Eating Out in Cairo, Egypt

¡¡¡¡Cairo, Egypt has much to offer the historian and archaeologist, but what about the gourmand? Granted, it's not the first city that springs to mind, but the flavors of the Middle East are best appreciated where the locals are warm, the wine is flowing, and the food keeps on coming.

For the most part, eating out in this city is not terribly expensive. For less than $50, you would likely get a three course meal. The alcohol would be charged separately and imported wines can be drastically more expensive than local varieties. Tipping is greatly encouraged (and is oftentimes expected). There are a large number of local restaurants all throughout the city that offer local Middle Eastern cuisine at very cheap prices. Good dishes to try would be Ful Medames, Kushari, as well as Molokhia. Kebbe, koftas, and falafel are also popular choices. And no trip to the Middle East is complete without a taste of the local shawerma-shredded meat wrapped in thin pita bread and flavored with tahina. For the adventurous, hamaam is a national delicacy worth trying at least once.

Visitors are encouraged to carefully inspect the seals on any bottled water purchased from the restaurant to ensure high quality drinking water. If you happen to visit during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, you'll notice an increased amount of activity at local restaurants at 4.30 to 5.30 pm. This is the time when the Muslims break their fast and consume their first meal since the night before. Many local restaurants offer Middle Eastern favorites as fast food for those who can only manage a quick break or want to grab something quickly for their families. Kanafeh and Atayef are special sweet delicacies prepared exclusively during this festival. Rather like Easter eggs only being made during Easter. During Ramadan, special tents are erected on the streets, offering food to the poor or to passers-by.

There are, of course, the upscale restaurants at the international hotels that cater to more refined tastes. At the Four Seasons, Aqua offers a sushi bar, steakhouse, and various options for vegetarians. For some fantastic views of the city, visit the Revolving Restaurant at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. The restaurant offers an excellent menu of French haute cuisine. Other restaurants in the hotel, including those on the banks of the River Nile, offer a wide range of cuisine, such as Japanese, Indian, and Italian. The city even has its own Hard Rock Caf?

There is no dearth of dining options in the bustling city of Cairo, which lies practically at the feet of the ancient pyramids. Visitors of all ages, budgets, and preferences will find their own little corner of heaven from everything that's on offer.

Orson Johnson writes for Holiday Velvet, a website providing Cairo accommodation and Vacation accommodation worldwide.