Interesting things to eat in Cairo, Egypt

Kebabs originate from Middle Eastern cuisine, so it's not surprising at all to see them being popular in Egypt. It's fairly easy to find decent kebabs in Cairo, the only difficulty being the actual choice of what kind of kebabs you want to try. So many mixtures, different recipes, and slight modifications to the simple formula of skewered meat grilled over a flame exist that an average tourist or a person not familiar with the extremely diverse palette of kebab variations and differences of the serving and preparation of kebabs outside Europe will feel a little awestruck.

Osmanly Restaurant is a safe bet for decent kebabs in Cairo, among many other options.

This is the kind of food that has been extremely popular for a very long time but remained relatively obscure in popular culture due to not being the standard go-to dish for American-centered creators and advertizers. It all changed when shawarma became popularized in the Avengers movies. Today, any layman probably knows this Levantine Arab dish consisting of seasoned marinated lamb, mutton, veal, beef, chicken, or turkey cut into thin slices, stacked in a cone-like shape, and roasted on a slowly-turning vertical rotisserie or spit.

Kazaz Restaurant offers several types of shawarma.

Another Middle-Eastern offering on this list is also very popular but only among those in the know regarding the peculiarities of Arab cuisine. Falafel is a deep-fried ball or patty-shaped fritter made from ground chickpeas, broad beans, or both. The falafel balls are topped with salads, pickled vegetables, hot sauce, and drizzled with tahini-based sauces. In Egypt and its neighbouring countries, falafel is a common type of street food, but when it's made with class, it is worthy of any high-class venue.

Felfela is a decent place to get an authentic taste of falafels.

It would be extremely silly to list all the popular things in Cairo and not mention Egypt's national dish and widely popular street food. Koshari is relatively new, dating back to the 19th century, and actually combines elements of Egyptian and Italian cuisine. The dish is made of rice, macaroni, and lentils mixed together, topped with a spiced tomato sauce and garlic vinegar, and garnished with chickpeas and crispy fried onions. There are variations of the Egyptian koshari in other countries diversifying the original recipe.

Koshary El Tahrir is self-explanatory, the place offers great local koshari.

A rather surprising popular offering in Cairo is a dish in Kosovan and Albanian cuisine. The name "flija" means "sacrifice" in Albanian, and there's even a special day dedicated to the dish. Flija consists of multiple crêpe-like layers brushed with cream and served with sour cream and butter. Layers of batter are baked using a "saq" which is a spherical metal lid used for baking. Egyptians probably like the dish for its simplicity and the light taste resulting from the ingredients.

SACHI Heliopolis is one of the places where you can find this kind of dish.

Another interesting offering is something that goes well with other foods. Hummus is a dip, spread, or savoury dish made from cooked, mashed chickpeas blended with tahini, lemon juice, and garlic. In Middle Eastern cuisine, hummus is usually eaten as a dip, with pita bread. What's curious about the dish is that it's actually impossible to determine when and where exactly it was invented, as the origins of combining the basic ingredients can be traced to different places and periods.

Nişantaşi Citystars offers great hummus in Cairo.

Meat is actually less popular as the main component of a dish in Egypt than an outsider would expect. Yet different kinds of meat are still used and have become increasingly popular in modern times. Sandwiches can probably be called the most popular kind of food around the globe, and Egypt is no exception, yet they also have a particular preference. Chicken sandwiches are particularly abundant in restaurants of different types, and lots of additions to the basic formula of chicken and bread are what should interest you.

Hard Rock Cafe is a simple choice here.

Of course, there's nothing special about grilled chicken. Almost anywhere in the world where there's access to white meat, grilled chicken can be found in abundance. However, Egypt is not known for its cuisine being bland, so local chefs in Cairo do wonders with something so seemingly trivial. So, grilled chicken is a very popular order in restaurants around the city and has become a recommendation to anyone willing to explore true originality - the one where you have to make a simple dish feel unique.

Cairo Kitchen will take care of your chicken needs.

Seafood is not the first kind of food that comes to mind when talking about Egypt, but it's actually quite popular in Cairo, though not to the extent of more traditional dishes. For example, Egyptian seafood soup is something to be sought out. It involves boiled milk with salt, pepper, cardamom, as well as cream, shrimp and crab. Some variations may include potatoes, but the lighter version is preferred as a rule. You can also add mussels to the soup, but if not, then the soup won't get any worse.

El Borg Seafood Restaurant has great seafood soup.

The dish we shall finish today's list with is not particularly special unless you make it. Cairo chefs are surprisingly adept at making foods from different parts of the world feel uniquely Egyptian. It only enriches the gastronomical map of the world, so no one is complaining. The popularity of mushroom soup probably stems from the abundance of actual mushroom farms in the country. It’s easy enough to sauté up some mushrooms in butter and add local components to make a great dish.

Il Mulino is an Italian place in Cairo with some of the best mushroom soups around.

Cairo is as ancient as it is modern. A place where time has very little power, a great centre of Arabic culture and civilization, and a city where an inquisitively minded food enthusiast can find things that will surprise, amaze, and comfort. Have fun experiencing the wonders of Egypt!