Grub Shack
This restaurant has become something of an institution in the UAE's Indo-Chinese market, having started out as a tiny family-run eatery in Sharjah. The Dubai Healthcare City branch serves up a medley of homestyle Goan and Chinese dishes. Think chicken lollipops, prawn wontons, chilli paneer and crab roast masala. "Taking your taste buds from the Goan shacks to Bombay streets all the way to Dubai," writes the team on the restaurant's official Facebook page. A business lunch is served throughout the week from noon to 3pm, for just Dh50, and comedy nights plus other events are also hosted here.
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Hot Plate
Abu Dhabi's Tourist Club Area is home to a Hot Plate restaurant, a brand that's become well-known for serving authentic Indian-Chinese food in the capital. There are 130 items on its menu, spanning classic Chinese and Indian dishes, but the chefs also take influence from other parts of Asia, such as Singapore and Malaysia, too. Recommended dishes include the chilli chicken and Sichuan rice.
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Imperial Dragon
Imperial Dragon in Mankhool has notched up a loyal following. The restaurant boasts four branches in the UAE, but the Mankhool venue has been around for two decades, although it will soon relocate to the Spinney’s centre in Bur Dubai. Run by Patrick Ranee, who’s been in the country for more than 40 years, the eatery is often full with Bengalis craving a taste of Kolkata’s famous Indian-Chinese food.
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Nihal
Dozens of north Indian, Chinese and continental dishes are served at this restaurant on Electra Street in Abu Dhabi. In particular, the chefs are known for whipping up some excellent iterations of garlic fried rice, drums of heaven (like chicken lollipops, but with a spicy stir-fry) and chicken or vegetables Manchurian. It’s a must-try, family-friendly spot that’s very reasonably priced and also offers home delivery.
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Royal Orchid
This restaurant, which has branches across the UAE, offers a menu that encapsulates far more than just Indian and Chinese food, also taking in Thai, Japanese and other classic Asian specialities, too. From sushi to pani puri, prawns wasabi or tandoori, and gulab jamun to sticky rice with mango – Royal Orchid offers the epitome of a fusion menu, and it goes down well in the capital. The honey chicken and vegetable noodles are just two particularly beloved dishes.
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Read more:
What is Indian-Chinese food? An in-depth history of a unique hybrid cuisine
The 20 best new brunches to sample in Abu Dhabi and Dubai
The 17 restaurants and cafes that are coming to Abu Dhabi's Galleria extension
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