Our Story
From Bombay's lanes to Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street
The verse on our wall is the whole story: a generation that grew up on the cooks of Bombay's bylanes, fed before sunrise on Paya and Nihari, sustained at midnight by Biryani and Bun Maska. That is the kitchen we cook from.
Pappu Paya is an unapologetically Bombay-style Indian restaurant in Al Danah, Abu Dhabi. We slow-cook our Paya overnight, marinate our tandoori the day before, and grind our masalas in-house every morning. No shortcuts — the sections of our menu are named for the streets they came from: Padosi Ka Murga, Galli Ka Bakra, Macchiwali Aali. Bold names, honest food.
By the Numbers
BOMBAY'S BEST, IN ABU DHABI
BIRYANIS SERVED
KEBABS GRILLED
HOURS SLOW-COOKED
BOWLS OF PAYA
Our Customer Says
TESTIMONIALS
The Paya here is the real thing — eight hours of slow cooking, you can taste it. I've been every Friday for the Khichda and brought half my office with me. Pappu Paya is genuinely the best Bombay food in Abu Dhabi.
— Rohit M., Khalifa City
The Galouti Kebabs melted, the Tandoori Biryani was smoky and properly layered, and the Bombay Falooda was the closest thing to home I've found in the UAE. Service was warm, prices fair. We'll be back.
— Aisha R., Al Danah
Came for the Mutton Dum Biryani after seeing the menu — stayed for the Lamb Chops off the Sigdi. The Hindi-Urdu section names made me smile, but the food is serious. Best new opening on Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street.
— Faisal A., Abu Dhabi
I'm vegetarian and was honestly worried about a place called Pappu Paya, but the Ghaas Phoos section is no afterthought — Paneer Tikka Achari, Soya Chaap and Bhindi Masala were all excellent. Don't skip the Dal Makhni.