Koshary Abou Tarek

Forget everything you know about casual dining. Abou Tarek is a five-floor, packed-to-the-max experience! The energy is electric, and the service is very fast. This wasn't just a meal, it was a great highlight for our trip. The koshary itself is so yummy! The spicy salsa is my favorite! And the portion sizes are no joke. A "small" plate is so incredibly fulfilling, it can keep someone full for the entire day. The best part? For about $5 total, we got 4 plates w/ beverages. Unbelievable value for such yummy, soul-satisfying food. An absolute must in Cairo!

This restaurant is a classic gem and has multiple floors. When we went it was very busy but we were seated within 20 minutes. To be put on a wait list, you can pick any floor to go to and see their wait time. Let the person in charge of the floor guide you where to sit and you can ask them how many people are ahead of you. Menu is very simple. Koshary and lentil soup in a bread bowl. Very reasonably priced. For a family of 6, we ordered an extra soup and koshary bowl and spent $13 CAD.

This was my first time trying koshari, and Koshari Abou Tarek did not disappoint. Despite the place being extremely busy and spread across five floors, the service was very impressive. The food was delicious, and I especially loved the lentil soup, comforting and full of flavor. A good first experience and definitely worth the visit.

This was a very unique Egyptian dinner. The restaurant was very busy but had 5 floors and so we got a table quickly. While it may not look the most conventionally delicious, It was phenomenally tasty and came with a whole demonstration too! We Would definitely recommend trying here. AMAZING value for money!! About 525 Egyptian pounds for 6 meals and 6 water bottles!!

The place is absolutely PACKED with both tourists and locals. There are like 5 floors and it’s hard to find a spot in any of them to dine, but it won’t take a while (for me I waited for like 2 mins). Each floor has its own kitchen, which is very impressive for me, and that’s why the service is very fast. The staff is very welcoming and tries the make your first time Koshary tasting moment the best. Food is also great, many people from my nationality said the dish wasn’t for their taste but I actually liked it -wouldn’t search for it outside of Egypt tho-. It’s also really cheap, so a very great option to feed yourself if you are a traveler with low budget. We’ve tried Koshary, the soup which is inside of a bread and rice pudding. Both Koshary and the soup were a great experience, but nothing special about the rice pudding as we have it in my country also. The first time we went, we didn’t know we had to tip, so we basically just didn’t, but very interestingly when we were there the the day after, a completely another staff -probably the one who served our food the day before- came with the bill and said this is not your first time here right and explained that there were no tips involved in the bill already, and that we needed to tip ourselves. (still not sure if it is a must or just a preference but we tipped 40 Egyptian pound and he was ok with it). Overall, it’s the most famous Koshary place around Cairo and you should definitely give it a try especially if you are staying in downtown Cairo.

f you want to try authentic Egyptian koshary, this place in Abu Barek is a must-visit. The koshary was rich, filling, and full of flavour—perfectly layered rice, lentils, pasta, chickpeas, crispy onions, and that signature spicy tomato sauce. Portion size is very generous, prices are reasonable, and the taste feels truly local, not touristy. Simple setup, fast service, and food that hits the spot—especially if you’re craving something hearty and comforting.

No visit to Cairo is complete without a trip to this landmark place. Four floors dedicated to one dish, though they have included couple more items in the menu. One cannot miss this brightly lit place close to Tahrir Square. The place was packed and we had to wait to get a table. The fact that a lot of the clientele were locals said a lot about the quality of the food. The service was friendly. The koshary did not disappoint. The friend onions and the chili sauce added the extra zing. We also had the lentil soup, served in a hollowed out bread, which was also very tasty and filling. The portions are large and quite filling. The prices are amazing - two soups and two koshary with a drink came to £4 (British pounds).

The food here is fantastic! The soup served in bread was outstanding, and the koshari was a real highlight—super tasty and unique. Overall, I highly recommend it; it's worth visiting for delicious meals. Just note that there are only 2 dishes on the menu (no full menu at the table), and prices seem noticeably higher for Europeans.