Joanna James
Visitors to Muscat would have the opportunity to savour an array of tantalizing street foods such as shawarma, falafel, mishkak, kebab, Omani bread and karak chai which are described below.
Shawarma, basically a section of pita or flatbread stuffed with pieces of meat and vegetables, would be available throughout the Middle East. The much-loved shawarma would undoubtedly be a favourite of Muscat residents offering mouth-watering flavours for a modest amount of money. It would typically be freshly prepared with a filling of beef, chicken, lamb, goat or turkey along with hummus, pickles, other vegetables and tahini. You are likely to find that the shawarma offered by the various vendors in Muscat would each have a slightly different taste.
A street food that must undoubtedly be included in a list of Omani favourites would be the very popular falafel. Another food that could be abundantly found in countries across the Middle East, falafel would be made from fava beans or chickpeas, or perhaps both, along with a selection of spices and fresh herbs. You could enjoy this dish by itself or perhaps combined with potato fries, lettuce and mayonnaise, all rolled up in Arabic bread or pita. Whilst falafel would be suitable for vegans, even non-vegans would enjoy this flavourful food.
Another not-to-be-missed street food that you would have the opportunity to savour in the Omani capital would be mishkak. It would basically consist of grilled portions of marinated beef, chicken or other meat skewered on sticks. A delicious snack that is commonly consumed by the locals, mishkak would be served with Arabic bread and a number of zesty sauces. You would find this dish almost anywhere in the city including on the roadside, in parks and at the beaches.
Your experience of Omani foods wouldn’t be complete without trying out the globally renowned kebab. Kebabs would be skewered portions of beef, chicken or other meat which are coated with butter and grilled. However, there would also be variations that are made with minced meat. Kebabs would sometimes be mistaken for the rather similar mishkak. A choice of accommodation to consider where you could enjoy kebabs and also visit restaurants in Muscat offering local foods would be Avani Muscat Hotel & Suites.
Undoubtedly, Omani bread would be a staple for most of the native residents of Muscat. As you might expect, the local bread would be enjoyed with a variety of local foods, such as mishkak, falafel, fish, gravy or salad. In fact, there would be several different varieties of local bread, including thick bread as well as crisp, thin variations. You could also enjoy bread with honey, cheese, egg or even Nutella at the various vendors and street stalls.
One of the best-loved beverages in the Omani capital would be karak chai or ‘strong tea’. As its name indicates, this drink would be flavourful with plentiful quantities of sugar, milk, cardamom, ginger and other local spices. You will find that many locals would enjoy this hearty beverage at numerous different times of the day; it may be said that your visit to Muscat wouldn’t be complete without trying out this drink which would be an important part of the local lifestyle.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
