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

Attributing its name to an old Egyptian film starring legendary actor, Ismail Yaseen, about a fisherman from Suez, Sayeda Zeinab restaurant, Ibn Hamido, offers a classic Egyptian seafood experience.

Much of the décor follows the scenery of the film, which is incorporated into wall carvings and a ceiling portrait, as well as cold water fish tanks and the usual display of shrimp squid and fish on a bed of ice. We were able to inspect our fish before it was taken to the kitchen while we waited upstairs.

The restaurant was a little crowded and noisy upon our arrival, but we were led to a quieter table in the far corner where we were given water and a basket of bread to snack on during the wait – the bread was a mixture of baked and fried.

Ibn Hamido’s menu is extensive and gives you the option of having your selected fish grilled, fried, poached or cooked in a casserole.

We opted for one green salad, one white rice, a quarter kilo of Grilled Shrimp in sauce and a quarter kilo of Fried Fillet.  The Fried Fillet (75LE/kg) was soft, succulent and went well with a drizzle of lemon juice. A quarter kilo was plenty between two people. 

The portion of Grilled Shrimp (175LE/Kg), however, seemed quite small and was much more expensive. The sauce it was served in, however, was exquisite; a mixture of tangy tomatoes, parsley, onions and carrots along with herbs and spices – a perfect blend. 

Overall Ibn Hamido, without a doubt, serves the most delicious seafood to be enjoyed in a beautifully decorated setting, however, the service, when we visited appeared to be a little sloppy; we encountered two waiters noisily moving tables around in the restaurant throughout our entire meal. 

Ibn Hamido is available for parties or large groups but these should be booked in advance.  It is also advisable to take into consideration that the prices of the seafood changes every day and guests order by amount: a quarter, a half or an entire kilo if desired.