The 5 Best Restaurants for Mandi in Dubai
Unbeknownst to a large portion of the world, Yemen and its surrounding regions have created one of the most delicious staple dishes in the world and we feel that it is an injustice not to let everyone know about Mandi.
Fortunately, this big plate of rice and meat mixed with spices is quite popular here in Dubai thanks to it being so near Yemen, so we have quite several restaurants that serve authentic Mandi.
So we went and tried out some of the most recommended spots in the city to give you Dubai’s best restaurants for Mandi.
How We Picked Dubai’s Best Restaurants for Mandi
Before we get right into our list of Dubai’s best restaurants for Mandi, here are the factors we considered for our entries on this list:
1. Mandi Time

Criteria | Rating |
Authenticity | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Menu | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Service Quality | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Ambiance | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Mandi Time Dubai offers a truly authentic and delightful Mandi experience, captivating the senses with its exceptional flavors heavily inspired by traditional Yemeni recipes.
Using time-honored techniques and authentic ingredients, its Mandi consists of tender and succulent meat that is perfectly seasoned with a blend of aromatic spices and made even more fragrant with basmati rice.
However, its flavors are only reminiscent of the authentic flavors found in Yemen, because it is also noticeable that certain elements are slightly adjusted to cater to a wider audience.
We also think that the menu could also use a wider selection of appetizers and vegetarian options to cater to different tastes and dietary preferences. Despite that, what it has on the menu is already amazing.
When it comes to its customer service, its staff is generally attentive and friendly with adequate knowledge about the menu to recommend us some amazing dishes.
However, during peak hours, the service became a bit slow, which lead to delays and a less attentive experience for us.
As for the ambiance at Mandi Time, the rustic decor, traditional Arabic motifs, and cozy seating arrangement exudes a charming and relaxed atmosphere.
We love how ideal it is for gathering with family and friends while immersing ourselves in the Arabian culture over a memorable Yemeni meal.
Pros
- Mandi is based on authentic Yemeni recipes
- Overall strong menu offerings
- Attentive and friendly staff
- Relaxed and rustic Arabian ambiance
Cons
- Mandi’s flavors have been altered for a wider audience
- The menu lacks appetizers and vegan options
- Service slows down when it gets busy
Customer Reviews
Always fresh and yummy as usual
“Always fresh and yummy as usual” —Noman Gillani, Google Reviews
This place is our mandi constant for years
“This place is our mandi constant for years. Love their service price and quality.” —Maha, Zomato
2. Al Marhabani

Criteria | Rating |
Authenticity | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Menu | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Service Quality | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Ambiance | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Offering an exquisite dining experience, Al Marhabani excels in capturing the true essence of Yemeni cuisine with its well-rounded Mandi dining experience.
The Mandi dishes served here remain true to their Yemeni roots, with tender meat that is expertly seasoned and cooked to perfection.
We love how every time we take a spoonful of chicken and basmati rice, the flavors evoke an authentic taste of Yemen, showcasing the restaurant’s commitment to preserving the true essence of the dish.
The menu at Al Marhabani offers a decent selection of Mandi options, including both lamb and chicken.
However, we think that it could use a bit more selections when it comes to side dishes because we realized that as the meal went on it started to get monotonous with just the Mandi and a few grilled meats.
As for customer service, we love the fact that the staff is knowledgeable about the menu and readily provided recommendations to enhance our first dining experience there.
On top of that, we love that the restaurant really took the time to make the space accessible for those in a wheelchair!
The ambiance is just as notable. Its cozy seating arrangements, warm lighting, and traditional Yemeni-inspired decor create a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere.
However, the acoustics of the building creates a very noisy and bustling environment that comes out during peak hours.
Pros
- Serves authentic Yemeni Mandi
- Knowledgable staff
- A cozy and warm ambiance
Cons
- The menu needs more side dishes
- It can get noisy and bustling during peak hours
Customer Reviews
Fave place especially when I have friends who are new to Dubai.
“Fave place especially when I have friends who are new to Dubai. Upstairs if u come as a group u can ask to dine inside a “tent” and have Mandi the traditional way. It’s a good experience for tourists and the food is great without breaking the bank. We used to go to the Hamriya branch but this one is closer now to our current house so it’s our new go-to.” – Florence Ferdinelli, Google Reviews
One of the best places in all of Dubai for Yemeni and Saudi dishes
“One of the best places in all of Dubai for Yemeni and Saudi dishes. You are welcomed by very friendly staff and given the option of traditional floor seating or standard table seating. They then take your order and everything on their menu is phenomenal. It depends on what flavors your taste buds are craving check with your server to decide whether you want Mandi, Mathbi, Kabsa, or Bukhari (they are all equally delicious – depending on your taste buds). Each portion is enough for two people. Along with our meal, we usually order a salad (fattoush) and cucumber yogurt. They provide a free garden salad and unlimited chutneys for the dishes (mild or spicy). The best way to eat the food is with your hands. You can use cutlery if you prefer.” – Kunaal K, Google Reviews
3. Wadi Doan Restaurant

Criteria | Rating |
Authenticity | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Menu | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Service Quality | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Ambiance | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
If you’re looking for a great lamb Mandi, Wadi Doan cooks up a mean Madfoon lamb with rashosh bread that is tender and infused with the aroma of Arabian spices.
Authenticity is a highlight at Wadi Doan Restaurant. The flavors reflect the authentic taste of Mandi, we were transported to Yemen with each bite that we took.
We enjoyed the rich and aromatic dishes that we ordered because they sincerely showcased the restaurant’s commitment to authenticity.
The menu at Al Marhabani offers a wide variety of Mandi options, including lamb, chicken, and seafood, catering to different preferences.
The menu also extends to include appetizers, salads, and beverages, providing a well-rounded dining experience. We love how we can choose from an array of choices that suit our varying tastes.
The service that we experienced was excellent. The kitchen cooked our food according to our requests and the waiters got our dishes to our table at such a quick pace.
On top of that, Wadi Doan does not skimp on the portions. We made a mental note to order half servings of the Mandi for when we come back.
However, the ambiance is its actual problem. The seating arrangement in the restaurant is so close to each other, that we could not leave our chairs without bumping into the back of another customer.
Pros
- Authentic Mandi dishes
- A holistic and well-rounded menu
- Excellent quick service
Cons
- The seating arrangements were too close to each other
Customer Reviews
This place serves the best Haneeth
“This place serves the best Haneeth. I have been a fan of Haneeth just cause of this place. They serve great Madfoon & Zurbian too. The service is great and quick. A good portion of food along with sides. Even tried their bread with dates & honey which is good too. The place is spacious and has a separate family section. Love the ribs Haneeth 💯” – Asfiya Shaikh, Google Reviews
Best Mandi in Dubai
“Best Mandi in Dubai, the best location to come for mandi in Dubai. Hanith ribs are really good and the grilled Hamour. The service is great and you will feel very comfortable to eat the way you like. 100% recommend this place for people that like traditional Mandi.” – Ashish Tharoor, Google Reviews
4. Bait Al Malaky Mandi

Criteria | Rating |
Authenticity | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Menu | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Service Quality | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
Ambiance | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
If the meat is what keeps you coming back to eating Mandi, we can relate to that, but we also recommend to you the Bait Al Malaky Mandi in Sharjah.
This Yemeni restaurant serves our favorite Madfoon Chicken Mandi which is cooked meticulously slowly where the chicken is wrapped in aluminum foil and placed in a pit before being covered in scorching coal.
The result is meat that falls off the bone at the slightest touch, and the flavor is infused with spices, and it has that incomparable smokiness that can only be achieved through the Madfoon style of cooking. This is as authentic as it can get.
However, it is brought down by the fact that it only exclusively serves Mandi and beverages. The lack of variety during our dining experience made it quite monotonous in terms of flavor and texture.
We would have loved to have seen some side dishes that we can include alongside our Mandi, or even simple desserts just to finish out our meal.
We also found the service to be a weak point. While the staff got our food onto our table pretty quickly, we also quickly realized that portions of our Mandi were cold, or not cooked fresh.
On top of that, we had trouble ordering and sending a complaint because the waiter that we got only spoke in Arabic.
Pros
- Tender and succulent meat
- Unique Yemeni style of cooking Mandi
- Beautifully decorated space
Cons
- The menu lacks other items outside of Mandi
- Some staff only speak Arabic
- Portions of the Mandi were served cold
Customer Reviews
Best Mandi restaurant.
“Best Mandi restaurant. Meat is really well cooked soft and succulent. You will love the taste of all types of Mandi. And what’s more, you get great value if you order through smiles.” – 661sonu, Google Reviews
Good ambiance, the food was nice and the portion was really good enough
“Been to this place with family, very good ambiance, food was really nice and the portion was really good enough.
Ordered:
1 Chicken Madhbi – AED 22
1 Chicken Zurbian – AED 25
Quantity – too much
Price – very reasonable
Quality – perfect
Ambiance – nice and big sizes of room
It’s a must-visit place for mandi lovers.
They also have a very nice menu with Afghan food, I saw it later on when I was paying my bill. Next time I gonna order from that menu because I am sure it’s worth it” – Zain ul Abdin, Google Reviews
5. Al Yemen Mandi

Criteria | Rating |
Authenticity | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Menu | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Service Quality | ★★☆☆☆ (2/5) |
Ambiance | ★★☆☆☆ (2/5) |
If you want the real deal sans the fanciness of a restaurant, Al Yemen Mandi’s chicken Mandi is the best on its menu, pair it with its huge piece of mulawah bread, and you have yourselves a winning meal.
On top of being such an affordable option, Al Yemen Mandi’s recipes are hundred percent authentic Yemeni.
Every step of its cooking process stays true to its roots, and the meat is painstakingly cooked slowly for that tender and juicy result that only time can achieve.
It also has a great menu that offers sweets, sides, salads, and qulabats that offer a well-rounded dining experience. Although it could use a bit more appetizers as a point for improvement.
When it comes to its service, we feel like there is a lot to improve. We understand that it is a legacy restaurant, but our dining experience could have been improved so much more if our waiter was just a little bit friendlier.
On top of that, he didn’t show much knowledge about the menu and just recommended the restaurant’s bestsellers instead of suggesting something the table would like.
The ambiance is understandably not better either. While it certainly has its own charm, the restaurant’s space is small, crowded, and definitely noisy during peak hours.
Pros
- Serves authentic Yemeni Mandi
- Well-rounded menu
Cons
- Unfriendly service
- Noisy and tight restaurant space
Customer Reviews
What’s not to love?
“Wonderful Mandi. Cooked to perfection. Passionate staff eager to bring food quickly and courteously. Paperless menu (QR code). Dessert with multiple options. Cleanest tables I’ve ever seen in a mandi restaurant (since the food is very greasy it’s not an easy job). Opens late in Ramadan until 4:30 am. What not to love?” – Wisam Safi, Google Reviews
Wow. One of the best Mandis ever had in my life
“Wow. One of the best mandis ever had in my life. The taste was very excellent and the way they cooked the meat was awesome. Must try… Mutton mandi (rib piece) and also their special grape juice.” – Manmoji 81, Google Reviews
FAQs about Mandi in Dubai
We hope this helped you find your favorite restaurant for Mandi in Dubai. Also, if you’re looking for more restaurant recommendations, then check out these articles: