12 Great Lebanese Restaurants In Abu Dhabi

ABDEL WAHAB

SOUQ AT QARYAT AL BERI

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If you’re looking for some of the best Lebanese food in Abu Dhabi, in an amazing location with superb views and staff, Abdel Wahab is a good choice.  Located on the Maqta Creek, views of the Grand Mosque are excellent, and in the evening, the whole area is lit up with fairy lights, making it the perfect spot to enjoy a shisha, a drink and some incredible Arabic food.

Grab a great mocktail, an Al Maza beer or a glass of good Lebanese wine and get stuck in - sharing is encouraged! What are our favourite dishes? To start, the muhammara is absolutely gorgeous, while the shanklish offers a great alternative to a fattouch salad - the fresh feta/tomato combo is one to love! Die hard Lebanese food lovers will love the birds, and we highly rate the chicken livers which are amongst the best in Abu Dhabi. 

For mains, the mixed grill is great, but we love the excellent meat skewers and the very juicy shish taouk.  Fish lovers will enjoy the hammour Provencal, a very light, lemony dish, the fish perfectly cooked.  

Save room for dessert! The halawet al jibn is an incredible Lebanese dessert, while everyone loves the ghazl el banet, ice cream covered with the Arabic answer to candy floss - it’s beautiful and should be top of your list!  

Abdel Wahab is definitely one of the best Arabic restaurants in Abu Dhabi, made all the more attractive for its indoor smoking area.  

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Open: daily | 12PM - 12AM 

Contact: 02 558 1616

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LI BEIRUT

CONRAD ABU DHABI ETIHAD TOWERS

25% off with BB+

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Li Beirut is Michelin Guide selected year after year for a very good reason.  It’s a favourite Lebanese restaurant choice for Sheikh Mohammed, for the quality of its food and service.  

The food is a step up making it one of the best Lebanese restaurants in Abu Dhabi. 

The menu has some really clever twists so be sure to hit these high spots ...

We’ll preface this by saying that everything is good: the stunningly beautiful beetroot moutabal, the tabbouleh, the very smooth and delicious hummous ... but it was the muhammara that steals our hearts, and another inch of our waistlines: hold the bowl close and luxuriate in the flavours of walnuts and cashews, pomegranate molasses, the smoky bell peppers which give it that ahmar colour.

The savoury pastries are great, especially the meat sambusek, stuffed with lamb and pine nuts, and the lemony chicken wings were also a hit. But making the 'going-on-my-top-5-dishes-in-Abu-Dhabi' list are the prawns rolled in kunafah dough. The subjects are fat and juicy and the dough added a textural brilliance - absolutely sublime. Definitely some of the best Lebanese food in Abu Dhabi. 

The mixed grill is excellent with the stand out being a toss-up between the shish taouk and the lamb chops. The shislik - sliced meat - has the best char on it, which adds so much to the flavour, making it a dish to remember - crunchy but perfectly cooked.

Finish with some great cheese kunafah and the very different chocolate sambusek - sambusek dough filled with a chocolate custard and drizzled with caramel sauce. Even if you're full, do try these, they're a really great twist on the traditional desserts.

The terrace has great views over to the cute little island and the city and it always has a good vibe, making it a spot you need to add to your 'must-try' list for Arabic food in Abu Dhabi. 

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Open: daily | 7PM - 11:30PM

Contact: 02 811 5666

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GRAND BEIRUT

AL QANA | THE GALLERIA

20% off with BB+

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While both  the Grand Beirut locations are spectacular, the one that steals our hearts is the Al Qana branch, which we think offers one of the best Lebanese food experiences in Abu Dhabi.  

If you live off island and are looking for a great Lebanese restaurant near you, Grand Beirut Al Qana is worth checking out, not least for its waterside location, Insta-worthy interior and well-priced, authentic Lebanese menu. The decor is upscale and pretty: hundreds of pink flowers hang from the ceiling and the spacious dining area with large glass windows showcases stunning views of the water and the Grand Mosque. The open kitchen adds to the lively atmosphere, allowing us to watch the chefs at work. What’s not to love?

The tender stuffed vine leaves (warak arish) are rich in flavour and the moutabal Jnoubeh is also notable, topped with smoky fried eggplant cubes, a lovely pomegranate molasses and a sprinkling of walnuts. Warm freshly baked bread was is served with the starters and topped up regularly - there’s nothing more delicious than this!

The mixed grill is a stand-out, big enough to share, with a couple of sides. All four meats, lamb chops, shish taouk, lamb loin and kofta were seasoned and cooked very well. Authentic Lebanese food lovers will enjoy the kebbeh ajamy (AED56), a deep-fried beef patty with a crispy toast-like coating, soft centered and comforting especially served with smoky grilled eggplant, topped with cherry and pomegranate molasses and a walnut sauce. Sidenote: you have to get the batata bil felfol, potatoes to die for!

For dessert we love the upscale millefeuille: the crispy puff pastry is layered with a beautifully light, sweet cream and pistachios and adorned with candy floss - super pretty and a fun way to end the meal. The kunafah is always good and definitely a great way to finish an Arabic meal. 

Don’t overlook the mocktails! Both the sour twist and the magic lemonade look and taste amazing.

The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and parking in Al Qana is a breeze. There's a large free car park across the road and Grand Beirut’s second floor location means you get a great view of the Grand Mosque and the Maqta Creek. In the winter, the expansive terrace makes it an amazing place to smoke shisha and enjoy some of the best Lebanese food in Abu Dhabi.

If you love good quality Lebanese food at an affordable price, lovely views and exceptional service, add Grand Beirut to your list, you won’t be disappointed.

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Timing: 9AM - 12AM (Monday - Friday) 9AM - 12:30AM (Saturday & Sunday)

Contact: 050 442 9211

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BEIRUT SUR MER

MAMSHA AL SAADIYAT

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Beirut Sur Mer offers excellent Lebanese food but also ticks off some other key wishes for diners: 

The views over Mamsha Beach are gorgeous

The interior is completely Instagrammable 

The terrace outside is perfect for your Lebanese food fix in winter

The menu is authentic and varied and while Lebanese at heart, encompasses some really great fusion elements.  Our favourite dishes? The mezze wins the day, every day: superb arayes, the meatballs with the most glorious fig-based sauce. There’s also a superb house specialty, the hummous BSM with sports the most delicious apricot salsa and the moutabbal Jnoubi is also great. Don’t miss the  delectable lime potato salad with basterma. 

Desserts are stand-out, both in terms of presentation and taste. The baklawa, the kunafah and the muhalabiyeh with jelly were all dreamy! We also love the millefeuille, whose layers of ashta cream and delicate pastry are swoon worthy. 

It doesn’t matter which direction you face, there’s a view - either across the beach  to the unbelievable azure Gulf or to the decor in the restaurant which is pretty/funky. You’ll finish your meal with an excellent shisha, which can either be enjoyed on the terrace, an excellent mocktail or a glass of good wine or beer.  Beirut Sur Mer really is the full package and this is what makes it one of the best Arabic restaurants in Abu Dhabi. 

Open: 9AM - 12AM (Sunday - Thursday) 9AM - 1AM (Friday & Saturday)

Contact: 054 395 4000

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ZAHRAT LEBNAN

DEFENCE ROAD

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Lebanese Flower is one of Abu Dhabi’s oldest, most popular and most affordable Lebanese restaurants. But what to order when you go there?

First, the falafel is arguably the best in town: crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside and entirely too good, The hummus Beiruti is a must - it’s smoothness is unparalleled, and chicken livers with pomegranate sauce - sweet, piquant and a must for liver fans. Another must try is the chicken shawarma fatteh, a great mix of yoghurt, meat and of course that delectable chicken! 

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Open: daily | 8AM - 3AM

Contact: 600 500 502

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BAIT AL KHETYAR

AL DANAH

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If it’s amazing Arabic food you’re looking for, Abu Dhabi is lucky enough to have some of the best, and Beit el Khetyar stands out! 

When the Best Bites community is asked about the best shawarma in town, Beit el Khatyar is always the popular choice. The shawarma alkhtyar is our absolute favourite, as they bake their bread fresh and then stuff it with the perfect ratio of chicken, sauce, fries and pickle, toasting each side of the bread on the flat top. It’s worth noting that all the bread is made fresh. Beit el Khetyar has one major point in its favour too - it’s very affordable and absolutely delicious!

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Open: daily | 7AM - 12AM

Contact: 02 633 3200 / 02 449 9916

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ALLO BEIRUT

NAJDA | WAITROSE MALL KCA

15% off with BB+

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If you’re after a no-fuss Lebanese restaurant that delivers on taste and quality, Allo Beirut is the place to go! They pop up time and time again when the topic of best shawarma in town is debated, and you can’t miss the lamb machboos and crispy falafel either. 

Perfect for lunch on the go - if you’re looking for a Lebanese restaurant nearby, you’ll find their Najda and Khalifa City locations super convenient - we also love them for a cheap and cheerful dinner. Cheerful they are: the staff are so friendly, and their clean-as-a-whistle restaurants have a fun vibe as the busy waiters bustle past and check in on their patrons. Enjoy the open kitchen and plenty of upstairs/downstairs seating at the Najda location as the busy Abu Dhabi streets hum by outside - and scoop every last dollop of garlic dip onto fresh pita as you do!  

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Open: daily | 8AM - 12:30AM

Contact: 800 862 347 88

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MOSAIC

NAHYAN CAMP

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Touted as one of the best Lebanese restaurants in Abu Dhabi by Lebanese foodies, Mosaic almost has a ‘dining under the stairs’ feel about it but the decor is absolutely class and so interesting.  

But it’s the food that is the star of the show here.

Start with hummus with meat - a showstopper of a dish - it’s not true to say that hummus is hummus: some rise up above  the clouds and this is one! We also recommend the makanik - little sausages not to be confused with sujouk - and the gorgeous chicken liver. Another must-try is the fatet batenjan, a mix of eggplant, yogurt, pine seeds and toasted bread that, out together is the ultimate in comfort food. 

Mosaic is known for its vine leaves with zucchini: these are cooked so well, are so tender and beautiful that even the fussiest diners are satisfied. 

In terms of dessert, we love the rice pudding with pistachio ice cream - another great exercise in  comfort eating, it’s rich, creamy and entirely delicious.  

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Open: 7AM - 11:30PM (Saturday - Thursday) 1:30PM - 11:30PM (Friday)

Contact: 02 622 6122

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MAMOURA

MARSANA AL HUDAYRIAT

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With one of the best positions on Hudayriat Island, this restaurant and lounge is located on prime real estate: a relaxed meal with a view, coming right up! The outdoor terrace is hot property during the cooler months, but inside you’ll find an equally lovely backdrop to your next Lebanese feast. Tuck into all the classics: hot and cold mezze, generous mixed grills perfect for sharing and shawarma. 

Another feather in Mamoura’s cap? Shisha! The team pride themselves on the quality of their shisha, and whether you’re in the mood to relax with a mocktail as the sun sets, or want to bring friends for a taste of the Middle East in a beachside location that’s hard to beat, this is one you’ll want to remember. 

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Open: daily | 12PM - 2AM

Contact: +971 56 537 2000

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STOUFF BEIRUT

WTC MALL

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If you’re looking for incredible Arabic restaurant in Abu Dhabi, put Stouff Beirut at the top of your list. Chef Sharbel leads the talented team in the kitchen and creates innovative dining experiences fusing different flavours and cooking techniques from around the globe. The kitchen is an open concept and equipped with a Josper grill and an open wood fire grill and oven.  

They have a full-service bar that includes creative cocktails, beer, wine and mocktails. We started the evening with The Sherlock cocktail. It arrives at the table under a smoke-filled glass cloche, lifted to reveal a delicious gin-based cocktail with pink grapefruit, sage syrup, and citrus bitters.

When it comes to the food, the menu is quite large. Most dishes are reasonably priced but if you want to splurge, there are options for this too. To make the most of the experience, we would suggest ordering a bunch of dishes to share. 

Start in true Lebanese style with a selection of hot and cold mezze. The complex and beautiful Armenian wheat salad is packed with bright notes of tomato and lemon, while the beef escabeche salad with cured, pickled beef is incredibly tender and melts in your mouth! The shashlik kebab is packed full of juicy meat and spices and the kebab bel karaz with sour cherry glaze is also something not to miss. There’s a whole page on the menu dedicated to meat tartars and wow do these not disappoint! The show stopping Wagyu tartar is made tableside: even the beef is ground to order and while it’s mustard forward, it leaves enough room for the 120-day aged Australian Waygu to shine. This is a splurge dish! The teble truffle tartar is hand-pounded until the beef becomes so creamy, you won’t even believe it’s beef. The potence de boeuf is dinner with a show! The beef tenderloin is hung on a steel hook, flame-kissed, and then mixed into a pot of cheese fondue and roasted potatoes. Not for the faint of heart, this dish is decadent and delicious! The desserts are mostly Arabic classics and all made in-house and all extremely good!

They have a soft play area for kids with a dedicated nanny. It had a ball pit, a soft climbing area, and tons more things to keep the little ones occupied while the parents feast! The beautiful terrace is inspired by the Mediterranean and is the perfect spot to enjoy a post-dinner shisha. They have a spectacular cedar tree, an ode to Lebanon, decorated with stunning decorations.

Stouff Beirut should not be overlooked when it comes to choosing a good Lebanese restaurant in Abu Dhabi, it’s some of the best Arabic food we have to offer!

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Open: daily | 12:30PM - 1:30AM

Contact: WhatsApp 0566884042

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AL SAFADI

AL QANA

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It was an exciting day, the day Al Safadi opened in Abu Dhabi at Al Qana. Die hard Lebanese food enthusiasts love this great Arabic restaurant in Abu Dhabi for its amazing Lebanese food as well as it’s affordable, reasonable pricing.  

Another great draw for Lebanese food lovers is that they cater for vegans! What to order?

The hummus with meat and fries is absolutely sublime, while the  kebab khashkkash is a great meatless option. The stuffed lamb is mouthwatering and lovers of tabbouleh will swoon over this version while the lamb chops are an absolute don’t miss! 

There’s plenty of indoor and outdoor seating with beautiful views of the canal and it also offers great shisha. Those in the know swear by the lemon mint mocktail too!

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Open: daily | 9AM - 1AM

Contact: 600 500 601

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LEBANESE TERRACE

EMIRATES PALACE MANDARIN ORIENTAL

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If you’re on the Corniche and looking for a great Lebanese restaurant near you, it’s hard to go past the excellent Lebanese Terrace at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental. This fine dining outlet serves some of the best Lebanese food in Abu Dhabi, with quality of ingredients playing a major role.  The restaurant is licensed and has an extensive wine list, as well as gorgeous views and impeccable service.  It’s a super option if you’d like a Lebanese meal that’s a cut above the rest. 

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Open: daily | 12:30PM - 11PM

Contact: 02 690 7999

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