What I ate in Oman - The Navigating Navigator

With all budget trips, it is important to ensure one gets all necessary nutrition despite watching food expenditure. I was careful with what I ate in Oman, observing basic needs for carbohydrates, proteins, and fibre. I got supplies from the supermarket as added food fuel to keep me going on the road. The following are some meals that I had to share that eating in Oman doesn’t break the bank. Prices are clearly indicated on the menu and there’s no hard selling.

Muttrah Harbour
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
Muscat (Old Town)
Bimmah Sinkhole
Sur
Wadi Bani Khalid
Jabal Akhdar
Nizwa
Bat Necropolis
Al Hamra
Rustaq

A picture speaks a thousands words and maybe more.

Mutrah Harbour – Shawarma Spot

The plate that arrived did not quite match what is pictured in the menu, but it was filling and seem to have everything in terms of items shown. It would be a better experience if I had a metal fork, as the plastic fork tips chipped off twice and I almost swallowed the plastic, which may have dire consequences later.

A plate shawarma for OMR1.4. There’s chicken and fries below the bread.

Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque – Pathemaari Restaurant

There’s no menu and they were serving the standard set plate for OMR1. I saw other diners had something different but I was ok with what came. There was a quarter of a spring chicken hidden within the neat sphere of the rice.

OMR 1 with this plate of rice and the Papadam was the hero.

Muscat (Old Town) – Mariyam Al Fauri Restaurant

In order to satify my hunger, I finished every morsel of food that came, having visited the National Museum and Al Mirani Fort in Old Town.

Chicken Mandi for OMR 1.2

Bimmah Sinkhole – Bright Star Trading Restaurant and Coffee Shop

Just about 5 minutes drive from Bimmah Sinkhole at a building where the upper floors are either in the midst of construction or looks like abandoned in construction. The menu did say OMR1.2 for Chicken Briyani, but when I was paying, owner claims that OMR 1.2 would be for a quarter chicken and OMR1.7 would be for half a chicken which was served. This is what I ate in Oman.

OMR1.7 for half a spring chicken that came with the biryani.

Sur – Pakistani Restaurant: Taste of Lahore

This restaurant didn’t have a card machine, but solved the problem by having me pay at a vegetable stall across the road. While hanging around after I finished the meal, I am not sure if a local Omani was sizing me up and wondering if I was on a work visa in Oman. I told him that I am visiting Oman for leisure and he asked me which hotel I was staying at and he asked if he could stay with me. That’s weird. Of course I didn’t tell him where I was really staying and held my ground to stay put in the restaurant until he was gone.

OMR1 for Chicken Palao and the size of the chicken portion is respectable.

Wadi Bani Khalid – albaik Damascus Restaurant

I was contemplating another pasta place but read all the negative reviews on Google so decided to pick this place instead and this was what I ate at this place in Oman. I chose indoor airconditioned seating rather than the outdoor scorching sun under large umbrellas, and also to protect my food from potential flies.

OMR2.4 for Biryani Rice with quarter chicken and this is probably the priciest and almost double the typical price for this quantity. Chicken was tender though despite its fried appearance.

Jabal Akhdar – Makaram Al Diafah Pakistani Restaurant

I had the rare experience dining with a group of Pakistani workers who were having their meals together at this establishment when I arrived. Due to the popularity of the place, I had to excuse myself to share a table with some.

OMR1.1 for Chicken Biryani. The chicken was pretty special. It was cut up into cubes and each cube was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside

Nizwa – Turath Al Mandi Restaurant

In a secluded clearing near to the carpark is this restaurant where many locals and foreigners find agreeable with. The portion also seems ok. Then I packed Tawa Bread for an extra OMR0.2.

OMR1.6 Half a tender chicken with Rice. Chicken was indeed the most tender of all that I have had and all chicken should be made this way without charring.

Bat Necropolis – Salam Burger

This was the only choice without needing to drive more than 10 minutes away from Bat Necropolis. Options are limited but it’s better than going hungry!

OMR1.8 for everything in this picture.

Al Hamra – Al Falah Restaurant

I had to get down from Jebel Shams primarily to get food after the amount of walking done at the Balcony trail, where I was hungry and ordered food portions enough for two. The owner didn’t think I could finish everything but I did.

OMR3 for the salad, prawns, chicken curry, rice and flatbread (not in pic)

Rustaq – Kucu Al Rustaq

I was hungry for food coming down from Al Hajar Mountains and heading back to Muscat. As I didn’t want to do a detour, I parked the car on the other side of the road and crossed the 6 lane expressway to get my carbs and protein. I am glad that the protein didn’t come with any bones.

8-piece fried chicken with fries for OMR2.50

And that is a curated collection of what I ate in Oman! They are all pretty affordable and serves well to maintain my budget each day.

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