A. Cafeteria Al Liwan, Clara Bicalho, senior

This is one of the few restaurants in Abu Dhabi that offer a variety of typical Damascene dishes. You should definitely try their falafel, beetroot moutabal, fateh hummus and batata harra. Dishes are quite generous and the prices are great. The place has a small, cozy atmosphere and its interior walls are covered in tons of scribbled messages left by past customers. Good for small parties and medium-sized groups.

Address: A bit hard to spot, on the side of the block opposite Al Mazroui hospital.

Phone: 02 622 1255

 

B. Bait El-Khetyar, Krishan Mistry, senior

Stop going to Lebanese Flower. Stop going to Maroosh. Start going to Bait. The hummus might be the best in Abu Dhabi and the shawarma certainly is — if you say the word Foodlands, I will kill you. The place doesn’t have a ton of seating, so it can get quite busy, especially in the evening. Definitely order the hummus, the chicken liver with pomegranate sauce and labneh with garlic. Good for vegetarians and meat-eaters.

Address: On Fatima Bint al Mubarak Street, close to its intersection with Zayed the First Street.

Phone: 02 633 3200

 

C. Russian Kitchen House Cafeteria, Krishan Mistry

This place is a tiny little café that serves up delicious Russian/Ukrainian food. It’s the perfect place to stuff yourself with carbs — on a budget. If you're new to the cuisine, try the herring salad, the pierogie-like vareniki, the ox tongue and the fresh fruit compote.

Address: Try Google maps or Zomato to get a general idea. It's near the Russian embassy, which is near the Royal Meridien Hotel. Ask around or call them once you're in the area.

Phone: 02 674 4342

 

D. Masala, Muhammad Usman, junior

There aren't too many options on the menu at Masala, but don't let that turn you away — this is some of the best Pakistani/North Indian cuisine in Abu Dhabi. The chicken karahi, malai boti and chicken biryani are highly recommended. Make sure you don't miss the keema (lamb) or cheese naan. Almost no vegan or vegetarian options. On weekends, get there before 12 p.m. for the incredible Halwa Puri — fried bread, chickpea curry and sweet carrot-y goodness.

Address: Once on Electra Street, go past Sama Tower for 1 km; it will be on your left.

Phone: 02 633 7748

 

E. Chhappan Bhog Restaurant, Krishan Mistry

Cheap, South Indian street food at its finest. Incredible chaat, dosas, etc., make it a definite standout for budget eats. Try the dahi raj kachori, the coconut rava masala dosa, channa bhatoora, pav bhaji and tripti bhog for dessert.

Address: Behind the ADCB Building on Electra Street.

Phone: 02 677 8864

 

F. Bonna Annee Ethiopian Restaurant, Krishan Mistry

Cheap, delicious and plentiful Ethiopian food all served up on large swathes of tasty injera bread. Plus, visitors will get a relaxed atmosphere and a great social dining experience. Works for large groups. Newcomers should try the doro wet, quanta fir-fir, tibs and gored gored or get a Bonna Annee special to try everything.

Address: Tourist Club Area near Gad Restaurant.

Phone: 02 491 2128

 

G. Besbas, Krishan Mistry

Besbas dishes out cuisine from the fellow Gulf state of Yemen. Although the interior is a little small, the relaxed outdoor seating area makes Besbas a great place to dine with groups of all sizes. Be sure to order the fahsa, a lamb stew with a dash of fenugreek, or the traditional breakfast for a delicious meal served up in a boiling stone bowl. Definitely add a little bit of the white vinegar they have on the tables and the refreshing salsa that they serve alongside it. Other standouts include the grilled fish. Vegetarian options are limited.

Address: In the superblock across the street from the McDonald's in Khalidiya.

Phone: 02 666 2288

 

H. Evergreen Restaurant, Krishan Mistry

I’m not even sure whether there is a printed menu at Evergreen, because I generally order just by saying the number of people that I’m dining with. After you order, the waiters return with silver platters filled with delicious, vegetarian, Gujarati thali, a dish that is composed of a number of different Indian curries served with hot, fried bread. All the food there is unlimited, making it the perfect kind of place to show up with a few friends after a particularly hedonistic Thursday night. Be sure to try the yoghurt drink that is served in carafes on every table.

Address: Near El Dorado cinema.

Phone: 02 6767361

 

I. Sayhoun Oriental Restaurant, Krishan Mistry

I still can’t quite find the words to describe the interior design at Sayhoun, an Uzbek restaurant near Al Mariah Cinema. I can tell you, however, that there is stained glass, a bizarre shelf of decorative artifacts and a television sitting atop an empty fish tank. Regardless, my attention was quickly drawn away from the restaurant’s aesthetic choices when I began to dine on their delicious traditional cuisine. I would suggest ordering the manti, which comprises meat dumplings, samsa, a meat stuffed pastry, plov, which resembles a lamb biryani and chicken kiev, chicken stuffed with butter. Vegetarians should avoid it.

Address: Behind Al Mariah Cinema, on Hamdan Street, Al Markaziyah.

Phone: 02 674 7871

 

J. Ritaj Restaurant, Soichiro Hattori, senior

Hidden in the superblock right opposite Al Safa Supermarket, Ritaj serves the best biryani in the area, hands down. But get ready: feasting at Ritaj is an experience. Once you enter, walk past the crowded first floor and up a cramped set of stairs to the even more crowded dining area. There’s only one family table in the restaurant and tables are shared amongst customers, so don’t think you’ll get a quiet meal here. There’s no menu, so you better know which biryani you want before you call the waiter. Chicken biryani or the tender mutton biryani are classics, but if you’re feeling adventurous get the Spicy Chicken 65 Biryani. Eating with your hands is not only allowed but encouraged for the full experience.

Address: In the superblock across from Al Safa Supermarket, near Sama Tower.

Phone: 02 631 0036

 

K. Anand Al Saeed, Dean Shaff, senior

Do you want to lay down two 20 AED bills and feed yourself along with three of your friends? Come to Anand on the weekends for puri bhaji before noon, and Gujarati thali in the afternoon. Everything is vegetarian, scrumptious and endless. Friendly staff circulate through the place with plates full of hot puris and thali refills. You can quickly find yourself stuffed into a pleasant stupor. Come here with a small group of friends, and leave a little room for some sweets and karak chai.

Address: In the same superblock as Sun and Sand Sports.

Phone: 02 677 5599

 

L. Ortego’s Deli, Dean Shaff

Contemporary interior design and nicely formatted menus belie the reasonable prices and tasty eats at Ortego's Deli. While Ortego's offers a solid range of Filipino options, my personal favorite is the chicken tower. The sweet and spicy marinade makes this dish an interesting and delicious take on grilled chicken. This spot is decidedly not for vegetarians, who will find that the garlic rice is the only viable option on the menu. Come here for a casual date or with a big group of friends.

Address: On Hamdan street behind Emax.

Phone: 02 677 0740