Discover exclusive menus and buzzing festival vibes at the annual food extravaganza, running until Sunday.
There’s always something more to discover as you make your way around Taste of Abu Dhabi. Stalls showcasing produce from farms and local businesses give way to grills sending up clouds of smoke as slabs of red meat sizzle over the flames. The aromas are impossible to ignore.
We arrive at the annual food festival an hour after it opens, at 3pm – just enough time for chefs to get their stations up and running, but early enough to beat the more frustrating queues. The venue is already buzzing with activity, though.
The festival features 16 pop-ups, each offering exclusive Taste menus with portions sized just right for sampling. Beyond the food stalls are bright, well-lit workshop spaces where everything, from cooking to clean-up, is kept to a high standard. At one station, you can learn to make your favourite coffee; at another, watch matcha being whisked to bring out its delicate flavours. And then there’s the irresistible spectacle of chocolate rain, ready to drizzle over your ice cream.
Behind the sizzling grills, chefs work to season and sear cuts of succulent meat. Norbert Kasumba of Oak Room is returning to Taste of Abu Dhabi for the second year. “I was here last year and it was amazing. It was a great experience, and we sold plenty of burgers. We always have our Wagyu beef sliders,” he says.
Although the festival has only just opened, Kasumba has already noticed a steady stream of visitors. “I think there are going to be big numbers,” he adds, anticipating an even busier day ahead.
At food festivals like this, having a strategy is essential. Otherwise, you risk filling up on the complimentary bites that fellow visitors are only too happy to share. If you’re visiting, make a beeline for the MLS counter for some of the most succulent steak at the festival. The Oak Room is another must-visit. Norbert wasn’t exaggerating about the burgers: the patties are beautifully seasoned and so tender that they might make you rethink everything you know about a good burger. Yes, they really are that good.
But if you’re looking for a game plan, start with a recce. Walk around, take stock of all the stalls and decide what deserves a place on your plate. Think of it as the food-lover’s version of Marie Kondo’s “what sparks joy?” philosophy. Once you’ve made your shortlist, head straight for the dishes you’re most excited about rather than simply joining the shortest queue.
Kanako Yajima, a Japanese mother, was attending Taste of Abu Dhabi for the second time this year, accompanied by her two children. After sampling several dishes, the family had already found favourites, giving a clear thumbs-up to the Oak Room’s sliders and mac and cheese.
The trick is to be selective. Eating beyond the point of fullness can quickly take the pleasure out of the experience, and there is plenty more than food to keep your appetite for the festival alive. You could sign up for a beginner-friendly pasta-making class or head to one of the stages, where music often leans into nostalgia and gets visitors singing and dancing along.
For four-year-old Kasia, the highlight was a chance to put on an apron and try her hand at cooking at one of the Little Chef workshops. Her parents joined her, equally enthusiastic about the experience. “We just wanted to give her some new experiences, and Taste of Abu Dhabi is such a nice event to come to. And we also love cooking,” her father says, explaining that they were there for Kasia.
For some visitors, the food is only part of the appeal. The open-air setting, live music and opportunity to unwind with friends after a hectic week are just as enticing.
Mitali Deshmukh, who has been attending Taste of Abu Dhabi for the past three years, is here with her friends Parisce Francis and Swapnil. She says the festival has become something of an annual tradition for the group. “We don’t meet up often because of our hectic schedules, but we are so used to this festival that my bestie literally books it and then tells me that we have to go,” she says.
Parisce is quick to agree. “We like the menus, we like the live music, and we like the family atmosphere,” she says.
Swapnil, meanwhile, has a favourite dish of his own to recommend: “I also love the lamb chops from Soraya.”
This year’s festival layout also makes it easier to settle in and soak up the atmosphere. Furniture and seating areas are spread across different corners of the venue, giving each zone its own character. They also make for cosy spots to catch up with friends between food stops.
The Candy Zone, meanwhile, has its own attraction for younger visitors: a bouncy castle that is hard to miss. Irish expat Ruby has noticed the festival’s increased focus on family-friendly entertainment. “I feel like it’s bigger this year. The layout seems better. There’s definitely more entertainment, especially for kids,” she says.
Among the culinary stars making an appearance at the festival are celebrity chef Gino D’Acampo and international guest chef Rachel Allen. Be sure to catch one of their live demonstrations and keep a notebook handy – you won’t want to miss the tips, techniques and kitchen secrets they share during their sessions.
Above all, remember to pause and savour the experience. Stop and smell the ramen, sample those irresistible sliders and make room for a little more.
Don’t miss it!
Taste of Abu Dhabi runs until November 15 at Gateway Park North, Yas Island. Tickets start at Dh80.
