Bikanervala - Al Barsha 1

“I am a foodie. Correction — a Punjabi foodie. The kind who believes food has emotions, memories, and a strong opinion. While I happily flirt with World cuisines due to my hectic travels, my heart truly beats for Indian food in all its glorious diversity — Punjabi, Keralite, Chettinad, Gujarati, Malwani, Rajasthani, Bengali… you name it. I love cuisines that stay true to their roots especially in their taste, though I wdnt mind them evolving in presentatons. After days of festive indulgence in Christmas and New Year specials, my soul suddenly screamed for proper Cholley Bhature and Bedmi Poori — the real, unapologetic North Indian kind. Instead of my usual Bur Dubai hunt, I decided to stay closer to home. Destination: - Bikanerwala, Al Barsha We as Indians know this brand - A reputed brand, strong recall, and high expectations — breakfast seemed sorted. Thats what I thought. Joined by my wife, driver, and an empty stomach, high expectations and drooling desire, we ordered a decent spread. Sadly, the food didn’t quite match the brand promise. In a city like Dubai, where even average places try hard to impress, this experience landed firmly in the "below average" zone. Here’s my honest scorecard (out of 10): * Vada Pav: 3 * Samosa: 4 * Cholley Bhature: 4 * Bedmi Poori & Aloo: 3 * Sweet Lassi: 3 * Tea: 5 * Rasgulla: 7 (quite decent!) * Mathura Peda: 2 * Ambience: 5 * Service: 6 Overall Breakfast Experience: 4/10 For Dubai standards, a 4 is disappointing. Maybe my expectations for authentic North Indian taste are demanding — but then, that’s the point. So if you’re craving real Cholley Bhature or Bedmi Poori, you might want to rethink… and perhaps head back to the charming lanes of Bur Dubai instead.”