Eat · Downtown and Tahrir
Koshari Abou Tarek (Downtown)
Koshari (rice, lentils, pasta, fried onion, spiced tomato sauce) at a busy downtown place: go for lunch or an early dinner; it is cheap and quick.
- Egypt's national comfort dish
- Naturally vegetarian
- Cheap, fast, filling
- Order: Koshari (rice, lentils, pasta, fried onion, spiced tomato sauce)
- Table seating
- Walk-in window: 12:00–15:00
- Bring cash
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
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More
Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, when you can walk in, what to order
Go now?
Open?
Hours not published
Easiest walk-in
12:00–15:00
Reservations
Walk-in, no reservation
Paying
Bring cash
Per person
EGP 40–702026 estimate · check
Walk-in windows
A walk-in lunch is only planned as primary when your arrival lands outside the “impossible” window.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
On the ground
How to order, tip and pay, allergies, and booking
Tipping
Service is usually on the bill already; unlike in the US, don't add 15–20% on top.
Allergies and diets
- Not on fileVegetarian · Koshari is naturally vegetarian — no meat in the standard recipe. · say: “أنا نباتي (ana nabaati)”
- AskVegan · Usually vegan already; confirm no ghee or butter is used in the rice or lentils. · say: “بدون سمنة أو زبدة (bidoon samna aw zibda)”
- NoGluten-free · Not possible — the macaroni is wheat pasta and is central to the dish. · say: “بدون جلوتين (bidoon gluten)”
Paying
Bring cash
- Prices are usually posted on a board or menu; confirm the size before ordering if unsure.
Booking
- Booking
- Walk-in, no reservation
- Reservations
- Not taken
- Note
- Walk-in; not confirmed.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
Map and nearby
Where this place is, how to get there, and what is around it
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Nearby places
Eat nearby
More detail
Everything else we know about this place
How to order here, in full
How to order here
The order of play at the counter or table, what to say, how much to order and how to pay.
No shared language? Point at the dish or a photo of it. For a printed menu, translate a photo of it.
What to say
| In English | Say or show | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| How much is this? | بكام ده؟ | bikam da |
| No sugar, please | من غير سكر | min gheir sukkar |
| The bill, please | الحساب لو سمحت | el-hesab law samaht |
| Hello | أهلاً | ahlan |
| Thank you | شكراً | shukran |
Portions and sharing
- A medium is a full meal for most people; go large only if you skipped breakfast.
Extras, condiments and what costs extra
- Extra toppings (crispy chickpeas, extra onion): Sometimes charged per add-on — Ask before requesting extras.
- Bread and a small side (tahini, pickles) often arrive unasked and are usually free — but confirm if unsure, especially at tourist-facing places.
Paying and tipping
Service is usually on the bill already; unlike in the US, don't add 15–20% on top.
- Prices are usually posted on a board or menu; confirm the size before ordering if unsure.
- Tipping: Small tips are expected widely — for a bag carried, a toilet attendant, a site guard who points something out. It is a normal part of daily transactions, not begging.
At the table
- Eat where the pot or the grill has fast turnover; a queue of locals is a good sign, not a bad one.
- Ask the price of anything without a printed menu before you order, especially at tourist-area cafés near major sights.
Paying, diet and allergies
Diet and allergies
Yes means there is something for you; ask means possible with care; no means go elsewhere.
- Vegetariannot on file
Koshari is naturally vegetarian — no meat in the standard recipe.
Show: أنا نباتي (ana nabaati)
- Veganask
Usually vegan already; confirm no ghee or butter is used in the rice or lentils.
Show: بدون سمنة أو زبدة (bidoon samna aw zibda)
- Gluten-freeno
Not possible — the macaroni is wheat pasta and is central to the dish.
Show: بدون جلوتين (bidoon gluten)
Who it suits, booking and the kitchen
Show the kitchen
Tap a need to get a large screen you can hold up to staff. The wording is the guide’s; a helper who reads the language should confirm it if your allergy is serious.
Comfort, facts and cons
Hygiene and comfort
- Seating
- Chairs at tables
- Kids
- kids' menu: no · stroller: caution · A mild, filling dish that most kids accept easily
- Access
- step-free: partial · Ground-floor counter service with seating; can be cramped at peak hours
Hygiene
- High turnover at peak lunch and dinner hours is a good sign; the dish is cooked and assembled fresh to order at busy places.
- Bottled water is the safer choice with the meal.
Facts
- Reservations
- Not taken — Walk-in; not confirmed.
- Capabilities
- food · seated_rest
- Diet
- vegetarian: unknown · gluten free: unknown · halal: unknown
- Getting there
- Streets near Champollion Street (field-verify) · ~5 min walk
Cons
- Crowded at peak hours.
- Cash; agree nothing extra to pay.
Dish glossary
| On the menu | What it is | Order it how |
|---|---|---|
| كشري (koshari) | Rice, brown lentils, macaroni and chickpeas topped with crispy fried onion and a spiced tomato-vinegar sauce. | Order by size (small/medium/large); a medium is a full meal for one. |
| شطة (shatta) | Chilli sauce served on the side. | Added to taste; ask for extra if you like it hot. |
| دقة (da'a) | Garlicky vinegar sauce, poured over to taste. | A few spoonfuls balances the dish; it is strong. |
Price check
- locals pay
- A medium koshari bowl is about EGP 40–70 (2026 estimate).
- tourist price
- A large bowl with extras runs EGP 80–120; not a scam, just a bigger portion.
- rule
- Prices are usually posted on a board or menu; confirm the size before ordering if unsure.
| Extra on the table | Typical charge | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Extra toppings (crispy chickpeas, extra onion) | Sometimes charged per add-on | Ask before requesting extras. |
Deep dive
Questions, alternatives, and where our facts come from
Questions and answers
Questions and answers
What size should I order?
A medium is a full meal for most people; go large only if you skipped breakfast.
Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk
Is it spicy?
The base dish is mild; chilli sauce (shatta) is added separately to taste.
Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk
Can I pay by card?
Plan on cash in Egyptian pounds; card acceptance has not been confirmed by Voykit.
Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk
If it is closed or full
Nearby alternatives
If it is closed or the line is too long
Places without an authored walk are ranked by straight-line distance × 1.3 at 5 km/h (3 mph)3 mph (5 km/h).
All places to eat in Cairo, with filters →
Used as a seated rest node in Cairo in 4 days.
Sources
- secondaryWikivoyage — Cairo (eat)
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Source: Price per person
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Prices are 2026 estimates from the menu or the price line on file. Check on the day.
Source: Opening hours
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Source: Best time
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
The easiest walk-in window or the quietest hour in this guide. Crowd levels are desk estimates, not counts.