Shakshuka has had its global moment — poached eggs in tomato sauce is now on brunch menus from New York to Tokyo. But if you've only had the Israeli or generic café version, you haven't tasted what shakshuka can truly be. Libyan shakshuka is richer (thanks to a longer-cooked, more reduced sauce), more complex (layered with roasted peppers, harissa, and North African spice blends), and often more substantial (with merguez sausage, lamb mince, or even entire lamb chops cooked in the sauce). This is the shakshuka that could change your breakfast forever. Dubai has several places that do it properly.
Libyan vs Other Shakshuka Styles
🇱🇾 Libyan Shakshuka
- Sauce cooked for 45–60 minutes (deeply reduced)
- Multiple types of pepper (roasted, fresh, dried)
- Harissa adds smoky North African heat
- Often includes merguez, lamb mince, or chops
- Cumin, caraway seed, paprika in the base
- Served in a traditional clay or heavy pan
- Thick sesame bread (khubz) essential alongside
- Eggs often more set (less runny) than other versions
🌍 Other Shakshuka Styles
- Israeli: Lighter, quicker, runny eggs, feta or labneh
- Tunisian: Merguez-heavy, often with capers and olives
- Egyptian: Spicier, with optional kofta meatballs
- Turkish (menemen): Scrambled rather than poached style
- Café version: Usually just eggs, tomato, and cumin — the minimum
The Libyan Shakshuka Variations
Most Popular
Shakshuka bil Merguez
Spiced lamb sausage slices cooked in the tomato-pepper sauce before the eggs are added. The merguez fat enriches the sauce, making it deeply savoury and glossy. The best version in Dubai.
AED 55–75
Traditional
Classic Shakshuka
The pure version — just roasted peppers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, harissa, cumin, and eggs. The sauce is cooked until almost caramelised before the eggs go in. Vegetarian-friendly.
AED 38–55
Most Substantial
Shakshuka bil Laham
Minced lamb cooked into the tomato sauce, making it more like a meat ragu with eggs. Incredibly filling — this is a full meal that will keep you going until dinner. Rare but extraordinary.
AED 65–85
Less Common
Green Shakshuka (Bayd bi Rikhla)
Made with spinach, fresh herbs (parsley, coriander), and green peppers instead of tomato. A completely different dish — lighter, verdant, slightly bitter. Served at celebration breakfasts in Libya.
AED 45–62
The Best Libyan Shakshuka in Dubai — Ranked
🥇 #1 — Best Overall
Zahr El-Laymoun — Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah
Zahr El-Laymoun's Libyan shakshuka bil merguez is the definitive Dubai version of this dish. The sauce is made from three types of pepper — roasted red, fresh green, and dried chilli — simmered with tomatoes and harissa for 50 minutes until it reaches a thick, jammy consistency that coats the back of a spoon. Three plump eggs are nestled in at the end, cooked until the whites are just set and the yolks still move when the pan is shaken. The merguez sausage is sliced in thick rounds, pan-seared first to get a crust, then nestled into the sauce. It's served in the pan it was cooked in, with a stack of warm sesame bread and a small bowl of harissa.
The garden terrace here is one of Jumeirah's best outdoor dining spaces — on a cool winter morning, this shakshuka with mint tea is one of Dubai's great breakfast experiences.
The garden terrace here is one of Jumeirah's best outdoor dining spaces — on a cool winter morning, this shakshuka with mint tea is one of Dubai's great breakfast experiences.
Must order: Shakshuka bil merguez (AED 68), sesame bread (AED 18, included), mint tea (AED 22). Ask for harissa extra hot. · Book a table →
🥈 #2 — Best Authentic Experience
Beirut Restaurant — Al Rigga, Deira
Less polished than Zahr El-Laymoun, but more authentic — Beirut Restaurant's shakshuka is made exactly as it would be in Tripoli. The sauce has a slightly rougher texture (hand-chopped rather than blended peppers), the harissa heat is genuinely assertive, and the eggs are cooked longer — the Libyan preference for more set yolks is respected here. The merguez version is outstanding. The bread is made in-house. The price is a fraction of Jumeirah equivalents. This is where Dubai's Libyan community eats shakshuka on weekend mornings.
Must order: Classic shakshuka (AED 42) or merguez version (AED 52), fresh bread (AED 8), sweet Libyan tea (AED 12). Cash only.
🥉 #3 — Best Value
Al Khaima — Al Karama
The best value shakshuka in Dubai by a considerable margin. Al Khaima's version is a pure, classic Libyan shakshuka — no merguez variants, just perfectly executed eggs in spiced tomato and pepper sauce. The clay pot serving vessel keeps it hot throughout the meal. The bread is excellent and the price, at AED 38 for a portion that generously serves two with bread, is extraordinary. A humble Al Karama institution that deserves more recognition from Dubai's wider food community.
Must order: Shakshuka bil bayd (AED 38), freshly baked bread (AED 6), harissa side (AED 8), mint tea (AED 10). Best value breakfast in Dubai.
What to Order Alongside Shakshuka
The Perfect Libyan Shakshuka Accompaniments
Sesame Flatbread (Khubz Simsim)
Essential. Thick, slightly chewy sesame-studded flatbread for scooping. Always included or available for AED 8–15. No cutlery required or recommended.
AED 8–15
Harissa on the Side
Most restaurants already include harissa in the shakshuka sauce. Request an extra bowl if you want to control your own heat level. A small bowl of plain harissa costs AED 8–12 if ordered separately.
AED 8–12
Libyan Mint Tea
Sweet, strong, heavily mint-infused green tea poured from height into small glasses. The traditional accompaniment to any Libyan breakfast. The sweetness balances the shakshuka's heat perfectly.
AED 10–22
Labneh & Olive Oil
A side of strained yoghurt with a drizzle of good olive oil and dukkah provides a cooling counterpoint to the spiced shakshuka. Not strictly Libyan but served at most Dubai North African restaurants.
AED 18–28
Libyan Date Pastries (Makroudh)
Semolina pastries filled with date paste and fried or baked — the sweet ending to a Libyan breakfast. Found at Beirut Restaurant and Desert Rose Café. Worth saving room for.
AED 15–25
Shakshuka Questions Answered
Is Libyan shakshuka very spicy?
More so than Israeli or Egyptian versions. The harissa adds genuine heat, but it's a slow-building warmth rather than immediate fire. Most Dubai Libyan restaurants calibrate the heat for a mixed audience — you can always ask for extra harissa. The classic version (without merguez or lamb) is usually milder than the meat-enhanced versions.
Can I get vegetarian Libyan shakshuka in Dubai?
Yes — the classic shakshuka (without merguez or meat) is naturally vegetarian. The sauce at most North African restaurants is made with vegetable-based ingredients. Ask for it without meat and specify no chicken stock in the sauce if you're strictly vegetarian.
What time do Libyan restaurants in Dubai serve shakshuka?
Shakshuka is primarily a breakfast and brunch dish in Libyan culture. Most North African restaurants in Dubai serve it from 7–8am until early afternoon (around 2–3pm). Zahr El-Laymoun on Al Wasl Road has the longest shakshuka service hours — available from 8am until late afternoon on weekends.
How many eggs does a shakshuka typically have?
A standard Libyan shakshuka in Dubai is made with 3–4 eggs in the sauce. Some restaurants serve it with 2 eggs for a lighter portion at a lower price. You can always request additional eggs (usually AED 5–8 extra per egg). For two people sharing, one shakshuka with 4 eggs plus bread is usually enough.