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Zooba (Zamalek)

Cairo

World-class Egyptian street food with zing

The masterminds: Back in 2012, when the world was at the precipice of a street food revolution, nobody was talking about Egypt. For Egyptian-American businessman Chris Khalifa, it was essential to bring his home country into the conversation. In partnership with Estrella Damm N.A. Chefs' Choice Award 2023 winner Moustafa Elrefaey, who trained in the US before returning to Egypt, Khalifa opened Zooba in 2012 to bring a refined take on street food that plays with colour and flavour.

The menu: Expect all the hallmark Egyptian dishes served in homes across the country and by the vendors that line the roads and markets of the capital. Zooba's take on the country's national dish, koshari, brings the blend of rice and short pasta simmered with brown lentils in a spiced tomato sauce, topped with dukkah and fried onions, to new dimensions. Its pockets of taameya, Egypt's falafel variation made with fava beans, topped with heaps of fresh and zingy salad and drizzled in tahini sauce, are a must-order.

What's the vibe like? Marked by its inviting turquoise door, Zooba is a wholly casual affair. However, design is still taken seriously here: its vibrant colours, clashing prints and signature graphics, the décor perfectly encapsulates the energy of Cairo's streets. In line with its street food roots, dining is designed to be accessible to all, with truly affordable prices to match.

Overseas expansion: After enjoying great success, Zooba has gone international, opening outposts in Riyadh, New York, Bahrain and Kuwait, bringing its taste of Cairo to eager diners outside of Egypt.

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