Day after day, Egyptians prove that their creativity is unmatched and unbeaten, particularly with rare recipes and restaurant names which cannot be possibly found anywhere else on the planet. It’s brilliant to be able to think out of the box, but the Egyptian mind goes further beyond, inventing a whole new “box” full of surprises. The following is a list of peculiar names found amongst many Egyptian restaurants and menus:
NAPALM:
At first, you may think we’re referring to some kind of lethal weapon, but we’re only presenting one of the most famous sandwiches served at Egyptian local “sha3by” restaurants. It includes “fool”, Egypt’s most traditional dish, and “falafel” in addition to other unknown unidentified ingredients, hence earning it its infamous name, NAPALM!
Dynamite:
You can only order a “Dynamite” sandwich if you’re planning to commit suicide. Its explosive ingredients include 6 types of meat topped with 6 types of extra spicy sauces, all in one!! You may be forced to run to the Emergency Room with all kinds of abdominal distress after eating this sandwich!
Mashinkah:
Mashinkah, served in many “sha3by” restaurants around Cairo, is a type of sandwich which mostly contains irrelevant unrelated ingredients. A creative “Mashinkah” chef will combine random ingredients in his kitchen in one sandwich. You just have to taste it,,,,cause I know it will definitely be your first and last time!
Rad3et el Asad:
Please don’t ask about the rationale behind this rare original name because it remains unknown even for the person who came up with it! This drink can be found in local juice shops; it mainly consists of milk, vanilla and ice cream. It also has other versions like “rad3et el tenen” “rad3et el 2erd” and “rad3et el feel”.
Abdo Talawoth:
If you haven’t been to Cairo in a while, you may not be aware that “Abdo Talawoth” has recently become one of the most renowned places serving liver “kebda” and “sausage” sandwiches around town. Despite its name, “talawoth”, wich translates “pollution”, hundreds of people visit it daily. The secret behind its popularity remains a mystery until today.
El Gahsh:
Located at Al Sayeda Zeinab district, “El Gahsh ” which translates the “mule”, serves the tastiest “fool” meals. If you’re a huge “fool” fan, give the place a try, ignoring the fact that its name suggests serving inedible ingredients!!
Written by: Moataz Abdelmonein
