Looking for a sumptuous Iftar buffet which does not cost the earth? Join Roshi Tandon in Deira, Maya Asarpota in Satwa and Jumeirah, Jyotsna A. Nagarkar in Karama and Komal Jain in Bur Dubai for lavish Iftar buffets or takeaway meals at economical rates that may tempt even the non-fasters


Deira

Al Khalifa Restaurant, Riqqa Street
This outlet stands out for its charming Lebanese interiors. The Dh30 per person buffet includes drinks, soups, starters, a main course and dessert. The first floor of the restaurant has a large hall, ideal for throwing Iftar parties. Customers can also enjoy the restaurant's range of sheesha. The outlet is open for a la carte breakfast at Suhoor.

Al Najmi Restaurant, Riqqa Street
At four months old, this outlet is a new kid on the block. It is already making its mark with a lavish Dh40 per head buffet, that includes seafood in plenty. The emphasis is on quality — the food is fresh and healthy. A party hall is available. The take-away parcel is priced at Dh25. The Iftar buffet is from 5.30pm to 8pm.

Automatic, Riqqa Street
This popular chain has two branches on Riqqa street, a restaurant and a cafeteria. The restaurant has an exotic buffet (that includes seafood), priced at Dh45 per person. The cafeteria buffet has fewer items and is Dh25 per person. Both places offer takeaway and free home delivery facilities.

Arous Damascus, Muraqqabat
The restaurant is open daily from Iftar until Suhoor. The Dh25 Iftar buffet includes drinks, soups, grills, rice and dessert. Free home delivery and takeaway Iftar parcels for Dh25 are also available. The menu is changed daily. Diners can also choose from the a la carte menu at Suhoor. Outdoor seating is also available.

Lauberge Restaurant, Riqqa Street
The Dh30 buffet at this restaurant is good value for money, with more than 36 items on the menu. Look out for traditional Lebanese dishes such as ooze which is stuffed baby lamb served with rice. Drinks are inclusive.

Hatam Restaurant, Creekside
This creekside restaurant serves an Iranian buffet for Dh20 per head. You can enjoy the creek view from the glass windows as you savour the soups, grills and biryanis.

Noor Al Sham Restaurant
For traditional Persian Ramadan delicacies, this is the place to go. You will find kalapacha and haleem on the Iftar menu, both of which are Iranian specialties.

La Palma, Khalidia Hotel Apartments
This restaurant has a large variety of traditional Ramadan dishes including international specialities. Diners can enjoy oud music after Iftar. The restaurant is also open until Suhoor for light snacks and hot and cold beverages. The décor is pleasant and homely, and the outlet is popular for its sheesha. The buffet rate is Dh50 per adult, and Dh25 for children five to 12 years old.

Lewa Iskenderum, Muraqqabat
All you can eat and drink for Dh25. The outlet has a Turkish chef and very friendly staff. Try the Turkish bread and the Turkish coffee here. The buffet includes traditional Turkish soups, starters, a main course and dessert. Since the clientele is of mixed nationality, international dishes such as spaghetti are added to the menu that changes every day. The restaurant also offers free home delivery and outdoor catering for Iftar parties.

Raghdan Restaurant, Muraqqabat
Right next to Lewa Iskenderum is this Iraqi restaurant which offers a Dh25 buffet. Diners have a choice of eating outdoors or within the restaurant, which also has a family hall. Specialities include the Iraqi bread and the tempting Iraqi kebabs. The outlet is open for Suhoor as well.

Zanzibar Restaurant
As the name suggests, this outlet serves African delicacies during Ramadan. Special Iftar parcels are available for takeaway.

Satwa and Jumeirah

Reem Al Bawadi, Jumeirah Beach Road
Promising the exquisite taste of Arabia, this outlet has a buffet for Dh46 that features 15 items. At 9pm every Ramadan night, the outlet presents 'The Whirling Dervish', an exciting performance by a Turkish artiste.

Hardees, Diyafa Street
This fast food outlet has an Eat all you can Iftar promotion for Dh17 from 5.30pm to 8pm. The outlet serves typical fast food such as burgers, chicken and fries.

Beirut Restaurant, Diyafa Street
Beirut Restaurant serves an Iftar buffet for Dh29 from 5.45pm to 6.30pm. It includes typical Lebanese food with 20 appetisers, five or six choices for the main course and four kinds of desserts.

Arax Restaurant, Diyafa Street
An outlet that serves Lebanese and Arabic cuisine from 5.30pm to 7.30pm, Arax offers an Iftar buffet for Dh35. The buffet has around 10 items in the salad and appetisers section and five or six hot items along with juice and two soups.

Red Table Restaurant, Diyafa Street
Red Table serves mixed cuisine (Indian, Arabic and Lebanese) to suit a mix of nationalities. The Iftar buffet costs Dh25 and is on from 5.45pm to 10pm. It has 10 items on the main course, plus salads, sweets and soups.

KFC, Diyafa Street
This fast-food outlet also has an Eat All You Can promotion from 5.30pm to 7.30pm that costs Dh20. It serves fastfood such as burgers, fried chicken and fries.

Highway Restaurant, Sheikh Zayed Road
Enjoy Indian and Chinese cuisine during the Iftar promotion from 5.30pm to 7pm. There are about 25 dishes on the menu with special Iftar items such as dates and fruits.

Istanbul Flower Restaurant & Café, Safestway Complex, Sheikh Zayed Road
This outlet serves Turkish cuisine from 5.30pm onwards. The buffet costs Dh20 normally, but during the Iftar hour, the buffet, with traditional Ramadan items, costs Dh30. The menu has about eight hot main course items with appetisers and desserts, as well as a free drink.

Al Hakawati Restaurant and Coffee Shop, Sheikh Zayed Road
Visit this outlet for Lebanese and Arabic cuisine for Iftar from sundown onwards. The buffet includes 13 salads and appetisers, four main dishes, eight to nine desserts with three Ramadan drinks and one soup.The buffet costs Dh40, throw in a sheesha and the cost is Dh45.

Automatic Restaurant & Grill, Beach Centre, Jumeirah Beach Road
For Dh40 this authentic Lebanese restaurant serves an Iftar buffet from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. The spread includes 52 appetisers and salads, seven main course items including a mixed grill, and eight desserts.

Golden Elephant, Beach Centre, Jumeirah Beach Road
This outlet serves Thai cuisine for Iftar from 5.45 to 11pm. The cost is Dh40 and the menu includes 12 items with one dessert as well as a free beverage.

Beach Restaurant and Café, Beach Centre, Jumeirah Beach Road
This outlet, serving Arabic food, has a fixed menu for Iftar, and food is served at the guest's table. Priced at Dh30 the meal includes a juice, soup, three appetisers, one main course and a dessert. Guests are allowed to choose the main course and dessert.

Karama

Al Ibrahimi Palace Restaurant, opposite BurJuman Centre
Enjoy a special Iftar offer at Dh25 per head. The b