One of the best parts of living in Abu Dhabi is being able to witness and partake in Emirati culture and heritage. And one way to truly participate in the culture is to dive straight into the delicious local cuisine. Looking for the best Emirati food in Abu Dhabi? You’ve come to the right place.
Emirati food is part of the Eastern Arabian cuisine and shares similarities with food from our neighbours: Oman, KSA and other Middle Eastern and Asian cuisines.
Most Emirati dishes include rice, meat and fish. Seafood is part of the UAE’s history and has been the mainstay of the Emirati diet for centuries. A whole grilled fish on a plate of rice served sharing style is one of the homiest authentic dishes you can get in the UAE.
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Dates are also another popular staple and are used to whet your appetite before a meal or as a sweetener for dessert. Still hungry? You can also go for camel meat or camel milk at many of these restaurants. Afterwards, grab a karak (tea infused with sweet milk, cardamom and saffron) and sit back to digest.
If you’re hungry for Emirati food in Abu Dhabi, the capital has loads of Emirati restaurants to choose from. Fill your boots with chebab, lygamat, fireed, jisheid, and mishwy. Happy eating.
Al Fanar Restaurant & Café
A fabulous throwback to the good old days, Al Fanar rekindles the spirit of the ’60s Emirati food in Abu Dhabi. Head to Yas Mall to try a menu packed full of recipes passed down through generations. The saloona laham badaweya, or mutton stew, a real highlight. But given its roots in fishing folklore, it would be remiss of you not to try one of the seafood dishes, the machboos samak (simmered fish with yellow rice) being particularly pleasing to the palate.
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Open daily, 9am-10pm. Yas Mall, Yas Island (02 877 2272).
Al Mandi & Madhbi House
As its name suggests, this restaurant specialises in two cracking chicken dishes – the mandi and madhbi. You must try both to experience the subtle differences between this pair of Emirati staples. Aside from these obvious draws, the chefs here also knock up some mean meat curries, while the grilled seafood is also spot on. And then there are the delightful desserts. You’ll find branches serving some of the finest Emirati food in Abu Dhabi in the Tourist Club Area, Musaffah and Al Bahyah.
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Open daily 7am-11.30pm. 16th Street, Musaffah (02 550 6770).
Al Mrzab Popular Restaurant
It’s clear that this eatery has gained its popularity by keeping to what it knows best – cooking up a range of excellent Emirati fare without the need for airs and graces. And you’d be hard pushed to find better biriyanis or fish curries than you would at Al Mrzab.
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Open daily 7am-11.30pm. Airport Road, Al Mushrif (02 666 2333).
Lgymat & Rgag
The whole world has fallen in love with street food again and there are few places in the capital that recreate such humble yet wholesome flavours as Lgymat & Rgat. Its deep-fried dumplings slathered in the sticky date syrup (or dibbs, to those in the know) are so moreish you’ll feel like taking an XL box home with you, while the cheese rgag flatbreads (at just Dhs6 apiece) are worth the visit alone. This is one of the best Emirati restaurants around.
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Open daily 6am-3am. Al Nahyan, (02 443 2828).
Meylas
Starting life as a food truck, it soon became clear the brain behind Meylas was far too good to solely deliver meals on wheels. Shaikha Al Kaabi’s passion for the food she grew up with now has a brilliant base in Al Muneera where the sheer array of her talents is given maximum exposure. Put the Mashwi Bel Rgaag on your bucket list. It’s a lamb shoulder dish to die for. This is some of the best Emirati food in Abu Dhabi.
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Open daily 8.30am-10.30pm. Al Muneera, Al Raha (02 444 8884).
Mezlai
Arguably Abu Dhabi’s poshest place for Emirati food, Mezlai has a reputation for using local ingredients and bringing them to a fine dining level. The setting is majestic but it’s only once you devour the dishes that you truly feel like royalty. The mughrabia with scallops is second to none, while the camel tannour is so hearty you might have difficulty removing yourself from your throne once you’re done. Emirati food at Emirates Palace? Yes please.
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Open daily 1pm-11pm. Emirates Palace, Corniche Road West (02 690 7999).
Milas
Should you ever be stuck for breakfast ideas, Milas will take such quandaries out of your hands and deliver some of the finest morning pick-me-ups known to humanity. Take your usual eggs benedict and upgrade them to the Eggxactly Balaleet. At lunchtime, there’s the chance to try pasta with an Emirati twist. As for dessert, there are even riffs on that most regional of aromas, in the form of Mystery of Oud – a scented sweet treat that will charm all your senses at once. This is some spot on Emirati food in Abu Dhabi.
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Open daily, 9am-11pm. Souk Qaryat al Beri mandarinoriental.com (02 558 0425).
Yadoo’s House
Grandmother knows best, especially when it comes to filling breakfasts to set you up for the day. A shakshuka here is worth a thousand anywhere else, while the house platter (served with some cracking karak tea) will certainly put a spring in your step. Lunchtime dishes include a super salona and marvellous machboos. If only everyone had a yadoo like you.
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Open daily 8am-11pm. Al Muroor St, Embassies District (02 441 1311).
