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This experience was gifted to me by A Chef's Tour, one of my favorite companies for food tours. All opinions are my own.
Are you looking for a great food tour in Cairo? Cairo may not be high on every foodie traveler’s bucket list, but I’m going to try to convince you otherwise! Cairo is an energetic city that is well worth a visit to see the Great Pyramids and the Egyptian Museum, and this food tour in Cairo will enrich your experience even further! Isn’t every trip made better with a food tour?
A guided food tour is ideal for exploring Cairo, which is difficult for inexperienced tourists to navigate. A quick Google search reveals limited information about the best restaurants and must-eat places in Cairo, in my experience. The restaurants and shops do not all have a Google listing, and those that do tend to have low ratings.
We had a great experience with A Chef’s Tour in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, so when I saw that they offered a food tour in Cairo, I knew I wanted to do this on our visit to Egypt! I was pleased with our food tour in Cairo, which led us through a labyrinth of hidden shops and tucked-away local restaurants in the old city that I would never be able to find on my own, even if I was bold enough to try.
What to Expect on the Food Tour
The Cairo Nights food tour, hosted by A Chef’s Tour, is a walking tour through the old city of Cairo. The tour starts at 4 PM and lasts four hours. On the tour, you will taste 14 dishes at local spots, walking between each location.
Group Size
One of my favorite things about the tour is that it has a maximum of eight people, ensuring you have a small group. This makes it easier to meet other travelers and allows you to visit small, local spots that wouldn’t be able to accommodate a large group.
Cultural Insights
Your guide will stop along the way to explain the history of the area. We learned the Fatimid Caliphate began construction on the Al-Azhar Mosque, the first mosque in the city, around 970 AD. They continued to settle in the area, building around the mosque, which turned into the market. People would come from Asia and Turkey to sell their goods, often living above their shops. This eventually became the market area you will explore on the food tour.
Highlights of the Cairo Nights Food Tour
I’m not going to give away the whole food tour because that is part of the fun! On the Cairo Nights food tour, you will have 14 tastings, but some of these are small bites or meant to be shared with other travelers, so you shouldn’t get too full.
Some of our favorites included Egyptian falafel, which is made with fava beans instead of chickpeas, kofta, a grilled minced-meat with spices, and a rice pudding dessert.
My Experience with the Cairo Nights Food Tour
The old city of Cairo, near Al-Azhar Mosque, is bustling with energy. Walking through the alleys is an immersive experience. Everywhere there were interesting things to see or new sounds to hear – a young man biking past, a large pan full of Egyptian bread balanced on his head; the call to prayer ringing out from the nearby mosque; shopowners hawking their wares; the sizzling sound of something being tossed in hot oil; a cow skin laying out to dry; the honking of horns as scooters fly by on the narrow streets; the sweet smokey smell of shisha filling the air from a nearby bar. There is no room for anything but the new sounds, smells, and sights as we walked through the labyrinth.
Our guide, Nada, was excellent. She was kind and knowledgeable, with extensive experience as a tour guide in Cairo. She easily led us through the maze with a purposeful stride that only a local can achieve.
At each stop, we greeted the owner as we were served mouthwatering dishes and local delicacies. Sometimes, we lingered at a table on the street, enjoying the food and becoming a part of the engaging scene. Sometimes we huddled inside a small shop to enjoy a quick taste. Then we ventured out to the market, enthralled once again with this bustling city.
Taking a Food Tour During Ramadan
A food tour is an excellent opportunity to learn about cultural food traditions and speak with local vendors and chefs.
Our tour was a little different as we were visiting during Ramadan, during which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, and we were the only two on the tour. Therefore, we had a slightly different itinerary and missed a couple of stops. They typically don’t offer tours during Ramadan, but they kindly made an exception for me as an affiliate partner.
Visiting during Ramadan allowed us to experience and learn about a cultural celebration I didn’t understand before visiting Egypt. The usual start time of our tour is 4 PM; however, because of Ramadan, they pushed the start time back to 5 PM to align more with the sunset call to prayer and breaking of fast, around 6 PM.
The market was bustling with anticipation around 5 PM. Everyone was gathering drinks and food in preparation for breaking the fast or rushing to meet their family members for the coming meal.
At our first stop, a restaurant chain popular amongst locals, everyone was already seated at their tables with family members, breads and salads on the table, counting down the minutes until fasting was over. It was, admittedly, a little awkward to taste our dish in front of them, but it did give me an appreciation for their dedication to their religion.
The fast broke shortly after that, and everywhere we went, people were sitting down for a meal, or, later that night, enjoying cups of Turkish coffee and shisha after dinner.
This gave us a lot of context for the rest of our time in Egypt during Ramadan, which is one of my favorite things about taking a food tour. It provides a deeper understanding of the place and the people you are visiting, enriching your trip.
Why Choose A Chef’s Tour for a Cairo Food Tour?
I love A Chef’s Tour and fully intend to do a food tour with them whenever it is available in my travels. Their tours are designed by a chef or local foodie and carried out by a licensed guide. The tours are led by a local guide with community connections, which allows you to taste the food in a safe and approachable way for visitors. They take you to places you likely wouldn’t find by yourself, providing insight into the food and culture.
The small-group setting is great because it allows you to chat with people from all over the world in the best possible setting: sharing a meal. Is there a better way to meet people?
I highly recommend the Cairo Nights food tour for anyone who wants to experience the local food scene in Cairo. I am confident this food tour will only add to your overall experience in Cairo.
Read More: Bangkok Food Tours with A Chef’s Tour
Tips for Enjoying a Cairo Food Tour
Dress Appropriately for a Food Tour in Cairo
This food tour in Cairo is a walking tour. The terrain in Old Cairo is generally good but can be uneven or obstructed in areas. I recommend wearing comfortable, closed-toe shoes.
Egypt is a conservative country, and in Cairo, I recommend dressing conservatively all the time. For women, that means shoulders and knees must be covered and clothing shouldn’t be too revealing. I also don’t recommend wearing a dress that drags on the ground too much, unless you don’t mind if it gets a little dirty, as you will traverse markets and alleys.
Bring Cash
Cash is primarily used in these markets, and while all the food, drinks, and water are included in the tour, you should carry cash to tip your guide and purchase anything extra.
Pace Yourself
Pacing yourself with all the delicious food is difficult, I know! The portions are either meant to be shared with a few people or small enough that you are not stuffed at the end of the tour. However, pacing yourself early on will ensure that you get to taste as much as possible.
Come Hungry
That being said, make sure you come hungry. Don’t eat a meal right before the tour – you will regret it!
The food tour offers a variety of foods: seafood, meat, soup, sides, drinks, and dessert. I recommend trying everything, although you can opt out of a dish if needed, but don’t feel bad if you don’t like something. The important part is to try, no one expects you to like everything!
The Best Time to Take a Food Tour in Cairo
The best time to take a food tour in Cairo is October through March, when temperatures are cooler. We visited in March and the weather was nice, even chilly enough that I wore a light jacket on our tour.
This tour is offered year-round, but check the calendar on the website to ensure that they are operating during your visit. The food tour is not available on Sundays.
The tour isn’t usually available during Ramadan, but even if it is, it might be a slightly different or shortened itinerary, so this is not the best time to visit Cairo for a food tour. Ramadan is celebrated during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, so it changes every year, and lasts 29 to 30 days.
Logistics of Booking a Food Tour in Cairo
Booking
The booking process with A Chef’s Tour is incredibly easy. You can book in advance on the website by choosing a date, time, and number of people. Shortly after you book, you will get an email from your tour guide providing more information.
Book the Cairo Nights Food Tour here!
Cost
This Cairo food tour costs $49 per person. Children ages 3 to 12 are $24.50.
The tour includes 14 tastings and lasts four hours. It is well worth the price for the food and insight you receive.
Accessibility
The Cairo Nights food tour is suitable for individuals with lactose intolerance and may be adjusted for those who are gluten intolerant. However, it is not suitable for pescatarians, vegetarians, or vegans.
Additionally, I wouldn’t recommend this tour for people with mobility issues, but it might be a good idea to reach out to A Chef’s Tour about this if it applies to you.
Final Thoughts on Taking a Food Tour in Cairo
Our food tour in Cairo is a precious memory from our time in Egypt. Visiting places you wouldn’t discover on your own, learning about the local culture through food, and tasting some delicious Egyptian dishes are just a few of the reasons to add a Cairo food tour to your bucket list!
Have you ever done a food tour? Are you interested in going on a food tour in Cairo?
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