Zarzoor Kabab Al Iraqi Cafeteria is a popular Iraqi kabab house in Al Majaz, Sharjah. It’s one of the few Iraqi restaurants which does NOT have Masgûf on its menu. My food adventurer companion, Sheikh Mansoor and I therefore stuck to what it is famous for – kebabs and lamb chops. We ordered Iraqi Kebab (minced), Tikka Meat and Lamb Chops. Preferring bread, we said no to rice. Mains are accompanied by an assortment of complementary greens, bread and lentils soup all of which were good.
A view from the street 
Dining area 
Open kitchen
The meat tikka is a simple lamb kebab with little or no seasoning other than salt and (maybe) pepper. Straight off the grill it was really good, but the meat got tough and chewy as it lost its heat. The lamb chops were good too but nothing in the same league as Damyati or Sofreh. I felt the minced kebabs were the best of the lot, but you have to into fatty, greasy kebabs to enjoy them.
Grilled chicken being prepared 
Complimentary condiments 
Delicious bread 
Lamb Chops 
Iraqi Kebabs
All in all, the meal left Sheikh Mansoor and me wondering what all the fuss is about. Perhaps I’m biased but I feel there are plenty of Iraqi restaurants in Dubai which offer far better kebabs and chops AND they have Masgûf should you want. The food at Zarzoor was good but, unlike other places we come to Sharjah to dine at such as Al Mashawi Al Halabya (Aleppo Grills), Falafil Al Comodor and Zahrat Al Quds to name but a few, it simply wasn’t good enough to warrant the drive out…or a return visit.
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Xerxes (pronounced Zûrk’seez) physically dines at, or orders from, each and every venue he reviews. He pays in full for whatever he and his companions eat, drink, take away or occasionally throw at each other. Xerxes accepts no money, gifts, discounts or free meals in return for reviews or favouritism. What you have read was NOT influenced in any way by the venue. Join his culinary journey on Instagram: @ravenousxerxes or reach out to him via email on xerxes@dellara.com.