
04 Sep Food!! Where the residents of Doha like to go and Why!
Food…. We all need it and we (usually) love to eat it. Doha is a strange mix of wonderful top level, Michelin starred chefs preparing stunning quality dishes in equally stunning surroundings and then you can go to a “hole-in-the-wall” bakery and get the most wonderfully tasty breads and one pot meals that will leave you salivating with the smells whilst you wait in the long queues. And then you get the multi-national chains that will serve up consistent and tasty meals for you on a night out. The possibilities are endless here and so I asked the good people of WWHiDoha to give me their recommendations on where they loved to eat and this is what some of them came back with (presented in chronological order of feedback and not in any order of preference!!)…
MT said – “All things considered I would have to say Vapiano. The atmosphere is nice (especially on the terrace when the weather is good), they serve good, uncomplicated food, prices are reasonable.”
GS told us – “A piece-of-cake and just right on top of my mind, Vapiano indeed! Loved the ambience, the variety of Italian classics and the self-service-workflow that makes everyone feel on-the-go savouring every bite in the heart of a bustling city!”
IR said – “Chef’s garden in Education city for breakfast – food is yum and healthy, place quiet when it’s early. (Didn’t make that rhyme intentionally!)”
AWS also told us – “Chef’s garden is nice and quiet. The food is generally good and they have a good breakfast menu. Unique items. The service is incredibly slow so go for a relaxing time.”
GL told us – “I would have to say Maxims at the Radisson Blue, expensive but my oh my, can they cook! Service is impeccable and the classic atmosphere rounds it all off.”
DW backed that up – “I agree. The snails and the duck breast, the best! Service, seamless, faultless, perfect.”
HS said – “Damasca One in Souq Waqif. They don’t just offer a taste of Middle Eastern cuisine, but a complete experience with live oriental music and dancing Dervishes for full immersion. Highly recommended. There’s even a guy in traditional Syrian attire carrying a Tamrhindi dispenser on his back who keeps your cup full courtesy of the restaurant.”
CRT backed that up with – “Their shawarma is ??”
SWS provided WWHiDoha with his top 3 places in Doha
- Mamig at Katara – Authentic food with a great ambiance
- Zaoq – Best Indo/Pak fine dining in town
- Ipanema – Marriott City Centre Hotel – Great place for Meat lovers”
DG told us – “The Thai restaurant, Isaan at the Grand Hyatt, amazing food, service, lovely ambience. Great to interact with the chefs and learn some great tips. Second favourite is the Indian in the Radisson, the food is awesome, great service and a great setting. For something more casual, the Village on Salwa Road. Also love the Spice Market, great food.”
GS let us know his preference – “Nonna Zanon is perfection. They have the surprise menu option where in you get served a classic surprise menu. Be ready to be wowed! Always a good time whenever I visit there.”
DAK backed that up telling us – “Nonna Zanon – it is nice that it is not set in a hotel, and is more like a standalone restaurant. Cosy and comfortable. Excellent service, great staff. Yummmmmy foood.”
She also told us – “Turkey Central!! I think it is by far the best option for grills and traditional Arabic food like Majboos Bukhari etc.”
TL let us know her opinion of Turkey Central – “Turkey Central is an institution in Doha and has fantastic, cheap Turkish food. It is best for takeaway and the food is good enough to serve in your home for a special party. It is incredible. Fantastic grilled meats, kebabs, lamb chops. Incredible warm Turkish bread baked in their wood fire ovens…. Amazing hummus and tabouli!!!!! The best AND cheapest Turkish restaurant in town. It is jam packed 7 nights a week so that says it all!!!!!”
MO gave me a new one that I hadn’t heard of – “At the top of the list I shall place Grande Restaurant in West Bay, Residence Tower Ground Floor. You get there, choose anything from the menu and leave with full satisfaction. It is definitely a must try one.”
SJL gave us her top list of places to go – “Thai Snack for me is the most authentic Thai food in Doha but they don’t deliver. Very affordable too. For Steak Restaurants: I would highly recommend Bentley’s Grill, JW Steak and The Prime. The Argentinian Restaurant Fuego at Shangri-La is alright but not as impressive. Turkey Central is very good with Grilled Chicken and Lamb Chops. For other Asian Restaurants: I love Yee Hwa for Korean Food, Oriental Kitchen (in Najma) for Malaysian Food, Isaan Thai in Grand Hyatt is Great. Sabai Thai is alright but very good ambiance.”
NAA let us know his favourite place – “I LOVE Paper Moon! All food made from scratch. Very tasty. Excellent food AND service! Try it by old Crazy R/A/Jarir Bookstore.”
DC told us about a very arty place – “Anima on the Pearl. It’s in a very peaceful spot. There is an art gallery as well as the restaurant. The food is lovely and fresh. I find something intriguing in the staff. The manager always comes to talk to me gives the impression I am a favoured customer. Sometimes I get free cake!”
NS told us this – “Nando’s- Portuguese food! So delicious and very good value for money. They have several locations which are spread around Doha. The staff are polite and efficient, the restaurants are cheery and nicely decorated. They deliver too- bonus ???”
CA gave us her recommendation too – “La Spiga at the WHotel, we love the food and their prices are reasonable (esp. the supper club). Their service is top notch and they treat us and our son like we are royalty!”
QP told us his two best places to go – “Isla – it’s a Mexican restaurant on The Pearl. Lovely food, nice band and nice service and nice interior. I also like El Faro – the Spanish restaurant at the Kempenski Hotel on The Pearl.”
MRM told us about her favourite take out – “Mr. Taco! Any restaurant that is good enough to get me out of Al Khor is a winner”. NH backed this up with – “I just ate there! In Dar Al Salaam Mall food court. Authentic Mexican.”
LZ gave us her recommendations – “Hakkasan (St Regis Hotel) is my fav! Service is excellent! Followed by Opal (also St Regis Hotel) purely because the staff are truly like family to us and will do anything for you!” Opal is the Gordon Ramsey restaurant here in Doha.
MHK let us know about – “Khan Farook (at Katara)….Great Egyptian food, amazing atmosphere, dinner with a show. Just perfect!”
MT gave us his opinions too – “For quality, taste of food, service, atmosphere and overall mood it has to be The Anvil Rooms in Tornado Tower. The steaks are just perfection and the service is impeccable! It is however a bit on the pricey end compared to a more casual steakhouse like The Butcher’s Grill (Villagio).”
LJ told us – “We love the French Olive and always have good meals there – bit on the pricey side though!” The French Olive is on C Ring in Barwa Tower.
DK gave us some cheaper options – “Cheap but delicious eateries: Thai Cuisine, very easy on the pocket. Excellent Thai food. Beirut: The best hummus and falafel on the planet. Jamaica Cocktail: The best juices and cocktails – the fact that it has been around for over 20 years is testimony to its quality.”
ACC said – “I’d suggest Sandwich Factory in the Gate Mall; all of their sandwiches are between 10-20 QR and packed full. Also, Zaffron Lounge and Roll Star in the old MegaMart Centre are very affordable. The former is mostly chaat and Indian street food; personal favourite is the samosa chaat. The latter is shawarma and falafel”
PN told us – “Asiana in Al Sadd has amazing curries!” (I think they have a few places dotted around Doha too)
TL gave us her recommendation – “MRA on Salwa road for Indian food and one also at TV Roundabout (Al Jazeera). Cheapest Indian in town. I’m a regular there and it is always FULL of Indians!!! Incredible breakfast and clean, fresh, great Indian food at a fraction of the cost of other Indian restaurants. No Alcohol though.”
She also told us about – “Indian Coffee House is a lovely little Indian restaurant with great ambiance?” Indian Coffee House is on B Ring.
NH also gave us this – “All of the Yemeni restaurants, the masala dosa place (Top Star) on Al Jazeera Street – dinner for QR 6. Seriously. Also Thai Cuisine next door, limited menu but better than Thai Snack. Beirut Restaurant, also on Al Jazeera Street in Bin Mahmoud. Falafel joint on Ibn Mahmoud Street nearest Al Rayyan Road. Sign is only in Arabic, vertical, red & white.”
CDC let us know her best places – “Ciao, off D-ring Road, is a little Italian gem! Neo (Salwa Road) and Maison de Sushi, the latter for its concept .Mr.Broast & Zaoq for Hyderabad and Pakistani cuisine… Baan Thai for Thai food…” Baan Thai is on Furyosia Street near Aspire Park.
LM gave us a little unknown gem – “PlayStation Cafeteria for Chinese food. It’s a hole in the wall (and I think the name on the menu is different), and doesn’t look in the slightest bit promising from the outside. But the food is fabulous!” I think it’s also known as Dongbei Restaurant and it’s located behind the new National Museum near the Corniche.
JG gave us her low cost option – “My favourite inexpensive restaurant is Vasanta Bhavan. It’s an all veggie Indian place, and it is so good! They have both south and north Indian. There’s a few locations”
Also, lots of people recommend getting The Entertainer voucher book to take advantage of the 2 for 1 offers for a lot of these restaurants (and others as well). All these answers came over the space of about 2 hours so you can see how much our members care about their dinner!
I hope you find somewhere that you’ll enjoy eating at. There are hundreds of others that aren’t on this list as well so let us know where you’ve been and if it was worth it! You can email us at submit@wwhidoha.com or contact me at seang@wwhidoha.com.
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