El-Shabrawy

El-Shabrawy is a vegetarian’s delight-the best Egyptian fare that I have had so far. With 17 different varieties of fuul, you are spoilt for choice. Fuul is fava beans, boiled and seasoned with lemon and spices. Shabrawy has fuul with tahina and chick peas, fuul with corn oil and with olive oil. I decided to go for King-El-Shabrawy which is fuul seasoned with salsa, tomatoes and eggs. It is served in attractive earthenware pots and tastes really good. The beans are cooked to perfection and the eggs that are added are allowed to cook till they set. The Alexandrian fuul is spiced with tomatoes, green peppers, onions, tahina and chick peas and I would recommend this too.

Felefel (popularly know as ta’miya in Egypt) are particularly crisp here, expecially Ain Katkot, which is falafel stuffed with boiled eggs-again, I would definitely recommend this. People who love their egg will love this place with omelettes and scrambled eggs on offer. Different types of salads, including baba ghanoug, tahina, taboula complete the Egyptian cuisine offering. The vegetable samosa is sure to tickle your taste buds.

A satisfying meal is one which apart from being tasty is also easy on the pocket. A meal for two with cold drinks would set you back by LE 35. Though El-Shabrawy has branches all over Cairo, the eatery at 10, Ibrahim Sreet, Korba, Heliopolis has the right ambience and you can enjoy your fuul and ta’miya piping hot, rather than go for the takeaway. The name here is signed in Arabic only-so look for a red awning and the shawerma grill outside which serve as indicators. The seating is on the mezzanine floor-try to get a table near the window so that you can watch the world go by while sipping on your fresh limon juice. The place seems to be a favourite with people of all ages and from all classes

The place also has pastas, sandwiches and burgers on offer but why would I want to have Italian or American cuisine at an Egyptian eatery?