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Just off the freeway, surrounded by undeveloped construction sights, this tiny restaurant doesn't even have tables and chairs. Go inside and order a platter of mandi, saffron-tinged Yemeni-style rice, and the house specialty, camel meat. Then take a seat on one of the woven mats set outside the building. Within minutes you will be presented with a silver tray mounded with yellow rice and a smaller tray of caramelized meat and onions. Expertly prepared, the delicacy is meltingly tender with a richer flavor than beef and less gamey than lamb, This is the idea place for adventurous diners who want to try the best possible version of this Arabian Gulf delicacy.
Nizwa Rd., Muscat, Masqat, Oman
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This small shop offers the traditional Omani snack and breakfast foods: creamy sweet karak tea and crisp Omani bread stuffed with egg and cheese.
Bidiyah Main St., Ash Sharqiyah South, Oman
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On the new corniche, across from the Sur Beach Holiday Resort, this small takeaway karak shop makes delicious, paper-thin Omani bread stuffed with savory fillings like egg and cream cheese, or sweet combinations like honey and cheese or Nutella, along with the namesake beverage, a milky tea sweetened with condensed milk and spiced with lemongrass, cardamom, and ginger. Just pull up front and honk; someone will come to your car to take your order.
Way 411, Ash Sharqiyah South, Oman
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This small takeaway tea shop at the base of Jabal Akhdar is a great place to stop for breakfast on your way back to Nizwa after a night camping on the mountain or to grab a snack before making the ascent. You can get karak, a tea sweetened with creamy condensed milk and spiced with cardamom and ginger, as well as crisp Omani bread stuffed with savory combinations like cheese and egg, or sweet combinations like honey and cheese.
Rte. 21, Ad Dakhiliyah, Oman
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$$$ | Mutrah |
Steps away from the Mutrah souk, overlooking the sea, this fine-dining restaurant stands in sharp contrast to the cheap tourist-trap cafés that otherwise line Al Bahri Road. The interior is filled with crisp white banquets, though the scattering of outdoor tables offer the best vantage point for watching an interesting mix of tourists and the elderly Omani locals who still reside in the maze-like neighborhood just behind the shops. You will pay top dollar for the excellent service at this quiet oasis, which is owned by a member of the royal family, but you'll also get a welcome reprieve from the hustle and bustle of old Muscat. The food is "Omanized" Indian, meaning that it is much less piquant, and incorporates rich coconut milk into many of the curries. The seafood is excellent, from the grilled hamour tikka (grilled fish) to the luxurious prawn curry, but it is the attentive touches, like complimentary welcome mocktails and amuse-bouche, that really set the experience apart.
Al Bahri Rd., Muscat, Masqat, Oman
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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Fresh, authentic Lebanese food is a nice change from Salalah's ubiquitous shawarma and Indian restaurants. This compact, family-run restaurant serves a range of Lebanese specialties, including an excellent falafel, fresh tabouleh, light and lemony humous, yogurt salad with tomato, cucumber, and garlic, and a range of roasted meats and fish. A huge meal for two can be had for less than $10.
Al Salaam St., Salalah, Zufar, Oman
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One of the best dining options in the Dakhiliyah region is the massive Lulu Hypermarket in Nizwa. The prepared foods counter offers all manner of Indian delicacies, grilled and fried chicken, rice dishes, fresh baked breads, and cold salads. There are countless scenic places to picnic after stocking up on food and beverages at Lulu, and the quality of the food is superior to almost all the restaurants in the area.
Izki-Faraq Rd., near Rte. 31, Ad Dakhiliyah, Oman
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$$$ | Shatti Qurm |
Cloistered in the ministries district, just behind the U.S. Amassador's villa, Marina Café sits directly on the beach, its glass walls offering unobstructed views of the Gulf of Oman and a small, palm-lined park. The casual menu has a strong Lebanese bent, with shawarma plates and mezze, along with typical café fare, from a fried seafood basket to club sandwiches and burgers. The fresh juices, teas, and sheesha coupled with the views and relaxed atmosphere are draw enough to make this a destination for a leisurely afternoon or evening, but the food is also of good quality, if not a bit expensive for what it is. Free Wi-Fi is available, and during the cooler months there is also an outdoor seaside patio. Due to a change in Omani smoking laws, children under the age of 12 are no longer allowed in the main dining room where sheesha is offered, but there is a smoke-free family dining area, and during the winter months, the patio is open to all.
3048 Way, Muscat, Masqat, Oman
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Overlooking the Marina Bandar Al Rowdha, this poolside restaurant offers a wide international selection of dishes, including a good BLT (with real pork bacon), fish-and-chips, rack of lamb, Indian curries, and all manner of local grilled seafood options, along with cocktails, wine, and beer. At breakfast time, the main draw is the full English breakfast. The relaxing seaside location, free pool access, liquor license, and menu of Western comfort foods make this a charming oasis for those craving a taste of home.
Al Saidiya St., Masqat, Oman
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Dar El Ezz, the first fine-dining "restaurant" to open in the Dakhiliyah region, is actually more of a dining complex with multiple restaurants housed in one large building. The best of the bunch is Memories, a 200-seat restaurant with an outdoor terrace built amid waterfalls. The international buffet is expensive and good, if not great, and is one of your best options if you are looking for a higher-end meal in a polished atmosphere. In the same building is the lovely rooftop coffee shop and sheesha lounge called Clouds, where you can enjoy unencumbered views of the surrounding mountains and palm forests along with a post-meal latte.
Rte. 15, Ad Dakhiliyah, Oman
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$ | Shatti Qurm |
Each evening after the sun goes down, in a parking lot just past the Shati Street Roundabout, a grill stand appears serving up the popular Omani barbecue called mishkak. The beef skewers are tender and especially good with their super spicey tamarind hot sauce, and the squid, laced with earthy turmeric, is nice with a squeeze of lime. Whole barbequed quail are also on offer. Simply ask for the number and type of skewers you want, and you will be given a number; when your order is ready, they will call you over to collect the foil-wrapped snack. Many sit and picnic in the parking lot, but Qurum beach is steps away and offers a more picturesque dining venue.
Shati St., Muscat, Masqat, Oman
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$ | Mutrah |
There are many small tea shops in and around the Mutrah souk offering fried Omanized Indian snacks like sambusa, small triangles stuffed with mildly spiced chicken or cabbage and potato, and kachori, chili-laced potato puffs, along with soft drinks, juices, and sweet milk tea. Two particular vendors rise above the rest. One is the first shop on the left as you enter the souk from the Corniche, and the other is on the backside, on the left as you exit the interior of the market. The snacks cost only a few baisa and are a wonderful with a splash of hot sauce, available upon request. (The souk closes from 1 to 4:30 daily.)
Al Bahri Rd., Muscat, Masqat, Oman
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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Directly between the Fort and the Souq, this little coffee shop sits on prime real estate. Although there are only a few bistro tables out front and a few inside, you can always find a place to sit. The shop offers a wide range of hot, caffeinated beverages, including espresso, chai tea, and traditional Omani coffee that is served with local dates. It is a nice place to rest after a long afternoon exploring the surrounding sights.
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Fri. morning
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$ | Al Khuwair |
After midnight on the weekends, waiters rush huge platters of grilled meat, kebabs, french fries, and hummus, and glasses of fresh juice to the boisterous groups occupying the outdoor tables and to cars waiting in a long queue for takeaway at this lively 24-hour restaurant. The late-night scene is an experience in and of itself, but the expertly prepared Turkish grill restaurant is well worth a visit anytime.
Souq Al Khuwair St., Muscat, Masqat, Oman
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This simple restaurant is one of the best places to enjoy the traditional Yemeni dish called mandi, which consists of lamb or chicken set atop a pot of simmering spiced rice; it's wildly popular in Oman. Upon entering, you will be shown to a private room strewn with cushions. Remove your shoes and take a seat. When the waiter returns, you need only tell him whether you want chicken or meat. Once you've ordered, head to the back of the restaurant to wash your hands, which will also be your utinsils for this meal. By the time you return, a large silver tray mounded with saffron-yellow rice and crowned with tender chicken or lamb will likely be waiting for you along with mild, tomato-based Yemeni salsa and some fresh chopped vegetables and limes. Eat your meal the traditional Gulf Arabrian way, using your right hand to take a small peice of meat and a pinch (or a handful) of rice. Be sure to take a complimentary cup of sweet Yemeni tea on your way out.
Al Safat St., Muscat, Masqat, Oman
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This nameless café next to the petrol station when you first enter the township of Bidiyah is pretty much the only real restaurant in town. Most people bring their own provisions to barbecue in the desert, or they rely on the meals provided by the luxury camps where they are staying, but if you find yourself in need of a quick meal, this place will do the trick. The food, basic South Asian fare and rice dishes, is nothing special, but it is decent enough for a breakfast or lunch on the way in or out of town. The chana masala and lentils are good, and the paratha bread is the one thing they do really well.
Rte. 23, Ash Sharqiyah South, Oman
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Known locally as "the pink restaurant" because of the vibrant exterior, this is simple Turkish place is a favorite of Ibra residents. The mixed grill is a good lunch option on the way from Muscat to Bidiyah, which is another 30 to 40 minutes' drive, or after a visit to the Wednesday ladies' market.
Rte. 23, Ash Sharqiyah South, Oman
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$ | Shatti Qurm |
Shuwa (meat slathered in Omani spices and then slow-roasted in an underground pit overnight) is considered by many to be the most iconic of Omani dishes, and it is usually reserved for major holidays, like the Eids or wedding celebrations. At this casual eatery in the Bareeq Al Shati mall, lamb or chicken shuwa is used to stuff sandwiches made with your choice of seven types of flatbread; then choose from eight different sauces and other fillers like cheese or shredded vegetables. The lamb is the best option, expecially delicious in the oily, pan-fried paratha bread. Despite being adjacent to a mall food court, the shop has a surpising amount of ambience, with Omani-style decor and high-top tables made from brass serving trays. It is a great option for those craving simple sandwiches and french fries, but with a local twist.
Al Kharjiyah St., Muscat, Masqat, Oman
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Fri. for lunch, reopens at 6:45 pm
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A well-known Indian chain in Oman with five outlets throughout the country, this family-friendly Indian restaurant offers reliable curries, tandoori-grilled meats, and other typical north Indian cuisine. The dining room is simple but comfortable, and it is nice to have a sit-down option in a city with so few dining outlets. To top it off, the prices are very reasonable.
Way 411, Ash Sharqiyah South, Oman
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This run-down restaurant has no ambience: the dark dining area offers plastic-covered tables while a leaky air conditioner keeps the space reasonably cool. But what it lacks in decor it makes up for in an unusual menu item: cuttlefish biyrani. This spiced, layered rice dish of South Asian origin is wildly popular in Oman, and the giant squid known as cuttlefish is a local specialty. And it's something to savor: well-seasoned rice topped with cashews and raisins, layered with tender cubes of cuttlefish dressed in a luscious, mildly spicy masala. One order is more than enough for two people.
Souq Rd., Ash Sharqiyah South, Oman
