Looking for the cheap eats in Abu Dhabi? The capital is home to countless fantastic, and often high-end, restaurants. Yet it’s the cheap spots that have captured the most hearts in this city.
In fact, it’s a safe bet that since you moved here, you’ve eaten better than you ever have done in your whole life. And it’s actually quite easy to enjoy an amazing, high-quality meal without paying over the odds.
We all enjoy the occasional splash-out, but most of the time all we want is some excellent food in a place where it’s quite acceptable to wear an old band t-shirt and trainers. Your friends are going to love you for bringing them to one of these awesome budget spot for top cheap eats in Abu Dhabi.
Aroy Dee
Authentic Thai food that’s also cheap and delicious? We must be talking about Aroy Dee. These awesome dishes wouldn’t feel out of place at a Phuket street market and most of the mouth-watering mains come in around Dhs35. Go for red curry, roasted duck or pad Thai. This place is Dee-lightful.
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Open daily 11am-midnight. Electra St (behind the ADCB head office),(02 666 5461).
Bait El Khetyar
Bait El Khetyar is one of the best known budget restaurants in Abu Dhabi for a reason. If you’re looking for cheap food in Abu Dhabi, many a seasoned resident will point you towards Hamdan Street to try the falafel, shawarma, hummus and other top Arabic specialties there.
For the best hummus in Abu Dhabi, click here.
Open daily, 7am-1am. Hamdan Street, (02 449 9916).
Bonna Annee
If you’re after cheap food in Abu Dhabi, this unassuming Ethiopian eatery is a wonderful introduction to a very tasty cuisine. The portions are huge, with most dishes based around stews and curries served on top of injera, a traditional sourdough bread. Order a Bonna Annee special and you’ll be treated to a sample of each house signature dish, or the staff will happily explain what everything is on the rest of the menu.
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Al Salam Street, Al Zahiya (02 491 2128).
Bu Tafish
Established in 1968, this restaurant has to be one of the oldest in the city. It started life as a street food stall by the Corniche, run by a Palestinian immigrant. Now you’ll find branches across the city. The no-frills dishes include the freshest fish you’ll ever have tasted, and starting proceedings with the signature Bu Tafish soup is a must. Next we recommended the grilled open shrimps and seabass with singari seasoning, but there’s also calamari, cold mezze and loads more to choose from. This is some of the best cheap eats in Abu Dhabi.
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Various locations, including Al Marasy, Al Bateen (02 304 8114).
Burro Blanco
This casual Mexican doesn’t rely on stylish décor or fancy gimmicks to attract its customers, not when it produces some of the finest burritos that the capital has to offer. You could be forgiven for walking past this Al Khalidiya outlet without realising it’s there, like many of the places that serve the best cheap eats in Abu Dhabi, but that’s part of the charm. There are few things better in the world than the avocado fritas here. Yes please.
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Zayed the First Street, Al Khalidiya (02 309 3911).
Dragon Bao Bao
Love Chinese food? You’ve got to try this little joint on Hamdan Street. It specialises in hand-pulled noodles, made by twisting, stretching and folding dough into strands. The steamed bao bao buns are unmissable. These are some great cheap eats in Abu Dhabi.
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Hamdan Steet, Al Markaziyah (02 674 2235).
Hankook
Hankook is always a hive of activity, for good reason. In short, this is some of the best cheap eats in Abu Dhabi. The atmosphere here is almost unmatched in the capital and the chefs rustle up a dazzling array of Korean dishes served with minimum fuss but maximum flavour. The menu is made for sharing so be sure to bring your mates and try lots of dishes.
For Time Out’s full review of Hankook click here.
Open daily 11am-2.30pm and 5pm-11pm. Opposite the Central Bus Station, Al Nahyan (02 642 3399).
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 be waddling back to your car. Hungry for cheap eats? Look no further.
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Open daily 6am-3am. Al Nahyan, (02 443 2828).
Mosaic
If you’re looking for authentic Lebanese food, this is the spot you’ve been searching for. The understated venue in the Embassies District is quaint and decked out with pretty decorations. Wondering what kind of cheap eats in Abu Dhabi you’ll be getting? The classics like kibbeh, fattoush and hummus are all totally superb, and the freshly made manakish comes with every topping you can imagine.
Click here for the best fried chicken in Abu Dhabi.
Guardian Towers, Embassies District (02 622 0909).
Pizza Di Rocco
If you’re hungry for cheap eats in Abu Dhabi, this place offers the best value pizzas in the city without having to cut corners when it comes to quality ingredients. The starters and salads are definitely worth your time if you’re looking for a light lunch or something to start off with, but obviously it’s the pizzas that will really leave you satisfied.
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Al Salam Street, Al Dhafrah pizzadirocco.com (02 885 3222).
Punjab Highway
Punjab Highway will fast-track your taste buds to great places. The food here proves that you don’t have to inflate prices just because your chefs are worth their weight in gold. Each and every dish is absolutely bang on here, whether you plump for a curry, daal, chaat, biryani or any of the other enticing options for some of the best cheap eats around. At Dhs22, the lunch combos are a real snip.
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Opposite Electra Park, Al Zahiyah, (02 641 1165).
Shay Madhboot
This petite and very popular café is only big enough to hold four tables, so count yourself lucky if you manage to get one of the much-sought-after spots at this budget restaurant. Takeaway orders are dished out efficiently too. Go for the shakshouka, which is utterly wonderful, flavoured delicately with spices and served in a huge metal pan. It totally deserves its legendary reputation, and whether you’re visiting or a long-term resident, make sure you check it out for a lazy weekend breakfast.
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Dihan Street, Al Muroor (02 621 7323).
