Al Mallah
8.3Friend Score / 10#4 of 19 Restaurants in Dubai
Known forchicken shawarmafalafelmanakishza'atar manakish
Satwa's legendary Lebanese street-food joint on 2nd December Street (Al Dhiyafah Road), slinging what many locals call Dubai's best chicken shawarma since 1979 — plus fresh juices and crispy falafel, at kerbside plastic tables under neon. Open around the clock. Caveat: it's roadside dining with traffic noise; that's the point.
Key facts
| Hours | Daily 00:00–23:59 |
|---|---|
| Price | $ |
| Phone | — |
| Website | — |
| Nearest transit | World Trade Centre Metro Station (Red Line), ~20 min walk; short taxi from anywhere central |
| Time needed | 30-45 minutes |
| Best time to go | After 10pm, when the shawarma spits are fresh-loaded and Satwa's street life peaks |
| Last verified | July 12, 2026 |
Friend Score
8.3/10- Value9.0
- iconic7.5
- Freshness9.2
- Crowd level6.5
- Authenticity9.0
- Accessibility7.0
Frequently asked questions
- Where exactly is Al Mallah?
- On Al Dhiyafah Road — officially 2nd December Street — in Satwa, one of Dubai's last proper old-school neighbourhoods. Look for the green neon and the pavement tables; you'll smell the grills before you see it.
- Is Al Mallah open 24 hours?
- Effectively yes — it runs around the clock, and it's busiest well after 10pm. If you land on a red-eye and want your first Dubai meal at 2am, this is the answer.
- How much does a meal at Al Mallah cost?
- Very little — shawarmas are pocket change and even a proper spread of shawarma, falafel, hummus and juice for two stays comfortably under AED 50-60. It's one of Dubai's great cheap eats.
- Al Mallah vs other Satwa shawarma spots — which is best?
- The eternal Satwa debate. Al Mallah is the famous one and the safest first stop; rivals on the same strip have their partisans. Honestly, do a crawl — shawarmas are cheap enough to compare two or three in one night.
- What should I order at Al Mallah?
- The chicken shawarma, heavy on the garlicky toum — that's the order that made the place famous. Add a fresh juice cocktail and a plate of falafel and you've had the definitive Dubai street meal for the price of a mall coffee.
- Does Al Mallah have seating?
- Yes — kerbside tables on the pavement, which is exactly how you should eat here, watching Satwa roll by. There's simple indoor seating too if it's peak summer.
- Is Al Mallah halal and does it serve alcohol?
- It's halal and there's no alcohol — this is a juice-and-shawarma house. The fresh fruit cocktails (try anything with avocado) are the local pairing.
- How do I get to Al Mallah without a car?
- It's a short, cheap taxi from Downtown, DIFC or Jumeirah. The nearest metro is World Trade Centre, about a 20-minute walk — doable in winter evenings, sweaty in summer.
Nearby in Ask Dubai
- Etihad MuseumMuseum0.41 km · 5 min walk
- Ravi RestaurantRestaurant0.62 km · 8 min walk
- Al SatwaNeighborhood0.65 km · 8 min walk
- The Sum of UsCafé1.02 km · 13 min walk
- Jumeirah MosqueAttraction1.05 km · 13 min walk
Where to stay near Al Mallah
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