Oman isn’t the most vegan-friendly country, especially if you’re looking to try traditional local food. However, if you’re visiting for its stunning landscapes, rich history, and adventure, staying vegan is still possible! This guide will help you find vegan-friendly options across Oman, from supermarkets to restaurants and local delights.
Oman’s traditional food
To be honest, traditional Omani food is hard to find. You can find towns of Pakistani and Indian restaurants. Apparently within the recent years they have become more and Omani restaurants slowly disappear.
However the Omani kitchen is definitely not made for vegans. And compared to Mexico there are no veganised options of the dishes. Something you might experience if you are there during Eid is Omanis digging out meat. That’s their holiday speciality called Shuwa. Meat cooked underground in banana leaves for 24 hours. Also camel meat is something Oman restaurants offer.
Traditional Omani dishes that can be made vegan?
These are some dishes that are or can be vegan in the Omani kitchen: Shorbat Adas is a lentil soup, the main ingredient is lentils but the chefs might use chicken stock. So make sure you ask about that beforehand.
Madrouba is a rice dish, usually also served with chicken and overcooked rice and lots of spices. If you find it on a menu in a restaurant you can ask if you can have it without chicken and make sure they don’t use animal ghee.
Raqiq bread is a flat bread that is common in the Levant region as well as the Arabian peninsula. It is made out of flour, yeast, water and salt.
Additionally, not Omani but Lebanese is the Za’atar Manoushez, it is flat bread with herbs that is vegan. You can find it in Lebanese bakeries.
In Oman you can find various herbs. Cardamom is a popular herb for traditional Omani dishes. The Sumac powder is a herb that you may find it on a salad, it’s red powder and has a slightly citrus taste. If you want to buy it you can find it at the Mutrah Souq.
Pomegranate molasses is something you find throughout Oman, it has a sweet-sour flavour.
Vegan options at supermarkets or local markets
At supermarkets you definitely can find vegan options. While the selection isn’t extensive, you can still find essential vegan staples in most supermarkets.
At the Lulu Supermarket you have a greater selection of vegan products such as tofu, pesto, sweets or a bigger selection of plant based milk.
If you are at a supermarket in a rural area you can get Omani bread and some hummus – that is usually in a can. They also have Baba ganoush in a can but I didn’t like it. The hummus is ok. Bread with hummus and cucumber is a very basic on the go food but better than nothing. Of course if you have an apartment with a kitchen you can extend your shopping. If you are going from Muscat to the countryside, do your vegan grocery shopping in Muscat, especially if you are looking for specialities.
Fresh fruits and vegetables in Oman
If you are in Oman you can not miss out on eating their delicious dates. They are often served at hotels or lodges with coffee or tea as a welcome treat. You can find varieties of dates at supermarkets or local markets. It serves as a great protein source or snack in between.
In supermarkets you can also find delicious fruits such as delicious mangos, figs, bananas, pomegranates or melons. In Salalah you can enjoy fresh coconuts. So refreshing!
Dining out as a vegan in Oman
The dining out experience varies depending where you are. In Muscat you have a good selection of vegan options in restaurants. If you go to the rural area all you can eat as a vegan is mainly salad and fries. But if there is an Indian restaurant you can go for rice with veggies or Daal.
If you are dining out in Oman you should definitely try the fresh fruit juices. They are so delicious.
Restaurants with vegan options in Muscat:
The Bait Al Luban is a traditional Omani restaurant where you can also find vegan delights. Make sure you reserve a table here, as it can get quite busy.
Mani’s cafe has several locations in Muscat. It has a falafel sandwich, smoothie, granola bowls and salads.
Papa Johns is a chain pizza place mostly found at malls. They have vegan pizza. However at the time I was in Oman two different locations were out of the vegan option.
Organic Coco Bowls is a small shop where you can get smoothies, juices and bowls.
Treat cafe has a big coffee selection with plant based milk and offers vegan dishes such as tofu shawarma or vegan burger.
At Wagamama you can find Japanese inspired cuisine. It has a great selection of vegan dishes such as ramen, pad thai or special rice bowls.
Subway is a fast food chain with customised fillings. The veggie patty is vegan.
Restaurants with vegan options in Nizwa:
At the Guwair Restaurant in the old town of Nizwa you can get amazing Mezze.
The Nizwa View Cafe also has falafel, hummus and salads.
Restaurants with vegan options in Salalah:
At Salalah you can find three authentic vegetarian Indian restaurants: Udupi, Rajbhog Vegetarian Restaurant and Annapurna Restaurant.
Overcoming challenges as a vegan in Oman:
At Indian places you should keep in mind that the naan bread has yoghurt inside. Also you can ask if the Dal is made with plant based ghee. However, I experienced language difficulties asking in the restaurants about specialities. Moreover, most of the people in Oman have no idea what vegan means. So, this makes it difficult to discover that a certain dish is actually vegan.
I should also mention Omanis speak good English, whether it is my English accent or the lack of English at Indian/Bangladeshi/Pakistani restaurants.
Indians like to put milk in their tea, also the Karak tea has milk inside. Be aware of which tea you order. Most of the teas are black tea or green tea. The teas are a bit bitter, that’s why the Omanis also put a lot of sugar in their tea.
Vegan-Friendly hotels & accommodations in Oman
Regarding vegan friendly accommodations you will be on the safe side if you book a 4-5 star hotel. But this isn’t at your budget range; you can always book rooms in budget hotels or guest houses. Most of them have basic kitchen equipment, such as a water kettle, a microwave or even a stove. Self gathering as a vegan budget travel in Oman is the easiest option to get nutritions.
If budget is your worry you can check out these hotels, they have the best vegan offer:
Bait Al Bahr in Shangri-La and Kempinski in Muscat as well as the Oman desert private camp in Bidiyah Camps Road, Shāhiq.
Cultural sensitivity & ethical travel while being vegan
Traveling as a vegan is not always easy. It often involves patience and it might seem that you miss out on the whole cultural experience. It is up to you how strong of a value your plant based diet is. Some travellers like to make exceptions in order to have in-depth experience. If you are not one of them it is also ok. Just keep in mind don’t be hard on yourself and do what feels the best and aligns with your values.
Additionally, respect the local customs and traditions. If they aren’t inline with your values just take a step back or withdraw yourself from the situation. In some countries veganism isn’t a big thing yet and Oman is such a country. Stay patient and if you feel like explaining veganism, do it in a kind way.
Vegan travel essentials
Have your nuts, dates or protein bars with you. Especially for outdoor activities you might need it at some point.
If you travel in Oman requiring more research for vegan restaurant options use Happy cow or Google maps. The first one is a great resource for finding vegetarian, vegan friendly restaurants, shops and cafes.
At Google maps you can either type in “vegan” or you can look up a certain restaurant and search in the reviews for “vegan”. This is a useful tactic to find restaurants that don’t display their menu online.
What is? Dish dictionary:
- Hummus – creme with chickpeas and sesame paste
- Baba Ganoush – creme with eggplant and sesame paste
- Za’atar Manoushe – bread with herbs on it
- Dal – Pulses with herbs, stew like consistency
- Mezze – small selection of dishes served as appetizers, includes hummus, baba ganoush, tabouleh
- Falafel – grounded chickpeas and onion formed like a ball and it is fried or baked
- Tabbouleh – salad with parsley, mint, bulgur and tomatoes
Arabic phrases to remember as vegan:
- Ana nabati – I am vegetarian
- La luhum, la alban, la bayd – No meat, no dairy, no eggs
The author of the blog
Lisi is an adventurous, mostly solo traveler from Austria. She likes to travel slowly, discover underrated countries/regions, and of course, learn about cultures. She has been traveling the world and creating travel content since 2016. With a degree in tourism management and a passion for travel and cultures, she wants to tell stories that inspire her readers and help them travel more consciously.
