One of the greatest things about living in a cosmopolitan city is getting to experience new and exotic cultures, and the nation’s capital attracts a fair share of expats from all over the world. If you want to learn something new, forget the phrase book and pick up a fork. Food is a tasty way to get a bite of a new culture and, luckily, our city is replete with eateries offering authentic treats from faraway lands. We scoped out some ethnic restaurants that promise to bring tastes of home to the city
Korean
Sura
Tucked within a block in the middle of Tourist Club Area is a little eatery that serves Korean dishes, along with international and some Japanese bites. The venue is very neat and cosy, and the service surpasses many restaurants in attentiveness. Our waitress was genuinely helpful and recommended a few dishes to sample. With a growing Korean population in Abu Dhabi, there are more outlets serving this cuisine. The kimchi dishes were vegetables packed with chili sauce that added a nice kick to each bite. The haemool bokkum is a plate of seafood and vegetables served very spicy. The chili has a noticeable bite, so warn the waitress if you have trouble handling food with a punch.
We recommend: haemool bokkum; it’s seafood that will knock your socks off.
Cristal Salaam Hotel Abu Dhabi, Tourist Club Area (02 659 7666).
Pakistani
Hot Plate
Although the city is not short on Pakistani eateries, this venue has a chef that will delight your taste buds with his creations. The mall eatery is rather drab looking, but take a stab at the rich menu and you will find some authentic wonders waiting for you. There are several chefs cooking here, and the Pakistani chef will bring a taste of his Asian home to your plate. Service here is impeccable and the waiters are very friendly and will help you decide on an item if the four page menu daunts you. Do note though that the meal takes a while to prepare, as everything is made fresh.
We recommend: the chicken biryani is a hefty meal that will keep you full for hours.
Food court in the Mina Centre Mall (02 676 5488).
Yemini/Emirati
Moodgood restaurant
Emanating from Yemeni and Emirati cuisines, the dishes served at this unassuming diner in Mamoura are reminiscent of the large stews that used to be prepared in the desert cooking rice and meat slowly under the sand with hot coals. Of course the venue doesn’t serve the meals using hot coals, instead, this eatery has a large kitchen with tons of pressure cookers and a bustling staff working tirelessly. Each dish is meant to be shared, with chicken, beef or lamb piled on a mountain of rice, which is accompanied by a nice side of yogurt and a spicy tomato sauce that complements the meal exquisitely.
We recommend: the lamb moodgood but make sure you have time to nap afterwards.
Muroor Road, behind National Bank of Abu Dhabi (02 491 8118).
Armenian
Al Mayass restaurant
Al Mayass does a great job of capturing the fusion flavours of Armenian cuisine and presenting them with flair. Set in a hidden location in the Sheraton, this restaurant has a rich menu of Lebanese and Armenian delights. The setting is simple and the service is accommodating and the friendly waiters will help navigate the menu. Everything we ordered was superb and the salads were full of fresh vegetables and packed with flavour. Particularly memorable was the beetroot moutabbal and the house specialty kabab be karaz (minced lamb doused with sweet cherry sauce).
Recommended dish: it has to kebab be karaz; it’s a great blend of sweet and savoury.
Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort, Al Markaziyah (02 677 3333).
Egyptian
Abu Shakra
A large portion of the Arab expat community in the city are Egyptian, and while many venues are often labelled as serving ‘Arabic’ cuisine, this venue offers authentic Egyptian food. One of the most ethnic dishes you can get from Egypt is called ‘Koshari’. This dish is an interesting concoction of rice, pasta, grains and it gets doused in tomato sauce, as well as a very spicy red sauce. Both sauces come on the side, so you can choose to dress your meal as you see fit. Known as the ‘poor man’s dinner’, this cheap treat is a hefty meal and tastes great.
We recommend: Koshari! It’s not be missed!
Al Markaziyah West (02 631 3400).
North Indian
Darbar
Strolling past this venue in Tourist Club Area, one might not be tempted to venture inside, however if you enjoy the rich tastes and flavours of Indian cuisine, then you should definitely try the cheap eats at this place. The service is friendly, and there is a family section as most of the visitors are men. However, once you have taken a seat and are ready to indulge in some interesting dishes, you will be pleasantly surprised by the many courses available here. The vegetarian masalas are excellent, as well as the chicken curry.
We recommend: the bindi masala is full of fresh okra served in a spicy sauce that will delight your senses
Tourist Club Area (02 645 2221).
Indonesian
Sari Rasa
This venue is almost like a secret club of culinary wonders. To get to the dining room, you have to navigate down some stairs to the basement level. Most of the regulars are Indonesian expats, but the food is so superb that we have made several trips to this venue. Every day, meals are prepared and served in a buffet at the side, and customers can walk in and fill their plate as they wish. We tried a variety of dishes, most of which we can’t pronounce the names of, but particularly memorable was a spicy beef and seafood with chili.
We recommend: any of their spicy dishes! Everything served here is delicious.
Al Reyami Building, Tourist Club Area (02 644 9110).
Syrian
Al Sham
Located near the KIA Showroom on Salaam Street, this Syrian venue promises to bring you authentic tastes of the Levant. While you may find many items on the menu similar to a Lebanese eatery, note that some dishes are done with slight changes that make the experience totally different. For example, we tried the foul mudammas, which served the Syrian way is full of more tahina and spices. The venue also serves an excellent fateh with aubergine, as well as great grilled meats.
We recommend: the foul; it’s vegetarian, delicious and wholesome.
Salaam Street, Tourist Club Area (02 674 1337).
Russian
Russian Kitchen House
Situated right near the embassy, this quirky little eatery has a surprising menu that will tickle your taste buds. A Russian lady tends the tiny kitchen and will cook up a storm for you full of starch and comfort food that will have you feeling nice and dozy. We tried a rice plov, which came almost like a very thick risotto and was packed with flavour. The cook is extremely friendly and will make you feel right at home in this unique ethnic eatery.
We recommend: the plov is a delightful pilaf full of flavour served in a huge portion.
Khalifa Street, behind the Russian Embassy, Al Markaziyah (02 674 4342).
