Street foods of Cairo through the lens of Canada’s Muslim Harji

Street Foods of Cairo, Muslim Harji, Simergphotos.
A vendor gives a thumbs-up as he walks through a street in Cairo carrying the Egyptian simit, a delicious snack that is found everywhere in Cairo’s local streets. Looking very much like the Philadelphia pretzel, simit is a crusty, yet soft bagel-like bread coated with sesame. Photograph: © Muslim Harji.

By MUSLIM HARJI

My previous posts on street foods of India and South-East Asia were among the most popular photo essays when they were published on this blog some 10 years ago. At that time, the editor of this website, Malik Merchant, had remarked about his disappointment with street foods in Ottawa, then his home town, and Toronto, which he used to visit frequently. Due to public demand, the variety of street foods available in these two Canadian cities has vastly improved over the past few years. Malik has advised me that he would be delighted to receive posts from readers across Canada on street foods in their cities, as the busy holiday season is about to begin, with millions expected to visit the country in the coming months. As a quick quiz, do you know what are the top street foods in Canada? The answer in short: the Poutine, the Halifax Donair and the Montreal Hot Dog are three among the top 10!

Story and more photographs continue below

Muslim Harji street foods of Cairo, Simerg Photos.
Egyptian flatbread (aish baladi), which is similar to the famous pita bread, is made with whole wheat flour. It is baked in scorching-hot ovens in Cairo’s bustling markets. Photograph: © Muslim Harji.
Street Foods of Cairo, Muslim Harji, Simergphotos.
Every street in Cairo has its own favourite nut seller. Photograph: © Muslim Harji.
Street Foods of Cairo, Muslim Harji, Simergphotos.
A super-fast street food in Cairo — stirfried meat in a bread roll with sesame sauce. Photograph: © Muslim Harji.
Street foods of Cairo. Muslim Harji, simergphotos.
Cairo’s famous Attaba Market. Amongst many vendors selling popular items, stands out a stall filled with juicy oranges. Photograph: © Muslim Harji.
Street Foods of Cairo, Muslim Harji, Simergphotos.
A typical breakfast in Cairo consists of ful madames, falafel, egg, yogurt, cheese, pita bread and fruit. Photograph: © Muslim Harji.

My recent trip to Egypt introduced me to the street foods of Cairo, one of Africa’s largest cities with a population of 10 million. Founded more than a 1000 years ago by the ancestors of the Aga Khan, the 49th Hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, this sprawling city whose Arabic name is Al-Qahirah (meaning The Victorious) has hundreds of street food vendors, many of which have become institutions in their own right. Of course, as a tourist with limited time it was impossible to visit many of the renowned food streets stalls in Cairo and this photo essay is a collection of popular food vendors we stopped by as we ventured through various parts of the city. The street foods are eaten by locals every day, so one is guaranteed high-quality ingredients and an authentic taste of the city. It is also one way to get a real taste of a new city you are visiting and see what the locals enjoy in their daily lives.

Enjoy this post and I invite you to submit your own favourite street food experience in Cairo in the feedback section of this article.

Street Foods of Cairo, Muslim Harji, Simergphotos.
Cairo’s local favourite ful madamas is made with creamy fava beans and loaded with flavours from ground cumin, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil and cumin fresh herb. Apparently, food critics consider Cairo to have the best ful madamas in the world. Photograph: © Muslim Harji.
Street Foods of Cairo, Muslim Harji, Simergphotos.
You’ll see pita everywhere in Cairo’s streets. Photograph: © Muslim Harji.
Street Foods of Cairo, Muslim Harji, Simergphotos.
Taameya, the Egyptian falafel, is made with fava beans instead of chickpeas. It is a common breakfast across Egypt; however, you can find it served at all times of the day. Photograph: © Muslim Harji.
Street Foods of Cairo, Muslim Harji, Simergphotos.
Most often taameya (falafel) is served with fries stuffed in a pita pocket. Photograph: © Muslim Harji.
Street Foods of Cairo, Muslim Harji, Simergphotos.
A pita stuffed with falafel, fries, fresh tomatoes & parsley. Photograph: © Muslim Harji.
Street Foods of Cairo, Muslim Harji, Simergphotos.
Close-up; pita stuffed with falafel, fries, fresh tomatoes & parsley. Photograph: © Muslim Harji.
Street Foods of Cairo, Muslim Harji, Simergphotos.
Roasted corn on the cob is an all time street food favourite in Cairo. Photograph: © Muslim Harji.
Street Foods of Cairo, Muslim Harji, Simergphotos.
The shawarma is very popular in Egypt — it is like the cheeseburger of the Middle East, For many, it is the best street food in Cairo! Photograph: © Muslim Harji.
Street Foods of Cairo, Muslim Harji, Simergphotos.
There’s no tomato sauce on this Egyptian pizza! Cheese, chicken, and peppers were stuffed between the layers of the perfectly golden browned pastry dough. Photograph: © Muslim Harji.
Street Foods of Cairo, Muslim Harji, Simergphotos.
Groundcherry is a very popular street fruit which you can buy on Cairo’s streets. Photograph: © Muslim Harji.
Street Foods of Cairo, Muslim Harji, Simergphotos.
Anyone who visits Cairo will notice that asab or sugar cane juice is sold all over the city. What visitors to Cairo don’t know is that asab has been consumed and enjoyed in Cairo for centuries as a refreshing drink. Photograph: © Muslim Harji.
Street Foods of Cairo, Muslim Harji, Simergphotos.
Baskets of sweet oranges as a vendor fills a glass with fruit-juice. Photograph: © Muslim Harji.
Street Foods of Cairo, Muslim Harji, Simergphotos.
Cairo’s delicious pastries at affordable prices. Photograph: © Muslim Harji.
Street Foods of Cairo, Muslim Harji, Simergphotos.
Decision time as this man with a sweet tooth is confronted with many choices in a Cairo shop filled with pastries. Photograph: © Muslim Harji.
Street Foods of Cairo, Muslim Harji, Simergphotos.
Nevin Harji enjoys a plate of koshary, a comfort food of Egyptians who have it for breakfast, lunch, supper, weddings, funerals, birthdays and other occasion. Photograph: © Muslim Harji.
Street Foods of Cairo, Muslim Harji, Simergphotos.
Close-up of the Egyptian koshary. The dish has become specialized as a culinary superpower, in a class of its own. It can best be described as a symphony of taste tightly packed into a meal. Photograph: © Muslim Harji.
Street Foods of Cairo, Muslim Harji, Simergphotos.
Ripe bananas in a Cairo street. Photograph: © Muslim Harji.
Street Foods of Cairo, Muslim Harji, Simergphotos.
Made with butter, semolina, yeast and ghee, this sweet dessert literally translates to “Zeinab’s fingers.” It’s reportedly the century-old invention of a woman of the same name. Photograph: © Muslim Harji.
Street Foods of Cairo, Muslim Harji, Simergphotos.
Nevin Harji shows her amazement as she comes across a vendor selling different kinds of toasts on a street in Cairo. Photograph: © Muslim Harji.
Street Foods of Cairo, Muslim Harji, Simergphotos.
Like the picture at the top, this vendor walks through a street in Cairo carrying the Egyptian simit, a delicious snack that is found everywhere in Cairo’s local streets. Looking very much like the Philadelphia pretzel, simit is a crusty, yet soft bagel-like bread coated with sesame. Photograph: © Muslim Harji.

Date posted: April 17, 2023.

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We would like to hear from our readers in major cities in Canada about their local street foods as Canada prepares to welcome millions of visitors in the coming spring and summer months. In 2022, Canada received more than 20 millions visitors and the number is set to increase this year as more and more people are planning to travel after 3 years of Covid-19. Send your story with about 5-10 photographs in JPEG format to mmerchant@simerg.com. The cities we have in mind from the West to the East Coasts are: Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax. Of course, if you live in a city or town in Canada where street food is popular, you are invited to contribute a piece highlighting the town’s street foods.

Nevin (left) and Muslim Harji live happily in Montreal, where, over the last 40 years, they have raised two children and run a successful business. Upon retirement in 2004, Muslim and Nevin truly started to explore the world. All told, together and individually, they have visited more than 45 countries around the globe, experiencing the beauty of the Middle East, the exoticism of Asia and the wonders of South America. Kayaking the Magellan Straights, exploring Palmyra by camel, hiking up to Alamut Fort in Iran or travelling by overnight train in India, Nevin and Muslim have always favoured unique ways of experiencing the countries they visit and plan to continue fostering their love for travelling the world.

Before departing this website, please review our Home Page for links to our fantastic photo essays. We welcome feedback/letters from our readers. Please use the LEAVE A REPLY box which appears below. Please share this article link with your friends and family members. Please also visit this blog’s sister websites Simerg for Insights from Around the World and Barakah for pieces on His Highness the Aga Khan, members of his family and the Ismaili Imamat.

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