Best Indian Restaurants in Abu Dhabi: From Street Food to Fine Dining
North to South, Michelin-tracked to under AED 50, vegetarian-only to seafood-heavy. Here's where to find the food you're craving.
The best way to eat your way through Abu Dhabi's Indian restaurants is not by star rating but by intention. A Michelin mention does not necessarily mean you need to dress up—Moksh, in the Conrad, serves exceptional street-style chaat in a room almost painfully bright with colour, and you can walk in casual. Meanwhile, Asha's at The Galleria is where you'll find the room full of families and office lunches, no reservation drama, just assured cooking. Booking ahead matters at the very top tier (Martabaan, Indigo, Moksh) and at the budget-friendly places on weekends (Salam Bombay, Kamat), because they're small or they're popular or both. The guide below is ordered not by quality—there are good restaurants at every price point here—but by type: start with where you go first when you want to sit down somewhere special, then move through the regional styles, the vegetarian specialists, and finally the price-conscious options.
Martabaan by Hemant Oberoi
Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, West Corniche · Contemporary Indian · Tasting menu focus; book ahead
Set in a surprisingly small and intimate space within the huge Emirates Palace hotel, this is where Michelin recognition means something beyond the symbol. Chef Hemant Oberoi's approach is honed over four decades as the Grand Chef of the Taj Group of Hotels, and the menu reflects that distance from the obvious. Set against the backdrop of the Arabian Gulf with a captivating 'Tikka Le' Bar serving signature cocktails and luxurious private dining rooms, it reads as theatre but moves as precision. Reservations are recommended, especially for dinner; call +971 2 690 7999 to book.
Moksh
Conrad Etihad Towers, West Corniche · Indian street food + regional · Walk-in or reserve, late hours
Step into this bright and colourful Indian restaurant and the world will instantly seem a happier place. Mentioned in the Michelin Guide 2023 and 2024, it serves North and South Indian food ranging from Punjabi curries to Hyderabadi biryanis and Kerala seafood. The room is almost violently cheerful—the kind of place where chaat arrives in electric blue and nobody apologizes for it. Open daily 12:00–23:30 (12:30 Friday and Saturday). The no-reservation policy means you can appear on impulse.
Beach Rotana, Al Zahiyah · North Indian · Tandoor-focused; booking advised
stockThis restaurant specialises in North Indian cuisine with kebabs, chaat and fragrant biryanis, with the signature Sikhandari Raan—a pot-roasted leg of baby lamb made for sharing—as the dish to order. Chefs work from a show kitchen equipped with tandoori ovens. Private and semi-private dining are available alongside an outdoor terrace overlooking the hotel gardens, sea and city skyline. A former winner at the FACT Dining Awards Abu Dhabi, it remains a dependable choice for classic Indian flavours in comfortable surroundings.
Zeera by Buddha-Bar
Yas Bay Waterfront, Yas Island · Contemporary Indian · Modern plating, sharing plates; licensed
It sits on Yas Bay Waterfront and serves up sunsets alongside sharing-style plates, biryanis and traditional tandoori grills. The menu is a modern take on Indian cuisine; kick off with chaats such as samosa or watermelon palak patta, then move to heartier dishes like tawa scallops or dal chawal. Expect the food to arrive on plates designed to be seen before they're eaten. Yas Bay Waterfront, Yas Island, zeera-abudhabi.com (050 601 1193).
The Galleria Al Maryah Island · North-West Indian · All-day dining; family-friendly
stockRecognised as one of the best Indian restaurants in Abu Dhabi and set in a prime location at The Galleria, Asha's offers spacious yet intimate indoor seating complemented by signature hospitality. Signature dishes include dal makhani, murgh malai kebabs, and Kerala chilli garlic prawns, offering a memorable multi-sensory journey through North-West Indian cuisine. The room fills with a mix of office lunches, shoppers grabbing dinner between stores, and families. No fuss, reliable food.
Art of Dum
Reem Mall · Dum Pukht heritage cooking · Casual contemporary setting; traditional technique
This restaurant is inspired by the centuries-old Dum Pukht technique once associated with India's royal kitchens, where ingredients are sealed and cooked gently in their own juices, allowing spices and flavours to deepen over time. The concept moves beyond the casual curry house with a contemporary dine-in setting and a menu rooted in Indian classics; signature dishes include creamy Dal Makhani, aromatic Yakhni Dum Gosht Biryani, and rich Butter Chicken. The cooking method is ancient. The room feels modern.
Gala
Al Zahiyah · Vegetarian Indian · Modern plant-based; sophisticated plating
Abu Dhabi's Indian restaurants are stealing the spotlight, and Gala is where gourmet Indian cuisine meets vegetarian magic—it's the city's first gourmet Indian vegetarian restaurant. It serves plant-based dishes with a sophisticated twist without leaving your wallet in a panic, from zucchini kofta to deconstructed paneer tikka masala, reimagining classic Indian flavours with style. Each plate arrives as a feast for the eyes and the taste buds, with vibrant décor, generous portions, and a menu that's vegan-friendly.
Kamat Vegetarian
Al Wahda Mall & Dalma Mall · North and South Indian vegetarian · Set thalis; two locations
With captivating interiors featuring exposed brick and industrial-chic lighting, this establishment has been delighting customers since 1992 with its North and South Indian cuisine. The thali is a popular choice with various smaller dishes to explore; visitors praise the soft and buttery pav, delicious samosas, and flavorful Veg Manchow soup, while families appreciate the excellent service and value due to generous portions. Come hungry and expect to leave fuller.
Multiple locations (Najda, Nayhan, Musaffah, Madinat Zayed) · Vegetarian street food · Chaat, dosas, chaats; budget-friendly
stockWith four locations across Abu Dhabi, Salam Bombay is a favorite among locals for its wide-ranging vegetarian menu—from crispy dosas to spicy Manchurian, great for a casual meal or group dining. The chaat comes filled with potato, yoghurt, tamarind chutney and chili powder for a tasty flavour-packed bite at Dhs14. It's vegetarian-only with an amazingly comprehensive menu featuring dosas and many other options.
Multiple locations (Al Salam Street, others) · North and South Indian · Budget-friendly; family groups
stockAn iconic Abu Dhabi Indian restaurant since 1997 with multiple branches, the Al Salam Street location is widely considered the best. It combines opulent and regal decor with refreshingly reasonable prices, with an extensive menu of authentic Mughlai and North Indian fare. Great for big groups and families, the friendly team makes sure everyone feels welcome while affordable prices mean you can always justify coming back time and time again. Book the back room for groups.
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