Egypt · month by month
Cairo food calendar
What is in season in Cairo, what to eat right now, the food festivals worth planning around and the months to be careful with. Tap a month.
January in Cairo
The best of January: Koshary and ful, Citrus and strawberries.
In season
- Citrus and strawberries
Egyptian oranges and strawberries are cheap and everywhere in winter.
Nov–Mar - Molokhia
Eaten year-round; the cooler months are when it is most comforting. Month range is a judgment, not sourced.
Oct–Mar
Eat it now
- Koshary and ful
Rice, lentils, pasta and crisp onions at Abou Tarek; fava beans at breakfast carts.
Nothing of this kind in January. Try Everything.
February in Cairo
Shoulder seasonThe best of February: Iftar and Ramadan sweets, Koshary and ful, Ramadan nights.
In season
- Citrus and strawberries
Egyptian oranges and strawberries are cheap and everywhere in winter.
Nov–Mar - Molokhia
Eaten year-round; the cooler months are when it is most comforting. Month range is a judgment, not sourced.
Oct–Mar
Eat it now
- Iftar and Ramadan sweetsRamadan
Kunafa, qatayef and konafa stalls; fanoos lanterns in the streets.
Feb–Mar - Koshary and ful
Rice, lentils, pasta and crisp onions at Abou Tarek; fava beans at breakfast carts.
On the calendar
- Ramadan nightsRamadan
Al-Muizz Street and Khan el-Khalili stay up until suhoor.
Feb–Mar
Plan around
- Ramadan hoursRamadan
Many cafés and restaurants open only after sunset.
Feb–Mar
Nothing of this kind in February. Try Everything.
March in Cairo
Peak seasonThe best of March: Iftar and Ramadan sweets, Koshary and ful, Ramadan nights.
In season
- Citrus and strawberries
Egyptian oranges and strawberries are cheap and everywhere in winter.
Nov–Mar - Molokhia
Eaten year-round; the cooler months are when it is most comforting. Month range is a judgment, not sourced.
Oct–Mar
Eat it now
- Iftar and Ramadan sweetsRamadan
Kunafa, qatayef and konafa stalls; fanoos lanterns in the streets.
Feb–Mar - Koshary and ful
Rice, lentils, pasta and crisp onions at Abou Tarek; fava beans at breakfast carts.
On the calendar
- Ramadan nightsRamadan
Al-Muizz Street and Khan el-Khalili stay up until suhoor.
Feb–Mar
Plan around
- Ramadan hoursRamadan
Many cafés and restaurants open only after sunset.
Feb–Mar
Nothing of this kind in March. Try Everything.
April in Cairo
Shoulder seasonThe best of April: Feseekh, Koshary and ful.
In season
- Feteer for Sham El Nessim
Scene Eats ran its 2026 feteer guide around the spring holiday, calling feteer a table staple then.
Eat it now
- FeseekhSham el-Nessim
Salted fermented mullet, eaten on the spring holiday.
- Koshary and ful
Rice, lentils, pasta and crisp onions at Abou Tarek; fava beans at breakfast carts.
Nothing of this kind in April. Try Everything.
May in Cairo
The best of May: Koshary and ful, Mangoes.
In season
- Mangoes
Egyptian mangoes, sold everywhere.
May–Jul
Eat it now
- Koshary and ful
Rice, lentils, pasta and crisp onions at Abou Tarek; fava beans at breakfast carts.
Nothing of this kind in May. Try Everything.
June in Cairo
A hard monthThe best of June: Koshary and ful, Mangoes.
In season
- Mangoes
Egyptian mangoes, sold everywhere.
May–Jul
Eat it now
- Koshary and ful
Rice, lentils, pasta and crisp onions at Abou Tarek; fava beans at breakfast carts.
Plan around
- Heat
Very hot; Cairo eats after dark.
Jun–Aug
Nothing of this kind in June. Try Everything.
July in Cairo
A hard monthThe best of July: Koshary and ful, Mangoes.
In season
- Mangoes
Egyptian mangoes, sold everywhere.
May–Jul
Eat it now
- Koshary and ful
Rice, lentils, pasta and crisp onions at Abou Tarek; fava beans at breakfast carts.
Plan around
- Heat
Very hot; Cairo eats after dark.
Jun–Aug
Nothing of this kind in July. Try Everything.
August in Cairo
A hard monthThe best of August: Koshary and ful.
Eat it now
- Koshary and ful
Rice, lentils, pasta and crisp onions at Abou Tarek; fava beans at breakfast carts.
Plan around
- Heat
Very hot; Cairo eats after dark.
Jun–Aug
Nothing of this kind in August. Try Everything.
September in Cairo
The best of September: Koshary and ful, Cairo Food Week.
Eat it now
- Koshary and ful
Rice, lentils, pasta and crisp onions at Abou Tarek; fava beans at breakfast carts.
On the calendar
- Cairo Food Week
Third edition ran Sept 25 to Oct 4, 2025; a fourth edition opening Sept 25, 2026 was mentioned in a teaser. Founded 2023 by Flavor Republic; visiting chefs cook with...
Nothing of this kind in September. Try Everything.
October in Cairo
Peak seasonThe best of October: Koshary and ful, Molokhia.
In season
- Molokhia
Eaten year-round; the cooler months are when it is most comforting. Month range is a judgment, not sourced.
Oct–Mar
Eat it now
- Koshary and ful
Rice, lentils, pasta and crisp onions at Abou Tarek; fava beans at breakfast carts.
Nothing of this kind in October. Try Everything.
November in Cairo
Peak seasonThe best of November: Koshary and ful, Citrus and strawberries.
In season
- Citrus and strawberries
Egyptian oranges and strawberries are cheap and everywhere in winter.
Nov–Mar - Molokhia
Eaten year-round; the cooler months are when it is most comforting. Month range is a judgment, not sourced.
Oct–Mar
Eat it now
- Koshary and ful
Rice, lentils, pasta and crisp onions at Abou Tarek; fava beans at breakfast carts.
Nothing of this kind in November. Try Everything.
December in Cairo
Shoulder seasonThe best of December: Koshary and ful, Citrus and strawberries.
In season
- Citrus and strawberries
Egyptian oranges and strawberries are cheap and everywhere in winter.
Nov–Mar - Molokhia
Eaten year-round; the cooler months are when it is most comforting. Month range is a judgment, not sourced.
Oct–Mar
Eat it now
- Koshary and ful
Rice, lentils, pasta and crisp onions at Abou Tarek; fava beans at breakfast carts.
Nothing of this kind in December. Try Everything.
Festival dates move from year to year, so check this year's dates before you book. Seasons are how growers, markets and local guides describe them; edges vary with the weather. Know something we missed? Tell us.