Egypt
Egyptian Food Guide for Travelers
Egyptian food is ancient, hearty, and deeply flavourful. Ful medames has been eaten for 4,000 years. Koshari, shawarma, and stuffed pigeons represent a cuisine built on legumes, bread, and bold spices.
Street Food Capital
Cairo's streets are an all-day food market. Ful at dawn, ta'ameya for breakfast, koshari at lunch, shawarma for dinner.
Koshari: Comfort Food
Vegan carb bomb. Rice, lentils, pasta, chickpeas, fried onions, spicy sauce. Costs almost nothing, available everywhere.
Egyptian Breakfast
Ful medames for 4,000 years. Stewed fava beans with olive oil, lemon, cumin. Add ta'ameya, pickles, boiled egg.
Tea and Juice
Shai (tea) is strong and sweet. Karkadeh (hibiscus) is refreshing. Fresh juice stands: sugarcane, mango, guava for pennies.
Must-Try Dishes
Koshari
$Rice, lentils, macaroni, chickpeas, crispy onions, spicy tomato sauce. Carb heaven. The national dish.
Contains gluten; naturally vegan
Ful Medames
$Slow-stewed fava beans with olive oil, lemon, cumin, garlic. Breakfast with bread. Ancient and perfect.
Naturally vegan; bread adds gluten
Shawarma
$Spit-roasted meat wrapped in bread with tahini, pickles, vegetables.
Contains meat, gluten, sesame
Molokhia
$Green leafy soup with garlic, coriander, served over rice with chicken.
Contains meat; gluten-free with rice
Mahshi
$Stuffed vegetables: vine leaves, peppers, courgettes with spiced rice.
Vegan versions exist; gluten-free
Om Ali
$Egyptian bread pudding: puff pastry with milk, nuts, raisins, coconut.
Contains gluten, dairy, nuts
Hawawshi
$Spiced minced meat stuffed in flatbread and baked crispy.
Contains meat, gluten
Ta'ameya (Egyptian Falafel)
$Made with fava beans (not chickpeas): bright green, crispier, more herbaceous.
Contains fava beans; may contain gluten
Menu Vocabulary
| Term | Meaning | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Ful | Fava beans | Ingredients |
| Tahini | Sesame paste | Sauces |
| Aish | Bread (Egyptian pita) | Staples |
| Roz | Rice | Staples |
| Firakh | Chicken | Proteins |
| Mashwi | Grilled | Cooking Methods |
| Mahshi | Stuffed | Cooking Methods |
| El hisab | The bill | Dining |
Dietary Restriction Guide
Vegetarian
Excellent for vegetarians. Ful, ta'ameya, koshari, mahshi, mezze. Coptic fasting means restaurants routinely offer meat-free. Say 'min ghair lahma'.
Vegan
Koshari, ful, ta'ameya, vine leaf dolma are naturally vegan. Egypt's reliance on legumes and vegetables makes it easy. Say 'min ghair lahma, min ghair laban'.
Gluten-Free
Rice, ful, grilled meats, stews are gluten-free. Bread (aish) with everything: decline if needed. Koshari contains pasta.
Common Allergies
Sesame everywhere. Nuts in desserts. Fava beans are common allergen. Say 'ana andi hassasiya min...'.
Ordering Tips
- •Koshari: best from dedicated shops, not tourist restaurants.
- •Breakfast is ful and ta'ameya with aish. Eaten standing at street carts.
- •Egyptian meals are very affordable.
- •Tipping (baksheesh) expected everywhere: 10-15% at restaurants.