The cuisine in Oman is international and Muscat, the capital, has a wide choice of Turkish and Yemeni restaurants. But which are the ones to consider for quality-price? Here is a selection of the best restaurants in the capital of Oman.
When visiting theOman, most people want to eat local food or Italian cuisine, if you really can't do without our specialties even abroad.
But the beauty of this country lies in the fact that there are many cuisines that can be tasted. In many cases you have to adapt and obviously you have to know the best restaurants, otherwise you can get scammed.
An example are i Turkish and Yemeni restaurants in Muscat. Here are some examples with the specialties of each place I suggest:
Turkish House, very good Turkish cuisine, excellent lemon-mint juice, lentil soup (for lunch), hummus starter (chickpea sauce) and mutabbal (eggplant sauce). Accompany everything with Arabic bread and indulge in a good Hammour (local fish similar to red snapper) and prawns. To refresh your mouth, order the rocket salad (salad with tomatoes). You can only pay in cash, the price is low.
Ala Turka Turkish Cuisine, Shatti Qurum, great location and fantastic service. The manager, half Turkish and half German, doesn't speak English well but always finds a way to make himself understood and interact with people. Good shawarma, hummus, baba ganoush and hummus. The location is fantastic: very close to the Shatti beach and a convenient parking in front. Honest price.
Grand Lounge Oman, near the al Zawawi mosque and the Ibis Hotel in al Khuwair. Excellent eggplant salad to be served with warm Arabic bread. Grilled squid and delicious varieties of fish, strictly in salt.
Restaurant, opposite Qurum Park. Modern restaurant, fast service and nice staff. We recommend the lentil soup, the kebab and the fatayer stuffed with cheese and minced meat. Ordering grilled fish and Turkish tea a must after your meal!
Al Maida, in Qurum, where you can taste the typical Yemeni dish Mandi. Keep in mind that the portions are generous. The rice and the meat, very soft and tender.
Al Yemen Al Saeed Restaurant, close to the Sultan Qaboos Sport Complex, offers excellent mandi with chicken and mutton. The staff is very nice and you eat with your hands (they also provide cutlery) and sitting on the floor so you have to have a bit of adaptability! Very low prices for the quality offered.
Zurbian, brand new opening. Restaurant that can accommodate up to 100 people, with 4 private rooms for families, yes because tradition provides separate and more secluded areas if you want to be alone with the family, away from prying eyes. The specialty: authentic zurbia, that is mandi of meat and rice with fried onions and cashews.
There are really many restaurants, especially Turkish, scattered throughout Oman. There are something for all budgets and most of them are Spartan and passing through. Omani locals do not like to sit for hours in a restaurant, better a bar where you can enjoy an excellent shisha, the traditional hookah flavored with apple, mint or lemon (but other flavors are available) and chat with friends or just relax watching the people passing by.
