Five Wallet-Friendly Eats In My Neighbourhood
For you, in constant pursuit of tasty bargains.
Hello, I am Vanessa and have been staying in Doha for a year or so now.
I enjoy traveling and seeking good food wherever I am because I am the kind who lives to eat. Eating, pleasurably and economically, is a big part of my life.
I stay in Umm Ghuwailina, a bustling neighborhood bounded by B and C ring roads. Do not be deceived by the old and dilapidated buildings flanking the roads, the best finds are usually tucked away at a corner or nestled at the foot of these buildings. Dining out is definitely not an ideal choice if you are on a tight budget as a decent meal can easily cost a bomb as compared to Singapore. Having tried and tasted various eateries in the neighbourhood, the miser in me has arrived at a Wallet Friendly Meter that will help you determine where to dine should you have a budget to work with. Regardless of what you are craving, these five inexpensive eateries that ranged from mouthwatering asian dishes to flavourful middle-eastern grill are your go-to whenever you are feeling a little homesick or seeking an exotic meal. Most importantly, they fill your bellies without emptying your pennies!
Wallet Friendly Meter
💵 = 10 riyals and below
💵 💵 = 10 to 20 riyals
💵 💵 💵 = 20 to 30 riyals
💵 💵 💵 💵 = 30 riyals and up
AL NOOR BAKERY 💵
Quraish Street, Umm Ghuwailina, Doha (Near New Al Habshi Grocery)
I bet you didn’t know about this! Neither did I. It was only recently that I managed to uncover this gem despite having driven past it umpteen times. The bakery is nothing fancy, just an old-fashioned bake house yet constantly radiating the most heavenly smell of freshly baked muffins (yes, the place is overloaded with muffins)! I later found out they do have a menu hidden at a corner, which you will be surprised at the types of bread they produce eg, cream bun, butter bread, masala bun etc. Don’t be shy to ask because the workers are extremely friendly, especially when they see a foreign face. More so, they will always choose the piping hot ones from the kitchen even if you are only buying a couple out of the bulk. Best of all, the price remains whether you are buying just one or a dozen!
Al BAHRAIN 💵 💵
Saeed Bin Al Aas Street, Umm Ghuwailina, Doha (Beside Corp Hotel)
Diagonally opposite Central, this is an eatery frequented by workers living in the area. The menu is limited but whatever they have to offer is definitely worth a mention. I was immediately sold on the idea of a less-than-ten riyals meal by a friend who first told me about this place. The draw is their prata, a huge piece of dough fried till brown and crispy on both sides and extremely aromatic, which costs only QAR 1! The only difference between the ones we have at home and this is that the former is more fluffy and layered on the inside while the latter is doughier and falls short of that cushiony fluffy texture. Despite that, it still tastes heavenly when paired with curry. I strongly recommend the omelette prata as it is more than just egg and dough! The eggs are beaten with generous servings of onions and green chilli (padi), fried till fragrant before placing it atop and rolled together with the prata. If you are looking for something more substantial, drop in at later part of the day for their Chicken or Mutton Dum Briyani. The aromatic rice, cooked and sealed with a myriad of indian spices, accompanied by the flavourful chicken or mutton made extremely tender by the dum process will definitely leave you craving for more!
CENTRAL 💵 💵
Saeed Bin Al Aas St, Umm Ghuwailina, Doha
This eatery is in the heart of the hood that serves authentic Indonesian cuisine. Popular amongst the southeast Asians living in the vicinity, do not be surprised to run into familiar faces each time you patronize it! Tented to by a few Indonesian men clad in their signature red polo-tee, the eatery is a humble space that can easily sit up to thirty people. They serve nasi padang and a number of other Indonesia dishes eg. nasi/maggie goreng, mee ayam, mee bakso, sate etc. Dishes to go with nasi are cooked twice a day (morning and late afternoon) and displayed in a two-tier food cabinet whereas the latter are mostly available during dinner. Meat dishes are mostly soaked in goopy curries or deep-fried to perfection, while the rest are showered in chilli and spices. Even if you can’t do spicy, the allure of these mouth-watering dishes will first captivate your eyes, then go on to tantalize your taste buds. Most importantly, always request for a hearty dollop of sambal to complete your meal! Try to be early to avoid disappointment as those dishes sell out real fast!
NASCO 💵 💵 💵
Al Muthaf Street, Al Salata, Doha
This eatery is a fusion of Arabic, Indian and Chinese food as their menu is categorized as such. However, the majority of the patrons are usually there for the barbecued dishes eg. chicken, lamb and fish. Cornered off by ongoing construction works, it is not difficult to spot this eatery especially with a significant red signboard bearing ‘NASCO CAFETERIA’ attached to the building. The aroma curling up from the grill will easily guide you there. They have two options for the grill; spicy and non-spicy. Mostly, I opt for the former as the extra layer of chilli marinate definitely spice things up a little while maintaining its original smoky flavour. The same applies to the grilled fish except that there is more variety to choose from depending on season and catch. Do remember to ask for their curry gravy, as they are a heavenly match and has some sort of resemblance to our assam/curry fish when eaten together. Not sure if it is just us, my husband and I agreed that the fries taste more potatoey and have a melted consistency within, just a tad different from the fries you would find anywhere else. The way to go is to dip those golden potato fritters into the special chilli sauce before the white garlicky one. Be careful, this can be dangerously addictive! Try it and let me know your verdict!
ORIENTAL KITCHEN 💵 💵 💵 💵
Kuwaiti Building, Al Khaldiya Street, Najma, Doha
Easily one of the best Asian/Chinese food around, Oriental Kitchen is like a second home to most Malaysians and Singaporeans in Doha. It is the (only) resolve whenever homesickness kicks in. Headed by a Malaysian chef, the dishes are akin to what we find in zi-char stalls back home. Tasty, delicious and satisfying. Every item is just so on point and most of all, sealed with a taste of home. A single portion is usually good for two but it would be best to gather a few friends to get more dishes out the menu and share the love and warmth of dining at ‘home’. A few dishes that are highly recommended or my must-order; sambal fried-rice, Malaysian-style mee-goreng, sizzling tofu, marmite chicken, butter squid and sambal kangkong. However, some ingredients (mainly vegetables) are seasonal so do expect a tinge of disappointment in that aspect. Otherwise, just take my money already O.K!
Closing thoughts
Undeniably, these five are my comfort spots whenever I am seeking an escape from home-cooked meals. Of course, there are plenty of options to choose from all around Doha but nothing beats the luxury of having these gems located within the hood. If you are always on the lookout for a delightful and inexpensive meal or like to take a break from indulging in decadent food, be sure to try any of the above-mentioned! If you are a loyal customer like myself, do share with me some of your must-order! Wouldn’t it be an achievement to unlock all the items on the menu of your favourite eatery? What do you think?
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