The best butter chicken in Dubai is the murgh makhani at Bombay Brasserie in the Taj — a silky, tomato-and-cream gravy with real depth. Punjab Grill runs it close at the fine-dining end, while Karachi Darbar in Karama serves a genuinely good version for around AED 25. Order it with garlic naan, never rice.
Butter chicken in Dubai at a glance
| Restaurant | Area | Price for two | Signature dish | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bombay Brasserie#1 | Business Bay (Taj Dubai) | AED 350 | Murgh makhani | ★★★★☆ 4.4 |
| Punjab Grill#2 | Downtown (Anantara) | AED 400 | Butter chicken | ★★★★★ 4.7 |
| Khadak#3 | Jumeirah (Al Wasl) | AED 220 | Butter chicken | ★★★★★ 4.7 |
| Carnival by Tresind#4 | DIFC | AED 300 | Butter chicken | ★★★★★ 4.6 |
| Indego by Vineet#5 | Dubai Marina (Grosvenor House) | AED 380 | Makhani | ★★★★☆ 4.5 |
| Karachi Darbar#6 | Karama (& branches) | AED 60 | Butter chicken | ★★★★☆ 3.8 |
Prices are our most recent in-person estimates for two people before drinks. Last verified July 2026.
Bombay Brasserie
The most complete butter chicken in Dubai. Inside the Taj at Business Bay, Bombay Brasserie’s murgh makhani (around AED 85) is balanced rather than sweet, the tandoori chicken smoky before it meets the gravy, finished with cream and kasuri methi.
The room is handsome and the service polished, so it doubles as a smart dinner. Order it with garlic naan and dal makhani. For the wider field see best Indian restaurants in Dubai.
Punjab Grill
The most refined version here. At Anantara Downtown, Punjab Grill plates a controlled, elegant butter chicken (around AED 95) — less rustic than Bombay Brasserie, more polished, with a smooth, glossy gravy.
It is a special-occasion Indian room with prices to match, so build a full meal around it. The 4.7 rating is among the highest for fine-dining Indian in the city. More options in the Downtown guide.
Khadak
A newer Al Wasl favourite that has quickly built a following. Khadak’s butter chicken (around AED 65) is deeply spiced and generous, in a casual, design-led room that skews younger than the hotel Indians.
It hits the sweet spot between quality and price — two eat well for around AED 220. Book on weekends, when the small room fills fast. A strong all-rounder for a relaxed dinner.
Carnival by Tresind
From the Tresind stable, Carnival in DIFC gives butter chicken a contemporary, slightly playful treatment (around AED 75) while keeping the gravy serious. It is modern Indian without abandoning the classic.
A good DIFC choice for a business lunch or a livelier dinner. Pair it with their inventive chaats. See the DIFC guide for more nearby.
Indego by Vineet
Vineet Bhatia’s Marina room brings a Michelin pedigree to the makhani (around AED 90). It is elegant and precise, the best butter chicken in the Marina–JBR stretch.
A polished choice with a Grosvenor House setting; book a table for a smart Marina dinner. More options along the water in the Dubai Marina guide.
Karachi Darbar
Proof you don’t need a hotel for good butter chicken. The Karama favourite plates a rich, satisfying version for around AED 25 — nowhere near Bombay Brasserie’s finesse, but remarkable value.
Order it with a butter naan and you’ve a full meal for two under AED 60. The everyday, no-occasion butter chicken. See more budget spots in best cheap eats in Dubai.
What makes butter chicken great: The gravy is the whole game — ripe tomato cooked down with butter and a touch of cream, balanced so it’s rich but not sweet, with tandoor-charred chicken folded in at the end. If it tastes like ketchup-and-sugar, it’s a bad one. Best mopped with garlic naan; a good kitchen will finish it with a swirl of cream and a scatter of kasuri methi (dried fenugreek).
Where to eat butter chicken in Dubai
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best butter chicken in Dubai?
Bombay Brasserie at the Taj in Business Bay serves the best overall butter chicken (murgh makhani) in Dubai. Punjab Grill at Anantara Downtown is the best fine-dining version, and Karachi Darbar in Karama is the best budget pick at around AED 25 a plate.
What is the difference between butter chicken and murgh makhani?
They are the same dish. 'Murgh makhani' is the Hindi name (murgh = chicken, makhani = buttery), created at Moti Mahal in Delhi in the 1950s. Menus in Dubai use both names interchangeably.
How much does butter chicken cost in Dubai?
A plate runs from about AED 25 at budget Karama spots to AED 95 at fine-dining hotels. Two people typically spend AED 60 at a casual restaurant and AED 300–400 at a hotel Indian including naan, dal and drinks.
Should I eat butter chicken with rice or naan?
Naan — ideally garlic or butter naan — is the traditional pairing, as the bread is made for scooping the rich gravy. Jeera rice works too, but a good garlic naan is the classic order.
Is butter chicken spicy?
No, butter chicken is one of the mildest North Indian curries. The gravy is rich and mildly sweet-savoury from tomato, butter and cream rather than chilli-hot, which is part of why it's such a popular introduction to Indian food.
Related Guides
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