Good to know
Good to Know
- Meals are traditionally shared and eaten with the right hand; restaurants provide cutlery but trying traditional eating is encouraged.
- Hospitality is central to Omani culture—guests are always offered food and Arabic coffee.
- Modesty in dress is appreciated, especially in local/traditional restaurants.
- Street food mishkak is available at Al Seeb beach stalls but typically only after 6 pm.
- Harees and certain traditional dishes are seasonal—most abundant during Ramadan and Eid celebrations.
- Prices quoted are approximate for a typical meal; fine-dining venues vary widely by dish.
- Arabic coffee and dates are complimentary after meals at many traditional restaurants.
- Grocery shopping in Muscat is about 20% cheaper than Dubai; Lulu Hypermarket is the de facto expat standard.
- Pork products available at Carrefour only with residence-card requirement; alcohol for residents only (separate licensed stores).
Supermarkets
Lulu Hypermarket
- Neighborhood
- Multiple (Al Ghubrah, Seeb, Darsait)
- Note
- Dominant expat grocery choice. Multiple locations: Al Ghubrah (near Grand Mosque), Seeb (near City Centre Mall), Darsait. Large Indian food section. Competitive prices, online delivery (Sunday–Thursday afternoons, cash on delivery or card). Self-pickup available.
Carrefour
- Neighborhood
- City Centre Muscat mall
- Note
- City Centre Muscat mall location. Wide range, competitive prices, household items, electronics. Licensed pork section (residence card required to purchase).
Al Meera
- Neighborhood
- Al Khuwair
- Note
- Lowest prices on staples. Weekly discounts. Popular with Indian and Pakistani community.
Muttrah Souq (Traditional Market)
- Neighborhood
- Muttrah (corniche)
- Note
- Not for weekly shopping but essential for authentic Omani spices, frankincense, and dates. Best visited late afternoon.
Budget
Bin Ateeq
- Price Range
- OMR 3.00
- Neighborhood
- Ruwi (near National Bank of Oman)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Traditional Omani cuisine, communal floor seating
Dukanah
- Price Range
- OMR 2.50
- Neighborhood
- Muscat (central)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Traditional Omani, breakfast specialties
Omani Shiwa Cafe & Restaurant
- Price Range
- OMR 3.00
- Neighborhood
- Central Muscat
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Harees, traditional Omani dishes
High End
Al Khiran Kitchen (Al Bustan Palace, Ritz-Carlton)
- Price Range
- OMR 20
- Neighborhood
- Al Bustan (beachfront, south coast)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- High-end Omani cuisine with shuwa, grilled kingfish with lemon butter, mezze platters
Ba Ban (W Muscat)
- Price Range
- OMR 18
- Neighborhood
- W Muscat (beachfront)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Chinese-Omani fusion, Omani hamour with Szechuan chili, lobster spring rolls with truffle, dim sum
Siddharta Lounge by Buddha-Bar (W Muscat)
- Price Range
- OMR 16
- Neighborhood
- W Muscat (beachfront)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Mediterranean-Asian fusion with Omani seafood, gyoza, sushi, lamb chops, lobster
Mid Range
Bait Al Luban
- Price Range
- OMR 5.00
- Neighborhood
- Muttrah (corniche)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Traditional Omani, harees dijaj, seafood, corniche views
Ubhar Restaurant
- Price Range
- OMR 6.00
- Neighborhood
- Near Royal Opera House Muscat
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Omani & Arabic with international, fine-dining Omani style and western seating
Rozna
- Price Range
- OMR 5.00
- Neighborhood
- Muscat (central)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Traditional Omani including shuwa, harees, pablo (tuna soup)
Al Angham Oman
- Price Range
- OMR 7.00
- Neighborhood
- Royal Opera House Muscat
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Traditional Omani cuisine, fragrant rice dishes, grilled meats, stews
Local Must Try Dishes
Shuwa
- Price
- OMR 6.00
- Where To Try
- Restaurants and local markets; Rozna, Bait Al Luban recommended
- Description
- Iconic national dish: marinated lamb or goat wrapped in banana/palm leaves, slow-cooked underground for 12–48 hours until incredibly tender, served with saffron rice.
Harees
- Price
- OMR 2.50
- Where To Try
- Most Omani restaurants; Bait Al Luban, Omani Shiwa Cafe
- Description
- Porridge-like comfort dish of wheat and meat (usually chicken or lamb) cooked together with cumin and salt, traditionally eaten during Ramadan and special occasions, served with ghee or bread.
Makbous (Majboos)
- Price
- OMR 3.00
- Where To Try
- Most Omani restaurants and markets
- Description
- Fragrant spiced rice dish with basmati rice, meat (chicken, lamb, or fish), saffron, turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon, dried lime, caramelized onions—cooked together to absorb flavors.
Mashuai
- Price
- OMR 4.00
- Where To Try
- Seafood restaurants, especially in Muttrah and coastal areas
- Description
- Grilled or roasted kingfish served with lemon rice, showcasing Oman's coastal bounty.
Saloonah
- Price
- OMR 3.00
- Where To Try
- Traditional Omani restaurants
- Description
- Rich stew of meat, chicken, or fish cooked with vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants) and Omani spices (turmeric, cumin, cinnamon), served with white rice or Omani bread.
Qabouli
- Price
- OMR 3.50
- Where To Try
- Most Omani restaurants; Bait Al Luban, Al Bait Al Suri
- Description
- Rice slow-cooked with chicken, meat, or seafood, seasoned with dried lemon, curry powder, chili, black pepper, sometimes cloves, coriander, nuts, and caramelized onions.
Omani Halwa
- Price
- OMR 4.00
- Where To Try
- Halwa shops (Al Hosni Halwa in Muscat), markets, served after meals at restaurants
- Description
- Traditional gelatinous sweet dessert made from sugar, ghee, rosewater, saffron, cardamom, and nuts—a symbol of hospitality, always served with Arabic coffee.
Mishkak
- Price
- OMR 1.50
- Where To Try
- Street stalls, especially Al Seeb area in evenings after 6 pm
- Description
- Grilled meat or fish skewers marinated with garlic, ginger, and spices, charcoal-grilled—a popular street food served with flatbread and tamarind sauce.
Food Delivery Services
LuLu Delivery
- Note
- Integrated with Lulu Hypermarket; groceries and household items delivered across Muscat and Sohar. Sunday–Thursday afternoons. Card or cash on delivery.
Uber Eats
- Note
- Multiple restaurant options across Muscat; covers Omani, international, and fast food.
Zomato
- Note
- Restaurant and food delivery aggregator covering Muscat dining venues.
Halal Dining
- Note
- All mainstream restaurants in Muscat serve halal meat. Oman is an Islamic country and halal certification is standard across food establishments. Supermarkets like TSB Gulf and Lulu explicitly stock halal-certified meat.
Michelin Restaurants
- Note
- No Michelin-starred restaurants in Muscat (Oman does not have Michelin Guide coverage).
Vegan And Vegetarian Dining
- Note
- No dedicated vegan or vegetarian restaurants found; limited documented options despite mixed vegetarian dishes available at mainstream restaurants.
Omani Coffee And Hospitality
- Omani Kahwa
- Arabic coffee lightly roasted with cardamom and saffron, always served with dates. Traditionally offered free in homes; OMR 1–2 (USD 2.5–5) in cafés.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this food & dining research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
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Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.