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What to eat in Egypt: 10 Typical dishes you can’t miss
Wondering what to eat in Egypt? Discover what to try from dishes like ful medames to traditional desserts like om ali, without missing out on local drinks.
Egyptian gastronomy is every bit as varied and rich as Egypt’s history. When looking for what to eat in Egypt, you’ll find everything from fast or street food to elaborate dishes in traditional restaurants. Each flavor will take you on a sensory journey, revealing unique combinations with Mediterranean, African, and Middle Eastern influences.
During this culinary journey, you’ll try meat, fish, and vegetarian dishes, all filled with unique local nuances and aromas. Plus, we’ll tell you how you can use a travel eSIM to find the best places to eat in Egypt!
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Egyptian gastronomy: A trip between land and sea
Egyptian gastronomy reflects influences and cultural mixes due to its strategic position: it’s a bridge between Africa and the Middle East with a strong connection to the Mediterranean.
- In the north, Mediterranean flavors prevail, blending with Turkish and Greek influences, featuring a mix of fish, seafood, vegetables, and legumes.
- In the south, dishes are more influenced by the Middle East, featuring a mix of meat, cereals, and spices such as cumin, cardamom, and cinnamon.
What to eat in Egypt: Traditional dishes
Traditional dishes in Egypt are a mix of flavors, aromas, and textures. Depending on what you decide to eat, you’ll find different influences from close and far cultures, but trying traditional dishes is a must on your Egypt travel guide.
Ful Medames
Ful Medames, or foule medames, is one of Egypt’s most emblematic dishes. It’s mostly eaten at breakfast, and it’s made with overnight, slowly cooked brown beans seasoned with lemon and cumin.
It’s usually eaten with shami bread, tomato sauce, or tahini alongside a cup of tea for a 100% local breakfast.
Koshari (or Kushari) is Egypt’s beloved national dish, a hearty, flavorful vegan meal made from layers of rice, macaroni, and brown lentils, topped with chickpeas, a tangy tomato-vinegar sauce, and crunchy fried onions. It’s a popular street food, known for its comforting mix of textures and rich, spicy flavors, combining pantry staples into a uniquely Egyptian experience.
Koshary
This vegetarian dish represents the cultural fusion of Egypt, making it one of the most essential must-try dishes in the country.
Koshary is a perfect blend of chickpeas, lentils, pasta, and rice, which is then topped with a tomato sauce and spices such as cumin, paprika, chili pepper, or cilantro.
This is one of the most economical, nutritious, and popular dishes in Egypt, in both restaurants and street food stalls.
Taameya
Taameya, or ta’ameya, is the Egyptian version of the falafel. Instead of chickpeas, it’s made with crushed dried fava beans and mixed with onion, garlic, cilantro, and cumin. These are fried in small portions and served with pita bread, tahini sauce, or salad.
Taameya is a very popular Egyptian street food option, so it has to be on your list of what to eat in Egypt.
Kofta
Kofta are skewers of minced meatballs, typically lamb or beef, mixed with onions, garlic, and spices such as cardamom, paprika, and nutmeg.
These are usually shaped into an elongated form, then skewered on kebab sticks, and cooked on a grill or oven. Kofta is commonly found in mezze alongside sauces and beverages.
Fatteh
With a Nubian origin, fatteh is a traditional dish that’s typically served during breakfast or special celebrations. It combines fried bread, aish baladi, and is then soaked in broth, accompanied by rice and slowly cooked meat, and topped with garlic sauce and vinegar. It’s a hearty dish with a mouthwatering flavor!
Mulukhiyah
Another interesting dish that’s a traditional food in Egypt is mulukhiyah. It’s basically a green, thick soup made with corète potagère leaves. Corète potagère translates to English as jute or elongated-fruited jute, and it’s a native plant to Africa and Asia, being little known in the Western World.
Although its appearance may not be striking, its flavor is highly valued. This soup is typically served with bread or rice and may include meat or fish.
Hamam Mahshi
One of the most valued Egyptian dishes is hamam mashi, a stuffed pigeon with rice and spices. After cooking it in water for an hour, it’s fried or baked to achieve a tender interior and a crispy exterior. It’s a really valued specialty.
🫓 Traditional side dishes in Egypt
Aish Baladi: Round, thick bread similar to pita, ideal to eat with stews and salads.
Dolma: Grape leaves stuffed with minced meat, rice, onion, and spices like cumin, mint, and parsley. These are served with hummus, soup, yogurt, or salads.
Egyptian sweets: What to try in Egypt
Similar to traditional dishes, Egyptian sweets are as delicious as you’d expect, but let’s see the top options to try.
Muhallebi
On the list of what sweets to eat in Egypt, muhallebi comes first. It’s a creamy dessert made with milk, sugar, cornstarch, and flavored with rosewater or orange blossom water. Pistachios, almonds, raisins, shredded coconut, cinnamon, or honey can be an addition to muhallebi.
Om Ali
This traditional pastry, made with puff pastry, spiced milk, coconut, raisins, and toasted nuts, is a favorite among many locals and tourists. It has a soft texture with a crunchy touch.
Om Ali is found in any of the local pastry shops, and you’ll definitely be surprised by its unique flavor!
Baklavas
Lastly, we have baklava. These traditional sweets are our favorites when it comes to choosing what to eat in Egypt for dessert.
Baklava is made with thin layers of filo pastry, filled with chopped nuts, and soaked in syrup with hints of cinnamon or lemon. This classic pastry is also found in other Middle Eastern countries with small variations.
Typical drinks in Egypt
Coffee, tea, and infusions are pretty common in Egypt, but let’s see how unique they are from other cultures.
🍵 Tea and infusions
In Egypt, it’s common to drink a black tea imported from Kenia, India, or Sri Lanka. The difference when drinking this comes from its preparation method:
- Koshari tea: Infused with hot water.
- Saaidi tea: Boiled with water, resulting in a sweeter taste.
Egyptians also consume infusions made with chamomile, hibiscus (karkade), anise (yansoon), or sahlab (made from orchid bulb, milk, and pistachios).
☕ Coffee in Egypt
Coffee in Egypt is made Turkish style. How? Finely ground coffee is added to boiling water, and the pot is returned to heat for a few seconds until the coffee starts to foam and rise. In the south, it’s usually flavored with cardamom, anise, and cinnamon.
You can ask for your coffee to be very sweet, medium, or without sugar.
Where and how to eat in Egypt
Finding a place to eat in Egypt isn’t a major issue. You’ll find plenty of options depending on where you go, but the main ones are:
- Street stalls or shops: You’ll find really typical Egyptian food, like koshary, ful medames, or taameya, at really affordable prices.
- Family restaurants: These are an excellent option for eating in Egypt if you’re looking for homemade recipes at an affordable price.
- Markets: Ideal for eating on the go and trying local ingredients.
💡 Tip: Street food can be spicy. If you’re not a lover of spicy food, tell them before they cook it, and remember to leave a tip, locally called baksheesh, by rounding up your bill or leaving the change. It’s better to pay it in bills or coins and not add to the bill paid by card.
Discover what to eat in Egypt using your favorite apps
To travel to Egypt, you’ll need an internet connection, as you’re arriving in a new country with a significant language barrier that can be complicated for many. Having unlimited data will come in handy for translating, communicating, or seeking the best advice on the best Egyptian food.
With an eSIM for Egypt from Holafly, you’ll find in real time where to eat in Egypt, no matter if you’re looking for local restaurants, the best food stalls, or the best local markets to try some authentic, typical Egyptian food.
That way, you can avoid high charges for roaming in Egypt, forget about using free WiFi, and enjoy unlimited data while traveling safely, while enjoying each step in your journey.
Before embarking on your adventure, we recommend that you learn the best time to travel, how to save money while traveling, where to buy without falling for scams, how to exchange your money, and the best things to do in Egypt.
An eSIM you can rely on
Join over 10 million Holafly customers and get connected with our trusted, global services.
FAQs about what to eat in Egypt
Among the most popular foods in Egypt, you can’t miss the hamam mahsi, ful medames, koshary, kofta, and fatthe.
In Egypt, you can eat dates, oranges, figs, pomegranates, lemons, and grapefruit, which you can also consume as juices.
Om Ali is a traditional Egyptian dessert similar to pudding. It’s made with puff pastry and a mix of sugar, walnuts, milk, and raisins. It has a crunchy and soft texture. We also recommend trying other traditional Egyptian desserts, such as baklava, made with filo pastry, walnuts, and sugar syrup, or muhallebi, a creamy dessert flavored with rosewater or orange blossom.
Plans that may interest you
I first started my content creation journey as a freelancer in 2019, before connecting with Holafly in 2021. At Holafly, my travel and tech interests come together in one place as I craft high-quality articles about the eSIM and related markets. My content aims to help travelers stay connected, wherever they are.
