Delicious & surprisingly affordable fare at Nayaab Haandi

Not very long ago, the Pakistani fine dining scene in Dubai wasn’t quite prevalent. The cuisine was rather limited to male dominant corner shops (often with an exclusive family room) covered in aroma of nihari and kadai laden with oil. But while they still exist in every other street in this city, Pakistani cuisine has also opened up to the idea of an elegant ambience, where families, friends and groups can dine alike, all in a comfortable, relaxed and comparatively luxurious setting. Nayaab Haandi is rightfully leading that revolution.

With big spacious interiors that house a few private dining amenities, as well as cosy corners for big groups, the restaurant offers best-in-class Pakistani cuisine at affordable prices.

Giving you a choice between ala carte and buffet, their menu spans across mixed grills, classic naans, a variety of curries, and of course their signature handi. Needless to say, they pride on their selection of different biryani and pulav preparations, and their buffet menu also showcases quite a few Chinese inclusions like noodles and fried rice.

If you aren’t already tempted, read on as I take you through my experience at this classy restaurant.

Mocktails

One of the best things about Nayaab Haandi is their extensive selection of mocktails. Their drinks counter is lined up with a gazillion bottles of syrups, offering almost any and every flavor you could possible imagine.

We chose to try their Blue Passion and Raspberry Peach flavored mocktails. Presented in mason jars, which has pretty moved on from being a trend to a norm these days, the mocktails were both garnished with slices of lemon, ice cubes and fruit pieces.

Not sure if it’s the syrup itself or added sugar, but I found the drinks to be a little too sweet for my taste. If you prefer them sweet, then go all out with these,. Or else ask the staff if this can be toned down a little.

Cheese Naan

There couldn’t be anything more creamier than this cheese naan from Nayaab Haandi. This isn’t your regular cheese naan though. It’s filled with a velvety mix of diced veggies and cheesy mayo, giving you a sort of coleslaw feel, albeit a creamy one.

Priced at only AED 15 this ‘almost like a mini pizza’ is definitely a steal. And with so much quantity, which I conveniently packed and brought back home with me, my morning tea is totally sorted.

Would you get yourself one of these?

Chapli Kebab

Have you ever seen a Chapli Kebab so beautiful? This one from Nayaab Haandi not only looks tempting but lives up to its classic spicy street styled taste too.

Made with ground minced meat, this portion of Chapli Kebab costs only AED 16, making it quite an affordable choice. And trust me, whether you have it as is or pair it with some hot Afghani naan, it will suffice for an entire meal.

Chicken Handi

There’s always one stand-out dish at every restaurant that is destined to make a mark. The signature Chicken Handi is exactly that. Probably named after the dish, Nayaab Handi offers this spicy curry with three variants – chicken, mutton and fish. We obviously chose chicken.

What makes it so appealing is they prepare this bestseller in an actual earthen pot – Handi. And this is served hot with a generous garnish of those spicy green chillies on top. The interesting part: the taste of this dish is constant throughout all its branches. Having tried the Handi multiple times at their Sharjah branch, I was really hoping this one would turn out the same way. And it did. I loved it so much, I ate it for dinner that night, lunch next day, and dinner next day too!

And don’t miss that shield-like Afghani naan. Baked fresh and warm, this one makes the perfect accompaniment to the Handi. Tip: Have it while it’s hot!

Mixed Grills

Who doesn’t love a platter full of mixed grills? Well, based on my Insta Story poll, about 13% don’t, but that’s not the point.

This perfectly balanced mixed grill platter Nayaab Haandi is good enough for 4 people. I say balanced because it’s got a little of everything – right from chicken malai boti and seekh kebab to lamb chops and even fish tikka.

Ideally titled Economy meal, this one costs only AED 85. That is certainly economical, whether you share it between 2 or 4.

My favorite from these were the chicken and mutton seekh kebabs. What’s your favorite grill item?

Buffet Spread

Love these mini bites? I do too.

Head over to Nayaab Haandi for their buffet dinner and enjoy these mini samosas and fish fingers. All this along with an extensive variety of Pakistani, Afghani and Chinese dishes.

While we were way too stuffed with the starters, grills and mains to try anything off the buffet spread Nayaab Haandi (except for those mini bites), it wouldn’t be fair to not shed some light on the variety they offer at a very economical price.

For only AED 57 per person on weekdays and AED 68 per person on weekends, you can feast (literally) on a wide selection of Pakistani, Afghani and Chinese dishes.

These include classics like Pulav, Biryani, Nihari and Haleem along with chaat, salads, kebabs. Then there are desi and not so desi desserts like gulab jamoon, gajar halwa, ras malai, kheer, and, ok you get the idea.

Have you tried this restaurant yet? This buffet is not one to be missed.

Nayaab Haandi

Location: Ground Level, Al Ghazal Mall, 2nd of December Street, Satwa, Dubai
Contact: 04 2753052

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