28 budget restaurants in Abu Dhabi

Automatic Restaurant & Cafeteria
Interestingly located at two venues directly across from each other, Automatic offers affordable yet delicious Lebanese cuisine. Open since 1976, this restaurant serves up great meat and chicken shawarma, mixed grill, and various vegetarian dishes such as hummus and moutabbal for under Dhs50.
Located near Al Mariah Mall on Al Najda street (02 676 9677).

Al Saj Café
Discreetly located off Electra Street, this venue provides numerous types of saj dishes as well as some signature Lebanese ones, with hefty portions and special daily platters offered for lunch during the week. The décor is very basic and resembles a cafeteria, but you can have a home-cooked meal for under Dhs40.
Al Saj Café is located at the ground floor of Al Yasat Tower on Najda Street (02 676 6568).

Tarbouche al Basha
Eat inside the cavernous Souk Central Market or head upstairs to the roof terrace if you fancy a shisha after your meal: either way you’re in for a good feed. Huge, fluffy flatbreads, nine varieties of hummus (we like the Beiruti at Dhs20), plus grilled meats and kebabs at around Dhs50. You can easily stuff yourself for well under Dhs100.
The Souk Central Market (02 628 2220).

Awtar
An obscure location in the Tourist Club Area, this restaurant boasts a rich Lebanese cuisine. Think an assortment of vegetarian dips, grilled chicken and meat, salads, pastries and incredibly generous portions of freshly baked Arabic bread. With a warm interior themed with blue and yellow overtones, this venue is a great spot to get a value meal for two for under Dhs100.
Located behind Abu Dhabi Terminal, Tourist Club Area (02 644 1551).

Tanjara
This delightful restaurant tucked away on the second floor of the Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre is a mix between Lebanese, Iranian and Moroccan fare and they promise that all their food is made on the premises from scratch. Don’t miss the tagines, the lamb shish kebab and the rocca salad.
Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre & Gold Centre, Madinat Zayed (02 627 8644).

Marroush
Essentially a drive-by takeaway, Marroush has fed the addiction of many a shawarma fanatic in the city. It’s also Lebanese Flower’s fiercest rival. The décor might err on the side of efficiency, but the food is consistently satisfying. A fanfare of half-a-dozen bowls of olives, hummus, chillies and pickles accompanies even the smallest order. The kebabs are tasty – the lamb khishkash especially is well-spiced, juicy and delicious. Dinner for two is unlikely to break Dhs70, but unless you speak Arabic you will find yourself pointing at things and nodding ‘yes’ a lot.
Near the Blood Bank, Tourist Club Area (02 621 4434).

Le Boulanger
When you want Arabic grub, it’s not hard to find a backstreet eatery that will serve a great meal for next to nothing. But places where you can enjoy sensational Corniche views while you tuck into your mezze? Le Boulanger might be in a prime location but it hasn’t bumped its prices up to match, so you get to enjoy the waterside sofas overlooking the Corniche and a remarkably low bill.
Breakwater Road (055 324 8043).

Just Falafel
For some of the best falafel in the capital, this outlet does a great job. The menu is somewhat limited – you certainly can’t accuse them of false advertising – it really is just falafel, usually smothered in a variety of sauces. Nevertheless, it is tasty and a lot better than the dry, tasteless hunks of chickpea meal we’ve sampled in the city and they’ve just opened their new store in Muroor. A selection box will set you back a mere Dhs8.
Mubadala Building, Muroor (02 445 0292).

Lebanese Flower
Seriously tasty and always buzzing, the Khalidiyah branch in particular feels like a rustic kitchen. It’s probably one of the dearer Lebanese outfits, but a shish taouk with hummus, soup and a glass of juice will still only set you back Dhs49. Meanwhile, a cheerful man wanders the restaurant dishing out huge discs of fresh, hot Arabic bread like some benevolent king. Forget the fries, they’re always lousy, but the kebabs are succulent and delicious.
Salam Street, Tourist Club Area (02 645 6338).

Saudi VIP
Expect whopping portions of Saudi food in a cosy setting at Saudi VIP. The décor is quaint and nomadic, with sheepskins, Bedouin decorative features and even little partitioned private dining areas with majlis seating. Everything will be served Arabian-hospitality style. By this we don’t just mean generous, we mean enough for four! Try the lamb madfoon – a giant helping of deliciously savoury rice topped with the most tender, succulent bit of lamb.
Behind Corniche Towers, Khalidiyah (02 665 5355).

Seafood
Bu Tafish
One of the oldest restaurants in the city, Bu Tafish advertises itself as offering Arabic seafood. Preparing an enormous selection of freshly caught fish, the venue can be somewhat surreal with its over-the-top nautical theme. Check out the fried Sultan Ibrahim and the grilled sea bream.
Located on Hamdan Street in the Tourist Club Area (02 677 7780) and Khalifa City A (02 556 5477).

Al Sayad Marine Restaurant & Grills
With a capacity to seat just ten people, this venue is unsurprisingly always packed, with guests waiting to be seated outside. There is no menu, but the owner will let you know what sort of seafood is available that day and it can be prepared to your liking. An excellent choice for seafood lovers, we recommend trying the Speciale dish, featuring fish caught in Ras Al Khaimah and grilled with a very spicy sauce.
Located in the Mina Zayed, port, area (02 673 3711).

Egyptian
Abu Shakra
We stumbled across this honest little Egyptian cafeteria dishing out crisp falafel, fragrant tabbouleh and oil-drenched moussaka 24 hours a day for slightly less than a pittance and we love it. The staff are very friendly and the interior is pleasingly large and clean.
Estiqlal Street, opposite Panda Panda (02 633 7849); Tourist Club Area, behind Blood Bank (02 644 7770).

Asian
The Royal Vegetarian
Nestled among a labyrinth of chaat counters and Asian eateries, this tiny hole in the wall may have something of a humble exterior, but venture inside and decent Indian food for little more than Dhs8 a dish is your reward. At Dhs10, the full thali, which includes curd, soup, bread and vada (a fried lentil patty), is a great deal.
Off Hamdan Street, behind Sun and Sand Sports (02 678 7272).

Hanoi Café
Regardless of price, this is one of the best Asian restaurants in the capital. A Vietnamese cafeteria at heart, it is usually full to bursting – and for good reason. The noodle soups are excellent and start at around Dhs25. It takes 12 hours to make the broth, the menu boasts excitedly. We believe them – it’s like noodle soup for the soul. The vermicelli salads are likewise superb, but start with a plate of traditional goi, pickled vegetables and peanuts, and just go from there. There are a few dearer items on the menu, but two can eat very handsomely for less than Dhs100.
Khalifa St (02 626 1120).

Han Kang
Hidden in the grounds of the Abu Dhabi City Golf Club, Han Kang is an understated affair. Most of its menu is based on just having one dish. For our meal we tucked into steamed rice with veg and an egg in a hot stone pot and steamed rice with squid in a chilli sauce. Our order came with plenty of extras, including a spinach soup, various plates of pickles such as kimchi and a cold cinnamon and ginger tea to wash it all down with.
19th Street, Al Saada Street, (050 424 7720).

Hot Plate
A great place to chow down on some Asian food, Hot Plate offers a rich menu of Chinese, Thai and Indian dishes. Great value for money, this restaurant serves up authentic regional dishes with a special kick for spice lovers. Friendly staff are always available for recommendations for those daunted by such a large menu, although we recommend the chicken biryani and the grilled hammour tikka.
Hot Plate is located at the food court in the Mina Center Mall (02 676 5488) and has a branch in Mussafah (02 552 1277).

Beijing
The scene here is basic: a few prints and a bubbling fish tank count as décor, but Beijing is busy, inexpensive and authentic. The food is very good and the huge servings mean that two mains, rice and a starter to share will only having you fishing for little more than Dhs80 from your wallet. The wontons are a good choice and there are plenty of delightful dim sum to choose from including the pan-fried variety with sesame sauce for a bargain Dhs15. Try the beef with black mushrooms and pancakes, in particular; it’s like a cheap, tasty version of Peking duck. At last count, the population of the city of Beijing exceeded 17 million. By the looks of it, most of them eat here.
Madinat Zayed (02 621 0708).

Asian Garden
Hidden behind a Bollywood movie theatre, Asian Garden is a no-frills gem with most dishes costing less than Dhs15. While the décor is simple and the tables Formica, the food is anything but plastic. Full-flavoured Filipino and Chinese cuisine makes up the bulk of the menu, but Thai is its speciality. The chicken green curry is perfection incarnate, although liable to take the roof off your mouth if you opt for the hot version,
while the pad Thai is likewise excellent.
Electra Street (02 676 3350).

The Curry House
Hidden in the chasms of Electra Street, this Indian-Nepalese-Chinese establishment is almost legendary and a pretty decent enough joint, as long as you don’t mind practically eating out of your partner’s lap – the interior, although well presented, is a touch cramped when it’s busy. The Himalayan mystical momos (a Nepalese version of dim sum, served with a thick and rich tomato relish) is a pale imitation of the real thing; we also found the curries a little stodgy (not to mention lava-hot) for our liking, but if you’re in the area and fancy bloating your belly at an incredibly low price, you can fill up for the rest of the day for less than Dhs60.
Behind Janata Bank, Electra Street (02 632 8860).

Pakistani
Al Fujairah
The delicious nosh reels in a diverse clientele of Pakistani regulars, well-heeled locals and the occasional Westerner. The hearty food would certainly make good fuel for trekking the mountains of Peshawar, with chewy bread and pots of meaty curry. The cooks can be too generous with the ghee, though, and clarified butter pools atop the signature chicken kadai. There are also few cheaper eateries in the capital.
Electra Street (02 677 5628).

Indian
Ruchi
If you want authentic Indian fare that is excellent value for money then look no further than Ruchi. Butter chicken is one of their best dishes and their take on it comprises of a rich, thick and creamy sauce with a tantalising sweetness. The chicken is shredded, so the charred, smokey flavours permeate the curry, giving it a rich, warming depth – perfect scooped up with a big piece of crispy naan. All for
the bargain price of Dhs15.
Hamdan Street, behind Al Mariah Cineplex (02 633 3434).

Evergreen Vegetarian Restaurant
From the outside it doesn’t resemble much more than another shabby cafeteria. But inside, the interior sparkles with white tiled walls, a case of fresh Indian desserts, and tables packed with trays of condiments. The veggie fare, particularly the thali, is some of the best in the city, offering a rotating selection of dishes like tempered black lentils and spicy cauliflower curry. The prices are obscenely cheap for food of this calibre. With samosa priced as low as Dhs4, you’ll almost be sure to get change from a Dhs20 note.
Electra Street (02 676 7361).

Saravanaa Bhavan
This cheap as chickpeas Indian is a thriving, bustling place well worth visiting at night. Part of a chain with restaurants all over the world, the food is authentic and tasty, despite only making a small dent on your wallet. The décor is simple, with diner style chairs and a massive glass wall separating the customers from the busy kitchen staff. It’s street food in a mall. The menu is massive and full of dishes that clearly embrace old recipes and the spirit of home cooking. Its plain exterior means it’s more often than not overlooked by many passers-by, which clearly is their loss. Make sure you try the puris. TOAD ate there recently and paid Dhs50 for a hearty meal for two.
Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre (02 632 3885).

Italian
Pizza Amore
The décor is the kind of rustic Italy that exists only in the minds of people who have never been there. Never mind, because the menu at Pizza Amore is decent, if eclectic – more than one pizza boasts a topping of caviar – and costs as little as Dhs25 no less. Now that’s amore, if not Beluga. With over 35 pizzas and as many pasta dishes on the menu, the quality is fair and the bill shouldn’t add up to more than Dhs100.
Opposite Abu Dhabi Mall, Tourist Club Area (02 644 9990).

De Thali
This cute Indian restaurant is Tanjara’s sister and they share a kitchen. The menu is quite small but there are some great options to choose from. Make sure you order the nawabi mutton korma. This is their standout dish and it’s the most expensive item on the menu (for the bargain price of Dhs24). Delicious pieces of chargrilled lamb are covered in the most divine korma sauce that is rich and full of flavour.
Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre & Gold Centre, Madinat Zayed (02 627 8644).

Ethiopian
Bonna Annee
Tucked away among the dingy shops off Al Salam Street, this tiny little eatery looks more like a café than a restaurant. Order the Bonna Annee Special and you’ll be served up a large plate bearing injera – the traditional pancake like flat bread. With it will come bowls of the various wat, which are the spicy meat and vegetable stews on offer. At Dhs35, you’re guaranteed to go home with a spring in your step.
Salam Street, Tourist Club Area (02 491 2128).