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

While there’s certainly no shortage of options when it comes to breaking your fast this Ramadan outside of the confines of your home, having fetar at the top restaurants and the top kheimas (tents) isn’t always particularly affordable – especially with the latter.

Granted, there’s a very unique sense of pleasure and satisfaction in gorging on some quality food after a long, hot day of fasting, you don’t have to break the bank in doing so – as these ten affordable options prove…

1. Tablyaa

With an open fetar buffet for 120LE per person, the Nubian-inspired Tablyaa is one of the most affordable venues this Ramadan for fetar. The Sheikh Zayed restaurant has a wide variety of salads, grills, pastas, tajines, in addition to an entire section of Oriental desserts.

2. Aswan Café

Though it doesn’t offer food itself, Aswan café, located in Korba Street, has garnered a great reputation for allowing its visitors to bring their own food from neighbouring venues for fetar, all while enjoying the café’s refreshing juices, hot and cold drinks and the flavoursome post-fetar shisha.

3. El Hussein Hotel

Located in one of the most vibrant neighbourhoods during Ramadan, the namesake El Hussein Hotel’s rooftop restaurant has a wide variety of affordable dishes such as stuffed pigeons (40LE), oven baked pasta (10LE), fatta (30LE), stuffed vine leaves and mahshi (20LE) and other Egyptian staples, making for a simple but hearty fetar overlooking El Hussein Mosque and the Khan El-Khalili bazaar.

4. Fus'het Somaya

Located in Bab El Louq, Fu’shet Somaya serves delicious home-cooked food with a new menu every day. With affordable prices and a unqiue, cosy environment, it’s a popular spot – so reservations are recommended. Home-cooked food at its finest.

5. Yamal El Sham

Opened in 1998, Yamal El Sham is one of the most enduring Syrian eateries.  This Ramadan, the restaurant is offering Ramadan meals that start at 58LE, which offers a choice of grilled meals and shawerma, as well as appetisers, soups and drinks. Yamal El Sham also delivers – call 01114512202 and 01223526653.

6. El Dokkan

Believing in the almighty power of cheese, El Dokkan in Shobra is one of the more unique venues on this list. Serving fetar that includes a shrimpsplatter (23LE), Shish Tawook (23LE), Turkey (18.50LE) and Liver (19LE), it’s a convenient choice for those who want an affordable mishmash of dishes for fetar all – all smothered in cheese. El Dokkan delivers; call 01020200437 or 01276400261.

7. Abo Ammar Al Soury

Known to have one of the tastiest shawerma in the city, Abo Ammar is another Syrian venue which falls in the affordable category for fetar; think beef or chicken shawerma (18LE), kobeba sandwiches (7LE) as well as chicken or meat fatta with hummus (28LE) and a great complimentary lentil soup. The Mohandiseen branch is currently undergoing renovations, but the Heliopolis branch is open – call 0222586998.   

8. Mega Sandwiches

With branches in Heliopolis and Nasr city, Mega Sandwiches’ cordon blue sandwich (19.95LE) and chicken mozzarella sandwich (16.95LE) are the stuff of legends. The restaurant also offers wholesome meat and chicken meals (from 30LE) as well as a make-your-own pasta option where you can choose the pasta, the sauce and toppings (25LE). Mega Sandwiches delivers; call 0226904452 or 0226904453.

9. Arabiata Shabrawy

Aside from the familiar sohour foods, local street food venue, Arabiata Shabrawy , provides delicious Oiental dishes perfect for a budget-friendly fetar. The menu includes shawerma sandwiches, grills, pastas, fatta and many others – and they also deliver. Call 16919.

10. The Streat

Located in Heliopolis near Tivoli Dome, the Streat is the perfect place for a fetar hangout on a shoestring budget. Perfect for a group fetar, the Streat offers eight different sandwiches, four soft drinks and four servings of chips for 100LE, and also delivers; call 01127775588.