How Does Restaurants & Food Work in Egypt?
Last verified: 2025-06 · Middle East
1The Quick Answer
Egyptian food is delicious and very affordable — koshari (the national dish) and ful medames are must-tries available everywhere.
2What You Need to Know
Egyptian cuisine is rich, filling, and excellent value. The national dish koshari — a comforting bowl of rice, lentils, pasta, crispy onions, and spiced tomato sauce — costs 20–40 EGP at dedicated koshari restaurants and is arguably the best budget meal in the Middle East. Ful medames (slow-cooked fava beans with olive oil and spices) is the classic breakfast. Kofta, shawarma, and grilled meats are widely available. Vegetarians are well-catered for since many traditional dishes are naturally plant-based. Street food is excellent and generally safe from popular busy stalls. Tip 10–15% at sit-down restaurants; it is not included in the bill at local restaurants.
3Practical Tips
Practical Tips
- 1Eat koshari at a dedicated koshari restaurant (look for the word كشري on the sign) — tourist-area versions are often twice the price and half the quality
- 2Om Ali (Egyptian bread pudding with cream and nuts) is one of the best desserts in the region — ask for it hot
- 3Avoid salads and unpeeled fruit at street stalls — stick to cooked dishes to minimise stomach trouble
Important Warning
Traveller's stomach from food or water is very common in first-time visitors. Ease into street food gradually and carry oral rehydration salts.
How does this compare?
Restaurants & Food rules in nearby and similar countries:
The UAE is a global food destination — all cuisine is halal, pork is restricted to licensed venues, and Friday brunch is a beloved local institution.
Moroccan cuisine is outstanding — tagine, couscous, harira, pastilla, and the Djemaa el-Fna food stalls are unmissable, with excellent street food from 10-30 MAD.
Saudi cuisine centers on kabsa, mandi, and shawarma — portions are large, pork is absent, and meal timing shifts dramatically during Ramadan.
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