What not to eat in Egypt (plus some amazing meals you shouldn’t miss!)

Egypt has a varied food scene, and many places’ menus are filled with dishes that might be unfamiliar to someone that hasn’t spent much time in the Middle East. I can personally attest to that, since when I first arrived in Egypt, I was completely lost when it came to deciding what we should eat. 

Luckily, we had a wonderful host to show us the ropes during our trip to see the Great Pyramid, and now that I have a bit more experience, I can share what I’ve learned with you!

What foods should I avoid in Egypt?

A delicious meal can elevate a “just-ok” experience, covering over stress points and transforming it into a day to remember. But a bad meal can take it the other way, changing small inconveniences into experience ruining events. 

Best just to avoid them, altogether!

With so many options on the menu, the trick to choosing something tasty can be a bit counter-intuitive. Here it is. 

When choosing a meal in Egypt, you should avoid anything that seems familiar.

Specifically, I suggest staying away from Western foods, like burgers, pizza, spaghetti, and such. These are all foods that seem like they would be safe options, especially for picky eaters, but they’re actually one of the quickest roads to disappointment. 

That’s because even when they aren’t “bad”, they still won’t taste like you’re expecting. Beef in Egypt tastes different from beef in the United States. They use different cheeses for their pizzas, and the sauce won’t taste the same either.  That doesn’t mean that they’ll be bad, but they definitely won’t line up with your expectations.

While that can feel a bit disappointing for some travelers, not all is lost! While most Egyptian restaurants prepare forgettable Western dishes, they do a much better job with their own cuisine. 

If you want a great dining experience, your best option is to trust someone else’s gut and eat like an Egyptian.  

**Note**

A quick internet search for the national food of Egypt will turn up a dish called kushari (or koshary). Supposedly, it is an extremely popular dish served on street corners and restaurants alike, but, oddly, I had a really hard time finding it. 

At its most basic, it is macaroni, lentils, chickpeas, and fried onions, mixed together and served with a tomato sauce. While researching this article, I literally walked miles in order to track down a kushari restaurant that wasn’t permanently closed, and the one I did find didn’t really blow me away. 

 Apparently, getting good kushari is about going to the right place, and I didn’t do that. 

I’m mentioning it here because so many websites call it the national dish, but I’d suggest skipping it unless a local tells you a specific restaurant/food cart to check out. 

So, what foods should I eat while in Egypt?

It probably shouldn’t come as a surprise, but the kinds of food that Egyptian cooks really get right are the Egyptian dishes. 

Every country’s cuisine is a product of its history and geography, and Egypt is no different. The country sits in a unique place geographically, and its food combines together influences from the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and other North African countries.  

Variations on grilled meat skewers are some of the most common foods here, but there are also a surprising number of tasty vegetarian options, as well. I’ll start with explaining some of the most common meat dishes first, but if you’re more interested in the veggies, feel free to skip to the end. 

Kofta

Kofta is a ground beef or lamb skewer that usually gets grilled over coals. Garlic, onion, cumin, and black pepper blend together to give it a delicious flavor, and it is often served on pita as an easy-to-carry sandwich you can enjoy on the go.  

If you want something familiar, this makes a great substitute for a hamburger, since it has a similar flavor, but it will almost certainly taste better than a burger from the same restaurant. 

Kebab

Kebabs are another grilled option that’s an easy choice for picky eaters. At its most basic, Kebabs are just skewers of grilled meat, and you can get them in chicken, beef, or lamb varieties at most places. 

Whereas kofta is ground meat formed around the skewer, kebab is just impaled chunks of meat, and it is often only very lightly seasoned (but still flavorful). 

Just be aware, many kebabs you get on the street won’t include vegetables, so you’ll have to order those separately. 

Shish Tawook

This is essentially a chicken kebab, but it is seasoned with a variety of Middle Eastern spices, yogurt, and lemon juice. Tawook skewers will often have bell peppers and onion on them, as well, which adds a lot to the flavor. 

Tawook seasoning has a touch of spice to it, so younger kids may prefer a grilled chicken kebab instead, but if you’re looking for that extra kick, tawook is what you want.

Shawarma

The last three are all essentially meat on a stick. Shawarma takes the meat off the stick, cuts it thin, and serves it with some delicious grilled veggies! 

Traditionally, shawarma can either be beef or chicken and is served wrapped in a flatbread with grilled and pickled veggies, and if you order from a street vendor, that’s almost certainly how you’ll get it. However, many of the restaurants I’ve visited have served it as a meat and veggie dish with pita on the side, turning it into a delicious topping for Egyptian rice or more of a DIY sandwich option. 

Either way, it’s delicious, and I rarely do a carryout order without at least one shawarma.

Dawood Basha

Dawood Basha is essentially a Middle Eastern meatball dish. It is often stewed in a tomato sauce alongside bell peppers and onions and can be eaten on its own or over rice. It’s essentially a very saucy version of kofta, but baked in the oven instead of grilled on a skewer. 

It is delicious, and I highly recommend it. 

Tagine

Tagines are named after the ceramic dishes that they are cooked in and can be any one of a huge number of possible dishes. Essentially, they are a baked stew of whatever you order. They can come with pretty much any meat imaginable, or without meat for a flavorful vegetarian meal. 

Most tagines, but not all, have a tomato-based sauce at their core. In Aswan, we regularly had camel meat tagines that were served in a brown sauce that tasted strongly of cinnamon. 

Moussaka

Moussaka is essentially a lasagna that uses slices of eggplant instead of pasta to give it texture. It can be either vegetarian or with beef, but either way, it’s wonderful. 

Do note that while Greek moussaka has a layer of cheesy, creamy sauce on top, that has not been my experience with moussaka here. Mostly, it comes as layers of eggplant and other vegetables in a seasoned tomato sauce. 

Falafel

Falafel is an extremely popular dish all over the Middle East, but the Egyptian version has its own unique twist on it. Falafel is a mixture of seasonings and bean paste that gets fried into small balls of goodness. 

Most places use chickpeas for that bean paste, but in Egypt the bean of choice is the fava bean, giving the falafel there a distinctly green color. 

Falafel is mostly considered a breakfast item in Egypt, but it can usually be found in restaurants all day, so don’t feel like you have to limit yourself. It also has the advantage of being one of the cheapest foods you can find, with many street stands selling them for around 5 Egyptian pounds (30 cents). 

Ful

If you like beans, ful is the breakfast food for you! 

Ful is essentially just mashed fava beans seasoned with garlic, cumin, and salt. I personally like it spread over pita with a bit of feta, but you can also get it in sandwich form at the same breakfast stands that sell falafel.

Stuffed Cabbage (Mahshi Crumb)

While I’ve tried this at a couple of restaurants, the best version I’ve had in Egypt was definitely in one of our friend’s homes in Luxor. ( Sidenote: If you’re still wondering where to visit in Egypt, Luxor is the place you’re looking for)

It is essentially cabbage leaves rolled around seasoned rice and baked, then dipped into a tomato sauce. When done right, it is wonderful, flavorful, and satisfying. When done poorly, it can be dry and flavorless. 

It’s worth trying if you see it on the menu, but it is pretty easy to mess up, so be aware that it might not be what you were hoping for. But be aware, this is one of those things that will be way better in someone’s home than in a restaurant! If someone invites you to eat with them in their home, definitely take them up on that offer.

Tahina / Baba Ganoush 

Tahina and baba ganoush are both wonderful additions to any meal, and I usually order one of the other every time I go out. Tahina is a sesame-based dip that works well on its own or can be used as a condiment on a sandwich. Baba ganoush is an eggplant-based dip with a touch of lemon juice. 

If you arrive at the restaurant hungry, some pita bread and one of these two dips is the best option for getting food fast. Restaurants tend to move a lot slower than places in the States, making either of these an excellent choice of starter.   

You may have noticed that I didn’t include hummus on this list. That’s because, surprisingly, it’s not a super popular dish here. I asked for hummus on my first day in Egypt, and all I ended up with was a look of confusion and a small plastic bag filled with whole chickpeas.

Yes, you can probably find hummus around, but tahina and baba ganoush are much more common.

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When it comes down to it, I really haven’t had much trouble finding great food in Egypt. Yes, more Western options, like pizza, have been extremely disappointing, but a big part of travel is learning to step out of your comfort zone.

One last piece of parting advice. If you’re ever uncertain about what to get, ask people what they would order for themselves. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find your next favorite food.