The first question most people ask are what are the essentials to try in Bahrain. So here are my 3 must-try meals to try:
- Everyone knows about the delicious shawarma’s available here, but what they don’t know is that there are even better lamb chops. Riyash, as they are locally called, are marinated in a distinct black lemon flavour and cooked to perfection. Stop by a number of local tikka places and they will have lamb chops on the menu.
You can order by the dinars worth and what will be served to you is a parcel of freshly baked local khobz bread with around 4 lamb chops tucked inside and some herby ‘bagal’, which is a cross between a chive and a spring onion. You’ll want to make room for the bread, which is perfect for mopping up the meat juice.
- A traditional Bahraini breakfast is a must-have and over time you might even find it replacing your craving for a fry-up on Friday mornings. Stop by many local eateries for this, including Haji’s, Saffron or Emmawash. You’ll be given an array of dishes including ‘balaleet’ a sweet vermicelli noodle with eggs on top, a herby fava bean mixture called ‘foul medames’, spicy home-made baked beans called ‘louba’, a local staple of scrambled eggs mixed with plenty of tomato and of course lots of freshly baked ‘khobz’ breads.
A breakfast like this will normally set you back only a 3 to 4 BD, a bargain for all the feasting you will be doing!
- We’ve dealt with what to eat, but what should you drink when in Bahrain. Easily one of the most popular drinks is Karak chai. This sweet tea is a staple in homes, offices and cafes and has a spiced aroma from the cardamom flavour.
If you try karak and love it as much as we do then, grab a jug and head to the many karak shops for them to fill it up for about 1 bd and take it with you back to your home or office. Watching your sugar intake? Just ask for it to be a bit less sweetened.
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