The best Abu Dhabi destinations for meat and dairy dodging…

The science is pretty clear that most of us should be eating less meat. And we’re not judging, the author of this post likely ranks in the top percentile for carnivorous consumption. But for our own health, and that of the planet’s, going plant-based — if not exclusively at least a little more often — is usually a good thing.

And what better month to start, than veganuary? These are just some of our top picks, to help you make great vegan choices in Abu Dhabi.

Here are 16 spots to sample vegan food in Abu Dhabi.

Angar

After a lengthy closure, one of the city’s most popular Indian restaurants is back serving up a range of precise-spiced vegetarian alongside their meat-based dishes. South Asian vegan delights include noteable nibbles as vegetable khurchan, bhindi masala, baghare baigan and more. And there’s rice of course. All the rice.

W Hotel Abu Dhabi, Tel: (02) 656 0000, marriott.com

Black Tap

This new branch of the Big Apple burger joint already puts on a bit of a bun show for those in search of plant-based banquets. They offer the genuinely impressive ‘Impossible’ burger (Dhs99), albeit with slightly less vegan friendly accompniaments, and a straight-up vegan burger (Dhs64) which consists of a black bean pattie, vegan mayo, salsa verde, pickled onions on a vegan bun. They’re upping the meat alternative ‘steaks’ this january though with a range of limited edition green foods including — guac and chip platters, Impossible chilli tacos, craft salads, crispy Brussels sprouts, the spectacularly-named vegan truffle shroom burger (Dhs79), and, the dairy-free icing on the cake-infused beverage: A ‘Vegan Black ‘N White CakeShake’. Yummers.

Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island, daily midday to midnight. Tel: (02) 446 5128, @blacktapad

Bloom Vegan Kitchen

This is one of those delivery only situations, but it is 100 per cent vegan, which means there are no meat or animal products knocking about in the kitchen. They also provide a detailed low down of menu item macros, and which dishes are gluten free. Browse through healthy power bowls (from Dhs31); a banging range of guilt-free burgers (our pick has to be the grilled ‘cheese’ Dhs35); highly artistic breakfasts from Dhs33; mac & cheese alternatives (Dhs29); cauli tacos (Dhs30); vegan pizzas (from Dhs55); and some elite level, planet-friendly desserts (the pecan nut brownie is a steal at Dhs25). Whether you’re more concerned with the price-to-quality balance sheet, or the sheer range of food on offer, this capital outfit is tough to beat.

Deliver through Careem Now, Talabat, Zomato or Deliveroo. Visit bloomvegankitchen.com for the full list of locations.

Brick

We do so love a rooftop terrace bar and Aloft Abu Dhabi’s Brick really hits the high notes. Aside from the lofty views, one of the bar’s niche attractions is the flame-baked fare from the brick oven. There’s an entire section of the menu given over to vegan food as well, it includes plant-based versions of chili-cheese baked sweet potato (Dhs65); sprouted lentil shepherd’s pie (Dhs65); vegan bangers and mash (Dhs65); and a fire fresh vegan pizza featuring seasonal vegetables and guilt-free cheese (Dhs65).

Brick, Aloft Abu Dhabi, National Exhibition Centre, open daily 5pm to midnight. Tel: (0) 2 654 5000, @brick.abudhabi

Cafe 302

cafe302

This gastro cafe Has long carried the banner for gourmet vegan food. It’s not exclusively plant-based, but it does have its own vegan breakfast menu, including a responsible interpretation of an English breakfast (Dhs65), foul medames (Dhs32), a tofu benedict (Dhs48) and blueberry rice pancakes (Dhs32); for your plant-based mains you can choose the quinoa, beet and white bean burger (Dhs65), selected salads, a veg thali (Dhs65), and superfood bowls (from Dhs55).

Al Maha Arjaan by Rotana, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad St, 6am to 11pm, dishes from around Dhs34. Tel: (02) 610 6666. rotana.com

Cooper’s

Solid pub grub classics, but make them from food sans faces. This British sports bar is always trying to stay one step ahead of the game, and so perhaps it’s no surprise that you can catch all the matches whilst tucking into items from their dedicated vegan menu page. There’s a vegan burger (Dhs99); vegan Bologainse (Dhs89); a vegan sausage with sweet potato fries (Dhs79); a spicy bean-based Mexican wrap with guac (59); and falafel sliders (Dhs49).

Park Rotana, Park Rotana Complex Road, near Khalifa Park, Sun to Wed, midday to 2am, Thurs to Sat, midday to 3am, Tel: (02) 657 3325, @parkrotana

Ikea

There are now two Ikea stores in Abu Dhabi. The labyrinthian colossus of Yas Island (not the official name), and the more boutiquey city store at Al Wahda Mall. Both now serve the brand’s internet-breaking vegan Swedish meat(less) balls (Dhs9 for eight). There are other vege options too, including breakfast, but… When in an outpost of Stockholm…

At stores across Abu Dhabi. @ikeauae

Jones The Grocer

The Aussies are always amongst the early adopters of food trends, and this export from down under has been on that plant-based tip since the jump. Their menu is overflowing with botanical abundance, from breakfast through lunchtime mains, all the way to the dessert section. But fresh for 2022, their new ‘Body and Soul’ menu provides a dedicated home for delicious, nutritious and *flexes bicep* food that’s good for you. This of course includes plenty of vegan options, such as — the plant-based chickpea omelette with local kale and micro herbs, a creamy broad bean and avocado guacamole, marinated beetroot, and a garnish of Jones the Grocer’s Belos tomato and chilli vegan jam.

Find your nearest Jones the Grocer at jonesthegrocer.com

Market at EDITION

Abu Dhabi’s first permanent five-star uniquely vegan brunch has now launched at The Abu Dhabi EDITION. Taking place at Market at EDITION every Sunday you’ll find an entirely cruelty-free, plant-based three-course culinary extravaganza with palate highlights of — King Kale Salad, Cauliflower Tabbouleh, Charred Aubergine Steak and Black Rice Pudding.

The Abu Dhabi Edition, daily, 6.30am to 1pm, from Dhs155. Tel: (0)2 208 0000. @abudhabiedition

Pickl

One of our favourite homegrown burger joints, Pickl understands the assignment… not all of us are, ‘about the industry beef’. We tried their Impossible beef burger who offer the option on delivery and dine-in, to replace their classic smashed beef patties with the meat-dodging variety. Also avoiding carbs? You can even swap out those lush potato buns with a lettuce wrap.

From Dhs40. Abu Dhabi locations can be found at Mamsha Al Saadiyat and WTC Mall. @eatpickl

PizzaExpress

PizzaExpress UAE is 22 this year and, as a gift, they’ve launched 22 brand new completely vegan menu items. These new dishes bolster an already substantial plant-based showing on the menu, and if you’d like a quick kitchen tour around what’s new — hold on to your demonstrably lower levels of cholesterol, we’re about to dive in. There’s pizza of course, but it’s not all about that base — there are options for cruelty-free dining across all the traditional core three courses. You can dip into such face-free-food starters as dough balls al forno or beetroot and feta salad. New meat-free pizza and pasta options include the American Jack vegan cheese and the spicy spaghetti piccante. And then there’s the desserts — put your forks down, and pick those spoons up for a super chill selection of vegan ice creams.

Abu Dhabi locations include Al Reem Island, Al Ain Mall, World Trade Centre. @pizzaexpressuae

Punjab Grill

This, now Michelin Guide recognised, Indian restaurant brings a huge amount to the table — and a fair proportion of it, is cruelty free. You’ll find clear indications throughout the menu of which dishes are served as vegan-friendly, and which dishes can be adapted so that they can be prepared as vegan-friendly. That demonstrates a great deal of thought and care, the bonus is that this is also one of the best high end South Asian diners in Abu Dhabi.  We’re big fans of the veg mixed grill (Dhs100), chaat options, and the bhagara baingan (Dhs75). There’s also a vegan set menu, priced at Dhs275 per person, available throughout January only.

Punjab Grill, Venetian Village of Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi, daily, 12.30pm to 11.45pm, WhatsApp: (050) 668 3054, @punjabgrillabudhabi

Sanderson’s

This cafe is UAE-based culinary kingpin Sergio Lopez’s first solo venture in the capital and it’s blessed with that kind of class that goes right down to the marrow. The menu is filled with bright, innovative, devastatingly attractive taste-led experiences and includes a number of meat-free dalliances. Dip into the broccoli and broad bean tabouleh (Dhs45), vegan quesadilla (Dhs45), their vegan take on a hot dog (Dhs57), and the epic mushroom burger with truffle tofu mayo, served with sweet potato fries (Dhs65).

Al Seef Compound, Behind Al Seef Village Mall, Khalifa Park Area, 8am to 10pm, from around Dhs57. Tel: (02) 222 1142. @wearesandersons

Taqado

One of our favourite lunchtime orders — the Cali-Mexi Latin fuego hub scores huge plant-based points for its Impossible Burrito (Dhs48). Within the warm carby embrace of the flour tortilla, you’ll find a tasty twist on the standard meat substitute, Impossible’s beef-flavoured chorizo. Ay ay ay. Alongside that, there’s vegan cheese, onion chipotle, lime rice, pinto beans and your choice of salsa. There are also burrito bowls, loaded nachos, quesadillas, salads, breakfasts and desserts that are also tailored to the animal product-free way of life.

Find your nearest outlet on taqado.com

UDN

Yeah, yeah, ramen is great. And we’re not telling you not to eat ramen. What we’re telling you to do is to also eat ramen’s thicker, wheat-flour noodle cousin udon. And one delightful place to do just that is at UDN, the brand new udon house in Abu Dhabi. There are a few guilt-free delights to wrap your chopsticks around, including the vegan gyoza (Dhs35), and as you’d expect a number of very-much-solicited vegan noods, udon dishes that include — plain (Dhs42), aubergine (Dhs55), and mixed mushroom (Dhs61).

Old Airport Road, Showroom 1, Abu Dhabi, daily noon to 11pm. Tel: (0) 2 441 3037. @udn.ae

West to West Kitchen

As part of their commitment to providing tasty plant-based alternatives, this What’s On Award Winning Caribbean-and-West-African restaurant recently added Beyond Meat Jamaican patties (Dhs30 for two) to their meat-free menu. These dainty pastries are packing all that same heat, just with zero meat. These brand new vegan bangers join a growing collection of vegan-friendly dishes on the menu such as awojoh binch (a Sierra Leonean bean casserole); Trini’s doubles (curried chickpeas on a soft flat bread); plantains; vegetable groundnut stew; and dhalpuri roti ( a Trinidadian version of the classic Indian streetfood dish). Want more? These guys enthusiastically celebrate meat-free Mondays.

Al Bzaymi St, Najda, Tue to Thurs 12pm to 10pm, Fri to Sun, 12pm to 11pm, closed Mon. Tel: (02) 671 9119, @westtowestkitchen

Yas Plaza

Just in time to feed the new year, new me crowd’s cravings – this conglomerate of snazzy Yas Island hotels has been bolstering their menus with some special edition, delicious and nutritious plant-based additions. You can sample, for example, Ancient Grain and Heirloom Tomato Salad at Stills, Crowne Plaza Yas Island; there’s a nourishing and wholesome Cauliflower Steak at Belgian Beer Cafe, Radisson Blu Yas Island; and Panzanella Salad at Filini Garden, Radisson Blu Yas Island.

Yas Island. @myyasplaza

Images: Provided