Hurghada Travel Guide - Eating Out

Traditional Egyptian restaurants are available as well as a plethora of international eateries. You could easily eat nothing but Egyptian food for the duration of your vacation, while you could just as easily avoid it altogether in favour of more Westernised cuisine if you so desired.

If its traditional Egyptian food that you are looking for then you can either settle for the food of touristy eateries, which may be some way off of being authentic, or you can seek out the establishments where the locals eat and be sure of getting the real deal. Such restaurants may not have staff that speak English and may not be full of tourists but they are in no way intimidating and are certainly welcoming of non-natives.

Local cuisine

Food in Hurghada has few local distinctions and, by and large, follows the general style of the country’s national cuisine, which is a mix of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences. Kebabs, and the meatballs known as kofta are ubiquitous and can be found everywhere from street vendors to respectable eateries.

The national dish, ful medames (mashed fava beans plus onion, garlic, parsley, olive oil and lemon juice), is commonly available as are the tasty sandwiches known as shawarma (shredded meat with tahina sauce and salad in pita bread), which are often eaten for breakfast or lunch. Stuffed vine leaves and other stuffed items are also a common feature of many restaurant menus.