Sharjah's no-alcohol policy shapes its restaurant scene in an unexpected way: without the bar trade propping up Western-style establishments, the city has developed an unusually authentic South Asian and Middle Eastern food culture. Lebanese, Indian, Pakistani, and Emirati restaurants dominate, and the prices are considerably lower than in Dubai.
The Al Wahda Street area and the older parts of the city have the best concentration of South Asian restaurants — cheap, generous biryani, Pakistani karahi, and Yemeni lamb dishes served in canteen-style settings. The Heritage Area has a few upscale Arabic cafes serving traditional Emirati food including machboos (spiced rice with meat or fish) and luqaimat (fried sweet dumplings).