Here at Time Out, we’re all about getting a good deal, and when it comes to budget restaurants in the capital, we’re delighted with the selection. Perhaps the only thing better than a belly-full, is getting a great deal and when you can have both you know you’re on to a winner.
If you’re looking after your fils, too, then here are seven top budget-friendly restaurants where you can get great grub for less.
Bonna Annee
Cards on the table, this Ethiopian restaurant is a former Time Out Restaurant Award winner and we’re big fans. There’s no pretense: it’s humble, authentic Ethiopian food and plenty of it, all served on wonderfully sour and tearable injera bread. For Dhs40 you can order the Bonna Annee special that comes with all the most popular dishes including key wet, minchet abesh, kekel, meser be segatibs fir fir and shiro. There’s also a vegetarian version if you’re so inclined. Oh, and it’s easily enough to feed two or more people so you won’t leave here hungry or skint.
Open daily 10-11.30pm. Al Reem Street, Al Zahiya (02 491 2128).
Kaake W Manoushe
You can expect some excellently baked bread at this Lebanese restaurant, after all, kaake is in the name. Not familiar with said bread? Well it’s handbag shaped with a hole in the narrow end, all covered in toasted sesame seeds. In short, it’s delicious and we have them delivered regularly. But there’s more than bread to tear into here, take your pick from shawarma, mixed grills, fattoush, foul, falafel and a whole lot more. Bakes start from Dhs8 so you know you’re not breaking the bank either.
Open daily 6am-2am. Al Inshirah Street, near Capital Centre (02 666 2953).
Kura Kura
So good they named it twice, Kura Kura is a real find. Serving up top-notch Indian food that could be sold at a steeper price range (but please don’t tell them that) you really can eat well for less at this cool venue. Curries and biryanis will cost you around Dhs35 or less and are more than enough to feed two of you. Order a few dishes and you can eat well and have leftovers for tomorrow that will have your coworkers looking on enviously. We recommend the lamb biryani and the aloo palak, which will set you back a mere Dhs45 for the pair.
Sun-Thu 8am-10pm, Fri-Sat 10am-10pm. Capital Tower, Khaleej Al Arabi Street (02 443 3733).
Hankook Korean Restaurant
Korean food is gaining popularity in these parts but Hankook has been welcoming a steady stream of loyal customers for a while now, most of whom have been taking advantage of delicious, cost-effective dinners here for years. The venue is humble, with some private areas where you can sit on the floor cross legged and a small dining area where you can use old-faithful, the chair. Seating arrangements aside, you’ll find a whole host of traditional food on offer and you can even enjoy some Korean barbecue that you cook yourself (it’s a lot of fun, actually). Afraid of incinerating your meal on the grill? There are loads of soups, noodle dishes and fried chicken (of course) to wrap your lips around. Just don’t forget to tuck into some kimchi while you’re at it.
Open daily 11am-2.30pm, 5pm-11pm. Hazza Bin Zayed the First Street, Al Nahyan (02 642 3399).
Panda Bao Bao
When it comes to doubling down on a theme Panda Bao Bao doesn’t do so by halves. As you’d guess from the name, pandas feature heavily in this restaurant from the décor and crockery to the toys and statues dotted throughout. It’s pandamonium, you might say. When it comes to the menu, it’s traditional Chinese and you can slurp big bowls of brilliant noodles and scoff delectable dumplings that are all pocket friendly. Time Out favourites chong qing noodles and steamed bao will set you back Dhs50 and we’re confident if you finish the lot you’ll be stuffed, just like one of the cuddly pandas you’ll find in the dining room.
Open daily 11am-11pm. Hazza Bin Zayed the First Street, Al Dhafrah (055 512 7461).
Shay Madhboot
We’re massive fans of this humble tea house and restaurant and never miss a chance to share the love. First thing’s first, the tea is fantastic and the signature blend is only Dhs5. On the food menu there’s loads to sink your teeth into as well, including the likes of shakshouka, Turkish eggs, porrota and more. Get yourself two cheese porrotta and a cup of tea and it will cost you little more than Dhs20 for the combo. Bargain.
Open daily 8am-7pm. Sheikh Bin Zayed the First Street, Mushrif (02 621 7323).
West To West Kitchen
This cosy (by which we mean it has only three tables – that’s instantly charming in itself) spot offers up dishes from Trindidad, Tobago, Sierra Leone and Jamaica. The staff are passionate about the food, every morsel is created with love and you can almost taste the pride in every plate. As regulars here now, we know the ropes and can confidently recommend the succulent goat curry and Jerk chicken, both of which are less than Dhs40 and come in seriously filling portions. This homely restaurant has a place in our hearts for sure and the fiery kick is all we need to keep us rushing back.
Open Mon-Wed noon-9pm, Thu noon-10pm, Fri 3pm-10pm, Sat noon-10pm. Al Bzaymi Street, Al Zahiya (02 671 9119).
