Best mandi restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Want to enjoy a good mandi in the capital city? You will be happy to know that there are many mandi restaurants in Abu Dhabi that serve up a wide array of delicious mandis, madfoons and much more. Offering a variety of delectable, traditional Arabic meals, these eateries are known for their impressive mandis. Tantalise your taste buds with the distinct taste of mandi served with succulent meat of your choice at any of the best mandi restaurants in Abu Dhabi mentioned below.
Top Mandi Restaurants in Abu Dhabi
The origins of mandi can be traced back to Yemen’s Hadhramaut. The dish is similar to the South Asian rice dishes like Biryani and Pilaf. Mandi mainly consists of rice cooked with meat and a special blend of spices in an underground pit.
Mainly eaten as a main course during lunch and dinner, the dish is popular across the Arabian Peninsula, with each country offering a unique variant of mandi. Residents and visitors to Abu Dhabi, with a craving for Arabic cuisine, will love to explore these best mandi restaurants in Abu Dhabi. Let’s take a look at the top mandi places in the city.
Al Mandi & Al Madhbi House
Counted amongst the best mandi restaurants in Abu Dhabi, Al Mandi & Al Madhbi House in Khalidiyah serves delicious authentic Arab mandi in chicken as well as lamb. The restaurant has seven branches spread across the capital city and it is included in the list of good mandi restaurants in Abu Dhabi.
Al Mandi & Madhbi House outlet in Khalidiyah is one of the most famous mandi restaurants in Abu Dhabi. The eatery is also counted among the top mandi restaurants in Abu Dhabi Tourist Club Area.
The Al Mandi & Madhbi offers a diverse menu including chicken mandi, hammour mandi, chicken madhbi and lamb mandi. The restaurant has fresh arugula and Arabic salad to complement the succulent mandi. End your meal with a delicious sweet and cheesy kunafa.
Located close to the tenants of apartments in Al Khalidiya, this is one of the best mandi eateries in Abu Dhabi.
- Timings: Monday to Sunday: 08:00 am – 12:00 midnight
- Average cost for two: AED 75
- Location: Opposite Hatta Smoking Accessories, Near Fathima Supermarket, Al Khalidiya, Abu Dhabi
- Contact: +971-2-633-7713
Besbas
Besbas Abu Dhabi Al Mushrif is known for serving mouthwatering Arabic food in a traditional ambience. Emiratis or expats who love to taste mandi on a weekend can surely drop by this famous mandi restaurant in Abu Dhabi.
Besbas has three locations in Abu Dhabi and the eatery is popular for serving some of the best lamb mandi in Abu Dhabi. This is also one of the mandi restaurants in Abu Dhabi that has the most diverse menu including meat dishes, sweets, seafood, salads and beverages.
Besbas, one of the top mandi restaurant in Abu Dhabi Mushrif, is popular among locals and visitors alike.
- Timings: Monday to Sunday: 08:00 am – 11:30 am
- Average cost for two: AED 125
- Location: Shop 3, Sector East 22, Plot C17, Airport Road, Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi
- Contact: +971-2-444-1161
Najd Palace
Najd Palace has two branches in the capital city. This mandi spot in Abu Dhabi is a must-visit for food buffs who love devouring rice and meat cooked with traditional Arabic spices served with spicy and fresh tomato sauce. Some of the must-try dishes from the Najd Palace Abu Dhabi menu are kunafa, tea, mutton madfoon, mutton mandi, chicken madfoon, and lamb madfoon. Fresh salads from the menu perfectly complement the rice and meat dishes. So don’t forget to order a salad on your visit.
- Timings: Monday to Sunday: 11:00 am – 12:00 midnight
- Average cost for two: AED 100
- Location: Opposite Taha Medical Centre, Near Fresh & More Supermarket, Al Falah Street, Al Dhafrah, Abu Dhabi
- Contact: +971-2-491-3336
Saudi Kitchen
Saudi Kitchen serves traditional Saudi dishes including different varieties of mandis offered in a unique, casual quarter with decorative sheepskins and cosy on-the-floor seating arrangement. The place is a local favourite and it’s usually crowded. Weekends are particularly busy.
Chicken mandi, kabsa, grilled fish, chicken Madhbi, fattoush salad and cheese kunafa are popular items from the Saudi Kitchen Abu Dhabi Mushrif menu.
Perfect for residents of rental flats in Al Mushrif, the mandi at Saudi Kitchen is one to be savoured with friends and family.
- Timings: Monday to Sunday: 12:00 noon – 01:00 am
- Average cost for two: AED 150
- Location: Opposite Mushrif Mall, Al Dhafra Street, Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi
- Contact: +971-2-665-5355
Al Janoob Mandi
Al Janoob is a popular Abu Dhabi mandi restaurant at Madinat Zayed. Satisfy your meat and rice cravings at this fine mandi restaurant at Abu Dhabi near Electra Street. Whether you are dining with your friends and family or hosting a corporate event, Al Janoob is a good option to host a lunch or dinner for any occasion. The Al Janoob Mandi Madinat Zayed mandi menu includes Bukhari rice, white rice Peshawar and zurbiyan rice with lamb or chicken.
- Timings: Monday to Sunday: 11:00 am – 12:00 midnight
- Average cost for two: AED 90
- Location: Opposite Cristal Hotel, Beside Hamed Centre, Electra Street, Madinat Zayed, Abu Dhabi
- Contact: +971-2-445-7444
Flaming Hot Al Mandi & Al Madhbi Restaurant
Indulge yourself in the authentic taste of Yemeni and Arabic delicacies at Flaming Hot Al Mandi and Al Madhbi restaurant in Abu Dhabi. Mandi and other rice and meat dishes are cooked the traditional way using recipes and flavours from bygone eras.
Some of the must-try menu items from this popular mandi restaurant in Abu Dhabi, Mussafah are chicken or lamb mandi, chicken madhbi, and variety of zurbiyan rice with your choice of meat. Grilled meat platters and fresh salads are a crowd favourite as well.
Located ideally for those renting flats in Mussafah, this top mandi restaurant in Abu Dhabi is known for their pleasant staff.
- Timings: Monday to Sunday: 11:00 am – 10:30 pm
- Average cost for two: AED 50
- Location: Near Aliya Supermarket, Street 10, Sanaiya M10, Mussafah Sanaiya, Abu Dhabi 74508
- Contact: +971-2-304-8102
Happy Yemen Restaurant
Happy Yemen Restaurant is known locally for delectable Yemeni food in a traditional setting. Whether you’re an emirati, an expat or just a tourist, this is one of the best mandi restaurants in Abu Dhabi for an affordable Arabic meal. Happy Yemen, a good mandi restaurant in Abu Dhabi located on Airport Road, serves one of the best chicken or lamb mandi, salads, desserts, soups and other beverages.
- Timings: Monday to Sunday: 07:00 am – 11:30 pm
- Average cost for two: AED 110
- Location: Behind Al Jazira Club, Near General Police HQ, Airport Road, Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi
- Contact: +971-2-445-2242
Rashid Al Zaabi Mandi
Last but not least, on our list of best mandi restaurants in Abu Dhabi, is Rashid Al Zaabi mandi. This quaint mandi restaurant in Abu Dhabi’s Muroor district is known for serving some outstanding dishes such as chicken mandi, madhbi, mutton wasla, king fish mandi, and the whole mutton mandi.
The friendly and swift serving staff adds to the popularity of this mandi spot in Abu Dhabi. The restaurant gets super busy and crowded during weekends so plan your visit accordingly.
- Timings: Monday to Sunday: 11:00 am – 11:30 pm
- Average cost for two: AED 40
- Location: Shop 3, Ground floor, Building C7-40, 4th Street, Opposite Alam Supermarket, Muroor, Abu Dhabi
- Contact: +971-2-448-6611
That’s all for our list of the top mandi restaurants in Abu Dhabi. The traditional dish of rice and meat is not only popular in the capital; you can find plenty of places offering the best mandi in Dubai as well. They offer this delicious dish with a choice of chicken, meat, lamb or fish.
If you’re looking for more options in Arabic cuisine in the capital, try Lebanese restaurants in Abu Dhabi to enjoy different types of mezze platters, fattoush salad, kebabs, kibbeh, kofta and much more. Or check out a delectable plate of food with an unparalleled mix of Turkish flavours with a hint of Middle Eastern influences at the best Turkish restaurants in Abu Dhabi.
These restaurants are a good option for those looking for a light, healthy and hearty meals with simple ingredients like meat, yoghurt, olive oil and vegetables.
If you are looking for more street bites, shawarmas are popular across the UAE. Here’s a list of the best shawarma places in Abu Dhabi for those who wish to taste different varieties of this succulent snack. It’s natural to have sweet cravings after a succulent savoury meal like mandi or shawarma. If you wish to tickle your sweet tooth we’ve got you covered! Explore the best dessert places in Abu Dhabi for all your sweet cravings.