Culinary discoveries from a country are also among the best memories of a trip. So if you're planning to travel to Égypte, you should taste the local specialties. And it's perfect timing—there's something for every palate: for light appetites and hearty eaters alike, for meat lovers, fish enthusiasts, and vegetarians too! Discover 8 dishes to try during a trip to Égypte.

1. Foul

Also called Full Mesdames or Foul Mudammas in Arabic, foul is a national Egyptian dish and one of the country's most popular. Locals particularly enjoy it at breakfast time. It's a preparation made from dried and boiled fava beans served hot with oil, salt, and lemon. It's traditionally eaten with bread, like a flatbread, into which you can add other ingredients such as tomato sauce, tahini (sesame cream), eggs, and much more…

2. Taameya

Taameya is another Egyptian culinary specialty that resembles falafels. But unlike the falafels found in the Middle East, these are made from fava beans rather than chickpeas. The paste is typically made from dried fava beans, onions, and spices. Once fried, taameyas are served with pita bread, salad, and tahini sauce. Egyptians consume them for breakfast, as a snack, or during meals as part of a famous mezzé selection.

3. Kofta

Among the typical dishes found in street food or Egyptian mezze, koftas are also worth mentioning. These are meatballs made from ground meat (usually beef or lamb) prepared with spices. These meatballs are traditionally rolled and roasted on a wooden skewer, like a kebab. One thing's for sure—you'll find them everywhere during a trip to Égypte!

4. Dolma 

Here's another dish found throughout Égypte that's served as a mezze: dolmas. Widespread across many other parts of the world—from Eastern Mediterranean countries, the Caucasus, the Balkans, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Western Mediterranean—dolmas are grape leaves stuffed with a filling that can contain rice, ground meat, onions, and spices.

5. Kochari

After the mezze preparations, it's time for a more substantial Egyptian dish—and an incredibly popular one: kochari or koschari. As surprising as it may seem to Western palates, this dish combines several starches: rice, pasta, and lentils, all enhanced with tomato sauce, onions, garlic vinegar, and chickpeas. Some also add a spicy sauce. An Egyptian delight that will please everyone, even vegetarians!

6. Fatta

Considered a Nubian dish, fatta is usually prepared for religious occasions or special celebrations. You could describe it as a bread-based stew. In detail, fatta consists of layers of rice and fried bread, covered in a soup made with meat, garlic, and vinegar, to which pieces of meat are added.

7. Moloukhiyya

Moloukhiyya is another classic of Egyptian cuisine you absolutely must discover! It's a thick soup made from a plant of the same name (known as Jew's mallow) cooked with garlic and served with rice and bread. Depending on the region of Égypte, you'll find different versions of moloukhiyya. Some prepare it in a beef, rabbit, or chicken stew, while others prefer fish and shrimp.

8. The sweet touch: Kenafeh

Attention to all fans of sweet culinary discoveries—don't miss out on kenafeh (also spelled knafeh or kanafeh)! It's a pastry made from kadaif (shredded phyllo), cheese, butter, and pistachios or walnuts, topped with a fragrant syrup infused with rose water or fruit. Crispy on the outside and melting on the inside, it's a delicately perfumed dessert to absolutely try with a delicious cup of black tea!