48 Best Restaurants in Oman

Traditional Omani food is a marriage of rustic Bedouin dishes of rice, meat, and preserved fish, plus the plentiful, sweet dates that grow abundantly in the country, all infused with the diverse flavors of the spice route. The East African island of Zanzibar, as well as port cities in Persia and South Asia were once part of the Sultanate, and local versions of foods like biryani, pulao, and coconut-enriched vegetables have become part of the Omani canon of dishes. Great examples of local cuisine can be sampled at restaurants in Muscat, along with a wide offering of international options, from sushi to American fast food. In the capital and other coastal cities, like Sohar, Sur, and Salalah, fantastic fresh fish, prawns, crab, and giant squid called cuttlefish, are on offer even at humble restaurants. Options in the mountains and deserts of the interior are more limited, though simple sandwich shops, restaurants serving Yemeni-style mandi (a dish of rice and tandoori-cooked meat), tea shops offering Omani bread with various fillings, and casual Indian restaurants can be found almost everywhere.

Mishkak Stand Qurum Beach

$ | 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.

Mutrah Souk Snack Shops

$ | 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.)

Nizwa Fort Coffee House

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.

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Old Turkish Restaurant

$ | 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.

Osan

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.

Pakistani Take-Away

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.

Rawazen Restaurant Ibra

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.

Shuwa Express

$ | 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.

Spicy Village

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.

Sur Beach Restaurant

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.

Sur Sea Restaurant

Near the souk, this no-frills restaurant serves fantastic local seafood, grilled to perfection alongside a curry dipping sauce and a simple chopped salad. It is best to request whatever was freshly caught that day, which will typically include cuttlefish, a giant squid, and kingfish or tuna. Ask for an order of flaky parata bread to round out your meal.

Sur Star Restaurant

On the outskirts of town, this popular, ramshackle restaurant serves typical local rice dishes in the traditional way, on the floor of private family rooms, on big metal trays. The biryani, consisting of rice studded with dried fruit served with pan-seared local chicken is a tasty option, and the fish of the day, usually pan-fried kingfish, is a good option as well.

Trishna of Mumbai

$$$ | Al Khuwair

This popular, high-end franchise from India is known for its seafood specialties, including green chili-spiked crab soup, King crab in a peppery garlic butter, and Chettinad-style prawn curry, rich with grated coconut, garlic, and ginger (from a style of cooking popular in Tamil Nadu). Though there are plenty of non-seafood options on the massive menu, you may find it easier to justify paying the the high prices for the locally sourced fish and shellfish. The dining room is serene and understated, and the dishes well-executed.

Tropical Fruits

This small takeaway shop offers a few scattered tables and chairs out front and a wide variety of freshly squeezed juices, including watermelon, mango, and lime-mint. As with most juice shops in Oman, sugar will be added unless you request otherwise, so if you aren't in the mood for a super-sweet beverage, but sure to ask. You can also get fruit salad with huge chunks of fresh-cut pineapple, passion fruit, mango, and more, depending on the season, served in a large plastic cup topped with optional whipped cream. As with other takeaways in Oman, you can simply park out front and honk your horn for car-side service. The beach is across the street, with covered gazebo seating farther down the strip, offering a much more scenic place to enjoy your order than the parking lot of the shop.

Udupi

With limited dining choices in Salalah, a restaurant that does one thing but does it well is often your best option, and Udupi fits the bill. In the center of town near the Grand Mosque, this cozy restaurant serves scrumptious south Indian vegetarian cuisine in a colorful, no-frills setting. Spiced dahls, hearty vegetable curries, and flatbreads are all served with basmati rice and a dozen aromatic chutneys and other Indian condiments. Portions are huge and prices are ridiculously cheap. Don't miss Thursday's all-you-can-eat buffet.

White Coffee Shop

At the end of the Corniche, directly across the bay from the Al Ayjah watch tower, this small coffee stand serves milky tea, cardamon-scented Omani coffee, Nescafé, and freshly fried lequimat, a popular Omani dessert of fried balls of dough soaked in simple syrup and sprinkled with sesame seeds. In the evenings a small steamer is set up in front of the shop, from which is served sweet corn kernels that are tossed with butter, chili, and lime and served in Styrofoam cups. It is a great place to grab a snack to go before taking a walk down the seaside street.

Zaki Fried Chicken

The Omani equivalent of KFC, Zaki Fried Chicken offers tasty and crispy fried chicken in both spicy and mild options, either on its own or in a sandwich and wrap. The small restaurant has a clean, air-conditioned dining room and is a nice option for a quick meal in the late afternoon, when many of the other area restaurants are closed.

Tokyo Taro

There may be a new crop of sushi restaurants appearing throughout the capital, but it is worth the drive to Ruwi to experience this one, the oldest Japanese restaurant in Muscat. Tucked inside the Al Falaj Hotel, the kitchen has been overseen by the same Japanese chef for over a decade, offering a teppanyaki grill table, sushi rolls, sashimi, bento boxes, and the largest sake menu in Oman. Reservations are not necessary during the week but highly recommended on the weekends.

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