In Egypt, a country renowned for its bountiful agriculture and thriving livestock industry, in addition to the rich variety of fruits and grilled meats, these five foods are personal favorites that I never tire of!
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◦ Fruit Cups at the Juice Bar
On a scorching midday with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius, trust me, the only thing you can eat is a refreshing fruit cup from the juice bar. Inside the fruit cup, you'll find typical fruits such as apples, bananas, mangoes, and watermelon, along with freshly blended, thick fruit puree that provides a truly refreshing experience.
Price: 10-25 EGP
◦ Koshary
Koshary is Egypt's everyday food, mainly made of macaroni mixed with rice, lentils, tomato sauce, chickpeas, and onions. It is seasoned with chili sauce and garlic juice. Its spicy flavor is perfect for hot summer days!
Price: 25-40 EGP
◦ Pita
The incredible Pita bread is a daily delight that never gets old. The most common option is the Falafel Pita, which is filled with deep-fried chickpea patties, chickpea hummus, and a variety of greens. In neighboring Israel, with the same ingredients and the same-sized pita, prices start at ten times more, making me cherish the food in Egypt even more.
Price: 10-20 EGP
◦ Kebab
Among the wide variety of grilled meats, my favorite is the combo that includes well-seasoned meat patties and cuts of meat. One platter of grilled meat, two servings of salad, a bowl of lentil soup, a bottle of cola, flatbreads, and a tip, all for just 200 EGP – an incredible deal!
◦ Shawarma
In Taiwan, I have never found shawarma to be delicious. The combination of plain bread and meat slices does not go well together. In Egypt, the outer layer of shawarma is often a chewy flatbread. After stuffing the meat slices into the bread, the chef even dips the bread in meat oil and grills it again. This adds a lot of aroma to the shawarma, making it much more flavorful!
Price: 40-60 EGP
◦ Hamam Mahshi (Stuffed Pigeon)
This dish combines onions, chicken livers, spices, and rice, creating a fragrant mixture. Then, they are stuffed into young pigeons that have been cleaned and cooked either by grilling over charcoal or pan-frying, to make the pigeon skin even crispier. This dish has a crispy, oily texture and tastes quite similar to roasted duck, without any strange gamey flavors.
If you visit Egypt, you should consider trying the local cuisine. It is said that this is a dish that grooms must eat before their wedding.
Price: 180-200 EGP
