Where to Eat in Cairo

Cairo's dining culture is a vibrant tapestry woven from thousands of years of culinary tradition, where ancient Egyptian flavors blend with Ottoman, Levantine, and Mediterranean influences. The city's food scene revolves around Egyptian staples like koshari (a hearty mix of rice, lentils, pasta, and crispy onions), ful medames (slow-cooked fava beans), and ta'ameya (Egyptian falafel made from fava beans rather than chickpeas). Street food vendors and family-run ahwas (traditional coffeehouses) stand alongside modern eateries, creating a dining landscape where locals eat their main meal at midday and gather for late-night suppers that often extend past midnight. Cairo's 20 million residents have cultivated a food culture that prioritizes communal eating, generous hospitality, and the ritual of sharing mezze plates while sipping strong Turkish coffee or sweet mint tea.

Key Dining Features in Cairo:

• Historic Dining Districts: Downtown Cairo around Talaat Harb Street offers traditional Egyptian eateries serving mahshi (stuffed vegetables) and grilled meats, while Zamalek caters to upscale dining with Nile views. Khan el-Khalili bazaar area features historic restaurants dating back centuries, and Maadi's Road 9 has become the hub for contemporary fusion cuisine and international flavors.
• Essential Local Dishes: Beyond koshari and ful, travelers must try molokhia (jute leaf stew with garlic and coriander), hamam mahshi (stuffed pigeon, a Cairo delicacy), hawawshi (spiced meat stuffed in baladi bread), and feteer (flaky Egyptian pastry served sweet or savory). Breakfast typically includes foul with tahini, fresh baladi bread, pickled vegetables, and white cheese.
• Price Ranges and Examples: Street food meals cost 20-50 Egyptian pounds (LE), local restaurants charge 80-200 LE per person for full meals, mid-range establishments run 200-400 LE, and upscale dining reaches 500-1000+ LE. A koshari plate from a street vendor costs 15-30 LE, while a traditional mixed grill at a neighborhood restaurant runs 150-250 LE.
• Seasonal Dining Patterns: Ramadan transforms Cairo's dining culture completely, with iftar (breaking fast) meals from sunset creating bustling evening scenes and suhoor (pre-dawn meals) keeping restaurants open until 3-4 AM. Winter months (November-February) see roasted sweet potato and chestnut vendors on every corner, while summer brings fresh mango juice stands and lighter mezze-focused meals.
• Unique Cairo Dining Experiences: Nile cruise dining boats (merkeb) offer multi-course Egyptian feasts with traditional music and belly dancing performances. Ahwas serve as male-dominated social spaces for shisha, backgammon, and endless glasses of tea. Rooftop restaurants provide views of the Pyramids at sunset, and souq food stalls in Islamic Cairo offer authentic street food amid medieval architecture.

Practical Dining Tips for Cairo:

• Reservation Customs: High-end restaurants require advance bookings, especially