Savoring the Local Cuisine: Discovering Abu Dhabi’s Finest Dishes

For centuries, the Arabian Gulf has served as a hub of trade, with its culinary landscape showcasing a rich history of cultural exchanges. Flavors from ancient spice routes and neighboring regions have influenced local cuisine, making ingredients like saffron, cinnamon, cardamom, and loomi (dried lime) essential to traditional dishes. With over 200 nationalities residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) today, the culinary scene offers tastes from nearly every corner of the globe. However, it's worth exploring local favorites, including communal meat and rice platters, fresh seafood from local waters, contemporary interpretations of classic meals, and an array of desserts that cater to the region’s sweet tooth.

Here are our top recommendations for experiencing Arabian Gulf flavors in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE.

A tranquil breakfast experience at Home Bakery

• Location: Umm Al Emarat Park
• Reservations recommended

Umm Al Emarat Park, alive with the sounds of chirping bulbuls and cooing doves, sets the scene for a surprisingly pastoral breakfast right in the heart of the city. Instead of the usual eggs and waffles, dive into Home Bakery’s more adventurous, regionally inspired options. The rolled croissant topped with delicately spiced labneh, pickled eggplant makdous, house-made dukkah, and two poached eggs makes for a delightful start, with the croissant being flaky and buttery, while the toppings offer a mix of salty, spicy, and crunchy flavors for an energizing morning boost. Don’t miss the ful (bean stew), a Middle Eastern classic that is given a smoky twist here. For those with a sweet tooth, the saffron karak French toast is a standout, drizzled with a ganache infused with karak chai, the spiced milk tea adored throughout the region.

Timeless Emirati Delights at the Trendy Meylas

• Location: Al Muneera
• Reservations recommended

Nestled in a contemporary residential complex across the water from the Yas Marina Circuit F1 racetrack, Meylas might not seem like the most obvious spot for an authentic Emirati meal, but the food here is truly genuine. The decor embraces a vintage vibe, featuring a cozy collection of retro knickknacks—enamel plates, vintage soda bottles, and well-worn trunks—along with jars of green mango and preserved lemon pickles, beloved Eagle Brand hot sauce, and clarified ghee, a staple of Emirati cooking, neatly arranged on the shelves. Popular dishes at Meylas include the traditional Emirati breakfast, balaleet, which is sweet vermicelli infused with saffron and cardamom, topped with a delicate omelet. There's also chbab pancakes drizzled with date syrup, local honey, and a sprinkle of processed cheese, alongside the paste-like harees, made from boiled wheat, veal, salt, and ghee—an acquired taste that is a must-try for a true taste of Emirati tradition. Visit during the winter months for salads crafted from thinly sliced leaves of the ghaf, the UAE’s national tree, or savor the wrap made from thin rgaag bread filled with minced camel meat and Emirati spices.

Authentic Arabian Seafood at Beloved Bu Tafish

• Location: Marsa Al Bateen
• Reservations recommended

Step into Bu Tafish and you’ll be welcomed by staff dressed in cheerful captain’s uniforms and sailor attire. However, this isn’t just another quirky seafood restaurant; it’s a cherished Abu Dhabi establishment that has been delighting diners since 1968. Named by the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the name translates roughly to “the one who left home and reached a foreign land.” Located in a modern building by the Marsa Al Bateen marina, the menu features timeless classics that have ensured its popularity, including oven-baked fish, spicy grilled prawns, lemon and garlic calamari, and a rich creamy seafood tajen topped with melted cheese, all of which keep patrons returning for more.

Sophisticated Bahraini Cuisine at Villa Mamas

• Location: Al Rawdah
• Reservations recommended

Situated in the Emirates Red Crescent General Secretariat building, Villa Mamas is a favored spot for government employees during the week and Emirati families on weekends, featuring the culinary creations of chef Roaya Saleh from Bahrain. The restaurant offers an elegant atmosphere where guests are welcomed with Arabic coffee and dates to stimulate their appetite. Begin your meal with creamy hummus drizzled with truffle oil and topped with roasted walnuts, or try the Eggplant Explosion, a zesty blend of eggplant, onion, walnut, and whey sauce. The main courses showcase elevated versions of Gulf classics, such as smoked lamb mansaf, a deconstructed chicken breast machboos, and hammour fish served with herb rice and tamarind sauce. Another reason to visit Villa Mamas is that 20 percent of the restaurant's profits are donated to the Red Crescent to aid humanitarian and development efforts worldwide.

Wholesome Home-style Meats and Flavorful Salads at Al Mrzab

• Location: Airport Road, Al Mushrif
• Reservations recommended

Al Mrzab is always bustling with local families and groups of friends, and for good reason—the restaurant has been serving delicious, family-style Emirati cuisine for over 20 years. In the 51-year history of the UAE, that's quite an achievement. The portions are generous and reasonably priced, and the welcoming staff are eager to guide newcomers through the menu. Don’t miss the maleh salad, featuring chopped salted fish, onion, tomato, lime, and olive oil for a vibrant flavor profile, or the majbous, a fragrant, biryani-like dish of steaming rice topped with meat or fish and a sprinkle of raisins; everything here is a delight. Accompanying the dishes are hot breads from the tandoor oven, plates of local salad leaves, and spicy sauces, making it one of the best introductions to the region's food and hospitality.

Delicious Sweet Fried Dough Balls at Lgymat & Rgag

• Location: Airport Road, Al Mushrif
• No reservation required

Every culture has its take on fried dough, and here in the UAE, it’s luqaimat. Tucked away just a five-minute walk from Mrzab, Lgymat & Rgag is one of the top spots to indulge in these irresistible little dough balls, generously drizzled with dibs (date syrup) and sprinkled with sesame seeds. Deep-fried in hot oil, the luqaimat here boast an exceptionally crispy exterior while remaining surprisingly light inside. Best enjoyed fresh from the fryer, be sure to dive in as soon as they’re served. Even a small order offers around 10 pieces, making it a generous treat. Lgymat & Rgag operates from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. daily, catering to the capital's sweet cravings, with cars frequently lined up outside at all hours.

Decadent, Cheesy Nablusia Kunafa at Al Aqssa Sweets

• Location: Al Zahiyah
• No reservation needed

Kunafa, a beloved dessert made of fine strands of spun pastry with cheese or cream, drizzled with syrup and topped with crushed pistachios, is incredibly popular throughout the Gulf, even though it’s not exclusively an Emirati dish. For 42 years, Al Aqssa Sweets has been crafting traditional Palestinian nablusia kunafa in Abu Dhabi, and it continues to draw crowds. While various kunafa styles exist, many enthusiasts prefer the nablusia version, which uses cheese from Nablus in the West Bank for a unique tangy flavor. At Al Aqssa Sweets, large trays of different kunafa varieties, both crunchy and smooth, sit on stoves in the window, enticing passersby to come in for a taste of this warm, gooey treat. As you ponder whether to choose the crunchier khishnah made with vermicelli-like kataifi dough or the smoother na’ama style made with finely ground pastry, you may be offered a crispy kunafa roll to sample. It’s best enjoyed warm, as it can become hard and rubbery if left to cool, and Al Aqssa Sweets provides a few tables inside for immediate enjoyment.