10 Best Local Restaurants in Abu Dhabi

Meylas Emirati Restaurant is all about sharing great local food. It actually started life as a food truck before moving to its great retro-styled location in Al Muneera. It was founded by a young Emirati, Shaikha Al Kaabi, whose goal was to ensure the future of traditional Emirati cuisine.

The highlights of the menu are the Emirati breakfasts, which are said to be the best in Abu Dhabi. However, you’ll also find first-class salads, soups, stews and more here. Meylas translates as 'a place that gathers people', and the food is certainly best enjoyed with a group.

Al Mrzab Restaurant is a great place to feel like you’re being fed in an Abu Dhabi home. The menu is big on great traditional flavours, but the design of the interior is intended to make you feel like you are sitting in the kitchen of a traditional household. That includes an area with comfy floor cushions and low tables.

The menu is mostly Emirati, with dishes like majbous (lamb and rice), harees (boiled wheat), and the house special, mixed mutaban (spicy potato wedges stuffed with spiced meat). However, there’s also a selection of Kuwaiti options, including murabyan (rice with shrimp) and mutabbaq(stuffed pancake).

Freej Swaileh Restaurant has created a reputation for being a great place for locals and expats from surrounding countries to come and hang out. A big reason for that comes from its generous portions of Kuwaiti flavours, especially the ragag, Emirati bread with milk and honey. It’s the house speciality and a must-try, though the karak(milk tea) is also excellent.

The restaurant started life in Kuwait and expanded to open a branch in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi. This branch is quite large, boasting three floors, including one that’s especially suited to families. The decor is traditional, with old-time music playing while you eat.

Al Fanar Restaurant & Cafe recreates the ambience of 1960s Dubai in the super-modern Yas Mall of Abu Dhabi. It’s such a popular place that they have outlets across the Gulf (including in Dubai, Al Ain and Riyadh) as well as in London. The setting is on the classy side, but prices are great and the cuisine is authentically Emirati.

The breakfast trays at Al Fanar Restaurant are particularly good, but the menu also features a full range of other courses. Standout dishes include the Laham tray, which features slow-cooked mutton served on machboos, an Arabian mixed rice dish. The service is very friendly, so feel free to ask the staff for recommendations.

Saudi Kitchen is a very down-to-earth, traditional-style eatery in Al Mushrif. As the name suggests, it specialises in dishes from Saudi Arabia, though other Arabic flavours are also on the menu. The service is welcoming and the atmosphere is busy with locals.

Everything from the portion sizes to the booth sizes makes this a place to enjoy meals together with a group or your family. Highlights include the chicken mandi (a smoky, spiced rice dish), and the mixed salads. Don’t forget to try a luqaimat (sweet dumpling) or two for dessert.

Mosaic Restaurant is the go-to Lebanese eatery in Abu Dhabi, with its unique flavours and outstanding quality. With breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner on the menu, there's plenty to choose from. Popular dishes include the tabbouleh quinoa salad, followed by arayess, meat-stuffed pita, and a kunafah, cheese pastry, for dessert.

The friendly and attentive service at Mosaic gets great reviews, and the outdoor terrace is an added plus. A further branch of the restaurant is located in Al-Najda.

Al Maskoof Al Iraqi Restaurant specialises in Iraqi seafood dishes, mostly prepared in the embers of a large fire that you’ll see as you arrive. As with many Arabic eateries, it’s a place that embraces the group dining experience, with generous portions and a welcoming atmosphere.

As the name suggests, the star dish on the menu is the masgouf, a Mesopotamian carp dish, although the ghouzi, slow-cooked lamb with rice, and bacha, a meatball stew, are also very good. The platter dishes come with salads, mezzes, beverages and desserts included.

Najd Palace Restaurant & Kitchen serves a wide variety of modern and traditional Gulf dishes. Popular choices include the madhbi (Yemeni chicken rice), shakshouka (poached eggs in spicy tomato sauce) and madfoon, an Arabian lamb rice dish. There are plenty of other dishes on the menu and they all exhibit the same high quality and distinct taste.

Founded in 2012, there are a couple of branches of Najd Palace dotted around the city. The experience is consistent across all of them, including great service and an atmosphere of sophistication. The prices, however, remain very reasonable.

Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe is a charming family-style restaurant where you can dine in true Emirati style. 'Grandmother’s house', as the name implies, exudes a warm, welcoming, traditional environment alongside great local cuisine.

Whether you're starting the day with breakfast, lunching alone or dining out with family, the menu here has you covered. Noteworthy mains include majboos and beryani, Emirati spiced rice dishes with meat, chicken or fish, and a dedicated kids' menu. For those with a sweet tooth, there's an extensive dessert menu ranging from traditional Emirati sweets made from dates, nuts and cardamom, to Western-inspired waffles and pancakes.

Wadi Luqaimat and Chebab Restaurant is a vibrantly colourful, family-friendly restaurant serving classic Emirati cuisine. The modern setting is simple yet inviting, and the prices are affordable, making it a great place to stop for budget-friendly eats.

The highlight dishes here are, of course, the luqaimat  (sweet dumplings) and chebab (Emirati pancakes), but don't be fooled by the name. Additionally, there's an extensive menu of both savoury and sweet pastries, sandwiches, wraps and sides, as well as a range of teas, coffees and cooling fruit-based drinks.