Egyptian food - 25 classic dishes you must try

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: May 2026 | Egyptian food is tasty, affordable and full of traditions that stretch back thousands of years. We didn't have high expectations for the food in Egypt, but were surprised by all the delicious dishes. In this guide, we go through what to eat in Egypt – and list 25 classic Egyptian dishes you shouldn't miss.

What to eat in Egypt? - a quick overview

We have reports on Tunisian food and Moroccan food - and now it's the turn of Egyptian cuisine! Food in Egypt is often simple but very flavoursome, with lots of legumes, vegetables and spices. Here are some typical examples of what you eat in Egypt:

• Legumes: Lentils, chickpeas and beans
• Street food: shawarma
• Meat: Chicken, lamb and beef
• Bread: Eish (Egyptian pita bread)
• Sweet: Baklava and basbousa

Egyptian cuisine offers great variety, and it is easy to find both cheap street food and more traditional dining experiences. In addition, you can try different dishes at the buffets of tourist hotels.

Typical Egyptian food - 25 classic dishes

Here we list Egyptian dishes that are interesting to try, including appetizers, sweets and drinks.

1st Koshari

Perhaps Egypt's most famous dish, it is often considered the country's national dish. It consists of rice, pasta, lentils and chickpeas, topped with tomato sauce and crispy onions - a somewhat unexpected but popular combination.

2. ugly medames

A classic breakfast dish made with long-cooked fava beans. Often served with olive oil, lemon, garlic and bread, it's both filling and cheap.

3rd Molokhia

Molokhia is a green soup or stew made from finely chopped leaves of the jute plant. The dish has a special consistency and is usually served with chicken or rabbit and rice or bread. We tried it at the El Masrien restaurant in Sharm el Sheikh.

4. Fatteh

Fatteh is a traditional dish often served at holidays. The dish consists of layers of rice, bread, and meat, topped with a garlic and vinegar sauce.

5. Mahshi (stuffed vegetables)

Mahshi means vegetables stuffed with rice, herbs and sometimes meat. Common variants are stuffed vine leaves, courgettes and peppers.

6. Hamam Mahshe (stuffed pigeon)

This dish may not be very common in tourist restaurants, but we had the chance to experience it at a local restaurant, together with a local guide. The pigeon is stuffed with rice and spices and you can eat everything, even the brittle bones (!). We thought the taste was good, even though we skipped eating the bones…

7. grilled meat

Although it may not stand out as different, it's worth mentioning that grilled meat is common in Egyptian restaurants. You can expect beef, lamb and chicken, as well as oblong minced beef or lamb patties.

8. Grilled fish

In tourist resorts, such as Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh, fish is common on menus. Often you can find fish restaurants where the fresh fish is on a bed of ice. Just point and wish. For example, you can find sea bass, sea bream, squid and prawns.

9. Ta'ameya (Egyptian falafel)

Unlike in other countries, falafel in Egypt is usually made with fava beans instead of chickpeas. The result is a greener, juicier version that is often served for breakfast.

10. Baba ghanoush

Baba ghanoush is a creamy spread made from grilled eggplant, tahini, garlic and lemon. It is usually served as a side dish with bread and other snacks. One of our absolute favorites!

11. Hummus

Another favourite is the classic chickpea hummus, which is also common in Egypt. It's mild, creamy and perfect as a side dish or dip.

12. warak enab (vine leaf dolmar)

Vine leaves stuffed with rice and spices are a popular dish throughout the region. In Egypt, they are often served cold as part of a meze.

13. Sambousek

Sambousek are small fried or baked pies filled with meat, cheese or vegetables. They are especially common during Ramadan.

14. Eish baladi

This is the traditional Egyptian bread, similar to pita bread. The word “eish” actually means life, which says a lot about how important bread is in everyday life.

15. feteer meshaltet

A kind of leafy pie that can be served both sweet and savoury. It can be filled with anything from cheese to honey or chocolate.

16. shawarma

Shawarma is a popular dish throughout the Middle East and is found everywhere in Egypt. Thin slices of meat are grilled on skewers and served in bread with vegetables and sauce.

17. Hawawshi

Hawawshi is a kind of Egyptian meat-filled sandwich where spiced meat is baked into bread. It's crispy on the outside and juicy inside - perfect for street food.

18. Roz bi laban

This dessert, which can also be called ”Roz bel haleb”, is a classic rice pudding that resembles ris á la malta. The dish is usually served cold and is usually garnished with pistachios, cinnamon or coconut. Delicious!

19th Basbousa

Basbousa is a sweet cake made from manna grains and soaked in sugar syrup. It is often flavoured with coconut or rose water.

20. baklava

This classic dessert consists of layers of filo pastry, nuts and syrup. It is very sweet and is often served in small pieces.

21. Umm ali

An Egyptian bread pudding with milk, nuts and raisins. It is served warm and is a real favourite among locals and tourists alike.

22. kunafa

Made on thin strands of dough and often filled with cheese or cream. The whole thing is topped with syrup and nuts and is a popular dessert throughout the region.

23. dates

Dates are extremely popular in Egypt and are served at all buffets, and in many other contexts.

24. karkade (hibiscus tea)

A red drink made from hibiscus flowers, which can be served both hot and cold. It is refreshing and has a slightly tart flavour.

25. Egyptian tea and coffee

Tea is very common in Egypt and is often drunk strong and sweet. Coffee is also popular, often served in small cups and with a strong flavour.

Egyptian food culture and traditions

Food in Egypt is not just about flavours, but also about community.

• Meals are often shared with family and friends
• Bread is a central part of almost every meal
• Street food is both common and popular
• There are plenty of vegetarian dishes

Food in different parts of Egypt

Egyptian cuisine is relatively uniform, but some differences exist:

• Cairo: Great variety and lots of street food
• Alexandria: Focus on fish and seafood
• Sinai & Red Sea: International influences and tourist-friendly food
• Upper Egypt: More traditional and rustic dishes

Restaurants in Egypt

In Egypt, you will find restaurants serving traditional Egyptian food, but also buffet restaurants (common in hotels) and international eateries. Here are some restaurants we have visited and can recommend.

Sharm el Sheikh

• El Masrien, at the Old Market - with traditional Egyptian food
• Fares - a small chain of seafood restaurants
• Il Mercato - hotel with Italian restaurant on the roof
• Souk, at the Hyatt Regency - a food court restaurant where you start with a purse of silver coins, which can be spent at a number of different small restaurants.

El Gouna

• Hydra Seafood Restaurant - Nice restaurant with fresh fish and good seafood.
• Maritime Restaurant - Great location in the harbour, with a focus on seafood.

More about food in other countries

Here you can find more stories about food in different countries:

• Moroccan food - 17 Moroccan dishes
• Turkish food - 2o Turkish delicacies
• Tunisian cuisine - 16 Tunisian dishes
• Lebanese food - 25 Lebanese dishes
• Uzbek food - 12 Uzbek specialities