Muscat - Post Report Question and Answers
What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
The restaurant scene is not as vibrant as some other posts in the area. However, there is plenty to chose from, French, Indian, and a good steak. It is all available at varying prices. Kargeens was very popular among the expats. - Jan 2022
Turkish, Indian and Lebanese food are all readily available. There are two good Japanese restaurants in town, one good steak place, and some good Omani restaurants. You do not come to Oman for the restaurant scene. It's neither exciting nor inspired. - Dec 2018
EXPENSIVE! There are a few delivery services with a little bit of everything. You have fast-food joints like McDonalds, KFC, Texas Chicken, Subway, Burger King, Papa Johns and Pizza Hut to name a few. There are a few chain restaurants like Ruby Tuesday and Chilis. One thing that has really popped up lately are "gourmet" burger joints. They aren't too bad and some reasonably priced ($5 burger is doable). A Five Guys just opened and I don't know the US prices but for 2 adults and 2 kids we spent $55! There are tons of malls here and they all have food courts.
Alcohol. The Embassy has a Tea Room where you can buy duty free booze if you join the MEA (which basically everyone does as this allows access to the American Club as well). Other than that you can only get alcohol at the hotels in town (oh and the nightclubs if that's your thing). So you can have a glass of wine with your dinner at the Sheraton but it'll cost you an arm and a leg. But the hotel restaurants are pretty good for a nice dinner out. - Feb 2018
Many American restaurants are here, both fast food (Burger King, KFC, McDonald's, Subway, Texas Chicken, Baskin Robbins, Domino's, Papa John's) and sit-down (Chili's, Macaroni Grill, TGI Friday's). Most fast-food places deliver. There is a few great local restaurants as well, also Iranian, Pakistani, Indian food. There are local cheap fast food options which are the shawarma shops (a bit like a meat-stuffed burrito). They are dirt-cheap and tasty. - Aug 2017
Muscat is full of Western chains and local favorites. We have McDonald's, Burger King, Subway, Pizza Hut, Papa John's, Domino's, KFC, Dunkin Donuts, Baskin Robbins, Starbucks, Coldstone, Costa Coffee, Chili's, TGI Friday's, and more. Most have a more limited menu, but the food is the same and most of the fast food places will deliver. Everything here tends to be pricey and the restaurants are no different. For example, items in the U.S. that would be on a dollar menu are on the Rial menu. One Rial equals US$2.60. There are some very good local places that serve Indian and more traditional foods that are a little cheaper and really good. - Oct 2014
Many of the largest U.S. chains are open here: KFC, McDonald's, Subway, Burger King, Hardee's, Dunkin' Donuts, Dominoes Pizza, Pizza Hut, Papa John's, TGI Friday's. In addition, there are lots of good Lebanese restaurants as well as shwarma stands or coffee shops for quick eats. The best thing I've had here is the fresh fish and seafood; the fishing industry is alive and well in Oman and it shows. I hear there is good Chinese food here, but I've yet to find it. If you want an alcoholic beverage with your meal, the restaurants associated with hotels are your best bet. - Jun 2012
Everything. McD's, Burger King, Chilis, TGIF, Hardees, KFC, Pizza Hut, Domino's, Papa John, Subway, Pinkberry, Baskin Robbins, Starbucks, Cinnabon, Coldstone Creamery, Dunkin Donuts, need I go on? - May 2012
You name it... KFC, McDonald's, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Papa Johns, Hardees, TGIF, Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks..... - Aug 2011
KfC, McDonald's, Pizza Hut. Expensive! - Feb 2011
You have all ranges, but the quality is definitely restricted. The Turkish House is good and relatively cheap. Nice restaurants in hotels can be quite expensive. - Apr 2010
Some, the usual McDonald's, KFC, Pizza Hut but local swarmas are wonderful and cheaper than a Big Mac. Indian food here is absolutely wonderful but then when you have a major work force made up of Third Country Nationals your bound to have some of that country's flavor around. - Feb 2010
McDonald's, Papa John's, Pizza Hut, Chili's all at U.S. prices. But honestly, the best "fast food" is either "Arabic" (i.e., Lebanese) or Indian. - Jan 2010
Subway (about US$5 per 6in sub); KFC; Pizza Hut and Poppa Johns (about US$17 for a large); McDonald's... The best value is going to get the local schwarmas and chicken sandwiches (less than US$1 each). Most restaurants are extremely pricey and don't open for dinner until 7pm. - Mar 2009
Full range of standard fast food and cafes (McDonalds, KFC, Starbucks, Costa Coffee, Chili's, etc.). Some very good Indian restaurants. Hotels offer Italian, Mexican, and other specialities (including a Trader Vic's!). Increasing options for family/casual eating out including fusion, Italian, and, of course, variations on Lebanese/Arabic food. Few restaurants outside hotels, and those mostly Indian, are licensed to serve alcohol. The best restaurants - for example, at the Chedi and Shangri La Hotels - are as good as any top-end places in the world. - Feb 2008
