The Best Shawarma Places in Dubai

Shawarma makes for a very popular snack to take on the go so naturally, Dubai has plenty of joints serving up this amazing snack. They have all sorts of varieties too so no one gets left out!

As one of the best street foods here in Dubai, you’ll want to experience the absolute best places offering only the most mouthwatering selections!

No matter where you choose to have your shawarma wrap in, we’re pretty sure any of these places should serve up a delicious serving. So come on, let’s check them out here!

Trying Out the Best Shawarmas in Dubai

Al Mallah Caféteria

An excellent location meets a long and storied history when it comes to Al Mallah. It’s one of Dubai’s longest standing restaurants, having been serving excellent food since 1979!

Quite an impressive feat given the competitive nature of the restaurant business. As such, we think that record alone definitely means they’re on to something special here.

The restaurant aims to serve good, authentic Lebanese food in Dubai while also incorporating fast turnaround times to ensure your order arrives fast and arrives hot. Yum!

Of course, an immediate standout in the cafe would be their chicken shawarma. It’s a very delicious meal that’s seasoned just right and topped with a signature garlic sauce drizzled on top to keep you coming back for more.

Aside from that mouth-watering chicken-based offering, Al Mallah also serves up some nice, nutritional fare in the form of their salads and other vegetable dishes. For example, their falafel is just as good as any other popular joint in town.

For appetisers, we also recommend giving their homemade hummus a try, especially when paired with their smoky, sauteed beef tenderloin; the paprika really highlighting that hot flavour as you dig in.

And if you want to share the greatness of their Lebanese cuisine to friends and family? Try out their catering services here in Dubai as well as it even grants you the chance to tailor the menu based on what your guests want.

Shawarma prices vary a lot, starting at AED 10 for a basic wrap all the way to AED 45 for a plated course. So it’s quite affordable too, especially if you just need something to snack on while heading out somewhere.

How to Get to Al Mallah Caféteria

Visitors hoping to dine at Al Mallah may first start at the Galleria Mall. Walking to Jumeirah, Post Office 2 to reach the Al Ghubaiba Bus Station, they may take a bus from there to the Satwa Post Office. 

After that, simply walk eight minutes to the Al Dhiyafa Rd., where Al Mallah is located near Thumbay Pharmacy.

Things to Do around Al Mallah Céfeteria

Right away, there’s a number of things to check out near Al Mallah. For one, there’s shopping malls like the Al Hanaa Centre for when you need to get some shopping done.

Just down the street is the Diva Gents Salon, offering good hair services and cuts for men looking for a nice confidence boost with a makeover. 

A little further down 6 B street and you can turn left at the 13th to reach the Al Hudaiba Public Park. It’s a nice, open space for you to just relax or take a walk with a pet whenever you need to de-stress during your stay in Dubai.

Antar Café

Antar Café makes for an affordable joint when it comes to different savoury snacks here in Dubai. In our opinion, they do make for a good ‘safe’ option should you find yourself craving for some shawarma while travelling with friends or family.

For one, they have a slightly ‘friendlier’ menu as they do carry all sorts of burgers and sausage sandwiches in addition to their shawarma offerings. It gives those who may not like shawarma some options.

But of course, their shawarma is something really special. They use their ‘nachoos’ special flour tortilla, allowing the whole wrap to have some kick when you bite into their juicy beef or chicken slices.

We also like how you get a good number of sides to choose from to pair with your chosen main course. These can range from fries, onion rings, wedges, and even crunchy nuggets.

Vegetarians aren’t left behind as well as the restaurant does serve a vegetable wrap made with fresh tomatoes and greens. There’s also a falafel wrap in case you need the crunch to go along with your healthy snack.

Once you’re done with your meal, you also get a decent selection of fruit juices like pineapple, pomegranate, orange, and even sweet melon. These drinks are all quite refreshing and are exactly what we need to cool off during a hot day.

Prices are quite decent, starting at around AED 20 for a wrap with all the best fillings. We definitely recommend those in the area to come check them out.

How to Get to Antar Café

Visitors starting at the Al Manara Tower will first have to walk to the EXPO Metro Station at Business Bay. 

From Business Bay, they may take a train going to the Equiti Metro Station 2 before walking to the Equiti Metro Bus Stop Seaside and taking a bus at the Al Wasl Road, going to Wasl, Road 7-2. 

Jumeirah Antar Cafeteria is only a five minute walk from there.

Things to Do around Antar Café

Antar Café Jumeirah has some really nice activities to check out before or after you’re done eating. For one, it’s just a couple of walks away from the Jumeirah Beach for those who want to take a dip and cool off in the water.

Those with kids may also enjoy the Splash ‘n’ Party Waterpark. They can have fun with all sorts of small pools, slides, and even bungee jumping though it may be best to visit before eating at the café.

Otherwise, you can also head down to the Kite Beach to have fun flying kites so you don’t need to risk churning your stomach. Wouldn’t want to lose all that yummy shawarma after all.

Café Beirut

Though they’ve only opened their doors at the start of 2022, Café Beirut is slowly rising to become one of our most favourite Lebanese joints here in Dubai.

The restaurant seeks to evoke an old-school kind of feel, with their ornate arabesque lanterns and use of plant decorations around the dining area. There’s plenty of natural light though, which lends the place a comfortable feel.

Food is kept simple and traditional as the staff explained. There’s no fancy fusion dishes to be found here; just good, authentic food made with fresh ingredients.

Shawarma comes in three varieties here: beef, chicken, or mixed meat, depending on your preference. These are all paired with a wrap that was toasted just right and the garlic sauce drizzled on without overpowering the meat and vegetables underneath.

Aside from shawarma, the grill also produces other types of grilled proteins, including lamb cutlets. These cuts are quite pricier than the wrap but the taste is quite amazing.

There’s salads for vegetarian diners, all made as fresh as possible. We also recommend their delightfully creamy hummus a try, either as a dip or even to eat on its own.

It’s definitely a refreshing experience, even with all the smoky grilled fare. Service is quite snappy and the staff were all knowledgeable when it comes to suggesting food that we should try.

Prices start at around AED 50 for their shawarma, reaching up to AED 100 for their more expensive lamb cutlets. Overall, these simple traditional dishes done right makes Café Beirut one of the best spots in Dubai for some good shawarma.

How to Get to Café Beirut

Starting from the Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel, visitors hoping to go to Cafe Beirut may first go to the Centre Point Shopping Centre, where they can wait for a bus at the Business Bay Metro Bus Stop Landside. 

Taking a bus to the Dubai Mall, they need only cross over to Al Murooj Complex, which is directly opposite the mall, where they can then find Cafe Beirut.

Things to Do around Café Beirut

Do you feel like you ate too much last time? There’s plenty of exercise and fitness facilities the next block over such as TRAIN Strength and Fitness where you can burn those extra calories.

You’re also in close proximity to Dubai Mall, specifically the Dubai Mall Fashion Avenue. Here, you can browse for new outfits and accessories after lunch if you want to walk around a bit.

The Address is also close by in case you’re looking for a place to stay that’s right near the bustling downtown Dubai area. It’s a bit pricey but the accommodations are very good.

Kris Kros Lebanon

Kris Kros Lebanon looks to offer an authentic Lebanese street food experience here in Dubai. As such, they’ve kept their offerings as simple and authentic as possible, making it easy for customers to choose.

The space is quite warm, possessing a nice earthy quality thanks to the wooden decor and warm colours used. The dining area is reasonably bright as well, without being too overwhelming.

Food is affordable and service is quite prompt at this Lebanese joint. There’s a good number of hot and cold appetisers and salads to whet your appetite.

As for their shawarma, they only serve beef and chicken varieties. Still, their meat is cooked beautifully and these wraps already come as a complete meal with fries and coleslaw included.

It definitely makes for a more substantial meal. We think it’s worth the price increase over a single wrap order without being a very expensive option here in Dubai.

Of course, if you’re still hungry then you can get this shawarma as part of a mixed grill platter. You can even throw in some skewers with the meal to make it a lot more substantial, especially if you intend on sharing.

We also recommend checking out their mini bites as well. Their deep fried cheesy and crunchy goods make for some enjoyable munching while you’re walking to your next destination.

Prices start at just AED 3 for their mini bites, reaching up to AED 150 for a sharing platter made up of different grilled meats. Kris Kros Lebanon is sure to delight crowds of all sizes so we recommend giving them a try!

How to Get to Kris Kros Lebanon

Visitors can first start from the Dubai Mall. Taking a bus at the Dubai Mall, they may ride 45 minutes to the Mall of Emirates Bus Station 3 at Umm Suqaym. 

After that, they may take a taxi riding directly to the Nakheel Mall, where Kris Kros Lebanon is located on the first level.

Things to Do around Kris Kros Lebanon

Though it’s best to experience before you chow down on your shawarma, Trampo Extreme at the Nakheel Mall is an amazing family entertainment centre to just have fun bouncing around.

You can also go down a bit further to sign up for the Premium Desert Safari tour. You won’t experience it right away though but it’s one of the best ways to experience the more challenging lands of Dubai.

Of course, there’s also nothing wrong with just relaxing at the Nakheel Mall and checking out the different stores and spas in the premises. It’s up to you at the end of the day.

Aroos Damascus

Whether you want to munch on Levant cuisine indoors or have a nice snack out on the terrace in order to enjoy the breeze and the afternoon sun, then Aroos Damascus is the place for you.

This huge restaurant spans across the ground floor of the Green Palace hotel, allowing them to accommodate a lot of diners. No need to worry about missing out on a spot here!

As for the food, you can start with a solid selection of hot and cold mezze. Their hummus is quite flavourful and smooth while those who wish to warm up their stomach can enjoy a good selection of soups.

After that, we can now move on to their main event: the grilled meats and steaks. Their Mexican-style shawarma dish is very good, giving you the choice to use either beef or chicken as well as adding hummus into the mix.

Their steaks are delicious and we definitely recommend ordering their steak Aroos Damascus if you still have room for more in your stomach. Otherwise, there’s also Tikka chicken and eggplant kebab for the vegetarians.

Before the meal is over, do get some fresh juices to wash down your spice-laden meal or you can opt for some Arabic ice cream for dessert which we highly recommend.

Shawarma starts at AED 40 to AED 45 if you’re ordering it with hummus while their grilled meats selection are slightly pricier at AED 60 to AED 70.

Still, we do find the food and venue to be good value for money and you definitely can’t go wrong by having your lunch here at the Aroos Damascus.

How to Get to Aroos Damascus

Visitors starting from Villa Rotana may first walk over to Safa, Terminus – 01, where they can find the Satwa Bus Station. 

Taking a bus to the Al Jafiliya Bus Station – 05, they may then transfer over to the Gold Souq Bus Station from the Al Jafiliya Landside Metro Bus Stop –  1 to take a ride to Muraqqabat, Police Sttion 2 – 01. 

The Dream Palace Hotel is just a three minute walk away, with the restaurant being opposite of it, near the Al Safeer Hypermarket.

Things to Do around Aroos Damascus

Set in a more urban part of town, you’ll usually find a lot of shopping malls within the proximity of Aroos Damascus. Those with kids may enjoy a short detour near Toys 4 Less in case the kids want to check for something new.

Go down a little bit further and you should reach the Dhow Wharfage where you can see the iconic water vessels docked at the harbour. You can even catch a tour on one of these if they’re not too busy.

You can also pay the Deira Clocktower a visit if you like. While it’s not as big as something like the Burj Khalifa, this impressive piece of architecture does make for an impressive sight in the place as well.

Al Safadi

Right out of the gate, Al Safadi restaurant is sure to catch most prospective diner’s eyes. The restaurant is beautiful, with the predominantly white decor and metallic accents giving off a premium feel.

As such, it’s no surprise to see the place bustling with customers from all over Dubai. You might actually have to wait a bit before you can get a seat especially in the evenings.

Right away, you can see people enjoying their shawarma and we don’t blame them. Their meat and mixed shawarma platters are very good, especially when paired with some fries and fresh vegetables.

You can also get platters that have hummus instead, making for a savoury and creamy combination here.

If you have room to spare, then we also recommend checking out their grilled meats and barbecue skewers. Their grilled chicken kebab pairs nicely with their hummus and vegetarians can also get eggplant kebab here in either mild or spicy variants.

Fans of underwater bounties will enjoy the selection of fish, lobster, and calamari while sweet tooth customers get pudding, fresh fruit, Halawet el Jebben, and cheese Kunafah.

Prices range between AED 40 to AED 80 for their platters, and you can expect to spend around AED 200 or more for a nice meal for two people.

We definitely recommend putting Al Safadi on your bucket list next time you have the cravings for hot meat that’s fresh off the grill.

How to Get to Al Safadi

Travelers may first start at Namshi HQ, located on Sheikh Zayed Road. From there, they may either take a bus from Gold Souq Bus Station or from the Ghubaiba Bus Station that rides towards the Al Jafiliya Landside Metro Bus Stop – 1. 

Then they can wait for a bus at the Dubai Mall. Riding after Zabeel – 01, they may then walk nine minutes to Al Kawakeb Building, where Al Safadi is located.

Things to Do around Al Safadi

Being right at the tip of The Palm allows visitors eating at Al Safadi access to all sorts of fun attractions and sights. For example, you simply need to walk for some time to get to the Palm Jumeirah Boardwalk, taking in the seaside breeze as you stroll.

Or if you want to really pump up that energy before you settle down for a meal, then feel free to pay the Aquaventure Waterpark a visit. Have fun checking out the different slides and attractions before settling down for a nice, hot meal.

Otherwise, you can just chill at the Aquaventure Beach. It’s best to visit this a bit earlier in the day though, as seating is a bit limited in order to keep the place more manageable.

Zaroob

As we’ve taken a look at a lot of authentic Levantine dishes, it’s also time to look at something a bit more contemporary. Enter Zaroob around the Palm Jumeirah area.

Don’t get us wrong, this place still pays good homage to its traditional, Lebanese roots. While the restaurant does have a more modern interior, you can enjoy a nice show thanks to their live grilling station.

And of course, they do abide by the golden rule of using fresh, quality ingredients for all of the dishes they serve in the restaurant.

In addition to their beef and chicken shawarma offerings, you may also want to give their “Impossible Shawarma” a try. This plant-based alternative is wrapped in traditional fresh Lebanese flatbread as well as fresh vegetables.

Not bad for a more “healthy” offering for vegans and the health-conscious right?

Otherwise, there’s no harm going with the original offerings. You can also choose how to eat it whether as a wrap, a platter, or served in a rice bowl.

You may also want to give their manakeesh alley a try, especially if you like cheese. There’s a number of options to choose from or you can go big with Zaroob’s mixed cheese manakeesh.

Drinks are quite good as well, with a number of fresh fruit selections and some mocktails in case you want a bit more buzz for the night.

Shawarma starts at AED 13 up to AED 40 for the bigger platters served with sides. We definitely recommend going for these should you find yourself really hungry.

How to Get to Zaroob

Starting from the Dubai Mall, Zaroob is only a train ride away. From the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station, visitors may take a train to the Financial Centre Station, where Jumeirah Tower Building is only a seven minute walk away. 

Zaroob itself is located on the ground floor.

Things to Do around Zaroob

Those with an eye for luxury accommodations may want to check out the nearby Ritz-Carlton as well as its different amenities. The Ritz-Carlton Spa is a very refreshing stop to check out when you want to relax after a long trip or work day.

You can also take a walk around the Al Satwa Park if you just want a refreshing atmosphere while walking with a friend or a pet. It’s quite wide and you might even spot a few people exercising or playing in the area.

Check out the nearby Museum of the Future as well. We think both kids and adults will enjoy all of the technology and innovations exhibited in this unique looking establishment.

FAQs about Shawarma

Got any more questions about this amazing snack? We’ve gathered some of the most common ones here for you to read up on:

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Shawarma is just one of the many delicious and popular snacks to enjoy here in Dubai. Despite that, many establishments are able to provide their own spin on it, whether it’s through the meat or the tortilla they used; a testament to the city’s creativity.

So if you ever find yourself hungry in Dubai then don’t fret! There’s plenty of different local specialties to try out, regardless of what kind of local or international cuisine you’re craving for.