Pakistani Cuisine
Pakistani Food in Dubai: What to Order and Which Neighbourhoods Serve It
Karahi, nihari, biryani and paya, and the parts of Deira, Karama and Satwa where you will find them
Karahi, nihari, biryani and paya, and the parts of Deira, Karama and Satwa where you will find them
Pakistani food in Dubai is easiest to find in three older neighbourhoods: Deira, Karama and Al Satwa. Order karahi to share, nihari or paya for breakfast, and Karachi-style biryani for a quick lunch. The food is generally halal, portions are generous, and cafeteria-style places are among the cheaper sit-down meals in the city.
Dubai has a large Pakistani community, and its restaurants cook mainly for that audience, so flavours stay close to what you would eat in Lahore or Karachi. Menus cover Punjabi karahi and dal, Karachi biryani, Pashtun-style grilled meat and Lahori breakfast dishes. This page explains the dishes and where to find them. For our shortlist of individual restaurants, see the best Pakistani restaurants in Dubai.
| Dish | What it is | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Karahi (chicken or mutton) | Meat cooked fast in a wok-shaped karahi with tomato, ginger, garlic and green chilli. Thick, concentrated sauce, scooped up with naan. Usually shared. | Deira (Al Muteena), Satwa, Karama |
| Nihari | Beef or mutton slow-cooked overnight in a spiced gravy, finished with ginger, green chilli and lemon. A Lahori and Karachi breakfast dish; often sells out by late morning. | Deira and Karama cafeterias; ask locally |
| Biryani | Rice layered with spiced meat. Karachi-style biryani is spicier and often includes potato. Served with raita. | Karama |
| Haleem | Wheat, lentils and meat cooked down to a thick, smooth porridge, topped with fried onion, ginger and lemon. Most common during Ramadan. | Deira, Karama, Ramadan menus |
| Paya | Slow-cooked trotters in a thin, spiced broth. A weekend breakfast dish, eaten with naan. | Early-morning Deira cafeterias |
| Seekh kebab and tikka | Minced or cubed meat on skewers, cooked in the tandoor or over charcoal. Served with onion, chutney and naan. | Satwa, Deira, Karama |
| Dal | Lentils in several styles. Dal fry and daal mash are staples and a good vegetarian order. | Every Pakistani cafeteria |
| Naan, roti and paratha | Breads ordered separately, usually per piece. Naan comes from the tandoor; paratha is layered and pan-fried. | Everywhere |
| Lassi and doodh patti | Lassi is a sweet or salted yoghurt drink. Doodh patti is strong tea brewed in milk. | Everywhere |
Karahi, nihari and haleem are the dishes that set Pakistani menus apart from Indian ones in Dubai. If you only try one thing, make it a mutton or chicken karahi with fresh naan.
Al Muteena, Naif and Al Rigga have a dense cluster of Pakistani cafeterias. This is where to look for karahi cooked to order (Butt Karahi, a Lahore name, has a branch in Al Muteena) and for early-morning nihari and paya. Settings are basic. See our Deira restaurant guide for more of the area.
Karama mixes Pakistani and Indian cafeterias around the shopping complex. Student Biryani, the Karachi brand, has a branch here, and Ravi has a Karama outlet. It works well combined with shopping. Our Karama food guide covers the wider mix.
Satwa is home to Ravi Restaurant, open since 1978 and the best-known Pakistani restaurant in Dubai. Order karahi, dal and kebabs. Evenings and weekends are busiest.
Pakistani grills and curries also appear on menus in Bur Dubai and Jumeirah, where sit-down restaurants such as Lal Qila offer a smarter setting.
On a tight budget? See cheap Pakistani food in Dubai for tourists. Planning the whole trip? Start with our Dubai guide for Pakistani travellers.
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