If you live in the Kingdom and hear your Egyptian friends talk about «home food», or you are just getting to know Egyptian cooking, this list is for you: the most famous Egyptian dishes in Saudi Arabia in 15 dishes, each in a few lines: what it is, how it is eaten, and a small tip for the first time.
To be clear from the start: under each dish you will find a line saying whether it is on Rokn Warda's menu in Al Khobar (with a link to its page), or whether it is Egyptian food culture that we only talk about and do not serve. The numbering is not a ranking from best to least; it is only there to make the list easy to follow.
If you first want to know why Egyptian food sits so close to Saudi taste, read Egyptian food in Saudi Arabia. Here we focus on the dishes themselves.
The most famous Egyptian dishes in Saudi Arabia: the 15 dishes
1. Molokhia
Finely chopped molokhia leaves in broth, topped with «ta'leya»: garlic and dried coriander browned in ghee. It is eaten with rice or with baladi bread. First-time tip: start with it over rice, and do not judge it by its looks. On Rokn Warda's menu: molokhia casserole, molokhia in a rich broth with garlic and Egyptian coriander ta'leya.
2. Mahshi and grape leaves
Vegetables stuffed with rice seasoned with herbs and tomato sauce, rolled by a patient hand; the smaller the finger, the finer the work. Tip: if unsure, start with grape leaves, they are lighter. On Rokn Warda's menu: mixed mahshi (cabbage, grape leaves, pepper, zucchini and aubergine) and stuffed grape leaves.
3. Fatteh
Layers of toasted bread, rice, vinegar-and-garlic sauce and broth, topped with meat. The dish of Eid and occasions in many Egyptian homes. Tip: fatteh is heavy, so let it be the main dish on its own. The differences between its kinds are in Egyptian fatteh: its kinds. On Rokn Warda's menu: beef fatteh, lamb shank fatteh and trotters fatteh.
4. Stuffed pigeon
A small pigeon stuffed with rice or freekeh and browned outside. The feast dish people plan for. Tip: it is eaten by hand, so do not be shy. On Rokn Warda's menu: rice-stuffed pigeon and freekeh-stuffed pigeon.
5. Koshary
Rice, lentils and pasta, sometimes chickpeas, topped with tomato sauce, da'a of vinegar and garlic, and crisp fried onions. Perhaps Egypt's best-known street food. Tip: add the da'a and chilli slowly, everyone to their taste. Egyptian food culture: not on Rokn Warda's menu. Its story is in Egyptian street food.
6. Ful medames
Fava beans cooked over a low flame for hours, seasoned with oil, cumin and lemon, or with tahini. Breakfast in many Egyptian homes. Tip: eat it with hot baladi bread, not with a spoon. Egyptian food culture: not on Rokn Warda's menu.
7. Taameya
Egypt's version of falafel; the well-known difference is that it is made from split fava beans with coriander, dill and parsley, so it is green inside. Tip: best straight out of the oil. Egyptian food culture: not on Rokn Warda's menu.
8. Hawawshi
Baladi bread stuffed with seasoned meat, cooked until the bread is crisp and soaks up the meat's juices. Tip: eat it hot, with pickles or salad. On Rokn Warda's menu: meat hawawshi and sausage hawawshi. Its kinds and the secret of its seasoning are in Egyptian hawawshi in Saudi Arabia.
9. Alexandrian liver
Slices of liver sautéed fast over high heat with garlic and hot pepper. The star of Alexandria's evenings. Tip: if you do not like heat, note that it is a little spicy. On Rokn Warda's menu: Alexandrian liver, liver slices with garlic, hot pepper and Alexandrian spices.
10. Kebab and kofta over charcoal
Seasoned meat over charcoal, the easiest door into Egyptian cooking if it is your first time. Tip: to know the difference between kebab, kofta, tarb and lamb chops before ordering, read what is the difference between kebab, kofta, tarb and lamb chops?. On Rokn Warda's menu: kebab and kofta, and for something richer tarb.
11. Mombar
Casings stuffed with rice and herbs, browned until crisp. A popular dish loved by those who like bold flavours. Tip: order it beside a main dish, not on its own. On Rokn Warda's menu: mombar, stuffed with rice, herbs and vegetables and browned to a golden finish.
12. Okra and meat casserole
Okra and meat in tomato sauce, one of the best-known everyday Egyptian home dishes, eaten with rice. Tip: if you want to taste ordinary «home food», start here. On Rokn Warda's menu: okra and beef casserole, served with Egyptian rice.
13. Macaroni béchamel
Pasta, minced meat and a golden béchamel top. A dish for old and young at family feasts. Tip: if children are with you, this will probably be theirs. On Rokn Warda's menu: macaroni béchamel casserole, pasta, seasoned minced meat, creamy béchamel and mozzarella.
14. Feteer meshaltet
Layers of dough with ghee, eaten savoury with cheese or sweet with honey and cream. Tip: try it once savoury and once sweet; the two are completely different. Egyptian food culture: not on Rokn Warda's menu.
15. Om Ali
Baked pastry layers with milk and nuts, served hot. One of Egypt's best-known desserts after a meal. Tip: eat it hot, straight from the oven. On Rokn Warda's menu: Om Ali, and if you love kunafa there is kunafa with cream.
The list in one table
| # | Dish | Kind | On Rokn Warda's menu? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Molokhia | Home cooking | Yes: molokhia casserole |
| 2 | Mahshi and grape leaves | Home cooking | Yes |
| 3 | Fatteh | Occasion dish | Yes: 3 kinds |
| 4 | Stuffed pigeon | Feast dish | Yes: rice or freekeh |
| 5 | Koshary | Street food | No, culture only |
| 6 | Ful medames | Breakfast | No, culture only |
| 7 | Taameya | Breakfast | No, culture only |
| 8 | Hawawshi | Street food | Yes: meat or sausage |
| 9 | Alexandrian liver | Street food | Yes |
| 10 | Kebab and kofta | Grills | Yes |
| 11 | Mombar | Popular dish | Yes |
| 12 | Okra and meat casserole | Home cooking | Yes |
| 13 | Macaroni béchamel | Oven casserole | Yes |
| 14 | Feteer meshaltet | Baked goods | No, culture only |
| 15 | Om Ali | Dessert | Yes |
Trying several dishes in one sitting?
If you are sitting with family or friends and want to taste several things, here are 3 simple combinations from the dishes above:
- A home-style table: molokhia casserole + mixed mahshi + rice, then Om Ali.
- A grills table: kebab and kofta + the salad buffet + mombar on the side.
- A feast table: stuffed pigeon + fatteh + a dessert.
And if it is your very first time eating Egyptian food, we have a full guide: first time eating Egyptian food?.
Common questions
Why are some dishes on the list that you do not serve? Because the list is about the most famous Egyptian dishes in general, not about a restaurant's menu. Koshary, ful, taameya and feteer are among Egypt's best-known foods, so they had to be on it, but we do not serve them and will not say otherwise.
What is the most famous Egyptian dish? There is no single answer: some will tell you koshary, some molokhia, some ful. Everyone has their own home and memories.
Where can I find these dishes in the Eastern Province? The dishes with links are at Rokn Warda on Al Yarmouk Street in Al Khobar. If you are looking for an Egyptian restaurant in another city, famous Egyptian restaurants in Saudi Arabia tells you how to spot an authentic one.
Try them at Rokn Warda
If you want to start the list today, order from the menu for delivery in Al Khobar and Dammam (the available districts show as you order), or come to our dining room in Al Khobar and book your table. To start with Al Khobar's dishes in particular, read Egyptian dishes to try in Al Khobar, and if you are looking for fatteh, molokhia and pigeon in Dammam and Al Khobar, read where to find fatteh, molokhia and stuffed pigeon.
