28 Best Restaurants in Oman

Seeb Mishkak Grillers

$ Fodor's choice

North of Muscat, just in front of the Seeb souk, each evening a row of cement grill stations open and the air fills with the scent of charring beef mishkak. Cars queue, waiting for foil packets of the clove- and cinnamon-spiced barbecue. After exploring the market, sit on the low concrete wall overlooking the beach and enjoy a few sticks of this traditional Omani snack.

Tea House

$ | Al Khuwair Fodor's choice

Cars queue in front of this little café from morning (opening time is 8 am) until closing (around midnight). Honking horns draw over waiters from the shop, who bring over cups of the local specialty karak, a spiced tea sweetened with creamy condensed milk, and paper-thin Omani bread smeared with savory cheese and egg or sweets like Nutella or honey, to customers in idling cars and those seated at the scattering of tables out front. In the evening, when the temperature cools down, groups of men gather here before and after going to prayers at the adjacent mosque, and though groups of ladies are rare, all are welcome at the friendly shop. There are similar karak shops beside gas stations and on roadsides throughout the city, but this is by far the best one. Try the zataar karak, made with wild thyme or the "special" mixed spice karak alongside an order of paper-thin Omani bread stuffed with egg, cheese, and "Chips Oman."

Zanzibar Island Restaurant

$ Fodor's choice

The East African island of Zanzibar was part of the Sultanate of Oman up until 1965, when many, like the owner of this casual eatery, returned to Muscat. The vibrant red walls of the dining room are covered with old photographs and paraphernalia from Zanzibar, and the kitchen turns out authentic, home-style Afro-Arabian specialties. Ask your server what is on offer, and he will lead you to the small kitchen to see hot pots of daily specials, which will likely include beans, cassava, and spinach simmered in coconut milk, spice-encrusted fried fish and chicken, and fresh chapati bread. Request a mixed plate to sample them all. After your meal you will be served complimentary light Omani coffee spiced with cloves and a plate of sweet, dried dates. This is one of the best lunch values in town.

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Al Mandi Al Dhahabi

Just across the main road from the Nizwa Souq, this restaurant serves wonderful Zanzibari dishes like coconut curried shrimp, fried chili and potato puffs called kachori, and fluffy, cardamom-scented mandazi bread. It also serves a strange combination of "international dishes" like pizza and pasta, which are best avoided.

Althoq Turkish Restaurant

This is the only restaurant in Bahla, and you might be skeptical of this run-down-looking Turkish café, but the private family rooms inside are comfortable, and the chicken shawarma (spit-roasted slices of chicken served in a wrap as a sandwich or with rice and chopped vegetables) is actually excellent.

Begum's

$ | Al Khuwair

The small size of this relaxed North Indian eatery—it has only has a dozen tables—only partially accounts for it being perpetually jam-packed. Friendly service helps, but the overwhelming draw is the excellent Mughlai cuisine. Dozens of dishes—with plenty of vegetarian choices—beguile even the most persnickety palate: specialties like chicken or fish kebab biryani, chicken curry, and paneer tikka masala are plentiful, spiced to perfection, and habit forming.

Bin Ateeq

Traditional Omani restaurants are few and far between, and this one gives a rare introduction to the regional specialties in a traditional setting. The menu offers a huge range of dishes, like slow-cooked meats with fragrant spices served with boiled wheat, along with fish dishes, super-sweet desserts, and the rich cardamom flavored coffee served with dates to end the meal. There are four branches in Salalah, two on 23 July Street.

Bin Ateeq

This well-known franchise serves Omani cuisine in a no-frills environments the traditional way: on large silver trays set down on the floor of a private dining area. The shuwa, a local celebration dish of spicy, pit-roasted lamb served on a mound of rice with a tangy tomato salsa on the side, is particularly good. Steer clear of the seafood, as the inexpensive restaurant does not always source the best or the freshest catch.

Eastern Pastry and Juice

The unassuming exterior of this shop gives you no sense of the fantastic, freshly-made baked goods made within. The stone-fired oven roars right behind the counter; when you ask for one of the pastries, such as a delicious cheese- and honey-stuffed fatyer, the bakers set to work rolling out fresh dough and sliding it into the oven. Yes, everything is baked to order. You can also get fresh fruit juices, which are on the sweet side but can be requested with no sugar added.

Filafil Restaurant

This ramshakle takeaway restaurant on a busy street in the business district of Ruwi is appropriately named, as it turns out the best falafels in town. Hot chickpea patties are served straight out of the fryer so their outer crust is crisp while the interiors are moist and well-seasoned. The hummus is thick and tahini-heavy, providing a perfectly rich dip for the sandwiches and fries. Traditionally, lunch is the main meal of the day in Oman, consisting of a rice and main, and dinner consists of sandwiches or other lighter fare, so in keeping with that routine, this restaurant is only open in the evening. Though there are a few tables and chairs out front, the view of the freeway is less than idyllic, so it is best to take your order to go.

Itin Restaurant

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.

Karak Shop

This small shop offers the traditional Omani snack and breakfast foods: creamy sweet karak tea and crisp Omani bread stuffed with egg and cheese.

Karak Taste

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.

Karak Time

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.

Lebanese House

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.

Lulu Prepared Foods

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Oman

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