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This guide is for travelers who want to experience more than monuments – those who want to connect with Egypt through flavor, tradition, and unforgettable food moments.

Taste Your Way Through Egypt: Culinary Tours, & Local Dishes

Why Add a Culinary Experience to Your Egypt Tour?

Egypt isn’t just a wonderland of temples and tombs – it’s a feast for the senses. Adding culinary stops to your itinerary gives you a deeper look into Egyptian culture, invites you to taste local life, and creates rich memories beyond the ruins. Whether you’re sampling koshari in a Cairo alley or enjoying grilled fish by the sea in Alexandria, food is part of the story.

Must-Try Dishes on Your Egypt Tour

Koshari
Layers of rice, pasta, lentils, crispy onions, and tomato sauce
Ful Medames
Mashed fava beans in a bowl, often topped with olive oil, herbs, and lemon
Taamiya
Golden-fried fava bean patties, usually served with tahini and fresh vegetables
Mahsi
Vegetables (peppers, zucchini, eggplant) stuffed with rice and herbs
Molokhia
Bright green stew served with rice or bread - unique color and texture
Om Ali
Creamy bread pudding with nuts and raisins
Baklava
Flaky pastry layered with nuts and honey
  • Koshari: Spiced lentils, pasta, rice, and tomato sauce - a street food classic
  • Ful Medames: Slow-simmered fava beans - Egypt’s national breakfast. (See main picture)
  • Taamiya: Egyptian falafel made from fava beans, not chickpeas.
  • Mahshi: Stuffed zucchini, eggplant, or peppers with rice and herbs.
  • Molokhia: Garlicky green soup made from jute leaves.
  • Om Ali: A rich Egyptian bread pudding with nuts and cream.
  • Baklava: Flaky pastry layered with honey and pistachios.

See the Sites, Taste the Stories

Food-Focused Add-Ons for Our Most Popular Day Tours

Cairo - Day Trip to the Pyramids & Egyptian Museum

  • Main Sites: Giza Plateau + Egyptian Museum
  • Flavor Moment: Follow your tour with a guided street food tasting in downtown Cairo - try koshari, taamiya, and finish with baklava and mint tea.

Alexandria - Mediterranean Day Tour

  • Main Sites: Roman Amphitheater, Bibliotheca Alexandrina
  • Flavor Moment: Stroll the fish market or try warm basbousa and strong coffee in a seaside café.

Luxor - Private West Bank Tour

  • Main Sites: Valley of the Queens, Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon
  • Flavor Moment: Enjoy an authentic Upper Egypt lunch: mahshi, molokhia, and ful medames at a locally loved restaurant.

Luxor - Full East & West Bank Experience

  • Main Sites:: Karnak, Valley of the Kings, Luxor Temple
  • Flavor Moment: Include a stop at the local market or add a home-cooked meal with a Luxor family - one of the most memorable moments in Egypt.

View Trips Details:

See more trips here:

Alexandria
from $195.00
Private Alexandria Day Tour
Highlights:
Tour the Roman Amphitheater and iconic Bibliotheca Alexandria in one private trip.
  • Cairo
  • 11 hrs
Sphinx of Giza
from $125.00
Day Trip: Giza Pyramids & Egyptian Museum
Highlights:
See Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure pyramids and Tutankhamun gold in one day.
  • Cairo
  • 8 hrs
Luxor Temple
from $100.00
Private Luxor West Bank Tour
Highlights:
Visit Hatshepsut Temple, Valley of the Queens, and Colossi of Memnon with an expert Egyptologist.
  • Luxor
  • 5.5 hrs
Tourists visit Karnak Tempel, Luxor, Egypt
from $130.00
Full-Day Luxor East & West Bank Tour
Highlights:
Luxor’s best in one day: Karnak, Kings’ Valley, Hatshepsut, and Luxor Temple.
  • Luxor
  • 8 hrs

Savor Egypt at the Source:
Markets & Meals Made by You

From vibrant souqs to hands-on cooking classes, these experiences connect you directly to Egypt’s culinary roots.
Reach out to our team at Half Moon Tours to arrange a cooking class or food-focused outing that matches your travel style. l
  • Souq Bab El-Louk (Cairo): Perfect for spice shopping and snack sampling.
  • Luxor Market: Fresh produce and fragrant herbs used in Upper Egyptian dishes.
  • Mansheya Market (Alexandria): Street food meets Mediterranean flavors.
  • Cooking Class Add-On: Learn to make mahshi, taamiya, or koshari with a local chef.

Why Book a Custom Culinary Tour with
Half Moon Travel

  • Licensed Egyptologists on every tour
  • Locally curated eateries & small family kitchens
  • Customizable Tours with food-focused experiences available in every city
Contact a specialist for custom food tours with Half Moon Travel