From legendary shawarma to crispy falafel and late-night karak — discover Bahrain's best cheap eats and street food.
Last updated: 2026-02-24
Rotating spit meat in bread with garlic/tahini
500 fils - BD 1.5
Fried chickpea balls in pita with salad
300-500 fils
Strong spiced tea with condensed milk
100-200 fils
Fried pastry with meat/veg filling
100-200 fils
Traditional Bahraini sweet (many flavors)
BD 1-5 per kg
Spiced rice with meat
BD 1-2
From shawarma legends to hidden gems.
Adliya • Falafel
Cult favorite for fresh, crispy falafel. Simple menu, perfect execution. Always a queue.
Hours: 11AM-11PM
Vibe: Simple, queues, worth the wait
Gudaibiya • Indian/Pakistani
No-frills spot for excellent grilled meats, biryani, and subcontinental street food.
Hours: 11AM-12AM
Vibe: Authentic, smoky grills, local crowd
Gudaibiya • Various
Street-side vendors and small shops offering Pakistani, Indian, and Arabic street food. Most authentic experience.
Hours: Evening-late night
Vibe: Authentic street, adventurous eating
Bab Al Bahrain Souq • Various
Traditional food stalls in the souq offering Arabic snacks, fresh juices, and quick bites.
Hours: Souq hours (9AM-9PM)
Vibe: Traditional, authentic, part of souq experience
Throughout Bahrain • Tea/Snacks
Ubiquitous karak chai (spiced tea) stalls. Essential Bahrain experience, especially late night.
Hours: 24/7 many locations
Vibe: Social, late-night, essential Bahrain
Manama • Indian
Popular Indian street food chain with biryanis, curries, and snacks at excellent prices.
Hours: 10AM-12AM
Vibe: Casual, quick, reliable
Muharraq • Traditional Bahraini
Traditional cafes serving Bahraini breakfast, halwa, and authentic local snacks in heritage setting.
Hours: 7AM-10PM
Vibe: Heritage, authentic, cultural experience
Indian/Pakistani street food, late night
Authentic, busy
Shawarma, late night eats, variety
International crowd
Trendy casual, falafel, cafes
Hipster, diverse
Traditional snacks, juices, Arabic
Traditional, tourist
Bahraini breakfast, halwa, heritage
Authentic local
Most street food spots are cash only. Carry small bills.
Street food peaks 9PM-2AM. Best shawarma is late night.
Busy spots with high turnover are usually safest. Fresh = good.
Follow the queues. If locals line up, it's good.
Juffair and Gudaibiya have many excellent shawarma spots. Late night (11PM+) is when the magic happens.
Generally yes. Stick to busy spots with high turnover. Fresh preparation is a good sign.
Strong tea made with cardamom, saffron, and condensed milk. Essential late-night Bahrain experience.