It’s no secret that Abu Dhabi’s dining scene offers a vibrant tapestry of multinational cuisines, as well as its own. It’s a gastronomic hub that allows global and local flavours to flourish among its Emirati and many expat communities, and holds endless appeal to its flock of international tourists. The UAE capital’s culinary environment is so diverse and delectable, it has fast become a hotspot for foodies everywhere.
Abu Dhabi’s food scene recreates the comfort and warmth many associate with the idea of ‘home’ thanks to its international food offerings. The way to anyone’s heart is through their stomach, as they say, and for many of our MICHELIN restaurant chefs, the city’s culinary identity has greatly influenced their time spent in the city, both professionally and personally.
To get deeper insight into Abu Dhabi’s dining scene and the unique experiences it offers, we asked seven MICHELIN restaurant chefs to tell us which of their own dishes or dishes that they’ve eaten in the city define its gastronomic scene. And just as we thought, their answers reflected the melting pot that is Abu Dhabi.
Dish: Braised Lamb Shank, Market Kitchen
MICHELIN Selected, MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2023
Chosen by: Chef Jan van der Westhuizen, Market Kitchen
For South African chef Jan van der Westhuizen, chef de cuisine at MICHELIN selected restaurant Market Kitchen, his braised lamb shank is representative of the capital city because it reminds him of the national dish, lamb ghouzi. The UAE’s national dish typically is either offered as a full lamb or lamb shank, slow cooked and spiced, and served on a bed of mixed white and saffron rice, garnished with pine nuts, cashews and mint. For him, the braised lamb served at Market Kitchen is a dish that showcases influences from Abu Dhabi’s diverse culinary culture. It shares similarities with ghouzi, but of course he has added his contemporary twist on it. “Our slow-braised lamb shank almost falls off the bone and is served with creamy mascarpone polenta and charred baby carrots. This dish is rounded off with a mint chimichurri which cuts through the richness of the lamb shank and compliments the dish with its fresh flavours.”
Dish: Signature Peking Duck with Caviar, Hakkasan
One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2023
Chosen by: Chef Lee Kok Hua, Hakkasan
Having been an Abu Dhabi resident for 13 years now, chef Lee Kok Hua of one-MICHELIN star restaurant Hakkasan has made a lasting impression within the city’s gastronomic landscape. Locals, residents, and tourists alike flock to the Cantonese eatery located in Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental hotel, a royal landmark in the UAE. In chef Lee’s eyes, their signature Peking Duck with Caviar dish reflects the city’s traditional yet modern culture. He elevates the classic dish by topping it with caviar, creating a balanced juxtaposition between the caviar’s saltiness and the earthiness of crispy-skinned Peking duck. The bold yet light pairing incorporates a sense of innovation that mirrors the city’s authentic yet progressive environment.
Dish: Lamb Ghouzi, Al Mrzab
MICHELIN Selected, MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2023
Chosen by: Chef Thinus van der Westhuizen, 99 Sushi Bar
Family-style meals embody Abu Dhabi’s gastronomic essence; it’s all about creating those special moments in big groups of friends and loved ones. For chef Thinus van der Westhuizen of one-MICHELIN star restaurant 99 Sushi Bar, this way of eating is what truly represents the capital city. “Abu Dhabi is so multi-faceted when it comes to cuisine; however, its underlying quality is its age-old culture and family-oriented way of life, so for me it has to be a meal that has the same qualities.” One meal that strikes him is Lamb Ghouzi, a national dish of slow-cooked lamb served on a bed of Emirati spiced rice, from MICHELIN selected restaurant Al Mrzab. Packed with rich flavours, this dish is enjoyed in many homes across Abu Dhabi during celebratory occasions and family gatherings, which chef Thinus notes as the foundation of the city’s dining culture.
Dish: Mixed Grill, Lebanese Terrace at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
MICHELIN Selected Hotel, MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2023
Chosen by: Chef Luigi Stinga, Talea by Antonio Guida
If there’s one thing that Arabic and Italian food culture have in common, it’s sharing food with the people you love. Eating with friends and family is a large part of each of their traditions, so it is no surprise that chef of one-MICHELIN star restaurant Talea by Antonio Guida, Luigi Stinga, associates his definition of Abu Dhabi with a dish that is made to share and celebrates diversity. For the Amalfi coast native, the Mixed Grills he tasted at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental remind of him of his early days in Abu Dhabi, when the meal made a lasting impression on him. “The variety of the meats on one plate and the combination of herbs and spices defines the diversity in Arabic culture,” he recalls. “The concept of sharing plates creates an intimate atmosphere amongst guests at the table and evokes a certain amount of comfort that no a la carte dish can offer. It reminds me of my family and togetherness, a concept true to where I come from and where I reside today.”
Dish: Salmon Tandoori, ťazal
Bib Gourmand, MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2023
Chosen by: Chef Ibrahim Abouelazm
In the eyes of Egyptian chef Ibrahim Abouelazm, Abu Dhabi is defined by its diverse cultural landscape. The executive chef of Bib Gourmand restaurant ťazal draws his inspiration from the multicultural backgrounds of the people he has met every day since moving to the UAE 15 years ago. One dish that pays tribute to his journey is his Salmon Tandoori. Marinating the salmon in fragrant Indian spices, paired with an Italian saffron arancini and Arabic-inspired garlic coriander yogurt sauce, he brings together flavours from different cuisines in one plate. “This dish epitomises the spirit of Abu Dhabi, reflecting the multicultural tapestry that makes the city thrive,” he notes. “This city is a melting pot, where individuals from various nationalities coexist and collaborate harmoniously.” A tribute to the city he lives in, chef Ibrahim’s vibrant dish represents the city’s colourful inhabitants in a creative and playful way.
Dish: Lamb Tsukune, OTORO
Bib Gourmand, MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2023
Chosen by: Chef Akmal Anuar
Going down a more traditional route, chef Akmal Anuar of Bib Gourmand restaurant OTORO chooses Lamb Tsukune as the dish that he associates Abu Dhabi with. For chef Akmal, lamb kebabs are a big part of the capital city’s traditional food culture. In his version of the popular local dish, the Singaporean chef combines minced lamb with their house marinade and serves the skewers with smoked yogurt and honey, as an ode to the many kebabs he’s enjoyed in Abu Dhabi. Adding a twist to a classic is his way of bringing the city’s diverse culinary culture to his guests, without straying too far from its traditional origins.
Dish: Kabab Karaz, Almayass
Bib Gourmand, MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2023
Chosen by: Chef Mardiros Barsoum
Armenian-Lebanese chef Mardiros Barsoum has called Abu Dhabi home for the past 12 years. Honing his craft while celebrating his heritage at Bib Gourmand restaurant Almayass, chef Mardiros views the city as a blend of authenticity with a modern touch. A dish that mirrors this notion is the Kabab Karaz he’s been serving at the restaurant since its conception. For him, the rich flavours define the opulent and vibrant essence of Abu Dhabi. It fuses kebab meat and carefully selected spices, paired with a sweet and subtly tangy cherry sauce. While it is a classic dish in Armenian and Levantine cuisine, it plays on sweet and savoury notes that represent the harmonious contrast of Abu Dhabi’s traditional yet modern flair.
