Having trouble finding an affordable seafood restaurant in Doha? Or a place to get a quick bite under QAR 10? We’re here to help! 

No matter if you’re visiting Qatar for a few days or living in Doha, nobody wants to spend too much money on food, especially when there are tasty, affordable alternatives. Despite being considered an expensive city, Doha has many restaurants that let you explore its cuisine on a budget. From the best QAR 8 chicken shawarma to QAR 24 mandi, here are the best affordable restaurants in Doha that offer the best bang for your buck. 

Average one-person bill: QAR 22–25

Afghan Brothers is among the most popular affordable restaurant chains. I visited Afghan Brothers in Al Mirqab Al Jadeed Street, but they have restaurants all over Qatar.

All of the mandi options (traditional Arab dish with meat and rice with spices) at this place are amazing. I tried their chicken mandi (only QAR 24) and their fish fillet mandi (QAR 40), and both were perfectly seasoned. The portions are pretty large, so don’t overdo it with appetizers.

The restaurant can get pretty busy, so be prepared for longer waiting times. Aside from that, Afghan Brothers is great for anyone looking to save some money without compromising on quality. 

Average one-person bill: QAR 8–14

Looking for a quick bite in the Old Airport area? You should definitely check out Mashawi Al Arabi. Even though it has a seating space, this is not a restaurant per se. It’s more of a grab a bite to eat while standing type of establishment. But if you’re not a fan of that, you can always have your food delivered.

Mashawi Al Arabi is best known for its shawarma. Shawarma is available in different sizes, and its prices start from QAR 8 for a regular chicken shawarma sandwich, which is a great deal. The bigger option (shawarma saroukh) is priced at QAR 14. 

Those who aren’t a fan of sandwiches can get a shawarma plate. There are different sizes to choose from, and the smallest one is QAR 30. Appetizers and salads are also available for order both in the restaurant and for delivery. Both salads and appetizers come in different sizes, so you can always share a portion with somebody.

Average one-person bill: QAR 20–30

If you’re craving a good chicken shish kebab or Turkish bread and you don’t want to spend too much money, I’d highly recommend Turkey Central. Located on the Al Mirqab Al Jadeed Street, this restaurant has a cosy, humble feel. 

Meat prices start from QAR 25, and almost all barbeque options (grilled beef or chicken) come with veggies, onion salad, and bread. The portions are enormous, so don’t overorder. 

And, if you’re looking for a quick meal, you should try their shawarma. Shawarma portions are priced between QAR 8 and QAR 14, depending on the amount of meat.. 

But the customer favorites are certainly appetizers. You can order their mixed appetizer or make your own combination. Appetizers can come in small, medium, large, or extra large sizes, which is perfect for both large families and singles who want to try different options. I typically order baba ganoush and hummus for Turkish bread dip — a combo I stand behind!

Average one-person bill: QAR 8–15

Most of the options mentioned in this article offer breakfast. But, if you want to treat yourself by going to a place that’s specialized in breakfast and tea — who am I to judge? Therefore, my next restaurant recommendation is Shay & Rqaq. It has two locations, one in Souq Waqif and another in Qatar Sports Club.

Shay & Rqaq has dozens of breakfast options to choose from. Chapati (flatbread) ranges from QAR 2 for the plain option to QAR 10 for the fancy Caesar chapati sandwich. Mutabbaq (stuffed pancake) has 18 different taste choices, and the pricing ranges from QAR 18 to QAR 21 (for falafel, chicken liver, Nutella, and cream and honey flavors). Furthermore, puri (fried bread) is priced between QAR 3 (for plain) and QAR 8 (for more flavor). Lastly, rqaq (thin flatbread) comes in 14 different flavors, ranging from QAR 4 to QAR 15. Everything is available in both sweet and savory variants. 

As with most breakfast places, you have a ton of drink options to choose from. Shay & Rqaq even offers 1 liter milk and tea drinks, available from QAR 55. 

Average one-person bill: QAR 66 (QAR 33 with a Sun-Thu deal)

If you can’t decide what kind of food you’re in the mood for — why not try it all? Buffets are a great option to get to know a country’s cuisine without breaking the bank. And, there’s no better option for a buffet than the Al Maha Restaurant. Located on the ground floor of the Sapphire Plaza Hotel, the restaurant features a modest design with plenty of seating spaces, which quickly fill up during the meal rush. So, don’t forget to make a reservation. 

The Al Maha restaurant offers buffets for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast is served from 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM, and it’s QAR 50 per person and QAR 99 for three people. Lunch is QAR 66 per person, but they have a “QAR 66 for two” deal from Sunday to Thursday. The timing of lunch isn’t the same every day, so check out their Instagram or Facebook to see when it’s served on the day you make your reservation. Lastly, dinner is served from 6 PM to 10:30 PM for QAR 66 per person.

Food at the buffet is always warm, and all of the options are pretty tasty. Salads are great, especially Fattoush, and the steak and lamb are excellent main dish options. Juices, water, tea, coffee, and sweets are included in the price, so you won’t have to spend a dime beyond QAR 66 (or half of what if you bring somebody).

The Al Maha restaurant is a great, affordable place to eat, especially for families. Children under six eat for free, which is a huge money-saver. If you’re not sure where to eat and want to try both international and oriental cuisine, you won’t regret checking out Al Maha. 

Average one-person bill: QAR 60–100

Seafood can be pretty expensive in Doha, especially if you don’t want to risk being served older, suspicious fish. So, it makes sense that we all want to find tried-and-true restaurants that don’t cost an arm and a leg. One of those restaurants is certainly Danat Al Bahar. 

Danat Al Bahar is located in Souq Waqif, so it’s a great place to grab a quick bite while exploring the market. If you’re worried you won’t be able to find a table as this part of the city is often pretty crowded, you can reserve one on their website. Just make sure you’re making your reservation at the right restaurant, as they have two more locations outside of Doha. 

The restaurant checks all the boxes: affordable pricing, large portions, and amazing quality of food. Also, if you go to their website, don’t let the pricing scare you. The prices shown there are for 1 kg of fish, and you’ll be able to choose the size of your portion (and even a fish you’d like) in the restaurant. 

Their most popular dish in Danat Al Bahar is definitely sea bass. All of the seafood is fresh and comes with excellent homemade sauces that go perfectly with the fish. 

Average one-person bill: QAR 20–25

For biryani lovers looking for affordable Indian restaurants in Doha, I added Mr. Broast Nikhat to this list. This restaurant is located in the Old Airport district, and it has a great delivery service for those who don’t want to come to the restaurant. 

Their most popular meal has to be biryani (rice dish with meat/vegetables). Meat biryani comes in different variations and can be made with chicken or mutton. Biryanis are priced between QAR 20 and QAR 22, while the vegetable option is QAR 12. 

If you’re a fan of biryani rice, you can order just rice for QAR 10. But, I’d recommend going with zeera rice instead. Surprisingly, a good zeera rice isn’t easy to find in the city. So, I was happy Mr. Broast got it right, and I’m recommending it to anyone who longs for the taste of cumin in their rice. In general, you’ll be able to get a tasty, filling meal for no more than QAR 25.