Quick answer
Egypt is surprisingly good for vegetarians. Koshari, ful medames and ta'ameya are everyday street food, and Coptic fasting food, called siyami, contains no animal products at all. Indian restaurants are limited to a few in Cairo, but Nile cruises used to Indian groups often add dal and vegetable curries. Jain travellers will struggle with onion and garlic and should carry food.
How easy is it to eat well?
Vegetarian & Jain friendliness
5 = easy everywhere, 1 = plan every meal
Indian food availability
5 = Indian restaurants everywhere, 1 = rare
What to order (and what to ask about)
Koshari
Rice, lentils, pasta and chickpeas with spicy tomato sauce and crisp onions. Egypt's national dish and fully vegetarian.
Ful medames
Slow-cooked fava beans with oil, cumin and lemon; the standard Egyptian breakfast.
Ta'ameya
Egyptian falafel made from fava beans and herbs, green inside and very crisp.
Aish baladi with tahina and baba ghanoug
Wholewheat flatbread with sesame sauce and smoky aubergine dip.
Feteer meshaltet
Flaky layered pastry made with ghee, eaten with honey or cheese. Some fillings contain meat, so check.
Mahshi
Vegetables stuffed with rice and herbs, often cooked in meat stock. Ask for the siyami version, which is vegetarian.
Molokhia
Green jute-leaf stew, usually made with chicken or rabbit stock.
Hawawshi
Bread stuffed with spiced minced meat and baked.
Fattah
Rice and bread layered with garlic-vinegar sauce and lamb, eaten at Eid.
Kofta and kebab
Grilled minced meat and lamb, the centre of most grill restaurants.
Om Ali
Baked bread pudding with milk, cream and nuts, Egypt's best-known dessert.
Asab (sugarcane juice)
Freshly pressed sugarcane juice from street stalls, just like ganne ka ras at home.
Phrases that help
| Say | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ana nabati (man) / Ana nabatiya (woman) | I am vegetarian |
| Min gheir lahma | Without meat |
| Fih lahma? | Is there meat in it? |
| Siyami | Fasting food: Coptic dishes made with no animal products |
| Min gheir bayd | Without egg |
| Min gheir toom wa basal | Without garlic and onion |
| La, shukran | No, thank you |
Is Egypt good for vegetarians?
Yes, more than most people expect. Egypt's everyday food is built on beans, lentils, rice and bread. Koshari shops serve a single dish, and it is fully vegetarian; ful and ta'ameya are breakfast staples, and bakeries sell fresh aish baladi everywhere. The most useful word to learn is siyami: Coptic Christians fast from animal products for long periods each year, so many restaurants offer siyami dishes with no meat, dairy or egg.
Indian food in Egypt
Indian restaurants are limited to a handful in Cairo, mostly in Zamalek, Maadi and New Cairo, plus Indian dishes at some large hotels. In Luxor and Aswan there is very little outside the cruise ships. Choose a Cairo base with this in mind on where to stay in Egypt.
Eating on a Nile cruise
Cruise meals are buffets with salads, rice, pasta, cooked vegetables, bread and Egyptian dishes. Ships used to Indian groups often add a dal, a vegetable curry or paneer on request. Tell the cruise about vegetarian or Jain needs when booking and again at check-in. Compare cruise costs on Egypt trip cost.
Jain food: plan ahead
Egypt is difficult for Jain travellers. Koshari's crisp onions and garlic-vinegar sauce, ta'ameya's herbs and onion, and garlic in most stews rule out much of the local food. Carry khakhra, thepla and ready-to-eat meals, and ask the cruise chef for plain rice, boiled vegetables and fruit.
What to watch for
- Meat stock in mahshi, molokhia and some soups. Ask for siyami.
- Ghee and butter in feteer and pastries; fine for most vegetarians, not for vegans.
- Raw salads and tap water can upset sensitive stomachs. Stick to bottled water and cooked food for the first few days.
Koshari is the best cheap vegetarian lunch on a sightseeing day. A large bowl costs very little and keeps you going until dinner.
Plan your days with things to do in Egypt and check entry rules on our Egypt visa guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is koshari vegetarian?
What does siyami mean in Egypt?
Will I get Indian food on a Nile cruise?
Can Jain travellers manage in Egypt?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
