ExploFood · Asia
What to eat in Oman
Five dishes to try in Oman, the most typical first. Two are vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Oman
Majboos مجبوس
Spiced rice cooked with chicken, lamb or fish, dried lime and nuts.
How to have it: Everyday lunch in Omani restaurants; for festivals ask about shuwa, lamb slow-cooked underground.
Harees هريس
Wheat and meat cooked for hours into a smooth porridge, topped with ghee.
How to have it: Traditionally served at Ramadan iftar, weddings and Eid.
Thareed ثريد
Thin bread layered under a vegetable and meat stew.
How to have it: A Ramadan dish in many Omani homes; restaurants serving Omani food may offer it during the month.
Omani halwa حلوى عمانية
Sticky, jelly-like sweet of sugar, ghee, rosewater, saffron and nuts.
How to have it: Served with coffee to guests; buy a tub from halwa shops in Muttrah Souq or Nizwa.
Kahwa قهوة
Light coffee spiced with cardamom, served in small cups with dates.
How to have it: Offered to guests everywhere; shake the cup gently when you have had enough.
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Questions
What food is Oman famous for?
Majboos (spiced rice cooked with chicken, lamb or fish, dried lime and nuts) comes first on our list, followed by Harees, Thareed, Omani halwa and Kahwa.
What is the national dish of Oman?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Oman is Majboos: spiced rice cooked with chicken, lamb or fish, dried lime and nuts. Everyday lunch in Omani restaurants; for festivals ask about shuwa, lamb slow-cooked underground.
Which dishes in Oman are vegetarian?
Two of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Omani halwa and Kahwa. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What do people drink in Oman?
Kahwa: light coffee spiced with cardamom, served in small cups with dates.
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Tick off every dish you try in Oman
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.