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$ | Rodah Island |
This 1930s neighborhood ice-cream shop is a great place to beat the heat, whether you opt for a scoop of chocolate or a fresh-fruit-flavored icy treat.
30 Roda St., Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Known For
- Elaborate ice cream cakes
- Unique Egyptian flavors like mastic
- Evening people-watching spot
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$$ | Islamic Cairo South |
Although you can order grilled kofta, stuffed pigeon, moussaka, or home-style stews served with rice, locals come to this family-run hotspot for Egyptian-style rotisserie chicken that's cooked to golden perfection. The waiters speak minimal English, but the chicken is in ovens on the sidewalk, and many dishes are on display inside, so you can point at what you want.
105 Al Qala’a St., off Port Said St., Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Known For
- Mouthwatering chicken served all day long
- Daily menu of homestyle stews
- The people-watching from lively street-side seating area
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$$$$ | Mirage City |
Popular with locals and busy on weekends, this family-style restaurant specializes in Egyptian barbecue with the country's traditional staple dishes served on the side. The decor is a little kitschy, but the food is delicious, portions are generous, and the staff is friendly.
N Teseen St., New Cairo, Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Known For
- Aromatic, charcoal-grilled beef or lamb
- Perfectly baked okra tajine with beef cubes
- Gaudy black, gold, and red-velvet decor
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$$ | Islamic Cairo North |
Popular with locals and tourists alike, Fatatry El Hussein (also known as Egyptian Pancake House) specializes in fiteer, Egypt's flaky pastry served with your choice of sweet or savory fillings. For one heavenly bite after another, try the mixed-cheese version; dessert options such as custard or cream and honey will surely satisfy your sweet tooth.
123 al-Azhar St., Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Known For
- Fresh-from-the-oven fiteer
- Extensive list of savory and sweet fillings
- Fast, friendly service
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$$ | Downtown |
This popular restaurant, built into an alleyway, is a good place to try such Egyptian staples as shorbat ‘ads (lentil soup), which is tasty with a squeeze of lemon in it; ta’amiya (the local version of felafel); and ful (stewed fava beans). You can also enjoy a cold beer or a glass of wine with your food.
15 Hoda Shaarawy St., Cairo, Cairo, 11111, Egypt
Known For
- Unique decor
- Egyptian-style felafel made from fava beans instead of chickpeas
- Kebabs by the score
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$$$ | Zamalek |
Although it's not a fine-dining restaurant, the locally beloved Five Bells has been around for decades and blends a nostalgically proper feel with an easygoing, casual atmosphere. You can sit indoors, where there's a bar, but most people enjoy their Egyptian or international dishes outdoors, under a sizable tent with a central fountain that's surrounded by five bells. The doors open at noon, but it's busier at dinner, when reservations are a good idea.
13 Ismail Mohammed St., off Abu Al Feda St., Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
10-0113–2181-reservations
Known For
- Live piano music
- Remarkable assortment of mezze served with delicious crispy bread
- A great place to enjoy a glass of wine
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$$ | Islamic Cairo South |
Options at this local street-food favorite range from ful (fava bean stew) or ta'amiya (Egyptian-style felafel) sandwiches to beef or chicken shawarma wraps. Most customers order food to go, but seating is available if you need to take a break.
125 al-Azhar St., Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Known For
- Inexpensive options for meat-eaters and vegetarians alike
- Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Fast, efficient service
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$$$ | Zamalek |
Seek refuge from Cairo's crowded streets with bite to eat and a drink (alcoholic or not) at this café set in the gardens next to the restored Gezira Palace. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it serves everything from soups, salads, and sandwiches to pizzas and pastas.
16 Saray El Gezirah St., Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Known For
- Charming outdoor setting
- Freshly baked local bread
- A menu with something for everyone
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$$$$ | Old Cairo |
At this haty (grill room), you can order your tender, juicy meat selection with a chopped salad and a choice of dip (tahina, garlic paste, hummus, baba ganoush) for the side of fresh aish baladi (Egyptian flatbread). Abu Ashraf also serves muyyet salata (salad water), a vinegar shot that many Egyptians enjoy before a hearty meal to whet their appetites. You're sure to chuckle at the restaurant’s quirky and gaudy decor, with portraits of the owner on the wall and, most nights, the man himself behind the register.
Al Fostat St., first neighborhood, Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Known For
- Fresh ingredents
- Quirky decor
- Clean bathrooms
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$$$ | |
With excellent food prepared by Swiss chef Markus Iten, a cozy indoor dining area with a fireplace, and an outdoor terrace with show-stopping views of Qarun Lake, this is the perfect place to fuel up before, during, or after a day of exploring Tunis Village's pottery workshops. The restaurant also offers both pottery and cooking classes.
Izbet, Tunis Village, Qarun Lake Touristic Rd, Faiyum, Egypt
Known For
- Fresh ingredients
- Egyptian and international cuisine
- Authentic experience
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$$ | Mohandiseen |
Overlooking Maydan Sphinx (Sphinx Square), Kandahar serves North Indian food. Consider ordering one of the set menus that include the highly seasoned mulligatawny soup, appetizers, a delicious stewed dal, a lamb or chicken curry, and rice and bread, as well as dessert. This will give you a chance to try a bit of everything. If you like your food heavily spiced, make this known—the heat has been turned down for local tastes. This is not a sign of a lack of authenticity—chili pepper is only one of the spices in the Indian culinary palette. Service is good but prices here are on the high side for quite toothsome but standard Indian fare. You can also order from the menu of the adjoined Lebanese restaurant, Raouche.
3 Shar'a Gameat al-Dowal al-Arabiya, Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$ | The Citadel |
As its name suggests, this restaurant specializes in koshary, the street-food favorite that generally consists of macaroni, rice, lentils, and chickpeas topped with a spiced tomato sauce and crispy fried onions. Sit outside, facing a busy intersection, so you can watch life unfold while you eat.
9 Ali Basha St., Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Known For
- A place to satisfy koshary cravings 24/7
- Oven-baked pasta casseroles and tajines
- Delicious rice pudding
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$$ | Downtown |
Conveniently situated a street-crossing away from the Egyptian Museum, La Poire was established in 1975 as a French pastry shop but has expanded its menu to include a variety of savory quick bites and an ever-growing selection of sweet treats.
2 Al Bustan St., Qasr El-Nil, Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Known For
- Sunny (but air-conditioned) setting
- Busy at lunchtime (but the line moves quickly)
- International menu including salads and sandwiches
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$$$ | Zamalek |
This eatery on the 11th floor of the President Hotel has several comfortable seating areas and is the perfect place to grab a quick coffee or a relaxed dinner with drinks. You can also enjoy a delicious lunch here, though reservations are a good idea.
22 Taha Hussein St., Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Known For
- Stylish design and modern vibe
- Gluten-free and vegetarian options
- Stunning sunset views of Zamalek
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$ | Downtown |
Latif Wassily is a traditional Egyptian forn (bakery)—one of the oldest in Downtown. Grab-and-go baked goods include croissants that are generously filled with cheese and breadsticks that are liberally sprinkled with sesame and nigella seeds.
8 El-Mahdi St., Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Known For
- Items are baked fresh all day
- Date-stuffed biscuits sold by weight
- Charming facade that transports you to another era
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$$ | Heliopolis |
Favored by locals, Le Chantilly is the perfect place to unwind with a cup of coffee and fresh pastries, seated indoors at a wooden table covered with a checkered tablecloth or in the charming outdoor area.
11 Baghdad St., El-Montaza, Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Known For
- The aroma of freshly baked pastries
- Cozy vintage interior
- Sunny outdoor seating
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$$$$ | Zamalek |
It’s hard to decide what's best here—the mouthwatering Egyptian food, the Nile views, the Khedive-style interior, or the excellent service. Indeed, La Tarbouche is one of the restaurants that Cairenes most often recommend to visitors.
Saray El Gezirah St., El-Khalig, Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Known For
- Fall-off-the-bone meat tagines
- Tranquil oud music
- Delicious Egyptian baked rice with pigeon
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential, Children under 10 not allowed after 8 pm
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$$ | Ma'adi |
Despite the arrival in Cairo of internationally recognized American fast-food chains, expats still flock to Lucille's for burgers and Tex-Mex dishes. Lucille's also serves up hearty Western breakfasts. The authentic diner interior keeps homesick Americans happy.
54 Shar'a 9, Cairo, Cairo, 11557, Egypt
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$$$ | |
The backdrop for the gourmet, Bedouin-inspired dishes at the restaurant in the Remal El Rayan eco-lodge are sand dunes and Qarun Lake. All together it makes for quite a remarkable experience.
Wadi El Rayyan Rd, Al Fayyum Desert, Faiyum, Egypt
Known For
- Rich, authentic dining experience
- Mandi-style beef, chicken, and duck with rice and spices
- Scenic views
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$$ | Garden City |
Ful (fava-bean stew) carts and restaurants are a common sight in Cairo, but the customers here hail from all over the world thanks to the many nearby embassies and to the freshness and flavor of its offerings. To create the stew, which is served primarily at breakfast but also makes a filling lunch, the beans are slow-cooked in a large metal jug and then mashed and served with tahini and a flavorful oil.
6 Dr. Mohamed Fawzy St., Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Known For
- Vegetarian-friendly feast of ful, salad, pickles, chips, and eggs
- Buzzing 24/7 Cairo street-food experience
- Pricier than the average ful cart but still very affordable
