Restaurant
Khufu’s
Chef Mostafa Seif's contemporary Egyptian restaurant inside the Giza archaeological site, named the best restaurant in the Middle East and North Africa in 2026.
Abou El Sid Zamalek
A long-established Zamalek restaurant serving classic Egyptian home-style dishes in a dim, lantern-lit dining room filled with carpets and antique furniture.
At a glance
- Type
- Traditional Egyptian
- Area
- Zamalek, Cairo, Egypt
- Price
- $$$ · Upscale
- Official site
- abouelsid.com
Good to know
- Traditional decor
- Shisha
- Evening dining
Why we recommend it
Abou El Sid is one of the best-known names in Egyptian dining in Cairo, and its Zamalek restaurant on 26th of July Street is the original that made the brand famous. It was one of the first upmarket restaurants to treat traditional Egyptian home cooking as something worth celebrating, and it remains a favourite for Cairenes entertaining visitors from abroad. The restaurant describes its aim as offering an authentic Egyptian dining experience with traditional hospitality.
The setting is a large part of the appeal. The dining room is low-lit and dressed with oriental carpets, brass lanterns, carved wood and old-fashioned furniture, giving it the atmosphere of a grand family home from another era. Expect the kind of dishes Egyptians grow up with, such as mezze including tahini, baba ghanoush and stuffed vine leaves, molokhia with rice, stuffed pigeon, fatta, grilled meats, and slow-cooked casseroles. Desserts include om ali, the warm Egyptian bread pudding. Fresh juices and shisha are part of the experience for many diners.
It suits couples, groups of friends and visitors who want to try a broad range of Egyptian dishes in comfortable surroundings rather than at a street stall. Portions are generous, so sharing several plates works well. The atmosphere becomes lively in the evening, and it can be smoky where shisha is being served, so ask for a quieter table if that matters to you.
Booking is sensible for dinner, especially at weekends, which in Egypt fall on Friday and Saturday. Dress is smart casual. Prices are mid to upper range by local standards but fair for the quality and setting. Allow around one and a half to two hours for a full meal with mezze, a main course and dessert. Check the website for menus and branch details before you go.
The restaurant is on 26th of July Street, the main road crossing Zamalek, and is easily reached by taxi from anywhere in central Cairo. Zooba is on the same road for a more casual meal another day. After dinner, the Nile-side terraces and bars of Zamalek, including the Cairo Marriott and the rooftop bars along the river, are a short ride away. Vegetarians will find plenty among the mezze and vegetable dishes.
Abou El Sid Zamalek FAQs
What kind of food does Abou El Sid serve?
Classic Egyptian dishes such as mezze, molokhia, stuffed pigeon, fatta and grills.
Do you need to book?
Booking is recommended for dinner, especially on Friday and Saturday.
Is it expensive?
It is mid to upper range by Cairo standards.
What is the atmosphere like?
Dim, lantern-lit and traditional, with carpets and antique furniture.
Is shisha available?
Yes, shisha is served, so some areas can be smoky.
How long should you allow?
About one and a half to two hours for a full meal.
Where is it?
At 157 26th of July Street in Zamalek.