Bukhara Restaurant

Bukhara occupies a patio-and-dining-room spot on Al Ain's Town Square, a short walk from the Sheikha Salama Mosque, and it has built a loyal following over the years as one of the city's best-value North Indian restaurants. The outdoor terrace facing the square is the seat to ask for when the weather is cooler, particularly in the evenings when the musical fountain runs at 8pm and 9pm. Indoors there are separate family rooms upstairs and a single men's area, making it equally practical for groups, couples and solo diners. The menu covers North Indian standards alongside a secondary Indo-Chinese section and a handful of Thai dishes. The tandoor, which fires up properly from around 6:30pm, is where the kitchen shows its best form: the garlic and plain naans are genuinely among the best in the city, the paneer tikka and kebab platters handled with care, and the Dal Bukhara (slow-cooked black lentils) is the house signature worth ordering even if you don't normally go for dals. Butter chicken is the reliable safe choice, the biryanis (particularly the Hyderabadi dum) and rogan josh are dependable mains, and the kaju katli leads a strong Indian sweets selection. Portions are modest relative to the price, which runs a touch above comparable Indian places in the city but remains fair for the Town Square setting. Indo-Chinese dishes are capably done rather than a speciality. Service is friendly and prompt, with captain Divakar mentioned by returning guests as a steady presence; the team reliably handles birthdays with complimentary cake. Two honest caveats: the kitchen calibrates spice conservatively by default, so ask explicitly if you want heat, and the mutton-based curries occasionally arrive bone-heavy. Arrive after 6:30pm to catch the tandoor at full tilt and aim for the terrace if the weather cooperates.