Malabo - Post Report Question and Answers
What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
Lebanese, Beninese, and Italian. - Apr 2021
I find restaurant scene poor so I don't do take out or go much in restaurants. - Apr 2021
There is a great Lebanese restaurant, L'Oriental, that has a wide variety of food, comfortable seating, and an upstairs section with a pool table. It's not on this list, but should be near the top! https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g294438-Malabo_Bioko_Island.html It's best to have a contact who can recommend places to you. Beware: many local restaurants sell dishes made with endangered animals: turtles, pangolins, and primates. Restaurants don't tend to have the siesta or abbreviated Sunday schedule; check the hours ahead of time to avoid disappointment. Also, it takes a LONG time to get your food in a restaurant, so don't go there hungry!! When it arrives, it will be delicious, colorful, and generous, but don't fall prey to hangriness: eat a snack before you enter, unless you've pre-ordered (L'Oriental will let you do that). - Jul 2020
Malabo has several options for cuisine- Chinese, Japanese, Cuban, Dominican, Lebanese, U.S.-based Wing Zone, Cameroonian, and French, for example. Also, the Hilton and Sofitel offer expensive buffets for brunch and dinner. There are a few pizza places but they are just okay. The embassy employees get invited to one of the U.S. oil compounds for dinner often. - Aug 2017
Malabo is lacking quality restaurants. Those that offer semi-decent meals come with a large check (US$20-$50 per person at least). There are a few good restaurants that offer local fare (fish, chicken, plantains and rice) for about US$10-$20 per person depending on what you get. You can eat cheaply on the street but it is not recommended due to the poor sanitary conditions of these operations and high rate of typhoid in the country. - Sep 2014
No Western fast food. Grilled chicken and plantains is the local version of fast food. There are a couple of decent restaurants and a handful of low-end places. If you're open to going culinary native, you can always fine a tasty local joint for around US$5. - Jun 2012
