Cairo, Egypt's bustling capital, is a treasure trove of culinary delights. From hole-in-the-wall kitchens and downtown Cairo street food to fine-dining restaurants with cocktails and award-winning chefs, Egypt's capital has plenty of delicious Egyptian food for everyone. Having spent a significant amount of time in Egypt, I want to share my favorite places to eat in downtown Cairo, Zamalek (an island in the Nile River), across the Nile in Giza, and a few places spread throughout greater Cairo.
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The Best Food in Downtown Cairo
Downtown Cairo is where it's at - the hustle and bustle of Egypt's largest city combined with the historical charm of the old Egyptian Museum and places like Talaat Harb Square. Wust el balad (literally translates as the "center of the country") is not just an interesting area to stay at and visit, but it's also a delicious area, with tons of great restaurants to try. Here are my favorite places to eat in Downtown Cairo:
Quick note: instead of putting down an address for each place, I'll have a link to it's pinned location on Google Maps.
Koshary Abou Tarek
Koshary (also written as koshari) is the number one most filling food in Egypt, and Koshary Abou Tarek is the number one spot to try it! Even though the only food they serve at Abou Tarek is koshari, which is a naturally vegan food, you must visit this eclectic restaurant and experience Egypt's national dish. They only have one location, in downtown Cairo, and visiting this bustling koshary restaurant is a sightseeing activity in and of itself.
Read also: Egyptian Adventure
Fasahet Somaya
Somaya is an Egyptian woman who got her start cooking for protestors during the Egyptian Revolution in 2011, and after the revolution was over, they begged her to open up her own restaurant in order to continue offering her delicious Egyptian food to the public! Somaya is now in a bigger location in downtown Cairo just off of Bab el Luq Square, and she only is open from 5-7pm. The menu changes daily, and I recommend showing up as close to 5pm as possible, because she will often run out certain menu options before 7pm.
Somaya posts the daily menu on Instagram, and I recommend taking a look before you go, since some days she will cook things like bone marrow soup (koowar'aa) and stuffed intestines (mumbar), which are both delicious, but not for the average foodie! Vegetarians and vegans may find it hard to order good food options at Fasahet Somaya, depending on the daily menu.
Trying Delicious Food at Fasahet Somaya Street Food in Cairo (Egypt Is Delicious!!)
El Sharouk or Abdullah Bashandy: Fuul and Falafel
Fuul (also written as foul or ful medames) is a staple food for all Egyptians made from fava beans, and it is usually served in fuul/falafel joints, which specialize in these two breakfast foods. Even though fuul and falafel (also called Ta'amiya) are typically eaten for the first meal of the day, just like "breakfast all day" joints in the USA, you'll find places serving foul and falafel from morning until late at night.
Two of my favorite spots to get falafel and foul are El Sharouk, in downtown Cairo, and Abdullah Bashandy, just south of downtown. Don't forget to try at least one falafel sandwich while you're in Egypt - pita bread (called ayeesh balady in Arabic) stuffed with falafel, a cucumber/tomato salad, and topped off with tahini sauce makes for a perfect meal.
El Hamra Shawarma: The Perfect Street Food
Shawarma isn't an Egyptian food, but this Lebanese sandwich has taken over the downtown Cairo street food scene, and after having a few bites of chicken or beef shawarma, you'll figure out why! Even though you'll see long lines at Karam el Sham or Kazaz, I actually prefer the shawarma at El Hamra. And the best part of getting shawarma in downtown Cairo is that you are close to Talaat Harb Street, one of the best streets to walk up and down in the evening, full of local Egyptians, shops, restaurants, and enough hustle and bustle to make you feel like you're experiencing the real downtown.
Read also: Learn Arabic in Egypt: Guide
The Best Food in Zamalek
Zamalek is a large island just across the Nile River from downtown Cairo, and if you cross over Zamalek, you'll end up in Giza. The island is a long oval from north to south, with most of the restaurants clustering on the northern section.
Zööba
Zööba also has a branch in the Grand Egyptian Museum, but the flagship location in Zamalek is the original, and when I first came to Egypt way back in 2012, it was all the rage (and still is). The folks behind Zööba decided to take traditional Cairene street food and elevate it, creating a sit-down atmosphere, easy-to-read-menus (in Arabic and English), and enough of a spin on the classic dishes to make everything interesting, even for a local. The result is an excellent restaurant that is the perfect place to sample all the staples like falafel, fuul, koshary, hawawshii, molokheya, and more, all while being in a hygienic restaurant setting.
Note that Zööba can be very busy between 11am - 1pm (the time of day lots of Egyptians are eating breakfast or an early lunch), so you may have to wait 20-30 minutes for a table if you are visiting during this time window. You can always get your order to go if you are short on time! If you are already planning on dining at Zööba at the Grand Egyptian Museum, why not go twice, and try different dishes each time?
Pier88
Pier88 is one of several fine-dining establishments I'll highlight in Zamalek, and it's no wonder that Zamalek has the fancy restaurant options, being the historically posh part of Cairo, full of embassies, wealthy elites, and foreign expats. Nowadays Zamalek still has tons of charm and very little pretension, so any tourist can visit these spots without worrying too much about fitting in. Pier88 is run by the same award-winning chef who started Khufu's at the Giza Plateau (more on that restaurant in the Giza section), and it boasts homemade pasta, some of the best cocktails in Cairo, and an enviable location on a stationary boat in the Nile River, giving great views while you enjoy your food.
Note that Pier88, like the next few fine dining establishments, is best visited when you have made a reservation in advance, and visiting on Thursday or Friday evenings can mean very loud music and a boisterous crowd, blurring the lines between restaurant and nightclub, so be prepared. There is no official dress code (no need to fancy shoes or a suit and tie), but you'll want to look your best. Pier88 has multiple locations, but my favorite one is the Nile River location, right on the River Nile off the coast of Zamalek.
Read also: Clothing in Ancient Egypt
Crimson Bar & Grill: Posh Zamalek Rooftop
Crimson is another great fine-dining spot in Zamalek, located almost on the northern end of the island. Just like PIer88, this fine-dining establishment is best visited with a reservation, be prepared for a vibrant atmosphere on Thursday and Friday nights (the workweek in Egypt is Sunday - Thursday, so Friday/Saturday are the days off), and dress to impress!
U Bistro & Bar: Fancy Tapas Joint in a Tucked Away Location
In order to find U Bistro, you'll enter a historic-looking but otherwise nondescript apartment building off of 26th of July Street (the main drag in Zamalek), and after going up a flight of stairs and taking the first door on the left, all of a sudden you'll be transported to a sleek lounge-like atmosphere that could be anywhere in New York City or LA. U Bistro's charm lies in its good selection of local Egyptian wines and cocktails, and the delicious small plates that you can easily combine to create a delicious feast.
Abou el Sid
Abou el Sid has been around for ages (they even have their own cookbook), and they specialize in classic Egyptian home-cooking. This is a great place to try pigeon (hammam in Arabic), which is considered a delicacy in Egypt. If you find yourself wrinkling your nose, you need to get over your hangups around eating pigeons, because in Egypt, pigeons are not some dirty street bird, but are actually raised in captivity for the sole purpose of creating delicious meals (just like we would raise chickens to be eaten).
In addition to pigeon, there are dozens of great Egyptian dishes at Abou el Sid, just waiting for you to try them, and the charming Egyptian antique-y atmosphere (with classic furniture and artwork featuring famous Egyptian divas like Umm Kalthoum all over the walls), you'll be transported to another time and place as you enjoy your meal. The icing on top is they serve local beer and wine (very rare for a place that specializes in local Egyptian food), and you can order scrumptious Egyptian desserts like Umm Ali when you're done with your food.
The Best Food in Giza
Giza is a gigantic area, going for miles all the way from the west side of the Nile River (just across the bridges from downtown Cairo/Zamalek) out to the Pyramids and beyond. Here are my favorite spots to eat in this important district:
Khufu's at the Giza Plateau: My Top Choice for Fine Dining at the Pyramids
Khufu's is an award-winning restaurant set in the backdrop of the Giza Pyramids, and you think the scenery would wow you, but the food will wow you even more! The 9 Pyramids Lounge is the original restaurant in the Giza Plateau, and it is the only restaurant that has a view of all 9 Pyramids on the plateau at the same time. Khufu's may have a more impressive view being closer up to two of the largest pyramids of the plateau, but the vista at the 9 Pyramids Lounge is also stunning.
The specialty at the 9 Pyramids Lounge is their grilled meats, homemade dips, and house-baked local Egyptian bread.
Zeeyara Rooftop
Zeeyara originally began in the UNESCO World Heritage site of El Moez Street (more on that below), but now they have a second rooftop location in Giza, overlooking the Giza Plateau. This restaurant takes classic Egyptian dishes and adds something unique to each one, keeping true to the authentic flavors and styles, but making everything even more delicious. If you go here, you have to try the arugula salad, duck pie (crispy, flaky bread filled with deliciously cooked duck meat), and the Zeeyara pie for dessert.
Delicious Food in Greater Cairo
Cairo is one of the largest cities in the world, so naturally I can't limit myself to just telling you about my favorite food in three of its districts! Here are some other amazing restaurants spread throughout Greater Cairo.
Hakeem
A tiny sidewalk kitchen run by a very friendly Egyptian guy, Hakeem, who makes homemade Egyptian dishes every day (except Fridays and major holidays). Hakeem speaks English very well and he is always changing the menu, since he visits the market each morning and creatively crafts his vision for the day based on what is fresh and available in the moment. Hakeem is great with folks who are vegetarian and vegan, because even though he always has some meat options on the menu, he also offers a few options every day for folks with those dietary needs, and can clearly explain what he has on hand that day that is vegetarian or vegan.
Check out this video in order to learn more about Hakeem’s restaurant and how to find out the menu of the day!
Abo Ammar el Soury
While I did say that El Hamra is my favorite shawarma in downtown Cairo, Abo Ammar el Soury is my favorite shawarma of all time! They have two locations, one in Mohandeseen, technically in Giza, and pretty close to downtown, but I love taking folks to the location in Heliopolis. This historic district just a 20 minute metro ride form downtown Cairo has tons of early 20th century charm, local coffeeshops, the Baron Empain Palace, a location of Fair Trade Egypt, and delicious shawarma. Who wouldn't want to go there?!
El Moez Street and Khan el Khalilii: Zeeyara Rooftop El Moez
Just like the Zeeyara Pyramids Elite, this rooftop in the UNESCO World Heritage district of El Moez Street has amazingly elevated Egyptian cuisine, and the exact same menu.
Farahat
Remember when I said you need to get over any apprehension and try eating stuffed pigeon in Cairo? Well, Farahat is the ultimate place to devour this Egyptian delicacy. Farahat is street food at its best, where you literally sit at a table in a crowded alleyway and are served up steaming hot stuffed pigeons. The people living in the apartment buildings above the restaurant will even drop down wicker baskets on strings (with the money inside, of course) in order to lift their takeout orders directly up into their apartments, instead of walking all the way down the stairs and back up!
| Restaurant | Location | Cuisine | Specialty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Koshary Abou Tarek | Downtown Cairo | Egyptian | Koshary |
| Fasahet Somaya | Downtown Cairo | Egyptian | Daily changing menu |
| El Sharouk | Downtown Cairo | Egyptian | Fuul and Falafel |
| El Hamra Shawarma | Downtown Cairo | Lebanese/Egyptian | Shawarma |
| Zööba | Zamalek | Egyptian | Elevated street food |
| Pier88 | Zamalek | International | Homemade pasta, cocktails |
| Crimson Bar & Grill | Zamalek | International | Fine dining with rooftop views |
| Abou el Sid | Zamalek | Egyptian | Classic Egyptian home-cooking, pigeon |
| Khufu's | Giza Plateau | International | Fine dining with pyramid views |
| Zeeyara Rooftop | Giza Plateau | Egyptian | Elevated Egyptian cuisine |
| Hakeem | Greater Cairo | Egyptian | Homemade Egyptian dishes |
| Abo Ammar el Soury | Heliopolis | Syrian/Egyptian | Shawarma |
| Farahat | El Moez Street | Egyptian | Stuffed pigeon |
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