We’re spoiled for choice in Abu Dhabi with so many amazing cuisines and cultures represented in the dining scene: from smashing Lebanese to authentic Indian, plenty of great Pakistani restaurants and traditional Italian fare. There are some standouts restaurants and hidden gems from less known places, too - everything from Uzbekistan to Georgia, and Colombia to Bosnia! Let us know if we’ve missed your favourite under-the-radar restaurant that’s proudly flying the flag for its home country among Abu Dhabi’s restaurants.
Colombia
Fonda Colombiana
Al Manhal
This one is a true hidden gem, nestled downstairs in a spacious villa - but well worth the hunt if you’re after something a little off the beaten track. Fonda Colombiana’s walls are adorned with bright murals - the whole space is colourful and funky. Take a seat inside to take it all in, or settle outside amongst the hammocks for an 'out of office, it's holiday time' vibe.
So what should you eat? There’s plenty to choose from - so we resorted to Google Translate to help us choose (our Spanish is a little dusty). The freshly-made empañadas are a must try - the chicken is well-flavoured and tender. Push the boat out a little with some arepa de choclo, sweet, crunchy, chewy corn cakes that are native to Colombia, topped with cheese, or give their patacones con carne desmechada a whirl - the pulled meat is delicious and the salsa adds a lovely fresh kick. Take your friends and a sense of adventure and order a lot to share - from hearty stews to ceviche, plenty of meat, fish and chicken to dishes filled with plantain and beans, it’s quite the foodie adventure.
Top tip: when we visited, payment was via cash or bank transfer (check before you order if you need to be sure), so come prepared.
Open: daily | 9AM - 11.50PM
Contact: 050 342 7157
Bosnia
Bosnian Hut
Al Danah
If you’ve visited the Balkans and loved the food - or even if you haven’t - add Bosnian Hut to your hit list - ASAP. My mouth is watering thinking about their freshly cooked cevapi (small meat kebab, prepared the traditional Bosnian way) paired with somun flatbread, diced onion, delicious sumac and kaymark. Bosnian Hut’s haji and sitni kabab dishes - stews of meat and fresh vegetables served with rice or more somun bread - are also excellent, as is the klepe (fresh pasta stuffed with minced meat), carb-heaven warm burek and vegetable dolma.
Yes, lots of things are called kebab or kabab, but the menu has photos and the staff are super helpful - plus, everything we’ve eaten here tastes great, so go wild. Sip on tea as you dine, and grab dessert too if you have room. The decor is quaint, and you could easily be sitting in a little restaurant somewhere in Bosnia. It’s a long time Abu Dhabi favourite for a reason - enjoy!
Open: daily | 12PM - 12AM
Contact: 02 566 6215
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Kitchen
Opposite Mushrif Mall
It might not be far geographically, but we still think Saudi Kitchen deserves a shout out. One we love to take our visitors too for a traditional Middle-Eastern experience, take a seat in one of their private dining booths - on the floor! Furnished in the majlis style, with floor cushions and a low table, kick back and relax in this family-style setting (shoes off at the door, thanks!).
What should you order? We can’t go past the mandi and the madfoon: both come with the choice of lamb or chicken, slow cooked inside a woodfired tandoor clay oven, and both are delicious. We usually order one with chicken, and the other with lamb, and share - served up on a bed of rice, it’s a lot of food. The spices and aromatics really make for a great flavour profile, and the meat is fall-apart tender. Add a lovely fresh salad and another dish or two depending on your group size - we tried the hamisa chicken last visit and it was tasty, too. The staff will help you out - their recommendations are always spot on, and they can let you know if something has run out for the day and what to order instead - too easy!
Find room for dessert - the pistachio kunafa is next level. After ordering one to share with friends who insisted they had no room for dessert, it was polished off at the speed of light and we had to order another two - so much for ‘too full for dessert’!
Open: daily | 12PM - 1AM
Contact: 02 665 5355
Georgia
Shvili
The Galleria Al Maryah
Branching out from Dubai to Abu Dhabi in 2024, this Georgian bistro serves up fresh - and delicious - traditional Georgian dishes. Not as much of a hidden gem as some of the other restaurants on this list - they call The Galleria Al Maryah home - it’s still well worth a visit for some excellent Georgian cuisine. We rate the iconic khachapuri Adjarian and mouthwatering khinkali beef dumplings: give us all the cheesy, carby, meaty goodness please!
Another big green flag? Shvili is super family friendly - there’s outdoor seating for cooler days and it has a great kids play area, making it the perfect spot to relax and enjoy a hearty meal at The Galleria - without worrying about keeping the little ones occupied. Got a birthday coming up? It’s a great option for a kids party with a twist - they can cook up some Georgian specialties, along with the fun stuff like face painting and birthday cake. And if you’re looking for a cool date idea, how about a Georgian cooking class - before tucking into your freshly cooked masterpiece at the end.
Open: 10AM-11PM daily | until 12AM Friday & Saturday
Contact: +97124937400
African & Caribbean
West To West Kitchen African & Caribbean Restaurant
Al Danah
West to West Kitchen is almost impossible to put in a box: they have a menu drawing on owners Laddi and Michele's heritage, from Sierra Leone to Trinidad and Jamaica (West Africa to the West Indies) - making for an eclectic and delicious mix. His mum and aunt even taught the chefs how to make their own family recipes - the ones on the menu today. We love a restaurant with home-style cooking at its heart!
Try the chicken ground nut stew - it’s the bomb - and the jerk chicken (probably the best in Abu Dhabi). Other stand outs? Their beef patties, Trinidad curry, fried plantains and Sierra Leonean vegan awojoh binch wrap (there’s a bunch of vegan and veg options, which we love to see). The dishes boast an excellent depth of flavour and some really homey African and Caribbean soul food.
Pop in if you like - but keep in mind the restaurant is small, with just a handful of tables - or order delivery: they have their own delivery service, which will save you a few dirhams over ordering through the big guys. Winner!
Open: Tuesday - Sunday | 12PM - 10PM | until 11PM Friday - Sunday
Contact: 02 671 9119