The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Home to hundreds of traditional eateries, many of the more modest restaurants in Cairo are greatly undervalued and unjustly overlooked. Once a modest kebda (liver) cart owned and operated by local business man Ali, his reputable establishment, Am Ali, is now a flourishing family-run restaurant in the heart of Masaken Sheraton. Unusually, customers are invited to watch the entire cooking process in a simple kitchen-come-restaurant – with no doors, the restaurant is partially open to the street.

Due to its size, take-away is recommended and the few outdoor tables are generally used as a waiting area rather than for dining. A searing flat top grill takes center stage alongside two separate stations; one for foul and falafel preparation and the other for sandwiches. We noticed how all the fresh ingredients are meticulously washed and sliced, before being stored in a fridge for freshness; their dedication to cleanliness instils a sense of confidence in their customers.

The menu is separated into foul, falafel, French fry, chicken, meat and ‘assortment’ sandwiches, container items, specialty dishes, pastas, side dishes, and beverages. We decided on a chicken roll sandwich (10LE), one chicken crispy sandwich (8LE), a Mexican hotdog sandwich (8LE), a double Am Ali burger (12.50LE) and their famous ‘kebda eskenderani’ (3.50LE).

The mouth-watering aroma of spiced meat cemented us in front of the hot grill to watch as our food was being skilfully prepared. Notably, vegetable oil was used throughout, which resulted in the food retaining its flavour without becoming greasy or dense.

Although it took some time for our orders to arrive, it was undoubtedly worth the wait. The double Am Ali burger was a flavourful, three-bun stack of two juicy burger patties, a scrambled egg omelette and an assortment of chopped vegetables, all doused with savoury sauces. The Mexican hotdog was just as exotic as we’d hoped; spicy and stir-fried with cheese, sweet peppers, olives, onions and tomatoes, the thin cut, succulent slices of hotdog were saturated with delicious homemade sauces.

Their signature kebda eskenderani was taken raw out of the fridge and folded in with an aromatic mixture of onions, garlic, green peppers, chilli sauce, cardamom and various other pungent spices. The chicken roll transpired to be a chicken breast filled with pastrami and cheese slices, which was then breaded and deep-fried. The chicken crispy sandwich is optionally spicy, and was covered in melted mozzarella, tomatoes and pickles. Although not the freshest we’ve had, both the bread rolls and fino bread were enjoyable.  

With low prices, incredible food, and an even better staff, Am Ali is one of the many local eateries tucked away on Cairo’s side-streets, that focuses more on quality and consistency than flashy facades.