Eating Out

For those far away from home, comfort is sometimes in finding good aloo bhendi or idli sambar. We have tried (and tested) some of these hangouts. With no freebies to favor a good review, we have tried to be as all rounded in our judgment.

Bukhara Mohandeseen
Bukhara Mohandeseen is as unpredictable as its Maadi version. Last tried, jhinga masala was good, so was the thali. But the last time food was ordered for home delivery it arrived with 2 dishes less. Quite a cozy place, tucked in a narrow corner off Lebanon street, it could be a good place to take Egyptian friends for an Indian treat. Moderately expensive.

Bukhara Maadi
Good place to impress your Egyptian friends for an Indian lunch.

Bua Khao, Maadi
Fantastic Thai food with no pretensions. If first time round, you could ask for help to choose from the long menu. If not adventurous stick to the green and red curry that comes with steamed rice and you will return for more. Their sea food soup garnished with a twig of lemon grass is just so divine ! Moderately expensive.

The Massala, Heliopolis
Indian restaurant ‘Massala” at the Karvin hotel is small, red and spicy. Good quality North Indian food, tasty (especially their paneer butter masala), crispy parathas toasted to perfection on the outside and butterly delicious on the inside. They have a recently launched Chinese menu as well. Moderately expensive.


Kandahar, Mohandeseen
One of the reasons for its success is probably because of its location right in the heart of Mohandeseen, overlooking Cairo’s main through fare. If you ignore the corn flour thickened Malai kofta that gels when cold and waiters who disappear if you ask them for water, if you are desperate and need rice and dal, it makes a quite an affordable choice.

Le Peking, Maadi
Among the several Peking outlets the ones that have consistently served excellent Chinese food would be the one in Maadi and then Nasr City. Their Shangtong salad is a must, and so is their Hot and sour soup. Fairly satisfying portions, it’s a great place for a weekend lunch with family. And quite reasonable.

Maison Thomas, Zamalek
The kind of place that makes you wonder why you cant open a pizzeria in India. Walk past their swinging doors in Zamalek, and you will forego the trip to Diwan. Legend has it that the secret recipe for their pizza crust comes from Mama Thomas. They have some incredibly delicious ‘Monaco’ topped with crispy cuts of pork. You could also buy pork from them, frozen but only before 7 pm. They seem to have done something about their ventilation but you could still come out of the place smelling like one of their Pizzas. Prices  went up in the beginning of the year making it reasonably expensive but for what you get at Pizza Hut for the same price, its worth  every pound.

Shopping

Buying & sourcing Spices in Egypt
The best place to buy whole spices in Egypt - cinnamon, cloves, cardamom etc is the Khan el Khalili near Al Azhar Mosque. Read More..