Al Jasra Traditional Food

Al Jasra Traditional Food is a restaurant in Souq Waqif, Doha, Qatar, run by a group of Qatari women who prepare home-cooked Qatari meals. The venue is traditionally decorated, with an interior that evokes an older Qatari household, and it gives visitors a chance to taste the food that families cook at home rather than the hotel-style versions found elsewhere. The kitchen focuses on the classic dishes of the Gulf. Machboos, the spiced rice dish cooked with lamb, chicken or fish, is the emblematic Qatari main course and is usually the first choice for newcomers. Harees, a slow-cooked porridge of wheat and meat, is a traditional dish associated with Ramadan and celebrations. Balaleet, sweet vermicelli flavoured with saffron, cardamom and rose water and topped with a thin omelette, is a typical breakfast dish that blends sweet and savoury. Other items usually include soups, breads and traditional desserts, and the menu follows what the cooks prepare each day. The atmosphere is warm and unhurried, with moderate noise and a clientele of curious visitors, families and local residents. There is no formal dress code, though modest clothing is appropriate. No alcohol is served, and drinks are Arabic coffee, karak tea, laban and juices. Prices are low, at about QAR 50 to 120 per person. Service is reported daily for lunch and early evening, and hours should be verified before visiting, since the restaurant may close earlier than the neighbouring places. Visitors can telephone +974 5529 8871, the listing number, to confirm hours or to book a group. Because the cooking is home-style and prepared in limited batches, popular dishes can run out later in the day, so arriving for lunch is the safer plan. The restaurant is in the central part of Souq Waqif, close to the main lanes.