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$$ | Heliopolis |
Known for its relaxed vibe, Zööba offers Egyptian street food featuring modern twists (and slightly higher prices), all of it made with locally sourced ingredients. Be sure to try the ful (fava-bean stew) and ta’amiya (falafel) with pickled lemons, though the koshary (macaroni casserole) is also divine.
13 Baghdad St., El-Montaza, Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Known For
- Eclectic decor
- Vegetarian and vegan options
- Delicious rice with sujuk (fermented, spiced sausage)
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$$ | Downtown |
Founded in the 1930s, this quaint coffee shop has witnessed most of Downtown’s history and was once a favorite spot for its elites and celebrities. Today, people from all walks of life come to enjoy its coffee and desserts.
7 Emad Eddin St., Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Known For
- Coffee, tea, and sweet treats
- Nostalgia-inducing vintage feel
- Lively spot for people-watching
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$$ | Heliopolis |
Flakey layers of fiteer pastry generously stuffed with your choice of sweet or savory fillings is what Abo Sherif is known for, and every order is made fresh on the spot—you can even watch the dough being flipped, stuffed, and placed in a brick oven. It’s customary to take your fiteer to the café across the street and enjoy it with black tea served with fresh mint leaves.
64 Damascus St., Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Known For
- Crispy, well-balanced sweet kunafa fiteer
- Mixed-cheese fiteer oozing with melted goodness
- Unparalleled dough-flipping skills
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$$ | Ma'adi |
Run by a Thai woman who uses ingredients flown in from Bangkok, this restaurant manages mouthwateringly authentic food that has saved many an expatriate longing for massaman or Penang curries. Start with a soup, perhaps tom kar gai (chicken in a coconut-milk broth), then move on to a delicious glass-noodle salad with shrimp, and end with a curry or two.
9 Rd. 151, Cairo, Cairo, 11557, Egypt
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No credit cards, Reservations essential
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$$ | Islamic Cairo South |
Although you can order grilled kofta, stuffed pigeon, moussaka, or home-style stews served with rice, locals come to this family-run hotspot for Egyptian-style rotisserie chicken that's cooked to golden perfection. The waiters speak minimal English, but the chicken is in ovens on the sidewalk, and many dishes are on display inside, so you can point at what you want.
105 Al Qala’a St., off Port Said St., Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Known For
- Mouthwatering chicken served all day long
- Daily menu of homestyle stews
- The people-watching from lively street-side seating area
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$ | 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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$$ | Downtown |
This popular restaurant, built into an alleyway, is a good place to try such Egyptian staples as shorbat ‘ads (lentil soup), which is tasty with a squeeze of lemon in it; ta’amiya (the local version of felafel); and ful (stewed fava beans). You can also enjoy a cold beer or a glass of wine with your food.
15 Hoda Shaarawy St., Cairo, Cairo, 11111, Egypt
Known For
- Unique decor
- Egyptian-style felafel made from fava beans instead of chickpeas
- Kebabs by the score
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$$ | 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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$$ | Mohandiseen |
Overlooking Maydan Sphinx (Sphinx Square), Kandahar serves North Indian food. Consider ordering one of the set menus that include the highly seasoned mulligatawny soup, appetizers, a delicious stewed dal, a lamb or chicken curry, and rice and bread, as well as dessert. This will give you a chance to try a bit of everything. If you like your food heavily spiced, make this known—the heat has been turned down for local tastes. This is not a sign of a lack of authenticity—chili pepper is only one of the spices in the Indian culinary palette. Service is good but prices here are on the high side for quite toothsome but standard Indian fare. You can also order from the menu of the adjoined Lebanese restaurant, Raouche.
3 Shar'a Gameat al-Dowal al-Arabiya, Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$ | 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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$$ | Heliopolis |
Favored by locals, Le Chantilly is the perfect place to unwind with a cup of coffee and fresh pastries, seated indoors at a wooden table covered with a checkered tablecloth or in the charming outdoor area.
11 Baghdad St., El-Montaza, Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Known For
- The aroma of freshly baked pastries
- Cozy vintage interior
- Sunny outdoor seating
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$$ | 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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$$ | Garden City |
Ful (fava-bean stew) carts and restaurants are a common sight in Cairo, but the customers here hail from all over the world thanks to the many nearby embassies and to the freshness and flavor of its offerings. To create the stew, which is served primarily at breakfast but also makes a filling lunch, the beans are slow-cooked in a large metal jug and then mashed and served with tahini and a flavorful oil.
6 Dr. Mohamed Fawzy St., Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Known For
- Vegetarian-friendly feast of ful, salad, pickles, chips, and eggs
- Buzzing 24/7 Cairo street-food experience
- Pricier than the average ful cart but still very affordable
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$$ | Islamic Cairo North | Middle Eastern
This air-conditioned, upscale coffee shop is the perfect refuge from the clamor of the Khan. Have a drink, a light lunch, or—at the adjoining restaurant—a proper meal. To get here, face the Sayyidna al-Husayn Mosque and turn left into the passage that begins at the level of the minaret. Follow this through a couple of archways; the café is on the right.
5 al-Badestan La., Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
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$$ | Old Cairo |
Thanks to the picture menu, the friendly English-speaking staff, and the free Wi-Fi for customers, this clean, convenient neighborhood restaurant is usually overrun with tourists. The Middle Eastern dishes are often given a local twist, and the menu includes vegan options as well. There are both indoor and outdoor seating areas; if you sit outside, you’ll be joined by friendly felines.
Mari Gerges St., Al Kafour, Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Known For
- Delicious ta'amiya
- Large portions
- Freshly squeezed fruit juices
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$$ | Zamalek |
Although this eatery is set in Zamalek’s Flamenco Hotel, its warm woods, tile work, and selection of baked goods make it feel like a family run bakery set in a small European town. It opens at 7 am, so you can enjoy breakfast and coffee while watching Cairenes on their way to work; or come later in the day for a German brezel (pretzel).
2 El Gezira El Wosta St., off Abu Al Feda St., Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Known For
- Fresh, authentically European baked goods
- Cozy and quaint
- Flavorful cookies and chocolates at Christmastime
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$$ | Downtown |
Home-cooked Egyptian staples are the hallmarks of this side-street restaurant, which is sometimes called Five Ladies, as it's run by five women from the same family. Although the menu changes daily, based on what's fresh and in season, it typically includes molokhia (a dish of braised greens with chicken and rice.
8 Abd Magid Al Daramlai St., off Mohammed Mahmoud St., Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Known For
- Endearing family vibe and homey decor
- Surprisingly quiet spot in Downtown
- Open-air dining
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$$ | Garden City |
This cozy restaurant, with a highly patterned tiled floor and pale stucco walls adorned with Lebanese crafts, comes alive in the evening. Grilled meats are staples here, as are hot and cold mezze. Wines, spirits, and Lebanese arak (an anise-based liqueur) are also available.
1 Latin America St., Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Known For
- Charming decor that attracts sophisticated crowds
- Traditional Lebanese arak (anise liqueur)
- Delectable knafeh (layers of pastry with cheese) that pairs well with mint tea
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$$ | Islamic Cairo South |
After a day of sightseeing, this atmospheric, courtyard-style café, set amid buildings that date from the 15th century just south of al-Azhar Street, is a great place to grab a tea or a coffee and a dessert. You can only get here on foot, and it's a little hard to find, but don't worry—the area is safe, and you can ask a local for directions if you get lost.
3 Mohammed Abdou St., Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Known For
- Historical setting
- Energetic crowd and live (sometimes overly loud) music
- Local tea with fresh mint
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$$ | Zamalek |
Tucked in an alleyway, this hip eatery takes street food to the next level by using premium ingredients in its consistently delicious sandwiches. The bread rolls are addictively soft, filled with a variety of meats and generously drizzled with tahini; they come with a side of French fries, too.
118 26 of July St., Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Known For
- Elevated Egyptian street food
- Gloriously soft mini bread rolls baked in-house
- Sausages with a dash of ground coffee (talk about secret ingredients!)
