Ravi Restaurant

How Ravi became a Satwa favourite

Ravi opened when Satwa was still a sandy neighbourhood of workshops and lorries. The original Satwa branch is the one people mean when they recommend it, although a newer fine-dining offshoot has since opened on Sheikh Zayed Road. The area around it is good for a walk past tailors and fabric shops, and it is a short taxi ride from Downtown Dubai or Jumeirah.

Mutton peshawari, daal fry and other Pakistani dishes

The food is straightforward Pakistani and Punjabi cooking. Regulars name mutton peshawari, daal fry and chicken achari most often. Chicken biryani, chicken tikka, karahi with fresh naan, grilled kebabs and simple curries fill out the menu. Breakfast brings nihari and halwa poori, the latter mostly on Friday and Saturday mornings. A karahi shared with naan and a sweet lassi is a typical order for two.

Pavement seating, fast service and low prices

The setting is basic, with plain tables inside and seating on the pavement outside. Service is fast. A 2022 Associated Press report put the average meal at about US$7, so expect a little more now. Ravi is usually busy, and at peak times there is a short wait for a table; reservations are not needed. Food is also sold to take away. Phone +971 4 331 5353. The long hours make it a reliable choice after a late flight.

Founder, Bourdain and a pair of trainers

Chaudary Abdul Hameed opened Ravi in 1978 to serve better food to the working class, and the first regulars were South Asian construction workers. Emiratis and expats from the West and Asia followed. Anthony Bourdain featured it in a 2010 television series, which put it on the tourist map, and Snoop Dogg came a few years later. Adidas later released a limited green-and-white "Superstar Ravi" trainer carrying the restaurant's name and opening year. The founder's son Waseem Abdul Hameed works as operations manager. Expect plastic chairs, metal tables and neon light; chicken biryani, chicken tikka, daal and naan are what the place is known for.

Sources: Associated Press via KTVZ: Popular Pakistani restaurant stands test of time in Dubai. Facts checked November 2026.