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

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Sikh Mashwi

Sikh Mashwi: Oriental Classics Along the Agouza Corniche

reviewed by
Hend Salah
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Sikh Mashwi: Oriental Classics Along the Agouza Corniche

Agouza isn’t exactly the first place that comes to mind when dining out, but the Corniche is home to several Nile-side restaurants and cafes, the latest of which has come in the form of Oriental eatery,   Sikh Mashwi.

Located in between neighbouring restaurants, Sea Gull and Latino Café, a stretch stairs leads you down to the dining area, which, despite its white furniture giving it a chic aesthetic, is pretty indistinctive, though the street-lamp inspired lighting fixture overlooking each table is a nice touch and the spacious indoor and outdoor areas afford diners a pleasant view of the Nile.

The menu offers classic Middle Eastern dishes, ranging from tajines to grilled platters, as well as roasted dishes including duck and turkey. Going for a starter of hummus salad (13.95LE) and oven-baked pasta (44.95LE), alongside two servings of grilled stuffed chicken served with short-grained white rice and mashed potatoes(64.95LE) as our mains, our food was served a mere twenty minutes later.

Served with fresh-out-of-the-oven Egyptian flatbread and baked pita bread cut into triangles, the hummus was thick enough to be used as a spread and it tasted delicious – a perfect balance of tehina and chickpeas.

Following a classic Egyptian recipe, the oven-baked pasta was comprised of two layers of pasta infused with ground meat and topped with a thin layer of creamy béchamel sauce. Unfortunately, it was a little bland in flavour thanks to a noticeable lack of seasoning and was, overall, a little dry.   

The chicken dish, however, fared much better. Comprised of five medium sized juicy and moist chicken breasts stuffed with a thick layer of well-spiced minced meat, the grilled chicken had a refreshing citrus flavour that played off the meats nicely. The accompanying rice was rich in flavour a la home-cooked rice, but the mashed potato serving was undercooked and under-seasoned.

The dessert section offers more Middle Eastern classic, including Om Alikunafa and couscous, but served with a number of different sauces – dark, milk or white chocolate, as well as honey or caster sugar – it was the zalabya (36LE) that intrigued us most.

Never ones to say no to chocolate-covered anything, we took our serving with dark and white chocolate and the zalabya was warm, golden, crispy and hot from the oven. We sealed the deal with a kiwi-mango and mint-gum shishas (32.50LE each) which were expertly prepared and tended to – a nice ending to a chilly night by the Nile.

Sikh Mashwi isn’t the most memorable of restaurants, but as far as affordability and the Nile-side location, it hits the right notes.

(Photo courtesy of Ehab Hegazy)

360 Tip

Sikh Mashwi hosts private events, inlcuding birthdays and engagement parties. 

Best Bit

Great view, friendly staff and the chocolate zalabya was delicious.

Worst Bit

At the end of the day, Sikh Mashwi does little to distinguish itself from other similar restaurants.

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