Souk Arabi and other Khartoum, Sudan Restaurant Reviews

There's not really much good to say about Souk Arabi, Khartoum's crowded and ugly city centre, but it's a great place to grab a quick and very cheap bite to eat. There are countless places to get food, ranging from the row of dirty-looking (but tasty!) stalls on the south side of the square, to the sit-down cafes in the surrounding streets. However, there isn't a huge selection of food.

Schwarma kebabs (chicken or beef chopped up and stuffed into a bun with peppers and chilli sauce), fried fish in bread rolls, thamiya (falafel, again served in a bun with grated cheese) - all cost about 50 dinars and are all simple but tasty. Burgers are slightly more expensive but more filling and come with everything - eggs, olives, vegetables and whatever else they have in the shop. Standards obviously vary - piping hot fish is delicious but often it's cold and greasy. I have my favourite burger place, another place for kebabs, and another for fish... but the overall winner would probably be a relatively smart looking (but no more expensive) eat-in restaurant on the northeast corner of Souk Arabi. At night it does excellent grilled kebabs.

To wash it all down most of the shops serve a range of drinks - bottled pepsi, mirinda etc, and fresh fruit juice (guava, mango, orange etc).


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Theme: Local

Restaurant Name: The Hilton Hotel

There are very few good quality restaurants in Khartoum but if you want a bit of luxury then the all you can eat buffets at the Hilton are excellent value. Each night of the week is a different cuisine (Arabic, Italian, Chinese etc). Ate there often but can't remember the prices - expensive for Sudan, but cheap for the quality and for an international hotel.


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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: most expensive
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter

Going up Nile Street towards the English Bridge to Omdurman, there are a series of outdoor restaurants on the banks of the Nile. Most offer pretty similar food at similar prices - expensive by Khartoum standards. Fried chicken and fish are popular dishes, and reasonably tasty although not great value for money. The main reason to eat here is not the food but the location. Some of the restaurants have actual floating huts (can't think how else to describe them!) so you can eat your meal actually on the Nile. It's a great riverside experience and can get quite lively at night.


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Theme: Local

Restaurant Name: Little India

An 'authentic' Indian menu at one of the few proper restaurants in the city, located in the posh area of Khartoum 2. Even so, it's still a case of sitting in what pretty much resembles a shed and wooden stools! Not fantastic but adequate quality, and it makes a nice change.


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Theme: Indian
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter