Restaurants Guides and Data:

Best Dining Bets:

Dining - Local Cuisine & Customs:

Cairo has an enormous number of restaurants, catering to most needs. Cheap food can be found everywhere in street restaurants and snack stalls. The top notch restaurants are often, but not always, found in hotels and Nile boats. The borders between restaurants and cafes are not crystal-clear in the Egyptian capital. In many places it is perfectly acceptable to just have a drink or shisha. Medium and high-range outlets might have a minimum charge. Cheaper restaurants will normally not serve alcohol as well as some more expensive outlets. In general, downtown is good for budget eating, while for higher quality eating you should head to Zamalek, Mohandesin or any of the other more Global cuisine is always available in a large variety of city restaurants, but whether you choose local or international flavours it is wise to leave room for a sticky, sweet Egyptian dessert.

Tipping:

Tipping in Egypt is called baksheesh. In hotels and restaurants a gratuity of between 10% and 15% is the acceptable norm. However, baksheesh is expected for every service. Attendants at Cairo's historical buildings, footwear supervisors in mosques, taxi and camel drivers, baggage handlers and tour assistants will all ask for something extra from those who can afford it. Low wages necessitate this requirement and the working people of Egypt rely on the generosity of visitors. The equivalent of between USD 1.00 and USD 2.00 is an appropriate amount each time.

Example of Advised, best, Clean Egyptian Restaurants:

Abu Sid:

(Off 26th of July St., Zamalek, Cairo ) Reservations are required at this upscale eatery, and when you get to the table, traditional Egyptian cuisine never tasted so good. Get down to the classics in an intimate atmosphere decorated with icons of Egyptian culture from the golden days of music and film.

Bab Inshal:

(Midan el Souq, Siwa): This place is about atmosphere as much as the food. The rooftop restaurant at the Bab Inshal is backed into the ruins of the ancient city of Shali in the center of the oasis. The menu of Siwan dishes was developed by a French chef and is at once bold and satisfyingly simple. This restaurant serves the best Egyptian breakfast in the country.

Fish Market:

(El Geish Road, Alexandria ) : Down-market atmosphere and upmarket food make this the best place to settle into a traditional Alexandrian meal of shrimp and grilled fish. Head down here around sunset to take advantage of the best harbor view in town.

La Scala (Abu Tig Marina, Gouna): Look in the window, and you're going to see a basic diner with a long open kitchen and simple decor. Get down to business with the food, though, and you're going to have the best steak and grilled vegetables on the Red Sea coast.

Mogul Room:

(Pyramids Road, Giza, Cairo ): It's a long drive from Downtown Cairo, but the Mogul Room would be worth it even if it was another hour. The food is the best Indian meal in town, and the location -- the lush, 19th-century Mena House Oberoi and the pyramids -- adds additional spice to the meal.

Moudira Hotel Dining Room:

(West Bank, Luxor): Classically elegant tables amidst the garden of Al Moudira's central courtyard makes for one of the loveliest and most sophisticated restaurant settings in Egypt, and the food lives up to the architectural billing.

Tandoori:

(Naama Bay, King of Bahrain Street, Dahab): From the street, the only indication that this place even exists is the scent of spices that wafts through the doors of the Camel Hotel. Inside you'll find the best north Indian cuisine on the coast at a price that won't make a dent in your wallet.

Maison Thomas :

Open 24 hours, this small restaurant has been serving Zamalek residents since 1922 and has built a reputation on its delicious food and efficient delivery service. Only six small tables and barely enough room at that, the kitchen is Italian and casual dining place

Kandahar:

For authentic Indian food in an attractive setting, this elegant Indian restaurant makes for a wonderful place to splurge. The food and service are as one would expect from a restaurant operated by the Oberoi chain – down town location

Abou Shakra:

A Cairo landmark, this fancy kebab house has been serving locals for over 50 years. There are other branches in Heliopolis and Mohandiseen. Recently refurbished and purged of its Disney idols and other kitsch collectibles, this is a place where you can eat Egyptian barbeque food

Da Mario:

An elegant dining experience, this popular Italian restaurant inside the Ritz Carlton is famous for its authentic food and efficient service. Diners have the choice of sitting inside or on the terrace. Romantics will prefer the atmosphere of luxuries

Arabesque:

Notable for its art gallery and fine Oriental decor, the food at this tourist trap is overpriced. Come for the decor and its contemporary art exhibits, which change monthly. Tourists pile in to sit at widely-spaced tables 

Carlo's Pizza:

Great outdoor setting and superb pizza at affordable prices, what more can you ask for? On the top deck of Le Pacha boat with refreshing breezes and a Nile panorama. The dozen or so wicker table and pillowed chair

Tirol:

On the outside it might appear to be another Swiss restaurant, but the staff inside this cosy chalet restaurant are adamant about its Austrian distinction. The chalet harbors three restaurants to suit your mood.

Citadel View Restaurant:

The Citadel View restaurant serves authentic Egyptian and French cuisine. The interiors are done in Limestone and the floors are clad with Egyptian rugs. Entry: $6-$16. This restaurant is located on the famous Al-Azhar Park with a view to the Cairo Citadel

Florencia Restaurant :

Fine dining and fabulous sunsets await those who discover this Zamalek treasure. Ten floors up with unobstructed views of the Nile and Pyramids, the modestly decorated dining room is large enough for a hundred. Candle-lit table.

Abou Tarek :

Serving only koshari, the filling Egyptian fast food, this is a staple of any visit to Cairo
 

Famous Historical Cafes

Naguib Mahfouz Café:
 

Perfect lunchtime stop amidst the bustling Khan al Khalili shopping district. The local appetizers are well worth trying.

Café Riche:
 

Something like a museum in itself, this colonial-feel eatery prepares simple dishes while the patrons discuss its past with the maître

Other important links:

http://www.cairodining.com/Resturant_Coffe_Shops.aspx

http://www.peking-restaurants.com/

http://www.bullseyepub.com/

http://www.wagamama.com.eg/

http://www.eat-eatalian.com/

http://www.littlebuddha-sharm.com/

http://www.thepharaohs.com.eg/

http://www.barrysone.com/

http://www.hanamisushi-eg.com/hanami/index.asp

http://www.karenscoffee.com/

http://www.thekitchendahab.com/