Best of Cairo
The best koshari in Cairo
Start with Koshary Abou Tarek in Downtown for koshari with garlic and chili sauce, fried bread crumbs, Sayed Hanafy in Cairo (area not stated) for koshari and Koshary El Tahrir in Downtown for tahrir koshari. Here are all 4, with what to get at each.
- Koshary Abou TarekDowntown · classic
Get: Koshari with garlic and chili sauce, fried bread crumbs
Started as a cart in 1963; a meal ran about EGP 20 to 30 in 2022.
- Sayed HanafyCairo (area not stated) · classic
Get: Koshari
A food cart in 1952, now an air-conditioned shop with an open kitchen.
- Koshary El TahrirDowntown · koshary
Get: Tahrir koshari
A cheap chain with a strong chili sauce. No-frills Downtown counter serving Cairo's beloved koshary, the layered rice, lentil and pasta dish with spicy tomato sauce.
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Ask Chef for morePlan my Cairo food tripThe best koshari in Cairo: questions people ask
Where is the best koshari in Cairo?
Chef Amazing’s picks start with Koshary Abou Tarek (Downtown), Sayed Hanafy (Cairo (area not stated)) and Koshary El Tahrir (Downtown). All 4 places are on this page with what to get, where they are and a map.
What should I order?
At Koshary Abou Tarek, get koshari with garlic and chili sauce, fried bread crumbs. At Sayed Hanafy, get koshari. At Koshary El Tahrir, get tahrir koshari. At Zooba (Zamalek), get koshari, a modern version.
Which neighborhood is best for koshari in Cairo?
Most of these are in Downtown. The map on this page shows every one, numbered like the list.
How does Chef Amazing pick these?
From Chef Amazing’s city guide and lists for Cairo: the places critics, chefs and locals keep recommending, checked and kept current, with what to order at each. Nobody pays to be on them.
More in Cairo
Places change: check hours before you go. Pins come from addresses and OpenStreetMap and can be a little off. Updated October 25, 2026.