30 editor picks across United Arab Emirates.
30 budget eating worth the trip across United Arab Emirates, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All United Arab Emirates guides.
Thalassery Thattukada serves Malabar parottas, beef curry and mutton biryani near Big Mart in Al Khalidiya, Abu Dhabi, at about AED 60 for two.
OrderMalabar parotta with beef curry
TipCurly Tales prices a meal for two at about AED 60, and Gulf News notes the tables fill up gradually by evening.
Kopitiam by Chandy's serves Malaysian dishes under AED 40 on Al Falah Street in Abu Dhabi, in a small, clean room run by Malaysian-born Chef Chandy.
OrderMalaysian dishes under AED 40
TipBest Bites puts a meal for two under AED 100 and says everything on the menu costs under AED 40 apart from the odd special.
Ravi Restaurant has fed Satwa since 1978, a plastic chair institution for cheap curry and naan that opens at 05:00 and runs until 02:00 each night.
OrderChicken curry with naan
TipIt opens at 05:00 and serves until 02:00, so a late curry here is as normal to regulars as lunch.
Al Mallah has grilled shawarma on 2nd December Street since 1979, a Satwa corner for cheap eating that now runs 24 hours, seven days a week.
OrderChicken shawarma and falafel
TipTakeaway is faster than the roadside seats; most regulars eat the wrap standing at the counter.
Al Ustad Special Kabab has skewered koobideh near the Al Fahidi metro since 1978, a family run Bur Dubai canteen that locals return to again and again.
OrderKebab koobideh with rice
TipLook under the glass tabletops, where regulars' foreign banknotes are kept, and at the walls of photos of famous guests.
Golden Spoon Indian Vegetarian serves family-run vegetarian curries with some Chinese twists in Madinat Zayed, Abu Dhabi, with mains at AED 17 to 28.
OrderVegetable akbari, dahi bhalla and garlic naan
TipBest Bites says the manager's mother creates the dishes behind the scenes, and Mawaqif parking is available outside the door.
Chaat Chaska sells vegetarian chaat, samosas and falooda near Madinat Zayed in Al Danah, Abu Dhabi, where Best Bites says AED 49 feeds two people.
OrderPani puri, dahi puri and samosas
TipBest Bites says nothing on the chaat list tops AED 12 and the food comes out quickly, which makes it a fast, cheap lunch.
Ceylonian Restaurant chops kottu roti to order at Wasl Hub on 39 Street in Al Karama, a Sri Lankan counter serving from 11:00 to 23:00 daily.
OrderKottu roti
TipThe kottu is made fresh on a hot plate to order, so expect a short wait during the lunch rush.
Dragon Bao Bao cooks Northern Chinese dumplings, handmade noodles and a revolving hot pot at AED 39 on Electra Street in Abu Dhabi, open daily until late.
OrderRevolving hot pot and dumplings
TipChoose a broth base, fillings and condiments for a personal hot pot; Yalla says the handmade noodles and baozi set it apart from stir-fry rooms.
Oriental Kopitiam serves nasi lemak, laksa, toast sets and Hainanese chicken rice from a stall in the Flavours Hub food hall at Masdar Park, Abu Dhabi.
OrderNasi lemak, laksa and Hainanese chicken rice
TipThe National lists dishes at AED 25 to 55, with crab from AED 60, so the noodle and rice plates are the sub-AED 50 order.
Al Alamain Restaurant sells hot dog and liver sandwiches at AED 6 in Al Danah, Abu Dhabi, and keeps long hours, from 05:00 to 01:00 every day.
OrderHot dog and liver sandwiches
TipWhat's On notes generous portions at very low prices; FACT adds the falafel sandwich to the order.
Pind Da Dhaba fills its first floor Al Karama room with rustic Punjabi colour, ladling dhaba dal for diners across Dubai who miss a village kitchen.
OrderDhaba dal with roti
TipSaleem's of Delhi runs on the ground floor below; take the stairs up for the dhaba room specifically.
Hyderabadi Biryani House layers dum biryani near Karama Park, a small Karama Shopping Complex counter known across Al Karama, Dubai for its dum pot.
OrderChicken dum biryani
TipThe chicken dum biryani is the order; it is in Block L of the Karama Shopping Complex near Karama Park.
Nihal Restaurant serves Indian and Chinese dishes such as butter chicken and mutton biryani in a large room behind Lifeline Hospital in Al Danah, Abu Dhabi.
OrderMutton biryani, butter chicken and Indian-Chinese mains
TipBest Bites rates the butter chicken and mutton biryani at AED 38 each; Experience Abu Dhabi notes a banquet hall upstairs for events.
Salam Bombay Vegetarian Restaurant serves Mumbai street dishes such as pav bhaji, paani puri and kachori chaat on Electra Street in Abu Dhabi from 07:00.
OrderPav bhaji and paani puri
TipBest Bites says paani puri is served only from 16:00, so time a visit for the afternoon, and recommends finishing with masala chai.
West to West serves Caribbean and West African rice plates, grilled meats, stews and vegan dishes at the Flavours Hub food hall in Masdar Park, Abu Dhabi.
OrderRice plates, grilled meats and stews
TipThe National puts mains at AED 35 to 50 and says each stall shows menu boards with photos and clear prices, as in a Singapore hawker centre.
Vietnamese Pho serves pho noodle soups, spring rolls and banh mi on Reem Island in Abu Dhabi, a budget pick on the Visit Abu Dhabi cheap eats list.
OrderPho noodle soup, spring rolls and banh mi
TipYalla suggests salted egg tofu and vegetarian spring rolls first, then a noodle soup with chilli to taste, and sticky mango rice to finish.
Moti Mahal Delux serves butter chicken, dal makhani and veg biryani in Al Zahiyah, Abu Dhabi; Best Bites calls it one of the longest-standing Indian rooms.
OrderButter chicken, dal makhani and vegetable biryani
TipBest Bites says the vegetable biryani is more than enough for two, and its table of six dishes with parathas came to AED 135.
Kabul Darbar steams mantu and grills Afghan kebabs near Al Ghurair Mosque, a Naif side street kitchen serving Deira, Dubai's Afghan community.
OrderMantu dumplings
TipOrder the mantu with a kebab; it is near Al Ghurair Mosque in Naif.
Variety Momo Restaurant steams and fries Nepali dumplings beside Portsaid vegetarian restaurant, a small Al Fahidi, Dubai counter for Himalayan food.
OrderSteamed chicken momo
TipOrder the jhol momo if you want the dumplings served in soup rather than the drier fried style.
Raju Omlet has scrambled eggs and poured karak from an Al Karama corner since 2013, a Dubai stop built around breakfast and tea from 08:00 to 23:30.
OrderKarak omelette with paratha
TipIt opens at 08:00 and runs to 23:30, so it works as an early breakfast or a late supper.
Thai Flavors serves pad Thai, curries, stir-fries and Thai milk tea from a stall in the Flavours Hub food hall at Masdar Park in Abu Dhabi, open to 23:00.
OrderPad Thai, curries and stir-fries
TipThe National puts mains at AED 35 to 60, so choose a noodle or stir-fry plate to stay near the AED 50 mark; the hall seats everyone at shared tables.
Taste of Kerala serves Kerala breakfasts, fish molee and biryanis on Old Passport Road, Al Danah, Abu Dhabi, at about AED 45 for two, says Curly Tales.
OrderKerala biryani and nadan curries
TipGulf News calls the portions generous and the prices gentle, and the same menu runs from idli and appam breakfasts to nadan lunches.
Big Boys Sandwiches sells salt beef, fried chicken and egg salad sandwiches from AED 45 in the Yas Food Hall at Yas Mall on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
OrderSalt beef 7th Avenue, chicken wrap and egg salad sandwich
TipBest Bites says the sandwiches are huge, and that extra fries, salad or rice, coleslaw and a drink add AED 15; three minis cost about AED 45.
Operation Falafel fries chickpea falafel to order around the clock at the foot of 29 Boulevard, a quick Lebanese counter near The Dubai Mall.
OrderFalafel wrap
TipThe falafel sandwich is the cheap order; the counter runs 24 hours.
Al Ibrahimi Palace Restaurant ladles chicken korma and mutton biryani near Yoko Sizzlers, a long running Al Karama, Dubai canteen open to midnight.
OrderChicken korma with rice
TipPair the korma with the mutton biryani; it is near Pakistan Supermarket and Yoko Sizzlers.
Special Kabab Iranian Restaurant grills kafta and chicken kebabs opposite Capitol Hotel on Al Mina Road, a Persian counter in Al Hudaiba, Dubai.
OrderChicken and beef kafta kebab
TipAsk for extra grilled tomato with the kafta; the char on it is why regulars keep coming back.
Dhaka Darbar Restaurant cooks ilish fish curry and biryani around the clock on a Naif side street, a Bengali canteen serving Deira, Dubai workers.
OrderIlish fish curry with rice
TipIlish, the Bengali river fish, is the dish to ask for if the kitchen has it in that day.
Ashwaq Cafeteria rolls shawarma and pours karak near the Gold Souk, a bright Deira counter where Al Ras workers grab a fast and cheap lunch.
OrderChicken shawarma sandwich
TipTake the shawarma to go and walk it through the souks.
Al Ijaza Cafeteria has poured karak beside Mercato Mall on Jumeirah Street for years, and What's On lists it among Dubai's oldest places to eat.
OrderShawarma and karak tea
TipIt serves until 03:00, so it doubles as the neighbourhood's late night stop after Mercato closes.
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