Asian
Cho Gao
A fusion of East Asian cuisine, the Crowne Plaza’s pride and joy serves up delicious and affordable dishes.
Crowne Plaza, order via Room Service Delivery (800 4788).
Noodle House
Offering everything from duck wonton to tom yam soup and, of course, some satisfying spicy noodle dishes.
Souk Qaryat Al Beri, Bain Al Jessrain (02 558 1699) and Al Wahda Mall (02 443 7391).
Royal Orchid
A rare exception among takeouts that do different types of cuisine, Royal Orchid features both Thai and Chinese dishes that are well prepared and good value.
Hilton Abu Dhabi, Al Khubeirah (02 632 7777). Salam Street (02 677 9911).
Thai Express
Super tasty Thai food and good value for money.
Al Wahda Mall (02 443 7570).
Chinese
Beijing Restaurant
Beijing delivers inexpensive and authentic grub that will have you wanting more.
Madinat Zayed (02 621 0708).
Mongolian Chinese Restaurant
A great place to try some artery-clogging Chinese grub.
Tourist Club Area (02 645 1500).
New City Palace
This extensive restaurant and takeaway has pulled out all the stops to make the food as authentic as possible.
Khalifa Street, Al Markaziyah (02 626 2765).
Red Castle
A great place to call if you’re after cheap and tasty Chinese cuisine. One thing noticeably absent from the vast menu is dim sum, but with so many other dishes to choose from there should be something to satisfy all tastes.
Madinat Zayed (02 633 4118).
Shanghai Surprise
This tasty Chinese will have you wanting more. They serve up authentic grub that isn’t too heavy on your stomach or wallet.
Al Markaziyah (02 678 7700).
Filipino
Kamayan Barrio Fiesta Restaurant
Good for a very cheap feed, try this venue for authentic fare.
Al Markaziyah (02 672 6777).
Oriental Korner
This eaterie is basically the Filipino equivalent of a greasy spoon café. It’s full of great food, although it may guarantee an early demise.
Al Markaziyah (02 671 6782).
Indian & Pakistani
Al Arab
If you want an inexpensive dinner then Al Arab is not a bad option to call.
Al Wahda (02 641 7210).
Al Fujairah
You don’t last this long in the UAE without building up a following and this place has fans and fans to spare.
Al Markaziyah (02 677 5628).
Arab Udupi
You’ll find wholesome Indian grub on the menu at this popular spot. Try the luminous Kashmiri naan. A sight and taste to behold.
Madinat Zayed (02 641 5645), Hamdan Street (02 672 1522).
Chhappan Bhog
For those with a penchant for curry, this is a great little spot.
(02 677 8864), Electra St, next to Eldorado Cinema (02 677 8869).
Evergreen Vegetarian Restaurant
The amazing veggie fare at this Indian is some of the best in the city. Obscenely cheap for food of this calibre.
Electra Street, Al Markaziyah (02 676 7361).
Golden Crown
A buzzy downtown spot serving up well-priced curries.
Hamdan Street, Al Markaziyah (02 671 8488).
India Palace
This is a popular place delivering top-notch, unpretentious Indian food at reasonable prices.
Al Salam Street, Al Meena (02 644 8777).
Kababs & Kurries
The food gives this delivery a touch of class. The menu is extensive, with both meat-eaters and vegetarians well-catered for.
The Souk Central Market, Al Markaziyah (02 628 2522).
Karachi City Restaurant
This is a neat and tidy establishment serving food better than most of its ilk.
Electra Street, Tourist Club Area (02 677 6055).
Kwality
Another decent restaurant in the Salam Street area. You’re in for a cheap and cheerful treat.
Salam Street, Al Markaziyah (02 672 7337).
Ruchi
Look beyond the grub and you’ll find a backstreet gem, with curries that put all the upmarket Indians to shame. Try the banana leaf Keralite special.
Hamdan Street, Al Markaziyah (02 679 5679).
Tandoori Corner
The sister restaurant to Nihal, this is cheap and unpretentious Indian food.
Old Airport Road, Al Wahdah (02 445 8686).
The Curry House
Something of an institution, this age-old independent serves decent curries at cheap prices. Try the Nepalese mystical momos. To die for.
Electra street, Al Markaziyah (02 632 8860).
Italian
Biancorosso
This cheerful pizzeria has you hooked from the moment you bite into one of their fresh, complimentary dough balls. The Italians tell us it’s as authentic as Italian gets in Abu Dhabi.
Al Nahyan (02 658 4288).
Il Forno
Huge pizzas, salads and soups. Prices are pretty pocket-pleasing too.
Abu Dhabi Mall Tourist Club Area (02 644 7511), Al Wahda Mall (02 443 7344), Airport Road, (02 443 5578), Khalidiya Centre, (02 633 7730).
Pizza Amore
A cheap and slightly wacky pizza joint delivering decent Italian fare.
Tourist Club Area (02 644 9990).
Prego’s
Fantastic Italian food serving tasty pizzas, pastas and risottos.
Beach Rotana, order via Room Service Delivery (800 4788).
Spaccanapoli
Instead of attempting to blow your mind, Spaccanapoli concentrates on getting the food right. Gluten free options available.
Crowne Plaza, order via Room Service Delivery (800 4788).
Japanese
Samurai
A far more authentic Japanese dining experience with a broad menu that takes in most of Japan’s standard fare.
Al Markaziyah (02 676 6612).
Lebanese
Al Qasr
A mid-range Lebanese restaurant that is inexpensive and friendly; try the authentic batata harra.
Tourist Club Area (02 644 9933).
Awtar
A gem hidden among the dense backstreets of the Tourist Club Area. Great food and bread that could make it famous. Nearby residents would do well to make this their local.
Tourist Club Area (02 644 1551).
Just Falafel
A very popular little fast food joint with a large takeaway clientele. The name tells you all you need to know.
Hamdan Street, Al Markaziyah (02 626 2099).
Lebanese Flower
An Abu Dhabi institution that’s constantly busy thanks to criminally cheap mezze and tasty grills. A real must-try experience.
Salam Street (02 644 0269), Tourist Club Area (02 645 6338), Electra Street (02 665 8700).
Marroush
If Lebanese Flower has a real rival as the city’s most-loved Lebanese takeaway, this is it. Try the shawarmas, they are excellent.
Tourist Club Area (02 621 4434).
Riviera
Some of the best Arabian sarnies the locale has to offer. They excel at shawarma-style wraps – the chicken, hammour and falafel are all great – and the fruit juices are terrific.
Tourist Club Area (02 665 0144).
Tanjara
Authentic, fresh, well presented Middle Eastern food.
Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre (02 673 8823).
Zaatar W Zeit
Lebanese from the outside, multinational on the inside. This chain restaurant is a family favourite across the UAE. Pizzas and hummus make this a decent alternative to McDonald’s.
For delivery call (600 522231).
Zyara
Comfortable and slightly eccentric, serving excellent Lebanese food and wonderful cakes. Comes highly recommended.
Madinat Zayed (02 627 5007).
Vietnamese
Hanoi Café
Abu Dhabi’s original Vietnamese eatery maintains its authenticity, with pho goi and other zingy, spicy national dishes served up in an unpretentious style.
Khalifa Street (02 626 1112).
