plentiful, which does lead to some problems.
Hurricane’s Grill has partnered with the Entertainer App, letting members of that app avail of special deals like Buy One, Get One Free. We think this is good for people looking to treat a friend or to just have a good time.
However, their promotions are subject to strict rules and sharing your extra portions is generally not allowed.
We think customers should read up on all the details of their offer before committing to a big order. We suggest asking some of the professional staff at hand since they are very helpful.
Overall, their excellent food options, convenient location, and good portions makes Hurricane’s Grill a gastronomical delight to check out when visiting Dubai.
Pros
- Very good portions for the price
- Good savings when using the Entertainer App
Cons
- Sharing is not allowed under Buy One, Get One Free
- Waiting times for some food can be long
Customer Reviews
“Very generous side salad and rich with ingredients”
“The place and the staff are very welcoming. The food variety is vast. The portions are huge which makes the prices acceptable. Very generous side salad and rich with ingredients. Kids meal are almost the same size as an adult portion, and the amount of fries on the size is unbelievable. I really recommend this place. Delicious.” – Joelle
“Popular location so do have to wait a little for a table but food portions are very large and filling plenty of chips which you can take away with you if you are too full”
“Great atmosphere and very friendly staff. Popular location so do have to wait a little for a table but food portions are very large and filling plenty of chips which you can take away with you if you are too full. Even a lovely unique starter of popcorn to share while waiting for the food. Views out on the fountains are stunning. Would recommend for a date night.” – Angharad Hill
FAQs about BBQ and BBQ Restaurants in Dubai
We hope you enjoy your tender and smoky barbecue! And if you’re interested in a communal dining experience and different flavours, check out our list of the best Korean restaurants in Dubai.