Cairo · Egypt
The Cairo food cheat sheet
One page from Chef Amazing · November 2026
The dish to eat
Egypt's street dish: rice, lentils and macaroni topped with spiced tomato sauce, garlic vinegar, chickpeas and crisp fried onions.
Best at Abou Tarek, Champollion Street, Downtown. Get: A bowl of koshari with extra crispy onions and da'ah
Five places, and what to order
- Abdullah Bashandystreet-food · Downtown (Munira)Get: Ta'ameya, kebda or ful sandwiches, two at a time
- Felfelaclassic · DowntownGet: Ful, ta'ameya (a pastrami and cheddar version was recommended)
- Tabali Bistrocafe · ZamalekGet: Saffron-lemon ta'ameya at breakfast, basturma, kebda sandwich at lunch
- Zoobafor hawawshi · Zamalek and branchesGet: Hawawshi with brisket, tomatoes, onions and hot peppers
- Yokalfor kebda · Zamalek and HeliopolisGet: Liver and sujuk sandwiches on soft buns
The market
Open-air market. Tea and shisha at El Fishawy (open around the clock), nearby cafes, spice stalls, mainly…
The line worth it
Koshary Abou TarekDowntown
Get: Koshary with extra tomato sauce and fried onions
Expect: Lunch rush. Beat it: Go mid-afternoon.
In season this November
Molokhia
How it works here
Tip: Leave 10% on top of the service charge, and small notes for anyone who helps.
Book: Book the hotel and Nile restaurants; koshari and ful shops are walk-in.
When locals eat: Lunch 2-5pm, dinner from 9pm, later in summer.