BRG
TD

Before you go

Chef / owner
Kanwal Shakeel Chaudhry and Sehr Shakeel Chaudhry (family-run; mum-made Pakistani cooking)
Opened
2024
Style
Lahori/Punjabi desi café — fresh-to-order Pakistani home-style curry in a small Govan corner unit
Setting
Corner unit on Elder Street, Govan, opposite Fairfield Heritage Centre; roughly six indoor tables
Awards
Desi Cafe of the Year – Scottish Asian Food Awards 2026
Known for
authentic desi karahi, fresh-to-order cooking, mum-made Pakistani food
Signature dishes
Lamb Karahi (on-the-bone), Mix Vegetable Curry, Desi Karak Chai, Karela Piyaz
Good for
casual lunch, family meals, solo dining
Prices
Lamb Karahi around £13; vegetable curries under £8; naan about £3 (2025 visit prices)
Typical spend
About £10–20pp for a main and bread
Reservations
Walk-ins often fine
Booking
Small room (around 16 covers). Call 07765 557587 for a table. You can order mum-made dishes a day ahead. Food is cooked to order, so waits of around 30 minutes are common.
Dietary tags
halal, vegetarian options
Dietary
Listed as halal on directory listings; vegetarian dishes on the menu including Mix Vegetable Curry and Karela Piyaz. Spice level can be set when ordering.
Kids
Family-friendly; diners mention children eating well here
Outdoor seating
Yes — Tables and benches outside in better weather
Payment
Cash preferred; contactless accepted
Noise / pace
Quiet casual café; cooked-to-order food can take around half an hour
Getting there
Govan subway, about 5 minutes’ walk along Govan Road
Also
Near Ibrox — match days can make the area busier; Takeaway and delivery listed via Just Eat; official site theweedhaaba.com was unreachable at research time

Glasgow restaurant

The Wee Dhaaba

4.8(116 reviews)
Opens in 15 hours

Address

17 Elder St, Glasgow G51 3DY, UK

View on Google Maps

Menu

Dishes and prices for The Wee Dhaaba.

View full menu

Opening hours

  • Monday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
  • Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
  • Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
  • Thursday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
  • Friday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
  • Saturday: 12:00 – 8:00 PM
  • Sunday: 12:00 – 8:00 PM

Overview

The Wee Dhaaba is a small family-run Pakistani café on Elder Street in Govan, opposite Fairfield Heritage Centre. THE WEE DHAABA LIMITED was incorporated in May 2024, and by late summer that year the place was already serving Lahori and Punjabi-style food cooked fresh to order rather than sitting under heat lamps. Directors Kanwal Shakeel Chaudhry and Sehr Shakeel Chaudhry run it as a family outfit. The menu leans on “mum-made” cooking — you can even order a day ahead for a specific home-style dish — and diners often single out the on-the-bone Lamb Karahi, vegetable curries, and Desi Karak Chai. In October 2026 it won Desi Cafe of the Year at the Scottish Asian Food Awards. Expect a compact room (roughly six tables) with outdoor seating when the weather plays along. Cash is preferred, contactless works, and because everything is cooked to order a half-hour wait is not unusual. Govan subway is about a five-minute walk along Govan Road; on Rangers match days the streets around Ibrox get busy, so plan accordingly.

Reviews

5.0Tabish Ahmad

One of the most amazing place in Europe where u can find homely Indo Pakistani food.. Small cafe run by family. Very loving people, they are very warm n serve the food as if they are feeding their own family. My 2 yr old son loved their rice and chicken. We tried almost all the food from their menu and just loved it. It was satisfying.. Please visit if you are in Glasgow and looking for Nice Homely Food.

Read on Google Maps
5.0Abdul Rehman

I recently went to THE WEE DHAABA with my wife and with my friends and we’re so glad we chose to dine here because the food and taste were absolutely outstanding. We first ordered Chicken Pulao and Chicken Biryani, and both dishes were so delicious that we couldn’t resist ordering more. We then tried the Lamb Karahi and Haleem, and they turned out to be just as flavorful and satisfying. To make it even better, the fresh, hot, and soft Garlic Naan was packed with taste and paired perfectly with everything we had. And with a refreshing glass of lassi to top it all off, it truly made our day. Every dish was cooked to perfection, rich in flavor, and full of authenticity, a wonderful dining experience that left us completely happy and satisfied Great food, great staff, friendly and homely environment. Highly recommended.

Read on Google Maps
5.0Moiz Ahmed

This place is so good the food the ambience feels like home. Taste? best pulao and nihari I have ever had the rice the lamb the meat all so fresh and tender if you miss home made food or home itself TRUST ME THIS IS THE PLACE TO GO!

Read on Google Maps
5.0ALI MUHAMMAD

A Hidden Gem of Authentic Pakistani Flavour 🌟 This small but great spot serves authentic Lahori and Punjabi-style curries that are bursting with flavour, cooked fresh to order, and full of soul. We tried the Lamb Karahi and I can confidently say it’s one of the best I’ve had in the UK. The meat was tender, juicy, and perfectly spiced, served in a rich that had just the right balance of oil and heat. You can tell everything is made with love and experience — it’s real desi home-style on the spot cooking...👍👍 And the service was amazing. 🌟🌟

Read on Google Maps
5.0Sara MacLean

The Wee Dhabba in Govan is a true hidden gem for authentic Pakistani cuisine! This place serves up dishes I haven’t seen elsewhere - the karela piyaz and lamb haleem were absolutely amazing and unique additions to their menu. The samosas are made fresh to order, the naan bread was excellent, and the aubergine raita was the perfect accompaniment. I finished with a lovely chai tea that rounded off the meal perfectly. Top tip: order the chai before you finish your meal as it’s made to order and takes a bit of time but it’s spice (cardamom and star anise I believe), sweetness and warmth is a great dessert/post-meal drink. The location is brilliant - right across from the historic Fairfield shipyard, making it an ideal spot to end a day of exploring. The atmosphere is refreshingly light and airy, more like a welcoming coffee shop than a traditional restaurant, which creates a lovely relaxed dining experience. The staff are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable about their menu. The staff were lovely to chat with and they pride themselves on serving "mum-made" Pakistani food - you can really taste the authentic, homemade difference! If you're looking for authentic Pakistani food in a warm, unpretentious setting, The Wee Dhabba is definitely worth seeking out. Highly recommended!

Read on Google Maps

Visitor comments

Be the first to share your experience

No comments yet. Share your thoughts about The Wee Dhaaba below.

Leave a comment

Tell other diners what you thought of The Wee Dhaaba. Comments are reviewed before being published.

Your rating
Minimum 10 characters0/1500