New to kalle pache? You don't have to dive in headfirst
Kalle pache (کلهپاچه) is one of the great Tehran comfort foods — a slow, patient dish of lamb head and trotters, hand-cleaned and simmered for about fourteen hours until the broth turns silky and golden. If you have never tried it, the menu can look intimidating: tongue, cheek, brain, eye, tripe, trotters. Take a breath. Nobody starts with everything, and you don't have to either. At Shaun the Sheep in Jumeirah we serve kalle pache the traditional Tehran way, and the kindest way to meet it is one gentle order at a time.
This is a three-order plan for newcomers in Dubai. Order one is gentle, order two is curious, order three is adventurous — and because our kitchen at 64 Jumeira Street is open 24 hours, 7 days a week, you can space those visits out however you like. Here is exactly what to order, and why.
What should your very first order be?
For your first taste, keep it simple and familiar. Order a bowl of plain broth (soup) with a little meat (goosht) or tongue (zaban), and a warm sangak to tear and dip. This is the friendliest doorway into the whole dish.
- The broth is the heart of everything — clear, warm and deeply savoury, with a squeeze of fresh lemon and a little cinnamon if you like.
- Meat or tongue are the mildest, most approachable parts. Tongue is tender and clean-tasting, closer to a good braised beef than anything unusual.
- Sangak — traditional stone-baked flatbread — is your spoon, your napkin and your comfort blanket. Tear it, dip it in the broth, and pile a little meat on top.
Add doogh (a savoury yogurt drink) or a glass of Persian tea alongside, and you have a complete, cosy meal without meeting a single part that might scare you. If you want the full beginner's playbook — how to season it, how to eat it — our guide on how to eat kalle pache as a first-timer walks you through every step.
Ready for more? Your curious second order
Enjoyed the broth and want to understand what all the fuss is about? Your second order is the Special Mix — a little of everything in one bowl. It is the single best way to discover which parts you love without committing to a whole portion of any one of them.
The Special Mix lets you taste tongue, cheek, some meat-and-fat and more, side by side, so you can quietly decide your favourites. Maybe you fall for the rich softness of cheek (bonagoosh); maybe the trotters (paye), with their gentle, gelatinous texture, win you over. There are no wrong answers. If this is the order that calls to you, our Special Mix guide explains exactly what goes in and how to make the most of it.
Keep the sangak coming, add some seven-year garlic pickle or other torshi to cut the richness, and you have a proper, curious second date with kalle pache.
Feeling adventurous? Your bolder third order
By now you know the broth, you know your favourite parts, and you are ready to be brave. There are two lovely directions here:
- Go bigger and share. Order a Full platter — our family-size sharing platter, generous enough for around three people — and gather friends or family around the table. Kalle pache was always meant to be shared, and a platter turns it into an occasion.
- Go bolder and taste the classics. If it appeals, this is the moment to try brain (maghz) — famously soft, mild and custardy — or eye (cheshm), the most traditional adventure of all. Order just a little alongside parts you already love, so there is always something familiar on the table.
Not sure what the parts actually taste like before you commit? Read what does kalle pache taste like first — it describes each part honestly, so nothing is a surprise.
Your three-order plan at a glance
| Visit | Mood | Suggested order | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visit 1 | Gentle | Plain broth + meat or tongue + sangak | The mildest, most familiar way in |
| Visit 2 | Curious | Special Mix + torshi + doogh | Sample many parts, find your favourites |
| Visit 3 | Adventurous | Full platter to share, or a little brain/eye | Make it an occasion, or try the classics |
Is there any rush to get through it?
None at all. There is no "right" speed for learning to love kalle pache. Some people work through these three orders in a single week; others take a month, or come back to order one again and again because the broth alone makes them happy. Because we are open around the clock, every day, your next step is always available — an early breakfast, a midnight bowl, or a lazy weekend lunch. Kalle pache is here whenever you are ready to try more.
How do you order from Shaun the Sheep?
It takes a couple of minutes on our website:
- Head to our order page and choose your parts, bowls or a platter.
- For delivery, pick your Dubai area and drop a map pin so the rider finds your door — we deliver across all of Dubai, and delivery is free over AED 300. Prefer to collect or eat in? Pickup and dine-in are there too.
- Pay securely online by card. When the rider arrives they call you, and you can follow your order status on the confirmation page after paying.
- Not hungry yet? You can schedule a future time and pre-order for exactly when you want it.
Prefer to make an evening of it around a table? You can plan a dine-in visit and let the platter take centre stage.
Wherever you are on your kalle pache journey — a first cautious bowl or a confident Full platter — we would love to feed you. Start your order whenever the craving strikes, day or night.