7 Restaurants to Try on Your Next Cairo Visit
Koshary, Shawerma and Taamiya (Egyptian Falafel) are only a few of the options making up Cairo’s food lineup. The city’s rich history and budding food scene offer food-lovers tons of mouth-watering possibilities, and whether you got a chance to go on one of our tours or not, the odds are, you’re spending more than one night in Cairo, and you’re excited to try everything you can fit in your itinerary (and belly). To help you do that, we put together a list of restaurants we’ve enjoyed time and time again around different parts of Cairo.
DOWNTOWN CAIRO
HAWAWSHY EL REFAI | NON-VEG
This family-run restaurant started out as a humble neighborhood butchery, soon after, they started making delicious Hawawshy which swept Cairo by storm. This place attracts young locals and gets very busy in the evening, so go prepared to queue, it’ll be so worth it.
What is Hawawshy?
A delicious dish of minced beef stuffed inside Egyptian baladi bread, then toasted in the oven until it’s golden and crispy on the outside, while maintaining the soft and goo-ey texture of the beef.
Fun fact: In Alexandria, the minced beef is baked in a different pastry, not baladi bread.
What to order
Traditionally, Hawawshi doesn’t have cheese, but at Hawawshy El Refai, you can add cheese to make it even more delicious. Think of a flat burger that packs tons of flavor, and if you’re adventurous, go spicy! Dip in your side of Tehina (sesame dressing) and enjoy.
Other branches:
FELFELA | VEG/NON-VEG
Location (Skip the take-away Felfela on the main street, turn right and look for the wooden entrance on Hoda Shaarawy street)
Felfela is a Downtown landmark and a restaurant that is enjoyed by both Egyptians and tourists alike. It was established in the late 1950’s by Amina Zaghlool and its charming and eclectic decor is one of the many things we love about it. You’ll find a decent variety of Egyptian dishes and also the opportunity to enjoy an Egyptian beer with your food. Felfela is part of our Downtown Cairo Food Tour and is worth a visit when you’re around Downtown Cairo.
Fun fact: Felfela is still owned and run by Amina Zaghlool’s family.
What to order
Rice with vermicelli, Molokhiya, grilled chicken, fried eggplants, besara, baba ghanoug, oven-baked pasta with bechamel
Other branches of Felfela are not affiliated with this one.
THE CARLTON ROOF GARDEN | DRINKS
If you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path spot to enjoy an Egyptian beer while taking in a nice view, then the Carlton Roof Garden is definitely the place for you. Operating since 1935, The Carlton Roof Garden is a wonderful place to sit back and unwind after a busy day of sight seeing. They offer a variety of beverages as well as Shisha (hookah).
What to order
Egyptian Stella or Sakkara beer, French fries, chicken liver, cheese samboosak. We also love their lemonade.
OLD CAIRO
ZEEYARA | VEG/NON-VEG
After walking through the Khan El Khalili market and Moez street, there’s no better ending to the day than a delicious meal with a view of the Old Cairo minarets and mosques. Zeeyara is located on the rooftop of Le Riad De Charme Hotel and offers a wide range of Egyptian dishes, including camel meat meatballs - a dish that you can’t commonly find but one we definitely recommend you try.
What to order
Camel meat meatballs, Ouzi El Moez, Arugula Salad.
ZAMALEK
LE TARBOUCHE | VEG/NON-VEG
Located on the Le Pacha boat in Zamalek, Le Tarbouche (meaning, the fez) elevates Egyptian food and serves it in a beautiful setting. Be sure to reserve a table in advance as it typically fills up quickly. You’ll enjoy Nile views, great food, and sometimes even live Oud as well in this ornate establishment. Diners typically dress up a little bit for the evening. It’s good to note that Le Tarbouche is commonly visited by tourists.
What to order
Their Kebab Casserole is the most tender we have ever had, it’s also saucy, so order some rice to enjoy those flavors.
Their Kishk with chicken is also fantastic. Kishk is a savory pudding made with flour, yoghurt, chicken soup, and sometimes rice. It’s topped with crispy fried onions and is a unique Egyptian dish to try at least once.
Get more recommendations from your waiter, we haven’t tried everything, but we’ve enjoyed most of the dishes we’ve tried.
DESOKE | VEG/NON-VEG
Tucked away in one of Zamalek’s alleyways, this humble make-shift restaurant offers delicious home cooked Egyptian dishes that’ll warm your heart. There’s no menu so be prepared to ask what’s available before taking a seat. Some of the dishes you may find are Egyptian vegetable stews, Molokhiya and grilled chicken.
What to order
Rice with vermicelli, Molokhiya, grilled chicken.
GIZA
ANDREA NEW GIZA | NON-VEG
This classic Egyptian restaurant is the OG of grilled chicken, trust us, it’s very hard to find a better version. A quick ride away from the hotels located near the Giza Necropolis, Andrea New Giza is tucked on a hill with views of the suburbs. Family-friendly outdoor seating and freshly baked baladi bread are only two of the reasons the locals keep coming back. Our co-founder Laila has fond childhood memories of Andrea, which used to be set on a farm in the old days. Today’s setting might be different, but it still has that same charm everyone loves it for.
What to order
The menu is simple, go for the 1/2 grilled chicken, boneless grilled chicken or quails, and then order tons of mezes for the table.
Other branches
There are tons of restaurants that use the name Andrea to gain the same popularity, as far as we know, this is the only branch affiliated with the story we mentioned above.
