Who doesn’t love to get to know recommended restaurants in some countries? I know that I love it! But what’s even better than getting to know these restaurants through a friend is to know them through official awards, like MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants. If a restaurant won an award then that means that people and food experts love it.
So today, let me tell you about the 5 Egyptian restaurants which were included in this year’s MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards. Get ready to know about what each restaurant has to offer and why you should try them!
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MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants
[Source: Official Website]
Before I start telling you about these 5 restaurants, I must tell you what are MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards.
First things first, MENA is the acronym for Middle East & North Africa. So the full name for the awards is Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants. Despite the fact that the awards were launched in 2022, it has become widely known in the MENA region. So if the winning restaurants celebrate their win, why shouldn’t we talk about them? Along with talking about them, we should know why they deserved to win!
Since the MENA region has several countries, it is worth mentioning that this annual list chooses winners from 19 countries in the region. Some of those countries include Algeria, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and lastly Egypt which is the location for our 5 restaurants today. What is even more impressive is the fact that these 50 restaurants were chosen by a jury of 250 members; so they are definitely good.
Now, you will get to know about the best 5 restaurants in Egypt!
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Zooba (Zamalek)
Our first restaurant is Zooba which ranked 9th on MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards list. From 16 countries, 9 is an impressive rank!
Firstly a little background information about Zooba. Zooba was opened in 2012 by Egyptian-American businessman Chris Khalifa; Khalifa wanted to start a business in his home country and we are lucky that he decided to open Zooba.
When it comes to food, get ready to experience Egypt’s street food through Zooba. So yes, Zooba is classified as a street food restaurant. The street food offered by Zooba includes Egypt’s famous dish koshari. If you don’t know what exactly is that then let me tell you! koshari is a mix of pasta, lentils, and rice and it tastes delicious. These 3 ingredients are the basic ones, but with time Egyptians added many ingredients to the dish.
Today, people make koshari in whatever recipe they prefer. What I’m sure of is that no matter what recipe used, you will fall in love with koshari. But koshari is not the only dish offered at Zooba. Other dishes include taameya (Egyptian falafel), basterma (air-dried beef) eggs, hawashi (a stuffed pita), and more!
Along with the mouth-watering dishes, Zooba offers an impeccable atmosphere and friendly service. The first thing your eyes will notice is the colorful décor; the most famous part of Zooba is its turquoise door. Did I mention that Zooba is environmentally friendly? The restaurant’s takeaway orders are given in paper bags rather than plastic ones.
It’s safe to say that Zooba is a perfect place to take pictures, especially with its vibrant colors and flowers!
- Location: 16 26 July St, Al Gabalayah, Zamalek Giza Governorate, Cairo, Egypt.
- Opening hours: Daily from 8 am – 1 am.
- Menu: Official menu.
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Kazoku
Our next winner is Kazoku and it ranked 12th on MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards list. Now when it comes to the important details: Kazoku is a Japanese restaurant and bar unlike any other in Egypt. The Japanese-inspired restaurant is considered to be one of the best fine dining destinations in Egypt; so if you ever visited Egypt and were planning to go on a date, Kazoku is your destination!
A fun fact about Kazoku is that its name means “family,” and trust me when you go there you will feel like you are at home; especially with the décor which offers warm sensations along with tranquility. But there are more words to describe the beauty of Kazoku’s interior. The restaurant has over 100 seats which would be perfect for a family dinner. It also has a beautiful terrace which they introduced in late 2022, Kazoku Garden, and it is breathtaking.
Another advantage of Kazoku’s design is the many seating options that you could choose from; you have the bar, the garden, the dining area, the sushi bar, and more.
When it comes to prices, Kazoku is kinda expensive, but with the experience they offer you, it is definitely worth it! This experience includes the amazing food on their menu; trust me, you will find almost everything you could wish for. Unlike Zooba, Kazoku serves alcohol, but not any kind of alcohol; they have a great selection of wine and other alcoholic beverages.
By now you can see that if you are looking for a place that serves Japanese cuisine but adds a twist to it, then Kazoku is the perfect suggestion.
- Location: Swan Lake Compound, 1st Settlement, New Cairo, Cairo, Egypt.
- Opening hours: Daily 2 pm – 12 am.
- Menu: Official menu.
- Reservations: [email protected]
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Sachi Giza
The third restaurant on our list is Sachi Giza and it ranked 22nd in MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards list.
When it comes to Sachi Giza, you will feel like you are close to touching the sky due to its design and placement. One of its most loved characteristics is the fact that it is a rooftop restaurant that presents a whole new kind of beauty.
Sachi Giza’s beauty doesn’t stop at its placement. The interior of the restaurant is also jaw-dropping. You will be awestruck by the fine marble and the eye-catching chandeliers. It is also the perfect place for you if you are a fan of restaurants that have a large space; Sachi Giza has 350 seats so it covers this area.
Another reason to love Sachi is the meaning behind its name. Sachi is a Japanese word it means “Child of Joy.” To be honest with all its advantages and the beauty of the place, Sachi Giza will surely bring all of its customer’s joy.
Along with the amazing food, Sachi Giza has a great selection of cocktails that taste just as good as their food. Sachi Giza is known for serving Mediterranean food on their menu; however, they add its own touch to the dishes and mix them with different dishes from other cuisines. But don’t worry about having a few options to pick from because Sachi Giza includes three kitchens. They have the central kitchen, the sushi counter, and the robata grill. Sounds amazing to me!
- Location: Park St, El-Bostan, Al Sheikh Zayed, Giza Governorate, Egypt.
- Opening hours: They are open from Sunday to Saturday. Lunch hours: 2 pm – 6 pm. Early dinner: 6 pm – 9 pm. Late dinner: 9 pm – 12 am.
- Menu: Official menu.
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Sachi Cairo
I know that you are going to wonder why there are two Sachi restaurants mentioned. Both branches are included in MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards list with Sachi Cairo ranked 30th. Since both branches are included, we should mention both! Even on Sachi’s official website they celebrate and mention the two branches and not just one. So it is only fair that we do the same.
Just like Sachi Giza, Sachi Cairo has its own beauty and amazing food. Their menu is a fusion of Mediterranean food with Asian food and it is inspired by their travels around the world; they make it work! When it comes to the décor, Sachi Cairo’s elegant décor has stolen our hearts. You will find yourself met with a great atmosphere that is enhanced with the comfy chairs, which accommodate 100 people, and black tables.
The fact that Sachi Cairo was the first branch doesn’t mean that it’s not as good as their newest branches. With the opening of Sachi Cairo, it quickly managed to establish itself as one of the best gourmet restaurants in Egypt. They deserve to be named this, especially because their great food is accompanied by great service and atmosphere.
So next time you find yourself in Egypt, make sure to try both Sachi Cairo and Sachi Giza too. After you try both of them, feel free to choose your favorite branch!
- Location: 3, Cleopatra St. Heliopolis – Cairo, Egypt.
- Opening hours: They are open from Sunday to Saturday. Lunch hours: 2 pm – 6 pm. Early dinner: 6 pm – 9 pm. Late dinner: 9 pm – 12 am.
- Menu: Official menu.
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Reif Kushiyaki Cairo
[Source: Official Facebook]
The last restaurant that I’m going to mention today is Reif Kushiyaki Cairo. It has ranked 45th on MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards list. I know what you might be thinking if it’s the 45th out of 50th restaurants, is it even good? Well, actually it is. The fact that it made it into the list is a great piece of evidence.
Since we are talking about restaurants in Egypt, I must mention that Reif Kushiyaki didn’t start out in Egypt. The famous restaurant made it to Dubai first before Egyptians got the chance to experience it first-hand. The perfect definition for Reif Kushiyaki is that it is a Japanese-inspired restaurant that offers a wide variety of food like skewered grills.
I know that name sounds weird in a way, but don’t worry, it does have meaning! The “Reif” in the restaurant’s name represents Reif Othman who was the one to open it. While the word “Kushiyaki” has two parts; “kushi” is the Japanese word for skewers and “yaki” comes from the restaurant being an ode to robatayaki. In case you didn’t know, robatayaki is a fireside cooking technique in Japan. Even the name is interesting!
From the moment you step inside Reif Kushiyaki Cairo, you will notice its family vibes; it helps even more that the atmosphere is informal rather than formal. When it comes to food, you should get ready to experience Japanese street food but in a new light.
So if Reif Kushiyaki Cairo has a great atmosphere, amazing food & cocktails, welcoming staff, and beautiful décor, why would anyone choose not to visit it?
- Location: 5A By The Waterway, New Cairo 3, Cairo Governorate, Egypt.
- Opening hours: The entire week from 12 pm to 12 am except for Thursday and Friday from 12 pm to 1 am.
- Menu: Official menu.
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We have told you everything you need to know about the 5 Egyptian restaurants in this year’s MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards. We also told you what are MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards and why they are important. Now you can choose the restaurant you would love to try while visiting Egypt!
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