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

Good food is not just about how well a chef can cook; the quality of the ingredients can also make or break a dining experience. Not all venues can align these two factors, yet, somehow, Lokali in Maadi have figured it out, only using fresh, chemical-free, local produce.

Located in Maadi on a quiet road, this open space is made to look a bit like a fancy backyard with a very cosy setup of dining tables, picnic tables, and some comfortable indoor options.There’s also a small play area to keep the young ones entertained while you finish your meal.

The menu had us dazzled for a bit, because, as limited as it is, nothing on it seemed dull. The menu’s international items were well incorporated to fit fresh, local ingredients. The breakfast menu looked delicious, as did the sandwiches, but we decided to go for the Pulled Duck Nachos (150 LE), Pizza Burrata (125 LE), and Lokali’s Burger (110 LE).

Our starter– which we thought of as one of the most interesting items on the entire menu – came looking messy, and it was hard to figure out how we were going eat it. Once we figured that out, we were treated with a unique blend of flavours from the sautéed green and red chilli peppers, fresh cilantro, diced tomatoes, molten natural sour cheese, sour cream, and sliced avocados. The tortillas themselves were freshly baked and crunchy, and delicious duck shreds were zesty.

The nachos had already raised the bar so high that we thought it might be hard for the pizza to please us equally. That was not the case; the dough was deliciously moist and soft, topped with a mixture of buffalo mozzarella, burrata cheese, and rumi cheese. Complemented by the thick tomato sauce,  the cheese mix blended harmoniously, offering a balanced flavour and was deliciously stretchy texture.

Super juicy, the burger, which was styled as a smashed burger, came in a sweet buttered brioche bun along with homemade mayo and arugula. The meat itself was not spiced or marinated, but it’s meant to be this way to help grasp the flavour of the fresh minced beef. It comes with a side of chunky, crispy wedges.

By the time our dessert arrived, our stomachs were full. But that could not stop us from enjoying the sweet waffles (65 LE). Topped with popcorn, caramel, and fresh whipped cream, the scrumptious waffles were thin and a bit crispy.

All in all, this was not just an ordinary meal; it was a flavorful experience. Everything, including the service, turned out to be as good as expected – if not better. We loved Lokali’s use of local organic ingredients and how everything is fresh and homemade.