Craving Pakistani food near me in UAE? Maybe it’s a plate of biryani, a bowl of Friday nihari, or a box of fresh jalebi. Whatever it is, the Emirates almost certainly serve it, because Pakistanis make up one of the country’s largest communities.
This guide works dish by dish. First, it shows where people go for each favourite. Then it covers sweets, street food, groceries and delivery. Finally, it explains how to send food and gifts to family in Peshawar.
Quick answer: For biryani, try Student Biryani or Pak Lyari. For nihari and halwa puri, try B&B Cricket Bar (Dubai), Lahore Garden Grill (Abu Dhabi) or Najmat Lahore (Sharjah). For chapli kabab, try Wakha or Al Ashiyah. For sweets, try Mann O Salwa. For delivery, search “Pakistani” on Talabat, Deliveroo, Careem or Noon Food.
Please note: These names come from public guides by Gulf News, Khaleej Times and Bayut. Menus, branches and timings change, so please confirm with the restaurant or app before ordering. Zarrasha is not linked with any place listed and does not deliver in the UAE.
Pakistani Food Near Me in UAE: Dish Finder
| Dish | Where guides point you | Emirate |
|---|---|---|
| Biryani | Student Biryani, Pak Lyari, Kabab Bazar, Delhi Nihari | Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah |
| Nihari & paya | B&B Cricket Bar, Lahore Garden Grill, Nemat Qadah | Dubai, Abu Dhabi |
| Karahi & handi | Wakha, Nayaab Haandi, Al Ibrahimi | Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi |
| Chapli kabab | Wakha, Al Ashiyah Cafeteria | Dubai, Sharjah |
| BBQ & tikka | Bar B Q Tonight, Tikka Tonight, Kabab Karachi | Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah |
| Halwa puri | B&B Cricket Bar, Lahore Garden Grill, Najmat Lahore | Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah |
| Sweets & chaat | Mann O Salwa, Qasar Al Qasimia | Abu Dhabi, Sharjah |
| Street food | Spinzer, Kabab Karachi, Chutney | Dubai, Sharjah |
Biryani: The UAE’s Favourite Pakistani Dish
Biryani is the dish most people search for first. Karachi-style biryani is spicy, with potatoes, fried onions and tender meat. In contrast, Lahori and Hyderabadi styles taste milder.
Where to look for biryani
- Student Biryani: branches in Dubai (Al Barsha, Al Nahda, Karama) and Abu Dhabi (Al Markaziya)
- Pak Lyari (Meena Bazaar, Dubai): mutton and chicken biryani
- Kabab Bazar (Corniche Road, Sharjah): mutton biryani
- Delhi Nihari (Al Nahda, Sharjah): mutton biryani
Prefer milder rice? Kabuli pulao is a gentler choice. To see how the two compare, read qabili pulao vs biryani.
Nihari, Haleem and Paya: Slow-Cooked Classics
These dishes cook for hours. As a result, they’re rich, soft and full of flavour. Most people eat them with hot naan, ginger and a squeeze of lemon.
Where guides point you
- B&B Cricket Bar (Oud Metha, Motor City, Dubai): nihari
- Lahore Garden Grill (Mussafah Shabiya, Abu Dhabi): nihari and paya
- Nemat Qadah (Madinat Zayed, Abu Dhabi): nihari and haleem
- Al Ibrahimi (Abu Dhabi): haleem and paya
- Student Biryani (Abu Dhabi): nihari and haleem
Tip: Nihari often sells out by late morning on Fridays. So, go early or order the night before where you can.
Karahi and Handi
Karahi cooks quickly in a wok-shaped pan with tomatoes, green chillies and ginger. Handi, on the other hand, is creamier and slower.
Where to look
- Wakha (Al Barsha, Al Nahda, Dubai): Shinwari karahi, Peshawar-style
- Nayaab Haandi (Al Majaz, Sharjah): chicken handi
- Kabab Bazar (Sharjah): chicken handi with butter naan
- Lahore Garden Grill (Abu Dhabi): murgh karahi
Curious how Peshawari and Lahori karahi differ? See our Peshawari vs Lahori karahi guide. Or, cook it yourself with our chicken karahi recipe.
Chapli Kabab and Peshawari Flavours
Chapli kabab is Peshawar’s most famous street food. It’s a flat, spiced mince patty fried until crisp. Naturally, Pashtun-run kitchens in the UAE serve some of the best versions.
Where guides point you
- Wakha (Dubai): chapli kabab, chops, Afghani pulao
- Al Ashiyah Cafeteria (Bu Tina, Sharjah): chapli kabab, including an egg-filled version
- Lahore Garden Grill (Abu Dhabi): chapli kabab
Want to make it at home? Try our chapli kabab recipe.
BBQ, Tikka and Kababs
Pakistani BBQ is perfect for groups. Typically, a platter brings seekh kabab, chicken tikka, malai boti and reshmi kabab together.
Where to look
- Bar B Q Tonight (Al Hudaiba, Dubai): reshmi kabab, malai tikka, shami kabab
- Tikka Tonight (Mussafah, Abu Dhabi): lamb chops, malai boti
- Kabab Karachi (Al Nahda, Sharjah): chicken and beef BBQ
- The Kebab Shop (several Dubai areas): seekh kabab, kabab masala
Halwa Puri Breakfast
Weekend halwa puri is a ritual for many Pakistani families in the UAE. The plate usually includes puri, sweet suji halwa, chana and achaar.
Breakfast spots guides mention
- B&B Cricket Bar (Dubai)
- Lahore Garden Grill (Abu Dhabi), Friday breakfast
- Nemat Qadah (Abu Dhabi)
- Najmat Lahore (Al Mareija, Sharjah)
- Boti Street (near WTC Mall, Abu Dhabi), known for breakfast
Pakistani Street Food and Snacks
Sometimes you just want something quick. Fortunately, the UAE has plenty of desi snack spots.
Popular street-food picks
- Bun kabab and rolls: Spinzer (Dubai), Kabab Karachi (Sharjah)
- Parathas and rolls: Chutney (Al Mujarrah, Sharjah)
- Samosa chaat and aloo cholay: Mann O Salwa (Abu Dhabi)
- Gola ganda and rabri: Qasar Al Qasimia (Al Nud, Sharjah)
Pakistani Sweets (Mithai) in the UAE
No desi meal ends without something sweet. Likewise, Eid and weddings call for full boxes of mithai.
Where to look for sweets
- Mann O Salwa (Muroor Road; sweet shops in Mussafah): ras malai, jalebi
- Pak Lyari (Dubai): zafrani kheer
- Bar B Q Tonight (Dubai): gulab jamun, shahi halwa
- Pakwaan Foods (Abu Dhabi): kheer, shahi tukray
Pakistani Groceries and Home Cooking
Many families prefer to cook at home. Large hypermarkets and local supermarkets in the UAE usually stock popular Pakistani brands of spice mixes, rice, pickles and snacks. In addition, small “Pakistani grocery” shops in areas like Karama, Al Nahda and Mussafah carry harder-to-find items.
Tip: Search Google Maps for “Pakistani grocery” plus your area. Then check recent reviews before you visit.
For home-cooking ideas, try our Kabuli pulao recipe.
How to Order Pakistani Food Online in the UAE
Ordering online is often the fastest way to get Pakistani food near you. Here’s a simple routine:
- Open a delivery app such as Talabat, Deliveroo, Careem or Noon Food.
- Search “Pakistani” or a dish name, like “nihari” or “biryani.”
- Filter by rating and distance, then read the newest reviews.
- Check the menu and delivery time before you pay.
- Call the restaurant for large orders, such as party biryani or BBQ trays.
Is Pakistani Food in the UAE Halal?
Halal is the norm across UAE restaurants, and meat in the country falls under national halal rules. Still, suppliers and menus vary. So, if you need certainty, ask the restaurant directly. This is general information, not a religious ruling.
Want a Full Restaurant List?
This page is about dishes. For restaurants grouped by emirate, see our guide to finding a Pakistani restaurant in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. If you live in Britain, read Pakistani food near me in the UK instead.
Miss Home Food? Send It to Family in Peshawar
Many readers in the UAE have parents and siblings in Peshawar. Zarrasha delivers food, groceries and gifts across Peshawar. That means you can send a real home-style meal from Dubai.
What you can send to Peshawar
- Meals through food delivery in Peshawar, including pulao, karahi and BBQ
- Groceries through grocery delivery in Peshawar
- Cakes from our bakery and cakes section
- Flowers and chocolate gift boxes
For step-by-step help, read how to send gifts to Peshawar from the UAE. Zarrasha also delivers gifts in Islamabad.
Order on the Zarrasha app: Download from Google Play
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find Pakistani food near me in UAE?
Dubai’s Karama, Al Barsha, Al Nahda and Deira have the most choice. In Abu Dhabi, try Al Markaziya and Mussafah. In Sharjah, look around Al Majaz and Al Nahda.
Where can I get Pakistani biryani in Dubai?
Student Biryani and Pak Lyari are popular choices. Check recent reviews for the branch nearest you.
Where can I get nihari in the UAE?
Guides mention B&B Cricket Bar in Dubai, plus Lahore Garden Grill and Nemat Qadah in Abu Dhabi.
Where can I find chapli kabab in Dubai or Sharjah?
Wakha in Dubai and Al Ashiyah Cafeteria in Sharjah are often recommended.
Can I order Pakistani food online in the UAE?
Yes. Search “Pakistani” on Talabat, Deliveroo, Careem or Noon Food.
Where can I buy Pakistani sweets in the UAE?
Mann O Salwa in Abu Dhabi is a well-known name. Many desi restaurants also serve kheer and gulab jamun.
Can I send Pakistani food to my family in Peshawar from the UAE?
Yes. Zarrasha delivers food, groceries and gifts across Peshawar. Order through the app or on WhatsApp.
