I was talking to some students the other day, and they asked me what my favorite Omani food was. For me, it’s Shuwa, goat meat cooked in the ground.
I also enjoy a good snack, like luqaimat, a fried mini donut.
Flavors of Omani cuisine
Either way, you can’t go wrong when trying different types of Omani food when you’re here. Some of the flavors you’ll taste include Omani Masala, dried lemon, curry powder, cardamom, and chili.
Eat with your right hand
Keep in mind that it is common to eat with your right hand. Restaurants have cutlery, but try eating some food with your hand if you’ve never tried this.
Below are some recommendations for some must-try Omani dishes.
Shuwa
Shuwa is one of my favorites: goat meat cooked in the ground. Most people eat this during Eid Adha; the tender and smoky meat is so tasty. Expect families to have a marinade with tamarind sauce and other Omani spices.
Each region cooks it slightly differently, with some areas cooking it for forty-eight hours while others cook for twelve. For those who eat meat, do not miss out on this must-try Omani dishes list.
Raidan Star in Sur makes Shuwa, and they will let you check out the oven they cook it in. You can also have it at Rozna and Bait Al Luban in Muscat.
Mishkek
Mishek is grilled skewers of meat or fish. It is usually served at night. Many places around Oman have small stalls with vendors selling them.
Make sure to ask for tamarind sauce because it enhances the flavor. Most restaurants won’t have it ready until after 6 pm.
Harees
Harees reminds me of porridge. It consists of chicken or meat mixed with wheat. Many people eat this during Ramadan, and you can also find it at winter festivals.
You can also try it at Bait Al Luban or Dukanah in Muscat.
Arsiya
It is similar to Harees but consists of rice with chicken or meat.
I also see people selling this during Ramadan, and you can find it in restaurants.
When visiting The National Museum or Bait Al Zubair, visitors will see traditional ceramic pots for Arsiya.
Qabouli
Qabouli, another must-try Omani dish, is another one of my favorites: rice with chicken, meat, or seafood. It also has dried lemon, curry powder, chili powder, and black pepper. Some people add clove and coriander.
Some also add nuts and caramelized onions, which is so tasty. Others may add potato or tomato. You will find this dish at most restaurants.
Two of my favorite spots to eat it are at Bait Al Luban in Muttrah and Al Bait Al Suri in Sur, near Hypermax.
Pablo
Pablo is soup with tuna. It has spices such as onion, garlic, ginger, tomato, potato, turmeric, lemon, and coriander.
It is very flavorful and enough to eat on its own. Some also eat it over rice.
The only place I’ve had this soup is at the restaurant at the National Hospitality Institute in Wadi Kabir. You can also find it at Rozna in Muscat.
Sewuya
You’ll find this must-try Omani dish for breakfast. Sugar, rose water, butter, saffron, and cardamom make up this sweet noodle dish.
The first time I tried it was at Wadi Tiwi in Mibam village. One of the ladies gave my friends and me some, and it hit the spot, especially after hiking.
If you’re in Fanja, try the Arabic breakfast at Heritage House and Cafe because it’s one of the dishes. Dukanah in Muscat also has it on the menu.
Omani bread and cheese
This thin bread is a classic snack and comes with a variety of fillings. Most coffee and tea shops sell it; some offer cheese and honey, Omani chips and cheese, egg and cheese, or even egg, cheese, and honey.
My go-to is usually cheese and honey and sometimes chips and cheese. I normally have karak with it.
You can also watch women making it at Nizwa Fort and winter festivals. Two of my favorite spots to have this are Karak Taste in Sur and Roqah Station in Sidab.
Luqaimat
This is one of my favorite snacks, so it had to make the must-try Omani dish list. It’s a mini-fried donut and sometimes has honey on top. Some places also make it with cheese inside.
Many small coffee and tea shops sell this, and I recommend drinking karak with it.
When ordering, most will ask how much you want. Most shops start at 300 or 400 baisa for a small container.
Halwa
This sweet- jelly-like treat is mixed with ghee, rose water, brown sugar, corn flour, and sometimes saffron, nuts, and honey. Most have halwa with coffee.
One of my favorites is halwa with nuts or honey because it is not as sweet as others.
There are halwa shops like Al Hosni Omani Sweets in Sur and Diwaniya in Muttrah. Most of the souqs in Oman also have halwa shops. People also sell Halwa at winter festivals.
You can sample halwa because the shops provide small spoons for tasting.
Mandazi
The squared fried bread goes well with Karak and is a good morning or afternoon snack. Some make it for breakfast, while others have it for Iftar during Ramadan.
I like eating mandazi in the afternoon. If you’re in Sur, one of the best shops to buy it is in Al Ayjah, next to Oman Oil.
Dates
Do not miss out on dates, which are everywhere. Visitors can buy them at supermarkets like Lulu and Hypermax and find them at souqs.
When I’m in Nizwa, I like buying them at the date souq. The cumin-flavored and ginger are my two favorites.
I also like dates with Tahini, which you can sample when visiting the date souq.
When exploring Oman, do not be surprised when someone offers dates and Omani coffee.
Omani Cuisine
Have I made you hungry yet? No matter which city you visit, have one of these must-try Omani dishes. The variety of spices and flavors will make you want more.