10 affordable street foods to try in Abu Dhabi

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It's easy to look at Abu Dhabi's magnificent five-star hotels with elaborate brunches and think that this is what you eat when visiting the United Arab Emirates capital. But if you know where to look, you can find much of the same street food that you'll see in Beirut, Mumbai or Istanbul. Here are 10 affordable street foods to try in Abu Dhabi.

Photo courtesy of Brian Cicioni

Halawet el-jibn

Halawet el-jibn translates to sweet cheese. The Syrians have taken these soft-as-a-pillow cheese rolls around the world. In Abu Dhabi, you'll see a handful of options along Khalidiya Street. They're typically cut into small bites and topped with enough crushed pistachio to give them a slight crunchiness.

Unlike many of the other street snacks in this list, halawet el-jibn are just as good, if not better, the next day.

Our recommendation: Al Sultan Sweet

Price range: 20 AED for a small plate or 70 for a kilo

Photo courtesy of Brian Cicioni

Karak tea

This rich, creamy milk tea is probably the easiest item to find on our list. Think masala chai but with fewer spices. And in this case, the dominant cinnamon and cardamom flavors are all you need. Karak tea also goes well with any of the other popular street food items you'll find in Abu Dhabi.

Our recommendation: Bait Al Shay

Price range: 1-4 AED

Photo courtesy of Brian Cicioni

Kibbeh

These fried patties are crispy on the outside and succulent on the inside. In Abu Dhabi, they're typically stuffed with ground lamb, onion and pine nuts. You can enjoy them plain, which is what we recommend if you're trying these American football-shaped meze for the first time. They also go well with tahini or tzatziki sauce. Some places will serve them with plain yogurt.

Our recommendation: Zahrat Lebnan

Price range: 9 AED per piece

Photo courtesy of Brian Cicioni

Knafeh

Knafeh is one of the most popular Middle Eastern sweets to go. A typical square slice will be about an inch thick with gooey cheese wedged between crispy shredded filo dough. Compared to baklava, the sweetness is more subtle and it's also more delicate.

At Qwaider Al Nabulsi, they serve custard and cheese versions. Inside this small and efficient sweet shop, they have both on display just an inch above their circular stoves, which keep them warm throughout the day. You can watch the team cut away at the latter, with the cheese clinging to the round base like what you'd see when removing a slice of Chicago deep-dish pizza from the pie. Ask the staff, and they'll tell you they're serving Palestinian-style knafeh.

Our recommendation: Qwaider Al Nabulsi

Price range: 70 AED per kilo

Photo courtesy of Brian Cicioni

Luqaimat

These sweet and simple deep-fried dough balls are omnipresent throughout Abu Dhabi and much of the Middle East. The outer layer of these bite-sized confections glistens from the date syrup, while the sesame seeds give them an extra crunch. We recommend eating them fresh out of the frying pan in order to really experience the crunchy outside and soft, airy center.

Our recommendation: Rigag Khalidiya

Price range: 7 AED for the smallest portion

Photo courtesy of Brian Cicioni

Manakish za'atar

This simple combination of olive oil and dried herbs baked into flat bread of varying thickness is a street food staple throughout the Middle East. In Abu Dhabi, there is a particularly high concentration of options in Zone 1, along Muroor Road. We recommend enjoying yours as fresh out of the oven as possible. It also reheats well.

Our recommendation: Manakish Express

Price range: 6-8 AED

Photo courtesy of Brian Cicioni

Rgag

This wafer-thin crepe-looking bread is made with whole wheat flour and filled with a thin layer of cheese, egg, honey or fish paste. The result is a crispy street snack that's not as filling as the other items on our list. We recommend the Nutella version from Lgymant & Rgag, which is located in Zone 1, near Umm Al Emarat Park.

Our recommendation: Lgymat & Rgag

Price range: 7-15 AED

Photo courtesy of Brian Cicioni

Parotta

In Abu Dhabi, you can find dozens of takes on this flaky layered flatbread. The traditional way to enjoy parotta is with curry. But as this is the Middle East, you can also find shish tawook and shawarma versions.

At House of Tea, the options get really bizarre. Along with a cup of karak or Kashmiri tea, you can enjoy parotta stuffed with anything from chicken nuggets to chili Cheetos. The latter gets the nod for crunchiest, most creative and least nutritional.

Our recommendation: Bait Al Shay

Price range: 3-6 AED

Photo courtesy of Brian Cicioni

Sambusas

These crispy triangular pastries are a popular street snack throughout the Middle East. In Abu Dhabi, you'll find several savory options along Muroor Road in Zone 1. The most common fillings are meat or potato. Vegetarian versions are also popular.

Our recommendation: Samousa Corner

Price range: 3-5 AED

Photo courtesy of Brian Cicioni

Shawarma

Last but certainly not least, this amalgamation of some of the best Middle Eastern ingredients is an essential stop on any Abu Dhabi food crawl. You'll find the highest concentration of shawarma vendors along Hamdan Street. And Zahrat Lebnan is another local favorite with a few locations. They have chicken and lamb options, with the latter simply referred to as meat. For a bit of spice with your chicken and garlic sauce, try the Mexican.

Our recommendation: Bait El Khetyar

Price range: 8-16 AED