Travel restrictions have made life quite boring, thankfully lockdown has been relaxed in Abu Dhabi and we are back to exploring the gastronomy the city has to offer 😃
Zomato has been our compass in search for new experiences and today it pointed to Morocco!
We found ourselves at this hidden gem - Meknes Moroccan restaurant on the mina Street.
Step through the door and you are transported to a different world. The seating, decor, drapery and the music have such a Moroccan feel to it.
The hostess was very friendly and recommended the best items to try. We started with Khobz, a traditional fluffy bread made from drumm wheat and salmonella, served with herb potatoes and chili paste. It was served with traditional Moroccan mint tea, which truly the best I have had.
We followed it with the Meknes mixed grill - smoked meat platter. The lamb and chicken were really soft, not too spicy but truly tasty.
In the main course we had the famous cocous and tagines. Tagines is a must try, cooked in a uniquely Moroccan way. Slow cooked cinnamon flavoured lamb meat Served with plums, apricot and topped with sesame seeds. The whole would just melts in your mouth. With my Indian taste pallet I was truly skeptical of meat served with fruits. But to my surprise, I liked it very much, it was not too sweet, but the different flavours blended with soft meat like a symphony.
I probably ended having more than what I should have had. I am guilty of gluttony 😜. But this is place should be on every foodie’s bucket list!
2 months ago
Iman Amatullah
+5
This was my first time ordering from this restaurant. I ordered lamb couscous for delivery. All the ingredients tasted super fresh, and high quality - especially the lamb. The lamb was oozing with flavor, cooked to perfection, and literally was fall off the bone tender. The vegetables were fresh, brilliant in color, and not soggy. I was a little concerned that the delivery would take a long time because I live rather far from the restaurant, but it came hot, fresh, and promptly. The delivery man seemed professional, and everything was packaged hygienicly, and neatly. The only negative is the food is a bit expensive, but I think it is well worth it due to the quality and freshness of the ingredients. I really look forward to ordering again, in shah Allah.
2 months ago
Samira
+5
They have great food a lovely atmosphere and the staff was very friendly. We had the chicken couscous, marzouga couscous, couscous tajine, maouzia tajine and the mix sweets dish - everything was great and the portions were massiv ... for drinks we had lemon mint lemonade and mint tea. We loved the food and service there.
9 months ago
Mayssa Assaf
+5
One of the best Moroccan restaurant in the city. From hrira soup to chicken Bastille to tajine barqouq to tanhiya.. everything is just super delicious... Oh! And the bread too!!!
Jul 27, 2019
Naif
+5
excellent coscoso
Jul 20, 2018
Vipul Garg
+4
good restaurant in tourist club area, i tried chicken and multiple dishes here all were great, food is awesome, one can go here if in tca and abudhabi
May 01, 2018
Marina Cojanova
+4
Not bad
Apr 22, 2018
Hiba Shawqi
+5
Amazing food!!! Love the chicken pastilla
Apr 06, 2018
Daniela
+5
Really good meal. Food is delicious. We tried multiple dishes and all of them were just great. My favourite dish was chicken tagine with caramelised onions, raisins and almonds. Will definitely be back multiple times!
Feb 10, 2018
Mohamed
+4.5
One of the good Moroccan resturants and not any Moroccan resturants do a good Moroccan food but the one Really does like their lamb tajen and there lovely bread and my fav is there spicy olives
Oct 04, 2017
Sumayya Shaikh
+3.5
Authentic Moroccan food in a small cozy restaurant. Lamb with prunes is my go to order when I have Moroccan food. In Meknes the sauce was rich and full of flavor. There were roasted almonds which added to the dish. We were also served some bread with a nice tomato paste to start with. For a spicier taste the meatballs dish is recommended. The service is also spot on.
Oct 01, 2017
Fares Easa
+4
We usually cook Moroccan food in house,but sometimes I get it from restaurants,and this restaurant makes really good Moroccan food,the couscous is really amazing.
Jul 04, 2017
Kenza Kamel Kheznadji
+4.5
Fast delivery. Delicious and tasty food. Highly recommended . I am a customer since 2010 and I will never change this lovely Marrocain restaurant.
Jul 01, 2017
Abdulla Almheiri
+5
One of the best Moroccan restaurants, highly recommend it ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
May 20, 2017
Nataša Slak Valek
+5
Wow wow wow. Harira (soup) and Tagine omrabia (lamb with prunes) is a must try. One of secret gems in Abu Dhabi. Small and cute with a very nice atmosphere. I will bring all my visitors here.
May 13, 2017
Nabila
+5
This restaurant is a little hidden gem in Abu Dhabi! Anyone I take there absolutely loves it! Delicious food, very friendly and helpful staff, all in a lovely Moroccan atmosphere. Love to go there or order their succulent tagines and starters, served with fresh delicious Moroccan bread. Occasionally, I also order Moroccan sweets and pastries (order should be made at least 24 hours in advance). Well done and keep up the great work!
Mar 01, 2017
Youssef
+4
Meknes is one of the best Moroccan Restaurants in Abu Dhabi, I really recommend their Couscous and Rfissa perfectly cooked and seasoned. Today I was surprised by their last addition Tanjia. Tanjia is a rich dish from the city of Marrakech made typically from beef shank with preserved lemons and Moroccan spices slow cooked in a clay pot. Since I like mine with French fries they were kind enough to serve it with a complimentary basket. The food was to die for.
Feb 24, 2017
Karima Kieks
+5
Loved it! I've had the Tagine Omrabia, Marzouga and the shrimps. All of them were so delicious! The staff is also amazingly kind and the atmosphere is very good. Unfortunately I'm now back in Holland, but I will definitely go back to this restaurant when I'm visiting the UAE again in sha Allah! 😉
Jan 10, 2017
Thair Butma
+4.5
One of the best oriental Moroccan restaurants I've been to . Tasty food and good portions for what you . One thing I didn't like that I was limited with the choices depending on the visiting day of the week.
Overall i still recommend visiting it.
Oct 09, 2016
Hakika Yousif
+4.5
Tasty Food - Average Priced
I found the restraunt in zomato and decided to go and check .. the food is really good and tasty .. the prices are averaged and cheaper than so many other restraunt the only thing that the place is very small .. and it is located in tourist club where there is no parking
Sep 09, 2016
Dr. Wardah Qureshi
+4
Authentic morocon Food. Lively music and Mr. Marvin was a friendly server. Harira soup was our appetizer and I couldn't stop sipping it. Chilli potatoes were good too. Kebab Cigar were actually thick rolls full of fresh minced well seasoned meat.
We enjoyed Chicken Tagine Berber and Mmahamer Lamb. Juicy meat which is slowly cooked with some gravy and veggies, was outstanding. Kids had meat balls with egg. Meat was fresh and well cooked. Thick bread with oozing smell of yeast was tempting.
Apple juice is made with milk. We had morocon tea it was 10/10. Cream caramel was fresh with great caramel flavour but slightly overcooked. Assorted morocon one bite sweets were a great combination with authentic morocon tea.
Aug 14, 2016
Zeyad Sarairah
+4
this is my first review ever, and i logged in just to make a review about this restaurant .... one of the best food i ever eat in my life ... dismiss the fact that the price is a bit over , it worth trying the dishes here ...very tasty and delicious
Jul 15, 2016
AlmalFoodie
+3.5
I found this place by accident and am I glad I did! The meal was great, the flavours were spot on. The only downside is the place is very small so its advisable to order in.
Jun 13, 2016
Jette Alt
+4.5
Delicious Moroccan food. We ordered Harira soup, Chef's salad and Couscous with chicken, onions and raisins. We were already full after the starters. Coucous dishes are very generous & tasty, go with empty stomach or share.
Mar 20, 2016
Abdul Aziz Al Kaabi
+4.5
The restaurant provides real Moroccan food. The taste is home taste. The service is very good and the staff are friendly moroccan staff
مطعم ذو مذاق طيب جدا والخدمة تقدم من مغاربة
Dec 09, 2015
Lateefa Al-n
+4.5
Best resturant for ordering Moroccan food !!! I recommend the kuskus .. I also find the costumer service very good it's not my first time to eat from the restaurant and for sure not the last
Nov 09, 2015
Farah
+4
Came here twice for late supper. The place is nicely decorated. Mind you that the restaurant is quite small and at midnight the place was still almost full house! Ordered harira soup, lamb tajine berber and lamb tajine omrabia (with prunes). Harira soup portion was huge.I highly recommend sharing if you are to proceed with the mains. Taste was good and hearty although I was expecting alot more meat chunks but I only found some tiny bits if it. Tajine berber was my favorite. The lamb meat was succulent and almost fell of its bones.The spices were just nice and not overwhelming. Tajine Omrabia is actually sweet because of the sweet prunes.The prunes juice were well incorporate with the meat. But it can be a tad too sweet (in a good way). Portion looks small but one tajine is actually sufficient for two since you will be eating it with thick breads. Will definitely come back and I will order couscous on my next trip.
Oct 18, 2015
SR The Foodie.
+4
I have been eating Moroccan food for a while now, and clearly the couscous and the tagine served was juicy, fresh. The meat was tender. The staff was gentle and did help us to recommend. Overall good food and must visit.
Oct 16, 2015
Anzej Ali Knez
+4.5
We love the food up there. It s delicious and pretty much like food we have tried in Morocco . Affordable and friendly staff. Every time we think Moroccan food we go to this place. It's quite small but still nice. Our fave is couscous.
Oct 02, 2015
Sara Gawish
+4.5
مكناس اول مطعم اجرب عنده الاكل المغربي لأول مرة وطبعا هو السبب اللي خلاني احب الاكل المغربي وادوّر على المطاعم المختلفة عشان ادوق واقارن يمكن كان قرار مش سليم اختار يوم الجمعة ، كان زحمة جدا بس الاكل بصراحة مااتخرش كتير شوربة الحريرة روعة وكسكس الخضار ممتاز والملك طاجن اللحم بالبرقوق كان فوق الرائع تقريبا مكناس هو المطعم الوحيد الى الان اللي طاجن اللحم بالبرقوق عنده كيّفني جربت مطعمين مغربي بعد مكناس كل تجربة كنت اقول ان طاجن اللحم مش في لذة مكناس تسكيرة البرقوق مع صوص اللحم الرائع المظبوط كان عامل مزيج وطعم خطير واللحم المستوي جدا طعمه كان ممتاز مجربتش الحلويات والشاي المغربي لسة بس من صور الحلويات هنا اتمنى اجربهم قريبا عنده ان شاءالله
Sep 17, 2015
Alia Saqqa
+4
Tried their meat couscous and chicken with almond and sugar for office delivery.. was all good and as expected. I would defenitly try and order from the again.
Aug 29, 2015
Sid'Ali Moumène
+5
This restaurant is just wonderful.
Traditional food in a popular area and Good Food for Cheap.
I would recommend Tajine or Couscous for sure, Bastilla was also great...
Just the way I like it !
Aug 24, 2015
Nicolas Del Tedesco
+3.5
They managed to accommodate a group of 8 people on a Thursday evening even we hadn't booked. Briwat (minced chicken in pastry sheets) as starters were really nice. Couscous on the salty side.But it took too long to prepare the mint tea.
Aug 23, 2015
Archana Rayamajhi
+4.5
Handful of restaurants in AD serve Moroccan food. I simply love moroccan food. The various types of tagine, couscous, pastilla, raffisa, harira soup, salads and the best of all, the moroccan sweets, are some of the things that makes up a morrocan cuisine. After my favourite moroccan restaurant at Westin hotel closed down 😔😔😩. I went to try Meknes after a very long time. Let me tell you, I am very picky (since I have tried the best of the best Moroccan cooking ) when it comes to Moroccan cuisine. I also had to make sure that this place left a very good impression on my friend who was trying moroccan food for the first time. Meknes passed the test( i still wish the restaurant at Westin was open). The chicken tagine with fries and olives had the most delicious sauce. Since most of the meat is slow cooked, they are tender and fall off the bone. Chicken Rafisah was good enough( i have had better) . The assortment of Moroccan sweets with moroccan mint tea, hit the spot. We walked out feeling stuffed and happy. I would surely recommend this place. I am so glad that this restaurant opens till 3am. Me and my friend were starvin marvin by 11:30 ( on a weekday, where all good places are closed by 10-10:30). I know that we were hungry but food was also much better than last time. The chicken pastilla pastry was soft and crunchy and the filling, ooohhh I am drooling over it just writing about it. The only downfall to going to eat so late is that the best of the best things in the menu run out. There was no Harrisa( red chili paste) and no moroccan sweets 😔 To make up for harrisa the chef made us a green chili paste with preserved lemon and mint. Holy Goddess of Plentyful... That was soooo good! To make up for the morrocan sweets, we chose the moroccan style yoghurt. ( faints) So good!!!
Aug 23, 2015
Fatma
+4
The food is so good, but they don't really make it in a tajin. However it tastes very good. I tried the fish and tajin beef. Well done. 👏👏 They serve you good amount of food so you don't have to order many sides.
The options are quite good, they are not too many.. But good.
Jun 11, 2015
Munabz
+3.5
I only once ordered to work meat tagine with prunes and loved it. Cant wait to visit the restaurant are try everything else in the menu????
Apr 25, 2015
David Mesquita
+4
This restaurant is an absolute gem in Abu Dhabi. It doesn't look much from the outside but inside it's like being in Morocco. Both the decoration and staff are all Moroccan.
For starters I had the meet cigar type of spring roll which I can't remember the name. One per person is enough, it was nice however it is deep fried. Then for mains I shared a lamb tagine and a chicken couscous royal. A bit predictable the mains but I missed moroccan food I just wanted to have the normal stuff. Both the tagine and couscous were really nice.
There was no space for desserts unfortunately. I would definitely be going back when I feel the hankering for some Moroccan food.
Mar 08, 2015
Abdel Karim El Haddouchi
+5
Very good site.
V
Jan 05, 2015
Abdellah
+5
Tasty Moroccan food, reasonable price, friendly team and good location.
Jun 22, 2014
Tourya
+5
I used to order for home delivery and I am never disappointed! The food is well packed, the delivery fast and the dishes are authentic Moroccan food. The prices and the portions are very reasonable too. For a first try I would recommend the couscous (drink Laban with it to experience it the right way) or tagine with prunes (if you like your meal sweet) for starter the chicken bastilla is great, for persons who don't like sweet go for the seafood version of it. It is so good to have such a great quality of dishes coming to your doorstep. 100% recommending it!
May 28, 2014
Haytame Zaoui
+5
Meknes Restaurant is the best Moroccan restaurant in Abu Dhabi. The food is so tasty and the ingredients are purely from Morocco. THUMBS UP
A Moroccan who lives in Abu Dhabi.
Apr 20, 2014
Daisy
+4
Only ordered the take away couscous but was very impressed both times. Feels authentic and also quite healthy. Not covered in oil like some other takeaways. Will be ordering again. Portions large and can feed more than one.
Feb 15, 2014
Manea Almehairi
+3.5
Every Friday, me and my colleagues suffer to find new food to be delivered to our workplace. We got bored of the regular Indian, Lebanese grills and arabic rice with lamb or chiken.
Today, thanks to zomato i found Meknas. It took me just seconeds to decide that this is where we are going to order from for today's lunch. We ordered different kinds of Tajine and Couscous. They were well made and very full of taste, i really liked the lamb tajine with prunes. It had a different sweet taste to it, most of the dishes where to the sweet side. Some of us including me liked them a lot, the others said they were nice but needed to be less sweet.
Most of those who thought it was just okey were from india and they are used to eat something spicy and salty on lunch. To them the food was nice but not what they expected for a lunch meal.
In my opinion this place is worth trying, next time i am going to dine in instead of ordering for a delivery.
Jul 05, 2013
Khaled Al Ali
+4
مطعم مغربي جلسته حلوة و أكله لذيذ والكمية مناسبة مع العائلة. تعامل طيب مع الزبون وخدمة طيبة. كل التوفيق
لولا صالح
+5
مطعم مغربي يحمل لمسات مغربيه في ديكوره الاكل لذيذ والاسعار مقبولة
ali alsuwaidi
+4
بصراحة أكل مغربي معتبر والمكان داخل حلو لعزومة شخص أو أكثر و ديكور يفتح النفس
العين أبوظبي (ذويق)
+5
مطعم مغربي ممتاز وخدمة ممتازة.
Samar Said
+5
Food and service are always amazing.
من اكثر المطاعم المغربية المفضلة لي . الطعام والخدمة دائما فوق الممتاز.
Abdulla DH
+4
رائع.. جربته في شوربة الحريرة وطاجن لحم بالبرقوق..
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