Cairo Authentic Food
An evening walking the flavours of Cairo — koshari, street classics, grilled pigeon and honey-soaked sweets.
What does Cairo Authentic Food include, and what does it cost?
Cairo Authentic Food is a private evening tour of Cairo, from €59 per person for a party of 6 or more. It includes a private local food guide for the evening; all food tastings listed in the itinerary; bottled water and tea/coffee at the ahwa; and private air-conditioned transfers.
Overview
Egypt's capital is a feast best discovered on foot and after dark. This guided evening leads you through the dishes that define everyday Cairo — the carbohydrate symphony of koshari, the breakfast-anytime staples of ful and ta'meya, the meat-stuffed hawawshi and grilled pigeon, and a sweet finish of kunafa and basbousa. You end where Cairenes do, over mint tea and shisha at a traditional ahwa (café). A relaxed, flavour-led counterpoint to the monuments.
Itinerary
Koshari
Start with Egypt's national dish — koshari, a comforting layer of rice, lentils, pasta and chickpeas under crisp fried onions and a tangy tomato sauce.
Ful & ta'meya
Taste ful medames, the slow-cooked fava beans eaten morning to night, alongside ta'meya, Egypt's fava-bean take on falafel, fried fresh to order.
Hawawshi & grilled pigeon
Move to the savoury heart of the evening — hawawshi, spiced minced meat baked in crisp bread, and hamam mahshi, grilled pigeon stuffed with seasoned rice.
Kunafa & basbousa
Turn to dessert with warm kunafa, its shredded pastry over sweet cheese, and squares of syrup-soaked basbousa semolina cake.
A traditional ahwa
Finish at a backstreet ahwa over mint tea, Turkish coffee and the murmur of the city — the way every Cairo evening should end.
Included & not included
Included
- Private local food guide for the evening
- All food tastings listed in the itinerary
- Bottled water and tea/coffee at the ahwa
- Private air-conditioned transfers
- Hotel pickup & drop-off
Not included
- Alcoholic drinks
- Additional dishes beyond the tasting menu
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa
- Personal expenses
- Tipping (gratuities)
Good to know
Is the food safe for visitors?
Yes — we choose busy, trusted establishments with high turnover, and your guide handles ordering. Bottled water is provided throughout.
Can dietary needs be accommodated?
Vegetarians are well served — koshari, ful, ta'meya and the sweets are all meat-free. Tell us in advance about allergies and we will adjust the route.
Will I be too full?
Portions are tasting-sized and spread across the walk, so you sample widely without overdoing any one stop. Come hungry but not anxious.
Is this journey right for you?
- Travellers who would rather see four things properly than twelve badly
- Anyone who wants a licensed Egyptologist beside them, not a headset and a flag
- Couples and families for whom pace, comfort and privacy decide whether a trip works
- Visitors marking something — a honeymoon, an anniversary, a milestone birthday
- Anyone looking for the lowest price on Egypt — we are not the cheapest and do not try to be
- Coach tours, shared group departures and itineraries sold by the seat
- Hostels, dormitories and hop-on backpacking routes
- Travellers who would rather organise the logistics themselves
What this journey is, without exception
Every operator in Egypt uses the word luxury. These are the specifics behind ours — checkable before you pay for anything.
A licensed Egyptologist, not a guide
Every journey is led by a guide licensed by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism with a degree in Egyptology. They are with you at the monuments, not waiting in the car park — and they are yours for the day, answering your questions rather than reciting to forty people.
Your party only
No shared coaches. No fixed departure dates. No strangers on your itinerary. If you are two people, the vehicle, the guide and the pace belong to two people.
Built around you, then written down
We design the itinerary from your interests and your dates — not from a catalogue page. You receive it in writing before anything is paid, and it changes as often as you want it to until it is right.
One price, itemised
The quote lists what is included and what is not, line by line, before you commit. Your Egyptologist, private air-conditioned transfers and lunch on touring days are inside the price on every journey, and entrance fees are inside it on every multi-day one. Where something sits outside — monument tickets on a day tour, for instance — it is named on the page you are reading, at the rate the ticket office charges, not discovered at the end.
Reachable while you travel
You have a direct line to the people who planned your journey for the whole time you are in Egypt — not a call centre, and not a number that stops answering after the deposit clears.
Time protected, not filled
A day with four sites crammed into it is a cheaper day to sell and a worse day to live. We plan around light, heat and crowds — the Valley of the Kings at opening, the Egyptian Museum when the coaches have gone — and we leave the afternoon alone.
On price, plainly
Kemet sits at the upper end of the Egyptian market and we are comfortable saying so. A private Egyptologist for a week costs what it costs; so does a car that is yours alone and a room that faces the river rather than the car park. What we will not do is quote low, then recover the difference through optional extras, shopping stops and an itinerary that quietly turns into a group. Every price on this site is a per-person starting point for a private journey, and the written quote that follows is the price you pay.
Preparation reading
Guides to help you prepare for this journey.
Egypt Travel Guide
Everything you need to plan a trip to Egypt — visa requirements, the best time to go, getting around, top destinations, culture and practical essentials.
Best Time to Visit Egypt
Egypt's best travel season is October to April, when Nile Valley temperatures are mild and monuments are comfortable to explore. Here is what to expect season by season and destination by destination.
Getting Around Egypt
How to travel between Egypt's cities and sites — domestic flights, the sleeper train, Nile cruises, the Cairo Metro, taxis and private transfers explained.
Similar journeys
Religious Cairo & the Citadel
The Hanging Church, Ben Ezra Synagogue and Abu Serga in Old Cairo, then Saladin's Citadel and the alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali.
Cairo Museums
The treasures of the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, then the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and its Royal Mummies Hall.
Honeymoon on the Nile
Egypt as a honeymoon should be — private sunrise at the pyramids, a felucca at golden hour, three nights on the Nile and suites chosen for the view.
Talk to a local expert
Our team lives and breathes Egypt travel. Share what draws you here — we'll help you design the journey that fits.