Mama Shabz
Mama Shabz offers a fresh, casual take on Pakistani cuisine in a vibrant, home-like setting. Experience authentic flavors and friendly service.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Social
From TikTok & Reddit
Best Time
Blue hour photography, calmer galleries
Mama Shabz
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Mama Shabz offers a fresh, casual take on Pakistani cuisine in a vibrant, home-like setting. Experience authentic flavors and friendly service.
Visit Wednesday-Saturday
Mama Shabz offers delightful Pakistani food from Wednesday through Saturday. Enjoy rotating vegan, vegetarian, and meat dishes.
Don't Miss Saturday Brunch
On Saturdays, enjoy a special Sweet Semolina breakfast with deep-fried bread and chickpea masala.
Quick Facts
Cuisine
Pakistani
Price
Mid-range
Address
Reichenberger Str. 61a, 10999 Berlin, Germany
Website
mamashabz.com/Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Authentic Pakistani Biryani
Experience the deep flavors of traditional Pakistani cuisine, especially the chicken biryani cooked dum style.
Samosa Chaat Delight
Savor memorable bites of samosa chaat, a flavorful mix of crispy pastry, chutneys, and spices.
Cozy Home-like Ambiance
Enjoy a warm and friendly atmosphere that feels like dining in a home, with staff that radiate hospitality.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Visit Wednesday-Saturday
Mama Shabz offers delightful Pakistani food from Wednesday through Saturday. Enjoy rotating vegan, vegetarian, and meat dishes.
Don't Miss Saturday Brunch
On Saturdays, enjoy a special Sweet Semolina breakfast with deep-fried bread and chickpea masala.
Bold Flavors for Adventurous Palates
If you love spices or are open to new flavors beyond typical German cuisine, Mama Shabz is a must-visit.
Unique Lassi and Chai
Try their sweet lassi, a unique offering not found in many Berlin restaurants, and the flavorful masala chai.
Tips
from all over the internet
Visit Wednesday-Saturday
Mama Shabz offers delightful Pakistani food from Wednesday through Saturday. Enjoy rotating vegan, vegetarian, and meat dishes.
Don't Miss Saturday Brunch
On Saturdays, enjoy a special Sweet Semolina breakfast with deep-fried bread and chickpea masala.
Bold Flavors for Adventurous Palates
If you love spices or are open to new flavors beyond typical German cuisine, Mama Shabz is a must-visit.
Unique Lassi and Chai
Try their sweet lassi, a unique offering not found in many Berlin restaurants, and the flavorful masala chai.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Mama Shabz is lauded as a hidden gem offering authentic Pakistani flavors and a warm, home-like ambiance. While many praise the biryani, lassi, and overall welcoming atmosphere, some diners found certain dishes, like the biryani and samosas, to be disappointing and not authentically Pakistani. The limited menu and operating hours are also noted points.
"Mama Shabs is undoubtedly a hidden gem in Berlin—a culinary treasure that radiates warmth and authenticity from the moment you walk in. This restaurant brings the essence of homemade Pakistani dishes to the table, transporting you to another world with its rich, exotic flavors.
The dishes are prepared with such love and care that every bite feels like a celebration of Pakistani tradition and culture. From the tantalizing spices to the perfectly balanced ingredients, each dish is a true delight and a feast for the senses. The menu, though not extensive, is thoughtfully curated, ensuring that every dish is a masterpiece.
What truly sets Mama Shabs apart is not just the food, but the entire experience. The atmosphere is welcoming and intimate, making you feel more like a cherished guest in a family home than just a regular customer. The staff goes above and beyond to ensure that each visit is memorable, sharing the stories behind the dishes with joy and pride.
It has always been a fortunate quirk that Mama Shabs closes on certain days—those moments of absence only heightened the anticipation, making each return visit even more special. But now, there’s a bittersweet note to this experience, as Mama Shabs will permanently close its doors on August 22nd. The knowledge that such a unique and beloved place is taking time to rest and perfect their craft reflects a deep commitment to quality and authenticity.
In a city as vibrant as Berlin, Mama Shabs stands out as a place where you don’t just eat—you experience food. It’s a rare find that leaves you counting down the days until your next visit—now, with the bittersweet understanding that this experience will soon come to an end. Mama Shabs is not just a restaurant; it’s a heartfelt journey into the soul of Pakistani cuisine. Anyone who has the opportunity to experience it should consider themselves truly fortunate before it closes its doors forever."
Youssef Kasdarli
"I honestly went with very high expectations thinking the place has authentic pakistani food but I didn’t like the food at all. It didn’t taste pakistani at all.
I appreciate the efforts made by the owner and the kitchen staff but honestly the food quality is bad.
I was very very disappointed with the biryani. It’s not biryani. The rice was so much cooked and without a real taste and same with chicken.. I had a sweet Lassi and it was like I’m drinking white milk with sugar.
The chai too wasn’t as good as I expected.
Very disappointed.
But the staff and the ambiance of the place are nice."
sarra arfaoui
"I ordered chicken biryani, samosas, masala chai, and sweet lassi.
Biryani was awesome, and it is one of the best in Berlin. It was cooked dum style and purely Pakistani style, was medium spicy, and tasted very close to authentic. The samosa was not good; it had too much oil, and I couldn't finish it. (I also had the same problem when I ordered from Wolt.) So samosa is not recommended. The masala chai was good and had a cardamom flavor in it. Sweet lassi is my favorite, and you never get this lassi at any other restaurant in Berlin. On Saturday brunch, they also have lamm nihari and halwa poori.
The staff is friendly and welcoming. The ambience is very good and gives you good vibes. The price is moderate and a bit high compared to other Indian and Pakistani restaurants.
Since their menu is very limited, I highly recommend this place if you want to eat (close to) authentic biryani and drink some nice chai and lassi."
Sankar Manthiram
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Signature dishes include the chicken biryani cooked dum style, samosa chaat, coconut cardamom kheer, and a unique sweet lassi.
Yes, Mama Shabz typically offers a rotating vegan lentil dhal option, along with other vegetarian choices.
Mama Shabz is open from Wednesday through Saturday, with a special Saturday brunch menu.
Absolutely! Mama Shabz is recommended for those who love spices or are open to trying authentic Pakistani flavors beyond typical German cuisine.
Occasionally, Mama Shabz hosts pop-ups featuring Pupusas from El Salvador and Zobo, check their schedule for dates.
Mentioned in
Featured in these publications
Berlin's best restaurants: 101 places to eat right now
With her mother’s comforting dishes – chickpea masala, delicious pakora and samosas, to name just a few – young Londoner Shabnam “Shabz” Syed brings a fresh, casual take on Pakistani cuisine to Kreuzberg. Her restaurant’s upbeat, colorful interior is an homage to her multicultural childhood in South London; equally fun are the snacks and sweets, like the delightfully interactive gol guppe, little hollow dough balls that you fill yourself with a selection of goodies, or her highly recommended version of a grilled cheese sandwich, made in a paratha flatbread instead of toast. A rotating menu of main courses is available, always with a variation on vegan lentil dhal, a vegetarian option and one with meat: there’s a terrific chicken korma or a wonderfully spicy masala with okra, for example.
The Amazing Female Chefs of Berlin
Today you can taste Shabz fantastic food at various street food markets and venues or book her catering service Mama Shabz. She and her team are looking forward to taking you to Pakistan with fresh spices and flavors with organic ingredients.
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit