Indian Cuisine In Abu Dhabi – The Best Restaurants To Try

From budget options to high-end restaurants, Abu Dhabi is bursting with Indian flavour - and we can't get enough!

Don't be snobby and risk missing some of the best hidden gems the city has to offer: downtown Abu Dhabi offers plenty of no-frills Indian lunch and dinner choices -from chaat or dosa to a full feast or generous thali - that hit the spot every time.

If it's a special occasion, you want to enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail with your meal, or you fancy treating yourself to a gourmet Indian dining experience, we've included some luxury Indian restaurants that you'll want to write home about.

Let us know if we've missed your favourite - we'll take any excuse for another Indian culinary outing in Abu Dhabi.

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PUNJAB GRILL

THE RITZ-CARLTON ABU DHABI GRAND CANAL

A favourite amongst the higher-end Indian offerings and often deemed some of the best Indian food in Abu Dhabi, this isn’t one to miss. With food as pretty as it is delicious and a prime position in the Michelin Guide, there is plenty to rave about - not least their recent makeover bringing even prettier interiors and a vibey new Lotus Bar.

The menu offers a mix of progressive and classic North Indian/Punjabi fare: think tasty chicken tikka and lamb seekh.  We love their business lunch - AED130 will net you a 4 course meal, with plenty of options to customise your meal: upgrade to premium mains like Kashmiri lamp chops for AED20, or add a couple of pints for AED50. 

Located in the Venetian Village at The Ritz-Carlton, it’s a great location for a meal if you’re visiting the Grand Mosque or have guests to keep busy. Take a seat on the terrace when the weather allows and enjoy waterfront views - it’s a great spot for an unhurried meal so you can really make the most of the sumptuous setting and excellent food. 

Open: daily | 12.30PM - 12AM 

Contact: 0506683054

GOLDEN SPOON INDIAN VEGETARIAN

MADINAT ZAYED

15% OFF ALREADY AMAZING PRICES WITH BB+

Golden Spoon opened 25 years ago and this family run vegetarian restaurant - serving traditional Indian dishes with some Chinese twists - has since become a household name to many in Abu Dhabi - and for good reason. It's a vegetarian's dream come true, but even if you're not, this place is a must-visit.

What to order when you go to Golden Spoon? The vegetable akbari, a tomato and onion based curry cooked with fresh vegetables stuffed in papadums, is the kind of dish that gives you that warm and fuzzy feeling: rich, creamy and just enough spice. The vegetable hiryali is a luscious blend of mixed vegetables in a spinach curry which we scooped up every last bite of with the fresh and warm garlic naan bread. The dahi bhalla, a colourful, refreshing yoghurt dish with soft dumplings and a contrast of sweet chutneys and spices, is another favourite.

Sahil, the manager and son of the family, explained to us that his mum works hard behind the scenes to create all the best dishes and firmly believes in creating flavours at every step: this love and attention shines through in every dish.

And the best part? It's SUPER pocket friendly! Main courses range between AED17-28 and naan for just AED3! It’s easy to find and Mawaqif parking is available outside the door.

Open: daily | 9AM - 11PM

Contact: +971 55 591 9607

NIHAL

AL DANAH

Over the years, Nihal has proven itself to be consistently pocket-friendly and maintained high standards of deliciousness, for both dining in and delivery. An Indian restaurant we find ourselves returning to regularly, we recommend you start with the onion bhaji (AED19), onion smothered in a simple, fragrant spiced batter and fried to crispy perfection, and their chicken pahadi tikka (AED38) - chicken marinated in mint sauce and chargrilled.

For mains, we rate the butter chicken (AED 38), which has the right balance of sweet and tangy and has a lovely velvety texture. The mutton biryani (AED38) also doesn’t disappoint: the meat is tender, and the rice has just the right mix of spices, with cardamom, turmeric, cinnamon and cloves coming through.

The staff are friendly and always polite, and very happy to offer recommendations if needed! You can easily enjoy a meal for 2 under AED100. 

Open: daily | 11 AM - 12 AM

Contact: 02 631 8008

CHAAT CHASKA

AL DANAH

Chaat lovers, this one's for you! This Indian street food paradise is really delightful, a colourful spot located near Madinat Zayed that’s perfect for a mid-week outing or a fun weekend meal with friends.

We recommend diving in with a selection of dishes, including pani puri, dahi puri, samosas, jalebis and faloodas (nothing over AED12). Everything is tasty, the food comes out quickly and the staff really contribute to a fun atmosphere.  

It’s a great little locale if you enjoy good and reasonably priced chaat. This one is very pocket-friendly and for AED49 easily feeds 2 people. ‘Chaska’ means ‘obsession’, and we’d argue that the name isn’t wrong - but you be the judge after a visit!

Open: Monday - Thursday | 6am - midnight; Friday - Sunday | 6am - 1am

Contact: 02 650 0101

GALA

AL ZAHIYAH 

The first and only gourmet Indian dining venue in the city that’s just for vegans and vegetarians, this is one you should add to your list!

The menu is full of winners: we rate masala papad rolls (AED 28), yoghurt & cheese croquettes (AED46) and spinach fritters (AED28) amongst the starters - you can check out our full review here.

Mains will impress as well: ghee roast mushroom (AED58) absorbs the flavour beautifully, and don’t miss the paneer makhani (AED56) - think butter chicken, but with paneer instead of chicken! The sauce was rich, creamy, and absolutely delicious - a vegetarian dream come true! Finish with our showstopper dish: jamun churros (AED36). Imagine black jamun dough balls reimagined into churros, dipped in rabri sauce and sprinkled with nuts, they are the perfect blend of crunch and sweetness.

Priced so affordably for the quality and presentation of the food, it’s fine dining vibes that won’t break the bank: whether you’re a vegetarian, vegan, or just someone who loves good food, GALA is a great option for an upscale dinner with family, a fun night out with friends, or even a romantic date night!

Open: daily | 11:30AM - 11:30PM

Bookings: 050 248 8506

MARTABAAN BY HEMANT OBEROI

EMIRATES PALACE MANDARIN ORIENTAL

Looking for luxury Indian food served up in an equally luxurious setting? This one would be hard to top! Tucking into an Indian feast in a pink palace with views to the Arabian Sea sure makes for a memorable meal - but don’t just take our word for it. 

With set menus starting at AED299 and starters kicking off around AED70, it’s on the pricier side for an Indian meal, but you’re paying for the experience and location along with the excellent food. Save room for dessert: we love the Indian twists on their masala chai creme brulee and gulab jamun tiramisu (AED65). 

Looking for something a bit different? They offer a funky take on high tea - replete with Indian flavours, of course. We can’t wait to try this one, sitting on the balcony and gazing across the water for a blissful afternoon!

Open: daily | 12.30 - 10.30PM

Contact: +971 2 690 7999

MOTI MAHAL DELUX

AL ZAHIYAH

Moti Mahal is one of Abu Dhabi's longest standing Indian restaurants and it's rightfully earned a very loyal following: the food is not only insanely good, but affordable too!

Butter chicken, the perennial favourite, is creamy with lots of pieces of tender chicken. The dahl makhani is delicious and quite thin in texture, while the vegetable biryani is a huge serving, more than enough for two people and full to brimming with vegetables. Roti, naan and parathas are on point and in terms of spice, just enough heat is added so as not to overpower the dish, which so many places tend to do.

Price: Butter chicken, dahl makhani, lamb korma, veg biryani rice, plain paratha, potato paratha AED 135

If you like Indian food, Moti Mahal is a must-try.

Open: daily | 11.30AM - 11.30PM

Contact: 02 674 2121

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INDIA PALACE

DEERFIELD’S MALL | SALAM ST | MAZYAD MALL

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You know when the family asks ‘when can we have it again?!’ that it’s pretty good! Our India Palace delivery arrived quicktime, piping hot and immensely delicious!

Highlights:

Biryani: The best we’ve had in some time. Excellent flavours, fragrant, moreish and cracking with the butter chicken.

Omg onion bhajis: it’s been a while but welcome back old friend! These beauties go well with the raita and actually, I could just order these and be a happy camper.

All the saucy dishes were really good: the murgh makhani, (butter chicken) the dal ... but it was the dum lamb rogan josh that really swung it for me. Slow-cooked and finished with yoghurt, it’s literally an Indian food lover’s dream.

Since I ordered for this review, we’ve ordered again (heavy on the bhajis 😉) and will doubtless be back for another round soon.

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DOSA DIVA

NEAR EMPOST | MADINAT ZAYED 

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We love discovering hidden gems, and some of the best ones are right under our noses, just waiting to be uncovered. Enter Dosa Diva!

We had the pleasure of discovering their three exceptional dosas: the Diva Podi chicken dosa, featuring a South Indian blend and spiced chicken filling, and the Queen Schezwan masala dosa, our personal favourite, thanks to its saucy twist.

But hold onto your hats because just when we thought dosas were all about savouriness, they hit us with a honey dosa! This delicate, savoury crepe was served with a drizzle of honey, and we couldn’t help but dig in for more. Our dosa journey also took a sweet turn towards the crispy vadas; sometimes called an 'Indian doughnut', which paired perfectly with chutney.

The real icing on the cake was the super-friendly staff, especially Nidhin, who introduced us to two fantastic drinks: the Malaysian pulled tea and the iced shaken white mocha. Let me tell you, those drinks went down faster than ice cream on a scorching summer day! By the time we finished, we were already planning our next visit with friends.

To sum it up, Dosa Diva was an absolute blast, and we're pretty sure you'd like it too!

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Open: daily | 6AM - 12AM

Contact: 02 632 8686

MYNT

SALAM ST

Serving up popular dishes from across India with a creative, modern twist, we went to see for ourselves how Mynt has quickly become a favourite spot for both great dine in and delivery Indian food in Abu Dhabi. It offers great vegetarian Indian food options as well as enough meaty dishes to get your teeth into.

To start, tuck into some samundar ka shobra, a colourful seafood soup filled with delicious fresh seafood. While soup may not be your go-to appetizer at an Indian, this is one not to be missed - we scooped up even the very last drop! The masala battered shrimps are also a group favourite – large shrimps tossed in a generous layer of creamy makhani mayo. YUM! The tandoori vegetable platter is also a great option for vegetarians, especially the stuffed mushrooms and the vegetable samosa drizzled with yoghurt and a sweet tamarind sauce.

Mynt have perfected their murgh makhani (butter chicken) dish; large pieces of succulent boneless chicken soak in the rich and luxurious flavours of the butter chicken gravy and the crispy caramelized onion sprinkled on top is great addition to the dish. The warming flavours of this dish make it the perfect comfort food/guilty pleasure. The gosht khada masala (mutton masala) is a good meat option - delicious chunks of tender lamb infused with fragrant spices matched perfectly with the warm garlic naan bread.

The showpiece dish is a mustard-based prawn curry served in a large coconut. The daab Chingri was creamy, melt-in-your mouth deliciousness and deserved extra points for the quirky presentation

Be sure to finish with a beautiful masala chai.

The restaurant is modern and intimate so is perfect for a casual meal and they deliver!

Starters from 16aed, mains from 22aed, desserts from 19aed

Open: 12PM - 12AM

15% off with BB+

https://goo.gl/maps/LFGcLxacap5fC3pj7

Reservations and deliveries, call 02 6666 400

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MOKSH

ETIHAD TOWERS

Let me spill the chai: not only is the taste of the food amazing, but the presentation at Moksh is like a culinary work of art. The dishes are so vibrant and beautifully designed, nothing short of Insta-worthy. And vegetarians, rest assured, you will be delighted with the veggie dishes on the menu.

A unique twist on panipuri is welcomed: instead of the usual flavored water, it’s filled with tamatari shorba, a delectable tomato and lentil soup. The puri remains perfectly crispy as it hits your mouth, as the pani is served in a shot glass on the side.

We love both the mushroom pepper fritti, Moksh mosa, Patrani black cod, and Seekh tacos for starters. The sa"mosa" was a beautiful beetroot pink as was the pistachio-infused labneh accompanying the fritti. The Seekh taco impresses with its minced lamb, saffron, and tzatziki, while the black cod, cooked in a banana leaf, offers an excellent, flavorful fish.

For the mains, you the coastal prawn curry or malai mawa kofte are both great options, get them with biryani and assorted naan. The biryanis are anything but dry and burst with flavors. The vegetarian version even has paneer, making it an absolute winner.

Save room for the dessert! The date halwa pudding accompanied by the pistachio green pan mawa kulfi creates a striking contrast of colors. Indulge yourself by dipping the date pudding in the toffee sauce for an explosion of flavors.

Drinks at Moksha are amazing: they know how to shake things up with their passion cappuccino and enchanting aperitif gimlet, complete with a bubble on top. Classic cocktails and refreshing mocktails are also available for those who prefer drinks without alcohol.

From the flavors to the presentation, Moksh offers an extraordinary culinary experience!

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Moksh | Etihad Towers

Timings: Sunday - Thursday: 12:00PM - 1:00AM | Friday - Saturday: 12:30PM - 1:00AM

Bookings: 050 447 4805

20% off menu items and drinks with BB+

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