Food and drink in Egypt
Egyptian food is comforting, flavour-packed and made for sharing. Expect colourful mezze, warm flatbreads, grilled meats, fresh salads and dishes built around pulses, rice and fragrant spices. Meals are often relaxed and sociable, whether you’re sitting at a bustling street-side café in Cairo or enjoying dinner overlooking the Nile.
While Egypt may not be as internationally famous for its cuisine as some destinations, food is a big part of everyday life here, and often one of the best ways to connect with the local culture and people.
What does Egyptian food taste like?
Egyptian food is generally full of flavour rather than spicy. Think cumin, coriander, garlic, cinnamon, lemon and fresh herbs rather than lots of chilli heat. Meals are often hearty, fresh and designed to share, with plenty of dips, breads and small plates appearing on the table.
In Egypt, lunch is often the biggest meal of the day, especially for local families, with generous portions designed for sharing. Dinner tends to be lighter and eaten later, often stretching into long, sociable evenings over tea and small plates.
You’ll notice influences from the Middle East, Mediterranean and North Africa, creating a cuisine that feels familiar in places, but still uniquely Egyptian.
Top foods to try in Egypt
Koshari
Egypt’s ultimate comfort food. A surprisingly delicious mix of rice, pasta, lentils, chickpeas and crispy onions, topped with tomato sauce and garlic vinegar. It sounds unusual, but trust us – it works.
Ta’ameya (Egyptian falafel)
Egyptian falafel is slightly different from what you may know, made with fava beans rather than chickpeas, giving it a softer texture and bright green centre. Perfect for breakfast or a quick lunch, you’ll often find this on your hotel breakfast plate.
Ful medames (foul)
A traditional Egyptian breakfast made with slow-cooked fava beans, olive oil, herbs and spices, usually served with warm flatbread. Delicious!
Shawarma & grilled meats
Popular across the country, grilled chicken, lamb and kofta are often served with rice, bread and fresh salads.
Molokhia
A much-loved local dish made from leafy greens cooked into a rich soup, often served with rice or bread.
Egyptian desserts
If you have a sweet tooth, you’re in luck. Try syrup-soaked pastries, baklava-style sweets or rice pudding flavoured with cinnamon and nuts.
Vegetarian & vegan food in Egypt
Good news – Egypt is generally a very vegetarian-friendly country, and vegan travellers often find it easier than expected too.
Many traditional dishes are naturally plant-based, including:
Koshari
Ta’ameya (falafel)
Ful medames (foul) (look out for this one at the hotel breakfast buffet!)
Hummus and mezze dishes
Salads, rice and vegetable dishes
Vegan options are widely available, although it’s always worth checking ingredients, as yoghurt or cheese occasionally appears in dishes. In larger cities and tourist areas, restaurants are usually familiar with dietary requirements.
If you have allergies or specific dietary needs, let us know before you travel so we can pass this onto our local partners and they can make preparations for your trip.
Fresh Egyptian bread
One thing you’ll quickly notice in Egypt is just how good the bread is. Aish baladi, Egypt’s traditional flatbread, is served with almost every meal and is best eaten warm and fresh from the oven. In many places, it’s still baked the traditional way in stone ovens, giving it a slightly smoky flavour and soft, fluffy texture.
You’ll often see stacks of fresh bread arriving at restaurants or bakeries throughout the day, ready to be torn apart and dipped into hummus, used to scoop up mezze or wrapped around grilled meats and falafel. Simple? Yes. But somehow, it tastes even better in Egypt.
Drinks in Egypt
Tea & coffee culture
Egyptians love tea, and you’ll likely be offered a glass almost everywhere you go. Black tea with mint is especially popular and often enjoyed throughout the day.
Coffee tends to be strong, rich and sweet, often served Turkish-style in small cups.
Fresh fruit juices are also widely available and perfect in warmer weather, from mango, guava and sugar cane to strawberry and hibiscus drinks.
Is alcohol available in Egypt?
Egypt is an Islamic country, so alcohol is not as widely available as in some destinations and many local restaurants do not serve it.
However, many of the hotels we work with, particularly in larger cities, Nile cruises and Red Sea resorts, do serve alcohol. You’ll usually find beer, wine and spirits available in tourist hotels and licensed restaurants.
If enjoying a drink is important to you, speak to your travel specialist before travelling and we can help advise on the best places to stay.
Is the tap water safe to drink?
We recommend not drinking tap water in Egypt. Bottled water is cheap, widely available and commonly used by travellers and locals alike. Ice in tourist hotels and restaurants is generally fine, but if in doubt, it’s always okay to ask.
We recommend not drinking tap water in Egypt. Bottled water is widely available and commonly used by travellers and locals, and even though we’re always conscious of reducing plastic where possible, in some places its just something we have to accept.
That said, an increasing number of hotels now offer filtered water dispensers at breakfast or around the hotel, so it’s worth bringing a reusable water bottle and filling up whenever you can. It’s a small change, but one that can help reduce plastic waste during your trip. Ice in tourist hotels and restaurants is generally fine, but if in doubt, it’s always okay to ask.