Amazing Ethiopian eatery in Abu Dhabi...A small place but very good with the flavors...Very friendly and welcoming staff...Quick service and polite attitude...This is my first experience with Ethiopian and trust me it’s amazing food...Very close to Indian sub continent flavors...The difference would be its less spicy and more on the tangy side with amazing meats...Should try Anna Bonne special, Dorek, Tibs...It comes with trading Ethiopian bread or I would say it’s more like neer dosa called Injera made of Teff flavor...Must try...4/5
The staff make you feel at home. Literally my favourite place in Abu Dhabi. Only suggestion to them is to create opportunities for delivery!
Tried Ethiopian food for the first time during my visit to Abu Dhabi. It was recommended by my friend who was visiting from Cardiff and boy the food was so good. The injera is a kind of bread that’s sour and spongy. We ordered the Bonna Anne special and the special tibs that were placed on the injera bread. We had the food with our hands and it was more than enough for the 3 of us. A must try cuisine and restaurant.
Bonna Annee is truly a Hidden Gem . Thinking of their delicate injera and flavorful dishes make me mouthwatering! We always order the Bonna Annee special and a salad, and I could safely say that 3 people can eat this platter satisfactorily. So far, I have noticed that their services are quick , and the staff are very kind, and helpful to guide you if you aren't familiar with the cuisine. Bonna Annee is a must - visit place and I recommend you to add this in your list.
Absolutely delicious food gracious hosts love it!
I had the special and couldn't get enough! Shared it with a friend and still had some left over I highly recommend it!
Great Ethiopian food... We order the Bonna Annee special non veg... Their ethiopian bread Inchera was unique, very sour and a good combination to go with their 6 different side dishes.. The platter was sharing friendly and 3 ppl can easily eat heartily from one meal.. Will definitely like to try it again...
Whenever I'm here, I try out Yesom Fir Fir and Yesom Beyaynetu. My husband enjoys Bonna Anne Special and other lamb or chicken dishes.
We wish they had credit cards and delivered since there food is finger- licking good.
Loved the food here!! We tried the bonna Annee special .. finger licking good. You must try their coffee and popcorn. It’s the best Ethiopian you can find in Abu Dhabi.
The staff was very accomodating. It was my first Ethiopian Feast and i am happy with it. The bread has an interesting taste and the spice is something the lit up my palate. Thank you!!
If you like delicious simplicity, you definitely have to visit this little restaurant which offers authentic Ethiopian good. Don’t shy away using your hands because remember you need all 5 senses to get the ultimate food experience.
Must visit
Great staff makes for a better experience.
The server was very friendly and advised what to try as it was our first time dining at an Ethiopian restaurant.
We tried 2 dishes for 2 people.
The Bonna Anne special and the Special Tibs.
Both came at the same time on a large platter of their injera. The sauces were fantastic and the beef special Tibs was quite good.
Total bill came up to 95dhs as we ordered drinks as well.
Worth trying!
An amazing place. Really great food, the beef is served sizzling hot. The crowd in that place says how good the place is. Nice staff. It's a small place, but should visit at least once when in AD.
Since a very long time I have been planning to try ethiopian cuisine. After doing some research and going through some youtube videos, to get familiar with the dishes I finally decided to try it at Bonna Annee. I took help of the staff who guided me well with the selecting the dish from the menu card. She very nicely explained to me about each curry. We ordered for Bonna Anne special which is basically a platter with a fermented bread called ingera served with 6 different sides and dips like curry. Out of them 3 were non veg and 3 veg curries. My fav curry was the minchet abesh....minced meat sauteed in onion tomato pepper. 1 dish can be shared with two or three persons by asking for bread and curries. I strongly recommend this place to have a good and a value for money Ethiopian Cuisine. Finally we were served with coffee and you get a complimentary bowl of popcorns. The staff is very pleasant and friendly.
It’s just what you’d expect, authentic Ethiopian food with a traditional way of serving and the staff were really pleasant and friendly. Definitely deserves a second visit and recommendation to all
I eat here once a week.... I have midnight cravings for the food here... i wish they delivered or even except credit cards for that matter....enough said... *drops mic*.....
I love travelling for food. I’m very excited when I found out Bonna Annee in Tourist club that serves authentic Ethiopian Cuisine.
I have to make a research before ordering since i don’t have any idea on what are the dishes in the menu. I like the fact that all of the people who manage the restaurant are locally from Ethiopia that adds up to the whole experience. They suggested us to have the Bonna Annee Special and the Tibs. Which were served in a separate bowls and laid on top of an Authentic Injera bread right infront of you! The aroma of the spices are so good that makes u wanna dig in to the food right away. We do it Ethiopian way too by using our bare hands in eating. All the dishes in the plate was so delicious!
Indeed, you have to taste a culture to understand it! Will definitely go back here with a group of friends!
A pretty amazing introduction to Ethiopian food. All the dishes were very tasty, having never tried Ethiopian food before I cannot make reference to previous experiences. The presentation of the food was nice, the service was satisfactory, the tastes were unique. Unfortunately there were a few too many flys in the restaurant and that did detract from the whole otherwise positive experience.
There is no better way to experience culture but through food. Bonna Annee serves Ethiopian cuisine. Tried the sampler and it was really good. The bread complimented the different kinds of sauces and even had to ask for more. The staff were also very helpful in explaining to us the different kinds of sauces, what they were made of and what kind of taste is to be expected. It was definitely an experience. Might think of traveling to Ethiopia. 😊
Best Ethiopian food in AbuDhabi. We have been eating with my family there for the last seven years for anyone who loves Ethiopian food or the Foodies who want to try that’s the best place to begin.
Bonna Anne, its hidden gem traditional Ethiopian food , i am totally satisfied their food, so yummy, so juicy, staffs are so friendly and nice place strongly recommend this place.
So this place has been on my list for a long time now! Came here to pick up, as unfortunately they don’t have delivery service but I trusted the little drive will be worth it.
We Ordered the Bonna Annee special which is injera with all the different sauces which was nice so we could experiment our favourite sauces. My favourite sauces has to be the dark sauce with mince meat and the sauce with chunks of beef inside. This was my second time trying Ethiopian food, I’ve tried it once in London which was tasty too.
We all really enjoyed the food, the sauces are good portions also. We didn’t dine in, but the place seemed small and cosy
Very friendly staff. service is good. fresh and tasty food. we were a group of 5, we asked the staff to choose for us an authentic Ethiopian dish and their choice was spot on . Place is not big so make sure to book in advance.
Bonna Anne is a homely joint with lovely food. Our family loves this place. We often visit this place. It’s very reasonably priced and we normally order their special. One portion is sufficient for my husband and myself and they give my daughter a complimentary meat and veg soup which she loves. Must visit.
Tasty cuisine, with very different bread
We've been here in January 2018 and after checking what is good as a traditional Ethiopian dish we had: Bonna Anne Special Plate (which includes some cabbage with carrots, minced beef with souse, beef stew-key wat, some chick peas with beef and some chicken) , Derek Tibs which is fried lamb (kinda dry but tasty) and Bozena Shiro (which is chick peas with beef-tasty) all of these on a big Injera Bread. Injera bead is their traditional bread which in my opinion is very different, it is so puffy like a sponge and sour, when I tasted it first, I said that I cannot eat it but combining with food, the sour taste it cannot be felt anymore.
So all in all Ethiopian food is good and tasty, not very spicy like Indian or others from Asia. We would like to try again some other dishes.
At the end we had Ethiopian coffee (very strong and black) and tea (tastes like a cloves tea), and both were great. They are bringing you popcorn for your coffee, funny.
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Bonna Anne Special and Special Tibs
This restaurant is a hidden gem. Its an authentic Ethopian Restaurant, that is more like a visit to your family home. I went to this restaurant along with friends Perviz De Souza and his wife Zelma, my brother Anthony Fernandes and husband Malcolm Pereira . Our friends had been to this restaurant before. It's a small restaurant which you would easily walk past and didn't know it exists. As we walked into the restaurant one of the staff greeted and seated us. The staff is so amiable that no matter whoever you are, you would be warmly greeted and they would seat you or inform you of the time needed for available seats. The ambience of this place is delightful with Ethopian pictures and artifacts on the walls that adds to the authenticity of the place. Our server was Mary, an affectionate person who instantaneously made us feel comfortable and had a very contagious smile which I absolutely admired. I felt she was one the best server I have ever come across.
Well coming to the food. The food generally served there are healthy and hearty stews with flat breads. Our friend requested Mary for suggestions and trust me, she recommended us the best dishes, Bonna Anne’s Special - a mix of the house stews and Special Tibs - fried tender beef pieces with onion, tomatoes, garlic, and jalapeno as our main dish item.
Our dishes arrived in small bowls, our Tibs came in a sizzling cast iron pan and a large sourdough thick crepe style flat bread. She placed the sourdough bread on the table and began by serving 2 sides on either side of the bread and then our main dish in the middle, thereafter the remaining dishes were proportionately served on either side of the bread, so all the dishes were at your reach. A side of extra bread, a salad and the house sauces was served too. It was like a feast with dishes that included a medley of stews of vegetables, chicken, beef and mutton. Every dish that was served had it's unique tantalizing flavors that I had not experienced before. So each bite I took, was a tasty unique mouthful.
The price is reasonable and definitely affordable for the quantity and quality of the food served. If anyone looking for a food adventure on a budget, then do visit this place and you will honestly embark on food journey you haven't experienced before. I would definitely recommend to everyone to try Ethopian food at least once in your life. So if you are not sure what to order, ask your friendly server, they would be delighted to offer you suggestions whether you are a vegetarian or non vegetarian.
The experience of all of us eating food in one plate without even nudging another for a particular dish is one of a kind. I would like to thank our friends who recommended this place. I really had an amazing experience and will surely go back for more.
If you want to run out from your routine and try a totally different cuisine, than the Ethiopian food will help you to do so.
The Injera bread is at the same time the most weird and most interesting bread I've ever had. The spongy look, sour taste and the great texture of the bread will only make sense if you will try together with the saucy food.
Not the most good looking dishes but it will compensate with the test.
Definitely recommend.
Been here a number of times over the last few years and the food has been consistently good. Authentic Ethiopian Fare.
It's been getting popular nowadays so sometimes we have to wait till we get a table. Service has been patchy, but mostly good.
Delicious consistent food with very welcoming staff
Yesom beyaynetu all day
Their spicy sauces are really delicious
Perhaps having juices would help
This was my first stint with Ethiopian cuisine, so I was super excited and did my research before getting there. I learnt a few things that got me all the more eager to try it out. Their communal eating concept is so unique! We Indians dig into each others' plates and sharing food while eating is a part of our food culture, however everyone eating from 1 big plate was new to me. Nevertheless, I loved it! The food was great, loved the sour injera ( their main source of carbs) and absolutely loved all the gravies. Amongst the 3 of us, we had a Bonna Annee special( a platter with 5-6 gravies poured over the injera) and a spicy Tibs (lamb gravy)..If you're in the mood to get your hands dirty with some authentic Ethiopian cuisine in Abu Dhabi, you know where to go!
PS : this one's a tiny cafe with about 6 tables, so going in big groups may be a tad bit of an issue.
Food- 5/5
Ambience -4/5
Service -5/5
VFM- Extremely cost effective
Delicious food with a friendly staff. Every time I eat here it reminds me of my travels around Ethiopia. I’ve tried several Ethiopian places in Abu Dhabi and this is the best.
Yesom Beyaynetu Vegetarian plate was excellent. Authentic food at a dive hole in the wall but the people are kind, place clean, and the food is good; it’s off the beaten path and certainly for curious clientele with adventurous palates. Try the Ethiopian coffee is reminiscent of Turkish coffee.
Fantastic Ethiopian food served in the most authentic manner. So much variety for vegetarians and vegans.
Growing popular amidst foodies. Vegan groups actually meet up at this place, isn't that awesome.
Food is served on sour dough bread - on which the stews and dishes are spread/arranged.
Friendly service, food is on the table in no time. Small place but warm and cozy.
Value for money too. Simple and pleasant experience.
Had the vegetarian dish. Quite tasty - the lentil stew and ground chicken stew were fantastic. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Good place for a non-fussy meal. Good value for money.
I am no connoisseur of Ethiopian food, but I sure do like what they serve at Bonne Annee. I started coming here years ago as a vegetarian, and I never really developed much of an appreciation for the meat dishes. Most of the food on the menu has meat, except for the vegetarian special platter. Two or three people can comfortably share one of these plates. With a mix of lentil/chickpea stews, and an abundance of veggie stews, you won't be lacking in variety.
If you like a spicy addition to your food, order the red and green sauces to accompany your food.
Injera is a key part of eating at Bonne Annee, and it can be quite polarizing. Some (like me) love it, and others really can't stand it.
The staff are always kind and respectful. Certain times and days of the week can be busy, but generally it's not super loud or obnoxious.
It's been over 10yrs since I last tried Ethiopian food in AUH. So I decided to give it a go at Bon Annee.
Ethiopian food is best had when shared with friends as you all eat together from the same plate,
the delicious food layed out on the injera (traditional Ethiopian bread)
We tried the Bon Annee special which is the best way to get a taste of quite a few dishes and it costs as little as 38AED.
We also had a portion of the special tibs (tender grilled beef strips-AED 40) served with an accompaniment of spicy sauce and dry rub.
All the food was really good & would make for a nice lunch or dinner especially if you want to try something different with friends.
The restaurant is really small & simple but the warm welcome from the staff sure do make up for the size of the place.
This is my first time trying Ethiopian food, ordered Bonna annee special a mix of different stews served on bread,called Injera . I liked the beef and the curry sauces but the soft bread was too sour for my taste(tasted like sour dosa).Reasonable prices and good portion.
Fantastic Ethiopian restaurant! I usually order the Bonna Annee special, a mix of hot stews. All of them are tasty and freshly cooked. Their injeera is fantastic, soft and fresh. Must try if you're a Ethiopian food lover or if you would like to experience something new
This is one of those restaurants that really surprises you by showcasing a cuisine that doesn't get too much talk about.
Located in Tourist club area, it serves Ethiopian food, and judging by the clientele and waiting time for a table, it is a popular within the Ethiopian community of Abu Dhabi.
The meal is served on a sourdough flatbread, so all the different stews, meats etc... are then eaten from this with another piece of sourdough. Taste was very good, most of the dishes had great flavors and the whole experience was very good.
Service was friendly and food arrived quickly.
Excellent evening - we wanted to try something different and this was just the thing. A lovely little cosy room with very friendly staff. Food was surprising (especially the bread) and amazingly delicious. The special is enough for two to get stuck in and then you can order more if you are hungry. Beef dibs was good but favourite maybe the Key Wet. Tea or coffee for after. No desserts but two doors down a nice looking sweets shop..... :)
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I found them listed as a hidden gem on Zomato. I hadn't tried Ethiopian food in about 15 years. It was about time.
Bonna Anne is a small (8-9 tables) no frills restaurant which lets the food do the talking. Its not easy to find. Its tucked away towards the back of a building so do use your GPS.
I was alone and when I entered, all the patrons (who seemed to be from Africa) turned to look at me, the Indian guy who probably got lost and stumbled in. That said, they seemed amused as I sat down and proceeded to look through the menu.
the menu is fairly large with most meat dishes focused on beef and lamb. chicken makes an appearance in just a couple of dishes. to their credit, they have a rather comprehensive vegetarian selection. Food is well priced with mains averaging about AED 35.00
The waiter came over as I was browsing the menu and offered to assist. He asked me if I was vegetarian to which I replied in the negative. He then asked me what my protein of choice was when I said chicken, that narrowed down his recommendations severely. I also asked him to recommend to me their best lamb dish just incase I changed my mind. I ordered the chicken anyway ... although he was very helpful and courteous.
The portions were above average and more than enough for a hungry soul or two not so hungry diners. Almost all the mains are served with a bread native to Ethiopia. Its like a really large tangy and savoury crepe. You eat with your hands. Trust me ... roll up your sleeves and dig in. There is nothing like the experience of eating with your bare hands.
Food didn't take long to arrive although I was only one of four tables with diners at that point. Service was attentive and they seemed glad I enjoyed the food. The waiter even asked me "Sir, how was the flavour?" :)
I would go back to try other stuff. For sure.
Great meal! Great staff! An authentic delight in the heart of Abu Dhabi. No place can give you a better match for budget. Two thumbs up Bonna Annee👍🏼👍🏼
Love this place. It is tiny , not at all fancy , but food there is amazing . Staff is very friendly too. Usually , this place Is full but you can always find a place some space. Go there with friends , colleagues and on my own
Very humble place, but serves some nice Ethiopean food. I learned to like the bread since I tried it the first time years ago in Vancouver, BC. Bread was as great as usual. We tried the specials and quite liked the curry like dishes. The pure beef was a little dry. And unfortunately no deserts or special drinks. But certainly a place to come back when there is an urge for African food. Thanks!
First time experience with Ethiopian food! We order the special that has a little bit of everything to try! It was different from the usual food but also very tasty. Some of them are spicy. Staff very nice and polite and they are explaining to you what it is everything on the plate. We also tried coffee after the food which they serve it with bowl of pop corn! The coffe was also very tasty! The place is small and was very hot inside, probably problem with the AC and they brought one fan for us. Overall a good experience and we will visit again!
I have been here a few times and although I have never tried Ethiopian food in Ethiopia itself I considered this place serves good and affordable food. Usually I go with the Bonna Anne special which has all the house specials, it saves me time from figuring out the menu. Or I just point at someone else's order if it looks tempting. The special is big enough for 2-3 person and only costs AED35.
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Bonna Annee is located in Tourist Club Area, "Navy Gate", as the place is known to many. I stumbled onto this hidden gem as I had been seeking out Ethiopian food ever since my first experience in San Diego, California many years back.
For the uninitiated, the traditional Ethiopian meal consists of a variety of stews and sauces served on large fermented flat bread called "Injera". Injera is made of teff flour, a nutritionally dense food the world is learning more about now.
In the beginning I refrained from ordering anything but the vegetarian special, "Yetsom Beyaynetu" on the menu. Not so much because I am vegetarian. On the contrary, it is very rare that I have a rabid desire to eat vegetarian food. The off-chance I can live longer to eat more meat is quite the bargain.
The typical vegetarian special at Bonna Annee consists of about six stews/sauces on a large piece of Injera. Spiced chick peas stew, lentil stews (spicy version and a plain version), spinach (Ethiopian version of collard greens), potato with carrots, and a cabbage dish. When I visited with my mom and sis we also ordered special tibs (sliced sauteed beef).
Eating injera with pasty chick peas, wilted spinach and spicy lentil stew is an experience that is difficult to match. The sauteed beef is beautiful. There are a variety of other meat dishes that I could go on about including Minchet Abesh but I don't think I could do it all justice with words.
I was born and raised in Abu Dhabi and have lived here a long time. Bonna Anne serves the best meal in town.
Had an epiphany to try Ethiopian cuisine, have to tell you I simply loved it! Tried Key wet and minced abesh, to tell you a fact it tastes similar to spicy Indian food. Kind and lovely staff, the place is albeit small but cozy. Take your loved one on a surprise dinner, you wont regret.
Delicious spicy beef tibs and injara! Definitely more of a take away place but worth it for the classic delicious food! Will definitely be back!
Whoa!!injira..whoa..that beef stir fry thingy..whoa..I love this newly discovered cuisine..atleast by me..wifey wasn't a fan of the injira..she says it's too sour..but I think it balances the rest of the plate as all dishes have an absence of acidity in it..I loved the concept and the staff and the tucked away feelings..Some place that you wouldn't find someone you know lingering in the corner..Ethiopia you have killed the stews!
My first time to taste an ethiopian food!
Amazing Very Affordable! We tried the BonnaAnne Special coz they recommend it for first timers, at the beginning the bread tastes very sour and strong for me but as long as I'm eating it ,the taste compliments the rest of what I'm eating.
The place is not really inviting but it doesn't matter on me at all as long as the food is satisfying :)
A regular there with friends, one of the best budget restaurants in AD. Prices vs quality would make you think you're nowhere near gulf countries. Great tasting food!
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Never in my dreams did I think that I'll visit an Ethiopian restaurant for dinner. True...I love food ... but the thought of trying out Ethiopian cuisine never occurred to me. Do they even have an Ethiopian restaurant here?... was the first thing I asked Mr D when he told me he wanted to try out Bonna Anne. Apparently, he's been doing more research on Zomato that I am. Anyway, during the long Eid break we decided to give them a shot.
Bonna Anne is not your typical hi-fi restaurant. I would have passed by them a million times and never taken notice. Its very simple. We managed to get the last 2 seats available in the restaurant. Its not a big place and it was pretty packed.
With the help of our server and Zomato pictures, we decided to order Special Tibs & Tibs Fir Fir...something that wasn't too spicy. And we waited. Food kept coming in, and we get ready and it straight away goes to another table. This happened a couple of times, until our food arrived... for real!
They gave us this big, round plate that had a dosa/ pancake (they call it Injera ) like thing on it. Except that it was much bigger, tasted a bit sour and the colour was different. Our 2 dishes were brought in separate bowls and placed right in the centre of the Injera. They also gave us a bowl of salad and 2 spicy sauces. All we had to do now was dig in. I loved the Special Tibs. It was like seasoned tender beef strips mixed with onions, peppers, etc... the Ethiopian version of Fajita. The Tibs Fir Fir was a mix of meat and Injera. I didn't like this that much as I felt it was too plain.
When I thought we were done, Mr D wanted to order something else. This time is was Key Wet ... one of their spicy dishes. We needed to test the level of spice here! It arrived within 3 minutes. This was basically a beef stew mixed with onions, chilli powder, etc. It reminded of a thick Indian gravy. Surprisingly, it wasn't spicy at all. It was a bit tangy and wasn't too bad.
We concluded dinner with a cup of Ethiopian coffee. They serve it with a bowl of popcorn.
Overall, it was a lovely experience. The food is definitely affordable and the quantity is quite a lot. Do not hesitate to ask the servers anything. They are very helpful and friendly.
Ambiance - 3.5
Service - 4.0
Food - 4.5
Total - 12.0
Average - 4.0
Value for Money - 4.5
This is by far the greatest discovery I have made during the 1 year that I have been in Abu Dhabi, in terms of food. I have to try really hard to bring my friends over here as it's Ethiopian cuisine and no one has really heard much about Ethiopian food. Their bread takes a bit of time getting used to but the show stealer is their perfectly cooked beef and the variety of curries that these are served with. A must try.
Food is great. Staff are friendly and accommodating.
Don't forget to try out their Ethiopian coffee that is served with popcorns.
No option for desert but there is an arabic sweet shop just beside it.
Wonderful!
Lovely. Small and clean.
Be prepared to eat with your hands and leave a good tip to the friendly staff. The flavors and textures were all very well mixed.
I met the richest lady ...
Her name is Mairah....
Visited a restaurant the other day... They only accept cash as payment.... So went to the ATM but the machine wasn't working... So I returned and told the lady working there what had happened and said I'll be back as I thought of heading to another ATM... The lady then said, sir please sit and have food, I'll pay for ur meal, you can pay us later, don't leave without eating.... I was at loss for words..It was the tastiest meal I have ever had!! .. I felt so over whelmed and small thinking there so much to learn from ppl and about generosity and warmth.... The joy of giving is the true wealth in the wallet of one's heart..Bonne Anne Restaurant Abu Dhabi #feelingblessed #studentoflife #foodforthought #loveauh
EAT YOUR PLATE! Tearing chunks of the Ethiopian staple INJERA spongy sourdough flatbread 'dish,' pick the tasty morsels of SHIRO (Chickpea sauce), MESIR WOT (split red lentils in BERBERE (jalapeño) sauce), ATLKILT WOT (cabbage/carrot/potato combo), AZIFA (green lentil leaves), GOMEN (collard greens), KIK ALICHA (split pea in tamarind sauce); and get a side of Whole Hot Chillies stuffed with chopped onions, cilantro and lemon sauce to seal the meal. Burp! መልካም ምግብ !! Reasonable Prices, Gracious Staff & Welcoming space
M a regular at this wonderful ethiopian restaurant. The food is so unique, a mix of bread meat vegetables n curds n lentils presented in a completely different way. Add to that lovely staff and beautiful ethiopisn music playing in the background, it's an ideal restaurant. The beauty is, excellent value for money with reasonable prices. Folks, you must try this place
Just thinking about the food at Bonna Annee makes my mouth salivate. Try Injera (sourdough bread) with spicy meat and vegetables. If you are not used to that flavour or spices then all I can say is: keep an open mind and go try it. Its amazing!
Very chilled out environment to visit Ethiopia thought their native food and eating customs. Having an Ethiopian friend with us confirmed the foundation of the food we ate, it's presentation and mannerism of consumption truly captures the native Ethiopian way! We were a group of friends, and trialled multiple dishes and shared...we got stuck in and the food was delicious! Will return!
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Feeling neither very well nor very hungry, I nevertheless felt I needed some food in me, and decided that I wanted to try Bonna Anne(e) after reading about it here on zomato.com. I had tutored an Ethiopian student years ago who used to cook her fabulous spicy stews for me, and had loved those meals.
So, off we trooped, hubby and I, to this fascinating area at the crossroads of Salam and Al Falah, filled with interesting little restaurants (and the one and only Chinese-groceries Baqala in Abu Dhabi!), and here we found Bonna Anne(e), a smallish, corner restaurant with a warm ambiance and a warm welcome.
We decided, as first-timers to the restaurant, to order their house Special, which is a sampling of a variety of their dishes (sort of like an Indian thali) served on top of a large 'injera,' which is their bread which has a spongy feel, and looked like it had a slightly purple hue. Mary, the Ethiopian lady who took our order, very kindly pointed out what was what in the Special. It was all quite good, but my favourite was the Kekel (see description below) which I found really yummy! So, as unhungry as I was, I cleaned out our platter! ☺
Let me describe the Bonna Anne(e) Special a bit: First, the various dishes came in small bowls, and were then emptied onto the injera which was on a large plate. They included Key Wet (pronounced more like Kay Wot), which was a beef stew with spiced Ethiopian butter; Minchet Abesh – a sautéed minced lean beef; Kekel, which was my favourite – a stew of lamb chunks with pieces of injera soaked in ginger and turmeric sauce, sautéed with onion, and various unnamed herbs; Meser be Sega – spiced lentils and meat, stewed in a rich Berber blend of chillies, onion, garlic and ginger, and Ethiopian butter; Tibs Fir Fir – sort of a vegetarian version of Kekel; and Shiro – ground chickpeas stewed in their special house sauce (didn’t find out what the sauce was).
The next time we go back, we’ll bring more friends and order full portions, and try other items like Tibs and its various versions. I will probably be ordering the Kekel again.
We washed it down with good old ginger ale! Don’t think that’s Ethiopian at all, but it sure was a good ending! Total bill: all of aed38. And yes, cash only.
Amazing food, the ambience is very chilled out and it has a nice Ethiopian feel. The people are really kind and they answer you with a big smile whatever you ask for. They're generous with portions, meaning you will get full, and if you don't, they will make sure you do!
The server suggested the Special Tibs and we ordered the Yesum, they were fantastic. So were the Tibs and the Chicken. The bread they serve is absolutely amazing with their food, you feel like they were made for each other. This was my second time having Ethiopian food but definitely not my last. I will try many things on that menu! Definitely worth every penny. Even though it isn't expensive.
Very traditional Ethiopian food. Ethiopian is definately acquired taste. Give it couple of tries and you'll love it. Nice atmosphere great food.
I knew this Ethiopian restaurant from my colleague ... I wasn't so much interested in this kind of food ... Anyway, I decided to check out the menu and do some research about the food (yes, I'm a bit nervous to try) ...
I finally had a chance to try when I was so lazy and bored of the same old food .. I convinced my mate to get there food from here ... The meat was great .. Tasty and full of flavor .. Thinking it would be tough but turned to be so soft and tender
I was enjoying the food so much apart from the huge flat bread which is traditionally sour ... Don't get me wrong ... It's nice in its way
If you like something different .. This is with to try
Went here based on zomato reviews and my husband used to work in Ethiopa a few years back.We were the only Asian tonight and got the weird looks from the patrons.:) ordered their special and ended the meal with really strong Ethiopian coffee.The Bonnaanne special is actually their sampler meal so if you are a first timer, order the special.at least 5 different side dishes that you can sample and most of them are meat based.Delicious..the meat dishes are well cooked with well blended spices.the injera surprisingly is sour.but with the combination of the side dishes, it really blends well. The coffee is a must for coffee drinkers!Overall as my husband puts it..you don't need to go to Ethiopa to taste their food.A trip to Bonna Anne sufficed. I will definitely come again to try other dishes!
This is so awesome I can't even begin to explain. Firstly I didn't ever try Ethiopian food, so Bonna Anne was my first. Secondly the food was so good. The meat was cooked well. The spices top of the world :) and the variety on a plate is fantastic. This goes as one of the must try's in Abu Dhabi.
I haven't eaten Ethiopian food in years so I was thrilled to find the great reviews on this humble yet spotless little gem here on Zomato. Being meat lovers we ordered and thoroughly enjoyed the Key Wet and Special Tibs. I also tried the soupy kale with meat dish which I cannot remember the name of. It was absolutely lip smacking delicious. The key wet? Amazing flavours, spicy and smokey. The special tibs was a little too dry on that day but delicious nonetheless. Will definitely be back.
Amazing find! This place looked a little run down from the outside but had about 10 tables mostly full in a beautifully decorated interior. The food was outstanding, we ordered the Bonna Anne special on the managers recommendation. The after dinner coffee was sublime as you would expect from Ethiopia, and the price was very much on the low side! Don't eat here if you rely on cutlery though as hands is a must! (The right of course!)
Happened upon Bonna Annee because there just happened to be a parking spot nearby. Boy, was I lucky. The place isn't the biggest, and it was packed. On a hot Abu Dhabi night, one of the air conditioners was on the fritz. The two fans they set up made is bearable, not super comfortable. At least the food was worth it.
We had two beef dishes, the Key Wet and Special Tibs. The Key Wet was awesome. It was in a smokey stew. I could eat that on a regular basis. The Special Tibs was tender and flavorful and would go wonderfully in a burrito.
They know how to cook at Bonna Annee. Can't wait to go back.
One of the best Ethiopian restaurants, basics, friendly staff and the owner such humble person , the fun part is when you you want to use the toilet you have to go to another street , still one of the best.
Debajeet Brahmachary
+3.5
Not bad.....curries r bit on the tangy side. Tried the dorowat & bonna annee spl....
Will return back to check the lamb grill....
Debajeet
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