Best mandi restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Looking for delicious mandi in the capital? Fortunately, many mandi restaurants serve up this traditional rice dish. Besides mandi, these eateries offer various delectable, traditional Arabic meals. Tantalise your taste buds with the distinct taste of this slow-cooked rice dish, served with succulent meat of your choice, at any of the best mandi restaurants in Abu Dhabi.
Top Mandi Restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Those craving Arabic cuisine will love to explore these best mandi restaurants in Abu Dhabi. Let’s take a look at the top spots in the capital city where you can enjoy this delectable dish.
Al Mandi & Al Madhbi House
Counted amongst the best mandi restaurants in Abu Dhabi, Al Mandi & Al Madhbi House serves delicious authentic Arab mandi in chicken and lamb. The restaurant has seven branches spread across the capital city.
Al Mandi & Madhbi House outlet in Khalidiyah is one of the most famous mandi restaurants in Abu Dhabi.
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 dish. End your meal with a delicious sweet and cheesy kunafah. This spot is one of the best mandi eateries in Abu Dhabi.
- Timings: 10:00 am – 11:30 pm
- Average cost for two: AED 110
- Location: Multiple including Khalifa City
- Contact: +971-2-658-8330
Besbas
Besbas is known for serving mouthwatering Arabic food in a traditional ambience. Those who love to taste mandi on a weekend can surely drop by this famous mandi restaurant in Abu Dhabi.
The restaurant offers a diverse menu that includes desserts seafood, salads and beverages. But if you’re looking for something special, this is one of the best lamb mandi restaurants in Abu Dhabi for you.
- Timings: 08:30 am – 12:00 am
- Average cost for two: AED 100
- Location: Old Bani Yas Sports Club
- Contact: +971-2-444-1161
Najd Palace
This mandi spot in Abu Dhabi is a must-visit for food buffs who love devouring rice and meat cooked with traditional Arabic spices.
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: 12:00 pm – 10:30 pm
- Average cost for two: AED 140
- Location:
- Beside the Ministry of Labour Building, Khalifa Park Area
- Opposite Taha Medical Centre, Near Fresh & More Supermarket, Al Falah Street, Al Dhafrah
- Contact: +971-600-544-546 | +971-2-491-3336
Saudi Kitchen
Saudi Kitchen serves traditional 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 menu. The mandi at this eatery is one to be savoured with friends and family.
- Timings: 12:00 pm – 12:30 am
- Average cost for two: AED 170
- Location: Opposite Mushrif Mall, Al Dhafra Street, Al Mushrif
- Contact: +971-2-665-5355 | +971-2-673-0673
Kuwaiti Cuisine
Kuwaiti Cuisine is one of the most popular on our list of the best mandi restaurants in Abu Dhabi. Located in Al Dhafrah, this hotspot is offers a delicious array of traditional madhbi, majboos, madfoun, biryani and mandi – the star dish from the restaurant.
- Timings: 11:00 am – 10:30 am (Al Dhafrah Branch)
- Average cost for two: AED 80 to AED 130 depending on the branch
- Location:
- Opposite Ministry of Finance, Al Falah Street, Al Dhafrah
- Near Al Raihan Supermarket, Opposite Gulf Piping Company, Sanaiya M20, Mussafah Sanaiya
- Near Healthway Medical Centre, Baniyas East 5, Baniyas
- Contact: +971-2-674-4454 | +971-52-644-6082 (Al Dhafrah Branch)
Al Janoob Mandi
Al Janoob is a popular Abu Dhabi mandi restaurant in Mussafah Sanaiya. Satisfy your meat and rice cravings at this fine establishment with an array of delicious condiments and desserts.
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 menu includes a variety of rice dishes served with lamb or chicken.
- Timings: 11:00 am – 10:30 am
- Average cost for two: AED 80
- Location: Near Mercedes Showroom, Sanaiya M04, Mussafah Sanaiya
- Contact: +971-2-555-4403
Mandi Al Watani
Indulge yourself in the authentic taste of Yemeni and Arabic delicacies at Mandi Al Watani restaurant. 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 are chicken, lamb and special fish mandi. Grilled meat platters and fresh salads are a crowd favourite as well. It is one of the budget-friendly mandi restaurants in Abu Dhabi.
- Timings: Monday to Sunday: 11:00 am – 12:00 am
- Average cost for two: AED 55
- Location: Behind World Gym, Near Alam Supermarket, Shabiya ME 11, Mussafah Shabiya
- Contact: +971-2-304-8102 | +971-55-669-0360
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 for you. Happy Yemen serves one of the best chicken or lamb mandi, salads, desserts, soups and other beverages.
- Timings: 07:00 am – 01:00 am
- Average cost for two: AED 120
- Location: Beside Lebanese Roaster, Near Loulou Asfar Hotel Apartments, Muroor Street Al Mushrif
- Contact: +971-2-445-2242 | +971-58-585-5055
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: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
- Average cost for two: AED 35
- Location:
- Opposite Navy Gate, Tourist Club Area (Al Zahiyah)
- Shop 3, Ground Floor, Building C7-40, 4th Street, Opposite Alam Supermarket, Muroor
- Contact: +971-50-836-9597 | +971-2-644-0072
FAQs
What is a mandi?
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.
How much does a mandi platter cost in Abu Dhabi?
The mandi price depends on the restaurant, the meat used and the ingredients and condiments. On average a mandi platter will cost anywhere from AED 30 to AED 200 or more for exotic meat and flavours.
Is mandi similar across the Middle East?
No mandi is originally a Yemeni dish but it varies from one country to another.
That’s all for our list of the top mandi restaurants in Abu Dhabi. The traditional dish of rice and meat is popular across the country; 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 for 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 at the best Turkish restaurants in Abu Dhabi.
These restaurants are a good option for those looking for 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 delicious snack. It’s natural to have sweet cravings after a savoury meal like mandi or shawarma. If you wish to satisfy your sweet tooth we’ve got you covered! Explore the best dessert places in Abu Dhabi for all your sweet cravings.
