Quick answer
For budget eats in Downtown Cairo, koshari, Egypt's national dish, can be found for EGP 10-70. Abou Tarek, known for its generous portions and crispy onions, is a tourist-friendly classic and a top recommendation. The best time to enjoy this carb-loaded comfort food is whenever the craving hits.
- Best overall
- Koshary El Zaeem (كشري الزعيم)
- Price/value range
- 30 – 25/person
- Top-ranked pick
- Koshary Abou Tarek (كشري أبو طارق) — EGP 30–60/person
- Last verified
- 2026-03
Top verdicts
- Koshary Abou Tarek (كشري أبو طارق): The king of Cairo koshari and the most recommended spot on all of Reddit.
- Koshary Sayed Hanafy (كشري سيد حنفي): The local's answer to "where's better than Abou Tarek?" Sayed Hanafy has a cult following among Cairenes who find Abou Tarek overrated.
- Koshary El Tahrir (كشري التحرير): Named after Cairo's most famous square and located right nearby.
For budget eats in Downtown Cairo, koshari, Egypt's national dish, can be found for EGP 10-70. Abou Tarek, known for its generous portions and crispy onions, is a tourist-friendly classic and a top recommendation. The best time to enjoy this carb-loaded comfort food is whenever the craving hits.
Koshari is Egypt's undisputed national dish — a carb-loaded, soul-warming bowl of rice, macaroni, lentils, and chickpeas smothered in spiced tomato sauce and topped with impossibly crispy fried onions. It costs almost nothing, it's entirely vegan, and every Egyptian has strong opinions about where to get the best one.
We scoured Reddit threads from r/Egypt, r/EgyptTravelTips, and r/travel to find the koshari spots that actual Cairenes and experienced travelers recommend again and again. From the tourist-famous Abou Tarek to the hole-in-the-wall spots only locals know.
Koshari Map
1. Koshary Abou Tarek (كشري أبو طارق)
How we built this list
We analyzed 50+ Reddit posts and 300+ comments across r/Egypt, r/EgyptTravelTips, r/travel, and r/solotravel — spanning 2021 to 2026. Restaurants were ranked by how frequently they were recommended by independent users. Every spot on this list was mentioned in at least 2 separate threads by different people. We weighted long-term Cairo residents' picks more heavily than first-time visitor posts.
1Koshary Abou Tarek (كشري أبو طارق)
Tourist-Friendly Classic
Verdict: The king of Cairo koshari and the most recommended spot on all of Reddit.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Tourist-Friendly Classic in Marouf St, Qasr El Nil with a 30–60/person spend range
- Strengths
- 4.3★ from 41,717 Google reviews · Tourist-Friendly Classic · Marouf St, Qasr El Nil
- Limitations
- tourist trap that sacrificed flavor for fame
- Price / value
- 30–60/person · 4.3★
- Why it made the list
- The king of Cairo koshari and the most recommended spot on all of Reddit. Yes, it's touristy. Yes, there will be a queue. But the quality is genuinely excellent — this isn't a tourist trap that sacrificed flavor for fame. The multi-floor restaurant is an experience in itself. Start here if it's your first koshari.
- What to order
- Koshary Abou Tarek (كشري أبو طارق) on Marouf St, Qasr El Nil, is a tourist-friendly classic costing EGP 30–60 per person. For the best experience, order the large koshari with extra da'a (garlic vinegar sauce) and shatta (hot sauce). The portions are generous, and the crispy onions are legendary. Go all-in on the condiments — that's the Abou Tarek way.
Source quality: 6 sources · google-serp-kg, official-site, tripadvisor-snippet, facebook-snippet, menu-page, instagram-snippet · verified 2026-03 · medium confidence
"I would recommend checking out Koshary Abou Tarek at this address: ١٦ Marouf, Qasr El Nil. Everyone is going to have their own favorite hole in the walls but as a beginner this is the spot."
— r/Egypt, 15 upvotes · Best Koshari/Food in Cairo?, Jul 2024
"Abo Tarek is chef's kiss, highly recommended if you want some solid Koshari."
— r/Egypt, 9 upvotes · Best Koshari/Food in Cairo?, Jul 2024
"I just visited Cairo and can recommend Koshari Abu Tarek. They mainly serve Koshari, which you should definitely try. It's full of locals but also quite some tourists."
— r/EgyptTravelTips · Visiting Cairo — food recommendations
2Koshary Sayed Hanafy (كشري سيد حنفي)
Classic Cairene
Verdict: The local's answer to "where's better than Abou Tarek?" Sayed Hanafy has a cult following among Cairenes who find Abou Tarek overrated.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Classic Cairene in Abdeen, Downtown Cairo with a 20–50/person spend range
- Strengths
- 4.2★ from 4,701 Google reviews · Classic Cairene · Abdeen, Downtown Cairo
- Limitations
- Price band: 20–50/person
- Price / value
- 20–50/person · 4.2★
- Why it made the list
- The local's answer to "where's better than Abou Tarek?" Sayed Hanafy has a cult following among Cairenes who find Abou Tarek overrated. Their sauce game is arguably stronger, and you'll see far fewer tourists. A proper downtown institution.
- What to order
- Koshary Sayed Hanafy (كشري سيد حنفي) in Abdeen, Downtown Cairo, is a classic Cairene spot where you can fill up for EGP 20–50 per person. Order the medium koshari — their sauce is what sets them apart, being slightly tangier and more complex than Abou Tarek. Add extra shatta if you like heat. The fried onions have a different crunch profile here — thicker and more caramelized.
Source quality: 5 sources · google-serp-kg, official-site, facebook-snippet, menu-page, tripadvisor-snippet · verified 2026-03 · medium confidence
🕐 Open now
MonOpen 24 hoursTueOpen 24 hoursWedOpen 24 hoursThuOpen 24 hoursFriOpen 24 hoursSatOpen 24 hoursSunOpen 24 hours
"Best Koshary is Sayed Hanafy and then El Tahrir koshary."
— r/EgyptTravelTips · Visiting Cairo — food recommendations
"There are other decent koshary chains like koshary hend, koshary el tahrir, koshary sayed hanafy — all worth trying."
— r/EgyptTravelTips · Visiting Cairo — food recommendations
3Koshary El Tahrir (كشري التحرير)
Classic Cairene
Verdict: Named after Cairo's most famous square and located right nearby.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Classic Cairene in Near Tahrir Square, Downtown with a 25–55/person spend range
- Strengths
- 3.9★ from 4,853 Google reviews · Classic Cairene · Near Tahrir Square, Downtown
- Limitations
- the consistency is solid across branches
- Price / value
- 25–55/person · 3.9★
- Why it made the list
- Named after Cairo's most famous square and located right nearby. El Tahrir is a reliable chain that locals actually eat at — not just tourist bait. Their slightly sweeter sauce divides opinions, but the consistency is solid across branches. Great if you're already sightseeing in the Tahrir area.
- What to order
- Koshary El Tahrir (كشري التحرير), near Tahrir Square in Downtown, is a classic Cairene eatery with prices ranging from EGP 25–55 per person. Order the large koshari with heavy da'a. Their tomato sauce leans slightly sweeter than competitors — a dividing line in the koshari wars, and a flavor profile some Redditors specifically prefer.
Source quality: 4 sources · official-site, facebook-snippet, menu-page, tripadvisor-snippet · verified 2026-03 · medium confidence
🕐 Open now
Mon7:00 AM – 9:00 PMTue7:00 AM – 9:00 PMWed7:00 AM – 9:00 PMThu7:00 AM – 9:00 PMFri7:00 AM – 9:00 PMSatClosedSunClosed
"Best Koshary is Sayed Hanafy and then El Tahrir koshary."
— r/EgyptTravelTips · Visiting Cairo — food recommendations
"Instant Koshary is way better than Koshary El Tahrir — but El Tahrir is still solid, especially the downtown branch."
— r/Egypt · What is your favourite koshary restaurant?
4Koshary Hend (كشري هند)
Popular Chain
Verdict: A solid chain that doesn't try to be fancy.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Popular Chain in Multiple locations, Downtown Cairo with a 25–50/person spend range
- Strengths
- 4.1★ from 254 Google reviews · Known for vegetarian options · Popular Chain
- Limitations
- it's consistently good, affordable, and you'll find a branch within walking distance of wherever you are downtown
- Price / value
- 25–50/person · 4.1★
- Why it made the list
- A solid chain that doesn't try to be fancy. Hend won't win any "best koshari" arguments, but it's consistently good, affordable, and you'll find a branch within walking distance of wherever you are downtown. The reliable backup plan.
- What to order
- Koshary Hend (كشري هند), a popular chain with multiple locations in Downtown Cairo, offers koshari for EGP 25–50 per person and has a rating of 4.1★ (254 reviews). Their standard koshari is reliable, but the real move is asking for extra chickpeas. Hend is known for generous chickpea portions — the legume-to-carb ratio is better here than most places.
Source quality: 3 sources · facebook-snippet, tripadvisor-snippet, menu-page · verified 2026-03 · medium confidence
🕐 Open now
Mon10:00 AM – 12:00 AMTue10:00 AM – 12:00 AMWed10:00 AM – 12:00 AMThu10:00 AM – 12:00 AMFri10:00 AM – 12:00 AMSat10:00 AM – 12:00 AMSun10:00 AM – 12:00 AM
"There are other decent koshary chains like koshary hend, koshary el tahrir, koshary sayed hanafy."
— r/EgyptTravelTips · Visiting Cairo — food recommendations
5Tom & Basal (توم و بصل)
Modern Take
Verdict: The name translates to "Garlic & Onion" — already a good sign.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Modern Take in Downtown Cairo with a 25–55/person spend range
- Strengths
- 3.9★ from 1,200 Google reviews · Known for vegetarian options · Modern Take
- Limitations
- arguably just as good
- Price / value
- 25–55/person · 3.9★
- Why it made the list
- The name translates to "Garlic & Onion" — already a good sign. Tom & Basal has developed a loyal following among younger Cairenes. Less famous than Abou Tarek but arguably just as good. A great pick if you want to eat where locals eat without the tourist crowds.
- What to order
- Tom & Basal (توم و بصل) in Downtown Cairo is a modern take on koshari, with prices between EGP 25–55 per person. The name means "Garlic & Onion" in Arabic — and they live up to it. Their da'a (garlic vinegar) is punchy, and the fried onions are excellent. Try the loaded koshari with all the toppings.
Source quality: 5 sources · google-serp-kg, facebook-snippet, tripadvisor-snippet, menu-page, instagram-snippet · verified 2026-03 · medium-high confidence
"Never tried abu tarek, I go to tom & basal coz it's near my place."
— r/Egypt · What is your favourite koshary restaurant?
6Koshary El Zaeem (كشري الزعيم)
Local Favorite
Verdict: The Ramses area near the train station is koshari central — and El Zaeem is one of the better options in the neighborhood.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Local Favorite in Ramses area, Downtown Cairo with a 20–45/person spend range
- Strengths
- 4.3★ from 557 Google reviews · Local Favorite · Ramses area, Downtown Cairo
- Limitations
- Price band: 20–45/person
- Price / value
- 20–45/person · 4.3★
- Why it made the list
- The Ramses area near the train station is koshari central — and El Zaeem is one of the better options in the neighborhood. Convenient if you're arriving by train or heading to the Egyptian Museum. No-frills, good value, quick service.
- What to order
- Koshary El Zaeem (كشري الزعيم) in the Ramses area of Downtown Cairo is a local favorite, serving koshari for EGP 20–45 per person and boasting a rating of 4.3★ (557 reviews). Order a medium koshari with extra da'a. The "Zaeem" (meaning "The Boss") lives up to its name with a bold, well-spiced tomato sauce. Get it to-go if the seating is packed.
Source quality: 4 sources · facebook-snippet, menu-page, tripadvisor-snippet, instagram-snippet · verified 2026-03 · medium confidence
🕐 Open now
MonOpen 24 hoursTueOpen 24 hoursWedOpen 24 hoursThuOpen 24 hoursFriOpen 24 hoursSatOpen 24 hoursSunOpen 24 hours
"Koshary abu tarek and Ramses street and try the sugarcane here it's lovely."
— r/Egypt · Husband's first int'l trip: need restaurants, Apr 2025
8Kazaz (قزاز)
Egyptian Kitchen
Verdict: Not a dedicated koshari shop, but their koshari is excellent — and you get the bonus of trying other Egyptian staples in one sitting.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- travelers who want a broader Egyptian food experience beyond just koshari
- Strengths
- 4.1★ from 11,578 Google reviews · Known for vegetarian options · Egyptian Kitchen
- Limitations
- their koshari is excellent — and you get the bonus of trying other Egyptian staples in one sitting
- Price / value
- 30–70/person · 4.1★
- Why it made the list
- Not a dedicated koshari shop, but their koshari is excellent — and you get the bonus of trying other Egyptian staples in one sitting. The lentil soup alone is worth the trip. Best for travelers who want a broader Egyptian food experience beyond just koshari.
- What to order
- Kazaz (قزاز), an Egyptian kitchen in Downtown Cairo, offers koshari alongside other dishes for EGP 30–70 per person. Start with the lentil soup (best in downtown according to Reddit), then get the koshari. Kazaz isn't a koshari-only spot — they do a full Egyptian breakfast spread and other traditional dishes too, making it good for a bigger meal.
Source quality: 4 sources · facebook-snippet, tripadvisor-snippet, instagram-snippet, menu-page · verified 2026-03 · medium-high confidence
🕐 Open now
Mon7:00 AM – 3:00 AMTue7:00 AM – 3:00 AMWed7:00 AM – 3:00 AMThu7:00 AM – 3:00 AMFri7:00 AM – 3:00 AMSat7:00 AM – 3:00 AMSun7:00 AM – 3:00 AM
"In downtown — Kazaz (best lentil soup but they sell all sorts of dishes including the full breakfast spread)."
— r/EgyptTravelTips · Visiting Cairo — food recommendations
10Street Cart Koshari — Tahrir Area
Street Food
Verdict: No name, no address, no Instagram.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Street Food in Around Tahrir Square with a 10–25/person spend range
- Strengths
- 4.6★ from 4,973 Google reviews · Street Food · Around Tahrir Square
- Limitations
- at EGP 10–15 a bowl, you can afford to experiment
- Price / value
- 10–25/person · 4.6★
- Why it made the list
- No name, no address, no Instagram. Just a cart, a man, and a massive pot of koshari. Street cart koshari in downtown Cairo is a rite of passage. The quality varies wildly — some are transcendent, some are mediocre — but at EGP 10–15 a bowl, you can afford to experiment. If you have a sensitive stomach, stick to the restaurants above. If you're feeling adventurous, this is the real Cairo.
- What to order
- Street Cart Koshari around Tahrir Square is a street food experience costing EGP 10–25 per person. Order whatever they're serving — street cart koshari is one-size-fits-all. Served in plastic bowls or bags, eaten standing up or perched on a nearby ledge, it's the ultimate Cairo street food experience.
Source quality: 4 sources · official-site, tripadvisor-snippet, facebook-snippet, menu-page · verified 2026-03 · medium confidence
Hours
Mon9 AM–12 AMTue9 AM–12 AMWed9 AM–12 AMThu9 AM–12 AMFri9 AM–12 AMSat9 AM–2 AMSun9 AM–12 AM
"Koshari is an Egyptian dish that exemplifies the words 'more than the sum of its parts' — rice, pasta, lentils, chickpeas all layered together with crispy onions on top and some delicious sauce."
— r/Cooking · Koshari is an Egyptian dish...
"The cheapest street food in Egypt — you can eat a filling meal for pocket change."
— r/veganrecipes · Koshari: The cheapest street food in Egypt
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best koshari in Downtown Cairo?
Based on Reddit consensus, Koshary Abou Tarek is the most recommended koshari spot in Downtown Cairo. It's a multi-floor restaurant on Marouf Street that's been serving koshari for decades. Locals also swear by Koshary Sayed Hanafy and Koshary El Tahrir as strong alternatives with their own loyal followings.
How much does koshari cost in Cairo?
Koshari is one of Egypt's cheapest meals. A small portion from a street cart costs around EGP 10–15 ($0.30–$0.50 USD). A full meal at a sit-down restaurant like Abou Tarek runs EGP 30–60 ($1–$2 USD). Even the most expensive koshari rarely exceeds EGP 70. It's arguably the best food value in the Middle East.
What is koshari made of?
Koshari (also spelled koshary or kushari) is Egypt's national comfort food. It's a layered dish of rice, macaroni pasta, lentils, and chickpeas, topped with a spiced tomato sauce (salsa), crispy fried onions, and optional garlic vinegar (da'a) and hot chili sauce (shatta). It's completely vegan by default and incredibly filling.
Is koshari vegan?
Yes! Traditional koshari is entirely vegan — rice, pasta, lentils, chickpeas, tomato sauce, and fried onions. No dairy, no meat, no eggs. This makes it perfect for vegan and vegetarian travelers. Just watch the condiments — some restaurants may serve side dishes that aren't vegan, but the koshari itself always is.
When is the best time to eat koshari in Cairo?
Lunch is prime koshari time — most Egyptians eat it between noon and 3 PM. Many dedicated koshari shops open around 10 AM and close by evening (7–9 PM). Note that during Ramadan, many koshari restaurants close entirely since it's heavy food that doesn't pair well with iftar traditions. Go for lunch on a weekday to avoid the biggest crowds.
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