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    Cafe Dubai

    4.6 (42 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Order Cafe Dubai Takeout or Delivery

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    Business Info

    CAFE DUBAI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Dubai

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    Vibe
    Philip W.

    The air is over perfumed and the music track was a bit loud. Thankfully food smells took over when the food came to the table. Kefka beef was good, but needed more seasoning and needed a dash of salt, but it's good. The chicken kebab was amazing. Hummus was ok, although heavy on the olive oil. Pita bread was great. I liked the baba ganoush and I'm not usuallya fan. Prices are a great value, a plate of food was only 12$. Parking lot is in the back, and dimly lit at night. The strawberry dessert with Dubai chocolate goo and chocolate spread was overly sweet, and $20, but large enough for 2 to share. Service was attentive and friendly.

    Angela M.

    We started with the warm fresh bread, hummus, and baba ghanouj--and let's just say, they did not come to play. Rich, flavorful, and dangerously easy to keep "just one more bite"-ing until it's suddenly gone. Everything was fresh, bold, perfectly balanced spice--no notes overall? Easily a repeat spot. Good vibes, great food, and plates that disappear way too fast. I'll definitely be back.

    Dubai Strawberries

    The food here was so good! Really good and chill ambiance. The server was really sweet too. They make everything to order so the food was fresh.

    Veronica Pagán B.

    So this place is such a hidden gem! We passed by it and would've never thought to stop until I came across the reviews! Wow! We turned around and went back and I'm so glad we did! We ordered the arrayas as an appetizer, 10/10! The beef and lamb combo was rich in flavor, great blend in spices, super crispy pita on the outside to balance the juicy grease from the meat, so good! We also ordered the royal feast which came with shrimp, chicken, kefta, falafel, beef schwarma, and all entrees are served with rice, Jerusalem salad, pita, hummus, and baba ghanoush. The shrimp was 8/10, nicely seasoned, pinch overcooked, great flavor. Falafel 8/10, nice and crispy, well seasoned, could've used a bit more flavor but it was nice. Kefta 9/10, excellent flavor and texture. Could've used a little more fat content in the meat but the flavor was amazing! Chicken 8/10, good flavor, juicy, well seasoned. Beef 5/10, was not what I was expecting. It was a bit tough and overcooked, was more like beef strips you would find in tacos. Rice 10/10!! That was some of the best rice ever! I could eat that all day! It's like rice-a-roni all grown up! Perfectly cooked rice with toasted vermicelli, excellent! Hummus/baba ghanoush 10/10! These were both insanely delicious! I wanted more! Lots more! Excellent smooth and mild flavors. The hummus was so creamy, the pita was toasty, it was so good! And far as the ambiance, it is giving a bit too much Versace for my taste but the food is what I was there for. The dining area is very small and next store, as in through a curtain, is a smoke shop. They do have outdoor dining also and their service was great. I did have sticker shock though when our receipt says $5 each for Topo Chico!!! That's crazy! (And NOT posted on the menu) Anyway, all-in-all I'm so glad we are here, I'd love to go back!

    Jo M.

    Cafe Dubai is hidden gem on S. Flores. The Turkish Coffee, combination plate (chicken, kefta, shawarma), hummus, rice, pita, and Jerusalem salad are a must try. Great pick by a fellow foodie. Take a brick box of Dubai chocolate to share for dessert. Great idea by one of my other fellow foodie buddies. It's a humble area of town, but the restaurant is clean. There's construction in the area, but it's worth the trip. Tip: There's no parking in the front, but there's parking in the back.

    Jen H.

    A small restaurant with solid food. It's a bit pricey for the quantity, and they skimp on the dips (even though it's included). If you're in a pinch and happen to be in the area, this is a great spot for Mediterranean food. It is a little sketchy at night in this area, so just be aware of your surroundings if you're coming after dark. There is ample parking in the back of the building. Service is very friendly and prompt.

    Lion's Bowl
    Linda C.

    Our waitress was sweet, and efficient. I had the Lion's Bowl and my husband had the beef Shawarma. The Hummus and Baba Ghanouj was served first, with warm triangles of pita and cold delicious hummus and Baba Ghanouj. The Lions bowl was huge, with grilled curried chicken, wonderful warm rice and cold tomatoes and cucumbers, topped with yogurt dressing (reasonably priced at $10.49!). The Shawarma was amazing, and the portion size was very generous($13.99). We both had more than we could finish. Definitely worth a visit. Highly recommend and we will come again next time we visit San Antonio!

    Joyce K.

    I went on a Saturday evening. The restaurant was full. It took a while to get someone to the table maybe because I joined my friends who were already there. My friend already ordered the falafel. So far these are the best falafel in my opinion in town. I ordered the chicken skewer which comes with hummus and baba ghannouj. I mean you will never find the most authentic Lebanese or middle eastern food in this town... it is close enough. I like the prayers playing in the background and the ambiance of a full family over 30 people chit chatting and having a great time Be careful though parking in the back and walking to the restaurant it is a little sketchy area of town

    Lion's Bowl and  Arrayas meal

    The food was so good and super friendly staff .. it was my first time here and I will definitely be returning

    Entrance
    Beatriz P.

    This place was so good. Don't let the location scare you , as they say don't judge a book by its cover! The food was so good! You have to try it and the owner was kind.

    Our empty dishes of the Royal feast! Wonderful server!
    Tanya S.

    Wow! Great Mediterranean food! Our server was excellent! She explained each dish, and even offered a sauce that she thought we might like. Garlic sauce is a must. We ordered the Royal Feast. It was enough for two. The decor was super lovely with a gold a black theme. We then ordered a chocolate strawberry dessert that was not overly sweet, but simply decadent. Excellent, excellent, excellent! We will be back for more.

    Jennifer D.

    A friend recommended this restaurant. I absolutely love food from Dubai and was excited to try. My husband and I ordered a bit of everything. It was so good I didn't even have the opportunity to take a photo. We will definitely make it back soon. I took a Dubai Chocolate togo, I can see the hype now!! Great Service and Great Food.

    Gyro

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    1 month ago

    Food,service and ambulance is great! Friendly employees. Looking forward to going back again.

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    3 months ago

    Great food and a friendly owner! Ask him about the origins of their recipes. Get some apps they were all good.

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    10 months ago

    we stopped by for lunch and amazing service and food. I'm so happy it's on the south side

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Cafe Dubai

    Is it owned by someone of Emirati descent? I'd love to support if so!! Please let me know asap!!!

    Yes, we spoke with Lion, one of the chefs and owners, If you look up Cafe Dubai San Antonio on TikTok you'll find a video where the son and father are interviewied.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Ladino

    Ladino

    4.3
    (352 reviews)
    3.5 mi
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    Had a fantastic dinner at Ladino. Everything we ordered was delicious, especially the fire roasted…read morecorn, shishbarak, and the Saganaki. The pita was incredible and worth ordering. I also had the spicy passionfruit mezcal cocktail (The Prophet), which was excellent. The service was friendly and welcoming from everyone we interacted with, and the staff even called us right away when we accidentally left something at our table. Bonus points for easy free street parking nearby and a great location for walking around the Pearl before dinner. Great food, great value, and we'll definitely be back.

    I finally relented and ate here with my wife (I'm not a huge fan of Mediterranean food). However, I…read morewas pleasantly surprised and would definitely go back. We went on a Wednesday, and the place seemed pretty empty. The hostess acted like she may not be able to seat us without a reservation. We ended up seated inside, but even on a Wednesday...this place filled up FAST. I can see why the hostess hesitated. Right out of the gate our server recommended the Mezas De Algeria ($65pp), which I wasn't super thrilled about. She then said if we chose to do our own thing, she recommended six dishes and they serve them family style. I guess the food, depending on what you order may take a while to come out, but being told how much to order was off-putting. We eventually went with the Hummus (absolute must do!), the Shishbarak (order this even before the hummus...it's that good!), Pork Souvlaki, and the Saffron Chicken. We had plenty of food and took some home. The food is absolutely AMAZING. Service trailed off toward the end, unfortunately, and a HUGE table of 12-15 people right in the center of the restaurant marred our dinner. I understand large parties, but this place is small and the NOISE from this party made it difficult to carry on a conversation. Really dinged the experience. I wish restaurants put more thought into whether they SHOULD - not CAN/COULD accommodate parties that large. Please think of other patrons. Overall: I'd definitely go back, but I'm wary about those kinds of prices...

    Photos
    Upstairs Bar while we waited
    Upstairs Bar while we waited
    Wagyu Denver steak
    Wagyu Denver steak
    An excellent Greek wine that paired well with out choices.

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    An excellent Greek wine that paired well with out choices.
    Tripoli's

    Tripoli's

    4.0
    (297 reviews)
    14.6 mi
    $$

    Some restaurants feed you. Tripoli's transports you. From…read morethe moment you walk in, the space does something to you -- warm lighting, tufted banquettes, burgundy velvet chairs with gold legs, and a ceiling panel with intricate geometric lattice work straight out of a Moroccan riad. It doesn't feel like a strip mall restaurant. It feels intentional. The pastry case alone deserves its own review. Piped butter cookies, rose-dotted squares dusted with cardamom, delicate filled rolls -- it's the kind of display that makes you order dessert before you've even sat down. And then the food. The chicken shawarma bowl is not playing around -- seasoned chicken, kalamata olives, crumbled feta, creamy garlic sauce over a bed of greens, finished with cracked pepper. Every bite is layered and bold. The kind of meal that makes you pause mid-fork and just appreciate it. What sets Tripoli's apart isn't just the food or the ambiance. It's that the whole experience feels curated. Like someone who actually loves this culture built this place and meant every single detail. San Antonio has been sleeping on this gem. Wake up!!

    The place is very nicely decorated, good ambiance, good seating. Service was slow but they are…read moreminimally staffed, so come with patience! Food was really good, we both got bowls and took 1/2 home. Good flavor to the food and the pita bread is nothing special, just pita bread but still good, it comes with 4 quarters. We also had the Za'taar wings for an appetizer. They were good and freshly cooked, it comes with 6. A little sweet. We also got dessert to go and the portion is small but hopefully flavor makes up for size. Over all I would return to try other plates.

    Photos
    Tripoli's
    Tripoli's
    Moroccan Mint Tea

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    Moroccan Mint Tea

    Cafe Dubai - mideastern - Updated July 2026

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