Where to Eat in Cairo

Abou El Sid

A long-running Egyptian restaurant chain with several branches around Cairo (including Zamalek, Maadi and Dokki), serving traditional dishes — stuffed pigeon, mezze, okra-and-veal stew, and its own take on koshary — in an ornate, old-Cairo dining room setting. The Zamalek branch is the best known for atmosphere. It's a reliable choice for visitors wanting a proper sit-down introduction to Egyptian home-style cooking rather than street food; reservations are recommended, especially on weekends.

Zööba

Egyptian street food reimagined as a sit-down, easy-to-navigate menu — koshary, taameya (Egyptian falafel), and stuffed sandwiches, served in a casual, colorful space. The original Zamalek location remains the flagship; a branch inside the Grand Egyptian Museum makes it an easy, quality lunch option on a Giza day without leaving the museum grounds.

Sequoia

Sequoia occupies the northern tip of Zamalek with direct Nile views, serving Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes — seafood platters, grilled meats, mezze — in a setting built specifically for the view. It's a popular choice for a special-occasion dinner or the sunset-into-evening slot; reservations are strongly recommended, particularly on weekends.

Koshary Abou Tarek

One of Cairo's best-known dedicated koshary counters, multiple floors deep in central Cairo and often cited as a benchmark version of the dish by visitors and locals alike. It's inexpensive, fast, and a good introduction if you want to try koshary once at a specialist rather than as a side note elsewhere.

A note on booking and reviews

Cairo's restaurant scene moves — venues open, close, and change hands more often than monuments do. Treat this list as a starting point rather than the final word, cross-check current opening hours and book ahead where possible, and don't be afraid to ask your hotel concierge for what's opened recently; it's often the fastest way to a good, current recommendation.

Frequently Asked Questions