Food · Hurghada · Egypt
What to eat in Hurghada
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Hurghada, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Michael Botros, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Grilled Red Sea fish, Sayadeya and Koshari. Choose your fish from the ice, agree a price by weight, and eat at a simple local restaurant where Egyptian families dine. Confirm the price per kilo and the weight before fish is cooked.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Grilled Red Sea fish
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 5
- Tipping
- Small tips are expected for boat crews, dive guides, drivers, porters and housekeeping…
- Food experiences
- 3
9 foods to try
Dish
1.Grilled Red Sea fish
Grouper, sea bream, snapper or calamari chosen from a display, weighed and grilled or fried, then served with rice, tahini and salads.
Where: Fish restaurants in El Dahar and around the marina, where you choose the fish and pay by weight.
Dish
2.Sayadeya
Fish cooked with rice in a dark, spiced broth flavoured with caramelised onions, a coastal Egyptian classic.
Where: Seafood restaurants in El Dahar and Sekalla.
Dish · Vegetarian
3.Koshari
Rice, lentils, macaroni and chickpeas with tomato sauce, garlic vinegar and crispy onions; filling, cheap and vegetarian.
Where: Local koshari shops in El Dahar.
Breakfast · Vegetarian
4.Ful and ta'ameya
Stewed fava beans and fava-bean falafel served with bread, pickles and salad, the everyday Egyptian breakfast.
Where: Street stalls and cafés in El Dahar; often on resort breakfast buffets too.
Street food
5.Hawawshi
Flatbread stuffed with spiced minced meat, onions and chilli, then baked until crisp.
Where: Bakeries and snack shops in El Dahar.
Snack
6.Fiteer
Layered, flaky pastry folded around savoury or sweet fillings such as cheese, meat, honey or custard.
Where: Fiteer shops in El Dahar and Sekalla.
Dish · Vegetarian
7.Mahshi
Vegetables such as vine leaves, peppers, courgettes and aubergines stuffed with herbed rice and cooked in tomato sauce.
Where: Egyptian restaurants serving home-style food.
Drink · Vegetarian
8.Karkadeh
Hibiscus tea, served iced on hot days or hot in winter, with a sweet-sour taste.
Where: Cafés, restaurants and hotel bars; dried flowers are sold in the souq.
Dessert · Vegetarian
9.Basbousa
A dense semolina cake soaked in sugar syrup, often topped with almonds or coconut.
Where: Pastry shops in El Dahar and dessert buffets in resorts.
Food experiences
Fish dinner in El Dahar
Choose your fish from the ice, agree a price by weight, and eat at a simple local restaurant where Egyptian families dine.
Lunch on a boat
Island and reef boat trips usually include a lunch of grilled chicken or fish, rice and salads served on deck between snorkelling stops.
Marina evening
The marina boardwalk and El Gouna's Abu Tig Marina have international restaurants and bars for a change from resort buffets.
Quick bites and street food
- Ful and ta'ameya — Street stalls and cafés in El Dahar; often on resort breakfast buffets too.
- Hawawshi — Bakeries and snack shops in El Dahar.
- Fiteer — Fiteer shops in El Dahar and Sekalla.
Vegetarian options
Of the 9 foods in this guide, 5 are usually vegetarian: Koshari, Ful and ta'ameya, Mahshi, Karkadeh and Basbousa. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Confirm the price per kilo and the weight before fish is cooked.
- Leave the all-inclusive resort at least once to try local food in El Dahar.
- Alcohol is served in hotels and tourist restaurants but rarely in local eateries.
- Drink bottled water and be cautious with ice and raw salads in basic places.
- During Ramadan, local restaurants may close by day and serve iftar at sunset.
Tipping
Small tips are expected for boat crews, dive guides, drivers, porters and housekeeping, and about 10% in restaurants if service is not already added.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Salam alaikum | Hello (peace be upon you) |
| Shukran | Thank you |
| La, shukran | No, thank you |
| Bikam? | How much? |
| Ma'a salama | Goodbye |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Hurghada famous for?
Grilled Red Sea fish, Sayadeya, Koshari and Ful and ta'ameya. Grouper, sea bream, snapper or calamari chosen from a display, weighed and grilled or fried, then served with rice, tahini and salads.
+Is Hurghada good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Koshari, Ful and ta'ameya and Mahshi.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Hurghada?
Small tips are expected for boat crews, dive guides, drivers, porters and housekeeping, and about 10% in restaurants if service is not already added.