Abu Dhabi’s only Ethiopian restaurant, Bonna Annee, has established a cult following in the city. Always packed to the rafters with Al Zahiyah locals and the capital’s foodies, you need to arrive early in the evening to be sure of a seat at this tiny Ethiopian restaurant – it gets very busy from around 9pm.
From the outside, Bonna Annee doesn’t scream ‘come on in’. Slap bang in the heart of Abu Dhabi’s seen-better-days district, it sits among dingy shops in the dirty backstreets of the Navy Gate area. Once you’re inside, however, you’re transported to another place. The décor is simple, with subtle nods to East Africa: wooden totems adorn the walls, African lanterns add to the ambience, and the impressive centrepiece is a large filigreed wall sconce in the shape and design of the Ethiopian flag.
The menu offers a wide range of traditional dishes – vegetarian and meat stews, grilled chicken, lamb and beef, and sauteed vegetables. There are also a few rogue Italian dishes thrown in for good measure, so if you suddenly decide you fancy tucking into good old spag bol, well, you’re in luck!
You’d be a spaghetti-slurping fool, though. Our platters arrive, and our jaws drop : we’ve spectacularly over-ordered, thinking the Dhs35 plates would be single portions, rather than big enough for two to share. In front of us sit the Bonna Annee special and the ‘yesom beyayneto’ – both ideal choices for the decision-tired, as they allow you to taste a little bit of everything. The huge plates are lined with injera, a traditional Ethiopian bread with an unusual taste and texture. Similar to a pancake, it’s spongy, grey-hued and sour-tasting – not all that pleasant eaten alone. But fortunately, our waiter has spooned dollops of colourful stews over the bread, creating a beautiful abstract impressionist-style work of art in fiery, earthy tones.
We tuck in, ripping the bread and using it to mop up every last piece. There’s not a single item of cutlery in sight, and we feel mischievous eating with our hands in public. Every dish goes down a treat, particularly the yellow lentils, the spicy minced lamb, rich beef stew, buttery collard and lightly spiced cubes of potato. We’ve overeaten, but we can’t help but order an extra couple of spoonfuls of lentil stew and beef. That’s how good it is. We’d recommend ordering a platter to share, however – neither of us were able to eat anything until the following morning.
Make the trip to Al Zahiyah for this beauty of an eatery – it will be more than worth your while.
The bill (for two)
Bonna Annee Special Dhs35
Yesom Beyayneto Dhs35
Total (excluding service) Dhs70
