Joanna James
Qatari street foods are tasty treats, and they are perfect to learn about the nation's rich history, customs, and ancient traditions. They are sold at the souqs from tiny kiosks, carts, and little cafes. Here is a list of the best Qatari street food you must try.
Shawarma is popular in all corners of the world. It is a flavoursome, fresh snack that can double up as a main meal too. Widely available in Middle Eastern countries, shawarma contains fresh vegetables and grilled strips of beef or chicken, cut from a rotating skewer. These ingredients of vegetables and meat are rolled into a flatbread or shawarma roti and served alongside, French fries, pickles and sauce. However, depending on where you are trying shawarma, the bread will change. There are Turkish, Syrian and Lebanese versions as well as, Arabic; hence, the bread will be either crispy thin saj or Arabic bread ghubuz. If you want to eat at the best restaurants in Doha, choose your accommodation at star classed resorts. Popular ones like Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels By Tivoli offer a variety of themed restaurants.
Falafel is a crunchy vegetarian snack that is perfect to have on the go. Fava beans, ground chickpeas, tahini, garlic, parsley are mixed to form cutlets or flat disc shapes, which are deep-fried to a golden brown. The fried treats can be eaten alone, dipped in sauce, or even slipped inside a pita bread pocket. Side them up with fresh salads, pickles, and sauce and you've got a wholesome healthy meal. If you are staying at a Souq Waqif hotel, enjoy heading out to the bazaar and exploring, because there you will find plenty of food stalls selling crunchy falafel.
Poori and chapati are firm favourites amongst popular Arabic fast food. The flatbreads are popular for mopping up a good curry of ground beef or even paired with delicious potato masala, onion salsa, or rolled with cheese. The best way to enjoy a chapati is with a steaming cup of Karak that is ordered from the nearest street food seller.
Ragags are delicious paper-thin cones. Crispy and flaky, the thin crepes folded into cone shapes must be eaten while sipping a glass of hot tea. You can pair it with juicy kebabs or use the wafer to scoop up eggs, cheese or a type of fish paste called mhyawa. Or you can dip the crispy bits in honey and enjoy. The Central Square at Souq Waqif is home to stalls set up by local women selling the best ragag in Doha!
Samosa is a crunchy triangle-shaped spring-roll type pastry, which is filled with cheese, minced meat, or spinach. The Arabic version of the samosa has a thinner pastry to its Asian version. Deep-fried to a golden brown, this snack is one to put a smile on your face!
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