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In this article, we’re going to review and recommend the best Cairo food tour for 2025. This article focuses specifically on the Bellies En Route food tour in Cairo. We will share our own experience of the food tour and also answer some important questions to help you plan your trip.
If you are hoping to experience the best of Cairo food, all the way from street food to delicious traditional restaurants, then we highly recommend booking yourself onto a Cairo food tour. This is an awesome way to connect with the culture and experience some of the best food around. It is also a fantastic way to familiarize yourself with Cairo and learn about the culture, history, and food of this magnificent city.
We absolutely loved doing the downtown Cairo food tour, and we are super excited to recommend it in this article. So if you’re considering doing a food tour or your just looking for some inspo – please read this article carefully. We have also included a video showing our experience of this food tour. So you don’t just need to take our word for it. Watch the video and see for yourself why we love and recommend the Bellies en Route Downtown Cairo Food Tour…
Why do the Bellies En Route food tour in Cairo?
One of the best ways to immerse yourself in a new culture is to experience the local food. One of the best ways to experience the local food is to connect with locals. In our experience, locals always know the best places to eat, so if you are looking for hidden gems and the best places to try food in Cairo, then we highly recommend booking yourself onto a food tour.
- Try the best local foods that you would never find on your own
- Make new friends – locals and other travelers
- Learn the fascinating history and culture of Cairo and connect with locals
- Explore & acclimatize with local experts to show you the best places to eat and hidden gems
- Fill up with some of the most tasty, fresh, healthy and authentic local food including street food and gourmet restaurants
- Help out – the local food tours bring business and support locals. They even ensure that no food is wasted by donating excess food to help locals struggling with poverty and hunger.
Who are Bellies En Route?
Bellies En Route is a food tour operator based in Cairo Egypt. They specialize in ethical private and group food tours and also offer other culinary experiences.
- They offer guided food tours to some of the BEST food spots in downtown Cairo
- They have around 12 fun, friendly, knowledgeable English-speaking guides
- Guides are carefully selected and well trained to offer the best experiences
- The guides show a great understanding not only of English language but also western culture (so they are very quick to read and adapt to the needs of their guests)
- They have a commitment to ethical and sustainable tourism supporting local businesses whilst minimizing single use plastic and supporting local poor people
How much food do you eat on the Bellies en Route food tour?
You will always go home with a tummy full of food and a smile on your face. The Bellies en Route food tour includes around 8 to 10 stops (5 – 6 in Ramadan). We love the way they organize and collaborate with locals. For example they have arranged reasonable portion sizes so that you do not overfill at any of the stops.
The Cairo downtown food tour is planned very cleverly to include more of the heavy foods towards the beginning, when you are feeling hungry, and then lighter foods and desserts towards the end of the food tour. We found that the portion size and pace of the food tour was perfectly planned so that you could enjoy all of the stops. If you are starting your food tour at lunch time, we recommend that you have a small breakfast on the day of your food tour so that you arrive hungry but not ravenous. Skip lunch. Although there is a lot of food on the tour, you should be able to experience a wide variety of food without getting too full.
Top tip – make the most of your time
We recommend doing the food tour early in your trip to Cairo. By taking a food tour at the beginning of the trip, you will be able to acclimatize yourself. It is a fantastic way to build your confidence and familiarize yourself with the climate and intensity of Cairo. It is also a fantastic way to find some of the best places to eat, so that you can return later in your trip. Taking a food tour at the start of your trip will also help you learn your way around this epic and intense city.
What is included on the Bellies en Route food tour?
Here is a map showing the normal meeting point for tours (we do recommend checking the meeting point before your trip as this may change)
The food tour includes all food and beverages at each of the stops. This is a copious amount of delicious local food. They also include a local English-speaking tour guide. They will tell you plenty of fascinating facts about the food and culture that you experience on the tour. The food tour also includes Unlimited Mineral Water. The tour guides generously tip waiters and staff at the restaurant on your behalf. They also include a list of all of the foods that you will experience on the tour. It’s important to recognize that the price of the food tour does not include any alcoholic drinks. They do not include transportation to and from the meeting point, and they do not include the cost of any food or beverages which are not part of the tour.
How much does the Bellies en Route tour cost (group tour)?
The following prices are in US dollars. You can book and pay for your tour directly on their website. The Bellies en Route group tour costs $72 per person (+14% VAT) with a minimum of 2 guests and a maximum of 7 guests. Children from 6 – 12 years old cost $36, and children from 0 – 5 years old cost $3.
Watch out for deals and discounts on their website. For example, you can get a 20% discount for the Downtown Cairo food tour and Our favorite foods in Heliopolis tour if you register with your email address on their website.
Can you do a private food tour with Bellies en Route?
Yes, they do offer a private food tour. The price depends on the number of guests in your group. For example, if you are hoping to do a private food tour as a Solo Traveler, it costs $114 (+14% VAT). If you have 6 – 8 guests in a group, it costs $72 (+14% VAT) per adult. This is the same price as a group tour. Alternatively, you can book a family package with two adults and 2-3 children for $200 (+14% VAT).
The advantage of doing a private food tour is that you can choose your timings and get a more personalized itinerary. You can book private Food Tours between Sunday and Thursday from 10 am to 5 pm Cairo time. Tours are available on Friday but they only have a limited capacity so book early.
What if you need to cancel or change dates?
Bellies en Route have a very flexible and good refund policy. It is possible to cancel up to 3 days in advance and receive a full refund. If you cancel less than 48 hours in advance, you will receive a 50% refund. Alternatively, they try to be flexible with dates, so if you are unable to attend your food tour on a particular date, just contact them and ask if you can change the date.
What food do you try on the downtown Cairo food tour?
We were very impressed with the array of delicious fresh local food available on the downtown Cairo food tour. We will include a few of our favorites to give you a taste of what to expect, however, this really is just a taster. There is so much amazing stuff on the food tour; the only way to experience it properly is to get yourself to Cairo and book yourself onto one of the Food Tours.
1 Fresh Taamiya Sandwich Street Food
One of the first stops on the downtown Cairo food tour is a local Taamiya and Ful vendor. This is essentially the Egyptian version of Falafel which uses fava beans and spices to make a delicious fresh, crunchy, tasty sandwich. One of the things we loved about this stop is the ability to see the locals making an Egyptian classic staple food and a traditional breakfast dish. They stew the fava beans for around 9 – 13 hours to make the ful stew.
The crispy Taamiya is made from crushed and peeled fava beans, coriander, parsley and garlic. This is cheap, filling, locally grown and packed with protein!
2 Authentic Arabic Coffee Roaster
They also stop at an Arabic coffee roaster. This is a unique multisensory experience where you can actually step inside the Coffee Roastery and see the beans and roasting machinery. They roast the beans very lightly so they remain a gentle hue of green. And of course, you can try this unique Brew. It really is an experience trying Arabic coffee which is served hot and fresh and flavored with cardamom (which is thought to neutralize the impact of caffeine).
3 Succulent Roast Chicken & Sides
We particularly enjoyed stopping at a local cafe where they serve roast chicken and a variety of vegetables including spinach, potatoes, okra, and a range of fascinating spiced sauces. This is a classic and traditional Cairo lunch spot with an authentic, friendly ambience. This particular stop is a fantastic example of locals showing you some of the best hidden gems and cultural experiences. This really is a place that you wouldn’t find unless you did a food tour. The chicken is genuinely amazing – they apply the seasoning under the skin and the chicken is basted in butter and roasted.
4 Refreshing fruit Juices
We also want to give a shout out to the delicious fresh juices. Taking a stop at a juice bar is a perfect break from the Heat and intensity of downtown Cairo. We love the way that they give you small samples of a wide range of juices so that you really can experience the full variety of tastes and colors available. This stop was also a favorite for our kids. They serve a range of juices including pomegranate, hibiscus, sugar cane, tangerine, and tamarind (a very tasty sweet and sour juice). We love the way they do a coarse blend so that you can enjoy an additional sour bite!
5 Traditional Gourmet Egyptian Restaurant
The downtown Cairo food tour includes everything from delicious fresh street food all of the way to Gourmet traditional Cairo restaurant food. We particularly loved the stop at a traditional Cairo restaurant. You can sample the best Baba Ghanoug you have ever tried and also nibble crispy Taamiya, fried eggplants, and a very unique dish called mulukhiyah (an Arabic dish made from Jute leaves). This lovely restaurant has a calm posh decadent and yet friendly and welcoming ambiance.
6 The BEST Koshary Restaurant in town
We also need to mention one of the highlights of the food tour: a stop at one of the most prestigious Koshary restaurants in town. This is widely considered to be Egypt’s favorite meal and their national dish. It is a delicious dish made up of macaroni, spaghetti, vermicelli, lentils, rice, and hummus. They add crispy fried onions to the top and tangy tomato sauce with a garlic vinegar dressing. It is an absolute explosion of flavors and a unique experience.
We particularly loved the surreal and eclectic experience. The restaurant is bright, vibrant, busy, and bustling. There is something fascinating to look at in every direction. The staff were particularly friendly, and we also loved the delicious creamy rice pudding at this stop. This is another one of those places that you would be very unlikely to find unless you did a food tour.
What is the best time of day to do a food tour in Cairo?
If you take a private food tour, the timings are flexible. They can run the tour according to your needs. During the winter months, the food tour normally starts around 2.30pm and finishes around 8pm. During the summer months, from June to August, food tours normally start around 4pm. By this time, it is cooler, and all of the best food places are in full swing. The food tour normally takes around 5 or 6 hours, so if you start at 4pm, it is likely to finish around 10pm. The food tour finishes on a rooftop bar, which is a fantastic place to experience the ambience and atmosphere of Cairo by night.
What is the best time of year to do a food tour in Cairo?
The months of June and August are the quietest months for a food tour. During these months, temperatures are high, so it can be quite hot exploring Cairo. From September to December, the Food Tours are most busy, so it is important to book early, especially if you are hoping to do a food tour around Christmas. It is also relatively busy between January and May.
Can you do a food tour during Ramadan?
Yes, it is possible to do a food tour in Cairo during Ramadan. Also, it’s important to note that Ramadan’s timing changes every year because it’s based on the Hijri Lunar month (this means that it shifts 10 days earlier every year on the Gregorian calendar). We recommend that you check when Ramadan is during the year when your trip to Egypt.
During Ramadan, they offer a discounted price and normally include around 5 – 6 stops. The food tour generally starts around 6:30pm in Ramadan and takes around 3.5 hours.
Can they cater to special dietary requirements on the food tour?
Yes, the Cairo food tour is suitable for people with a wide range of special dietary requirements. It is very important to notify the staff of any special dietary requirements both when you book and also at the start of your tour.
The food tour is possible with a wide range of special battery requirements, including vegetarians, vegans, and gluten intolerance. It is even possible to do the tour if you have a nut allergy. They may need to edit or amend the tour a little depending on your specific requirements, so it is important to notify them when you book your food tour if you do have any special dietary requirements. If you have a garlic or onion allergy, this may be a problem on the food tour.
Do they include bathroom stops on the food tour?
Yes, they do include bathroom stops on the food tour. If you need to take a bathroom stop, just speak to your tour guide, and they will show you where to go.
How to prepare for a food tour in Cairo?
Here are a few things that you can do to prepare for your food tour in Cairo. Firstly, it is important to dress comfortably. We recommend wearing comfortable shoes because there is a reasonable amount of walking between stops. If you’re doing a food tour during summer, wear light, loose clothing and consider an umbrella or sun hat. If you’re doing a food tour during the winter, we recommend bringing some layers because it can get cold and windy during the evenings.
We recommend making sure that you arrive hungry. It may be worth skipping lunch and having a light breakfast before you do the food tour. It is also worth having an offline map downloaded on your phone so that you can pin any places that you particularly enjoy and return to them later. One of the best and most efficient ways to get around Cairo is to use an Uber taxi. Make sure that you have downloaded The Uber taxi app on your phone so that you can get to and from the meeting point. It is also very helpful to have a little bit of mobile data on the go. You can buy prepaid SIM cards relatively cheaply in Cairo, and this will help you when it comes to booking taxis and getting around the city.
Is the downtown Cairo Food Tours suitable for families?
Bellies en Route offer discounted rates for kids. Alternatively, you can book a private family tour. We did the Cairo food tour with three kids aged six, three, and under one year old. We found the whole experience very enriching and enjoyable. Mia (our tour guide) – was so genuinely kind and welcoming to our kids – this really helped them relax, connect and engage with the experience! So when it comes to families, Bellies en Route are fab!
The food is relatively kid-friendly. The Cairo food is not oversized, and they have plenty of kid-friendly options including breads, potatoes, chicken, and the fresh juices were an absolute hit with our kids. So in our opinion, the downtown Cairo food tour is a fantastic option for families with kids if you’re looking for something unique and cultural to do in Cairo.
Summary – Bellies En Route Food Tour Cairo
The Bellies en Route food tour is an awesome way to experience the culture and food of Cairo. It is a fantastic way to familiarize yourself with Cairo, and it is also a great way to build your confidence, especially if it is your first time visiting Cairo. The food tour is a fantastic way to discover hidden gems and the best places to eat. The tour guides are super friendly and passionate about the food and culture of Cairo, and they will share plenty of interesting facts about the food and history of the city. The food tour includes a wide range of delicious local foods, and it is possible to cater to a wide range of special dietary requirements. We highly recommend booking yourself onto the Bellies en Route food tour for an epic experience in Cairo.
