Cairo Restaurant & Cafe - Anaheim Rating: (5/5) I ordered from Cairo Restaurant & Cafe through Uber Eats, and this ended up being one of the most meaningful food experiences I've had in a long time. For context, I come from Egyptian heritage. I'm first-generation American, and both of my parents grew up in Cairo. The dishes I ordered -- Hawashy as an appetizer and Makaroni Bechamel (Bashmil) casserole -- are foods I grew up with. The last time I had this exact meal cooked for me by my mother was several years ago, so placing this order felt like a gamble, especially with the restaurant being all the way in Anaheim while I live in Irvine. That gamble paid off immediately. From the very first bite, the food tasted unmistakably authentic. The hawashy was deeply seasoned, rich, and comforting -- exactly how it's supposed to be, not watered down or adjusted for convenience. The makaroni bechamel was the real emotional gut punch in the best way possible. Creamy, savory, perfectly spiced, and layered the way it's done back home. It tasted like something made with care, patience, and respect for the dish. I'm not exaggerating when I say this meal hit me hard. After one bite, I literally called the restaurant just to thank them. I asked to speak to the manager and told him what this meal meant to me -- how it tasted like something my own mother would make, how it brought back memories I didn't realize I'd been missing. That call wasn't planned. It was instinctive. Huge shout-out to Zayne, the manager, who was incredibly kind and generous on the phone. He even sent along kunafa for dessert, which was the perfect ending to the meal -- warm, sweet, and beautifully made. Beyond the food itself, the packaging deserves real praise. Everything arrived hot, which is not easy, especially for a casserole like makaroni bechamel. Once that dish cools too much, it loses something important. This didn't. It arrived as if it had just come out of the oven, which speaks volumes about the care taken in preparing orders for delivery. This is not a 5-star review because of nostalgia or heritage alone. It's a 5-star review because the food was genuinely outstanding -- rich, decadent, comforting, and made the right way. It is very hard for me to say that something compares to my mother's cooking, but this truly came close. I cannot wait to come in person in the next few weeks. Cairo Restaurant & Cafe didn't just serve food -- they delivered a memory. read more

Cairo Restaurant & Cafe - Makaroni bechamel, hawawshy and kunafa - Hookah Bars Near Me - Anaheim, California

Came in last night for a quick bite. Lots of people smoking hookah on the patio but I sat inside. Wasn't super hungry so I just got the lentil soup and hawawshy, which is an Egyptian street food where they stuff pita bread with ground beef and spices. Both dishes were good but not amazing. Another customer came in and I overheard him say, "this seems more like a hookah spot than a food spot." I'd have to agree with him read more

Cairo Restaurant & Cafe - Lentil Soup - Hookah Bars Near Me - Anaheim, California

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Came here for the first time with friends on our lunch break. We really enjoyed the food. We ordered the Koshary, Lamb Kabsa, Stuffed Pigeon with Rice, and the Kunafa for dessert. We sought out the Koshary because it is the national dish of Egypt. It was really delicious especially with their garlic and hot sauce added to it. The Lamb Kabsa was really good as well. The flavors were great and I would definitely order it again if I was craving lamb. The Stuffed Pigeon sounded really unique and I'm glad that we ordered it. It was our first time trying pigeon and we all enjoyed it. The meat is pretty tender and the skin was crispy. Definitely a must try if you're at the restaurant. We shared the Kunafa, which we also really enjoyed. The center of the dessert is filled with a sweet custard. You have the option of adding Nutella on the top of the dessert which we didn't do. My main complaint is with the service because our server was constantly away and on two occasions, I had to search for him to place our order and to follow up on payment. The restaurant wasn't very busy as we were one of three tables that were occupied. Our lunch duration was easily extended 30-minutes due to the lack of service. We dined outside. There was a tv playing music. The noise level wasn't too loud as the restaurant wasn't that busy at the time. I will definitely come back for the food, but it would have to be on a day where my schedule can absorb long lunch. If I was strictly rating my experience based off food, I would rate the restaurant a 5/5. Factoring the poor service in dropping my score to a 3/5. read more

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Excellent desserts 4 sure, and easy on your wallet. Try the lental soup, delicious. Good parking friendly service and broad variety. read more

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The BEST koshary I've had in the US! Ever since acquiring the taste in Egypt, it's always been hard to find it here in the US but last night, on a Monday at 11pm, Cairo Restaurant really satiated! It was fresh, well-balanced and so tasty! Trust me, it's worth paying more for "extra sauce"! So delicious, will be back! (And hope they add Sahlab back to the drink menu too ) read more

Cairo Restaurant & Cafe - The most delicious koshary/koshari! - Hookah Bars Near Me - Anaheim, California

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Good authentic Egyptian food with hookah available. The place is usually busy with a mix of age groups and families. I like that they are open late an holidays, since it is a nice spot to go out with family and friends when visiting. The food is decent. I usually order falafel, grape leaves, French fries, and hookah. My husband, who is Egyptian, tends to get koshari or meat kafta. The waiters are generally nice. The only thing is that the service can be slow at times. On several visits we have had to follow up on our order or flag down a waiter for help. Overall, it is a lively and dependable place for Egyptian food and a relaxed hangout. read more

I've been here twice in one week while going to a conference at the Anaheim convention center

We came here to try the Egyptian food as we are studying various countries and Cultures and had just studied up on Egypt. We had the Egyptian Falafels with Sesame (ta'meya - fava beans) - YUM! Koshary (lentils, rice, pasta, tomato sauce, fried onion, garbanzo beans) - didnt love it, though I hear it's great confirt food for some. Fattah with Lamb (lamb shanks served with pita bread & rice topped with tomato sauce) - YUM! The waiter wanted to ensure we had a good Egptian dessert and gave us a Kunafa on the house (shredded pastry stuffed with cream & cooked in syrup) - way better than the Lebanese version we had tried w cheese. We also ordered the Oum Ali with Mixed Nuts (creamy, flaky pastry with milk baked & topped with nuts) and really enjoyed that. THAT tasted like comfort food to me - warm and perfect for a cold day. The waiter was really nice and told us about the music that was playing. I appreciate it that he went above and beyond to help us order and educate us. read more

We went to Cairo Restaurant and Cafe with our friends last weekend. The place was clean. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. Our host was a very nice young guy. He was very friendly and accommodating. He checked on our group many times to see if we wanted anything. We ordered many delicious dishes; -Mixed Grill,  5/5 Chicken kabob, kefta, beef Kabob , lamb chop Baba ghanoush, hummus -Egyptian croissant. 5/5 Flaky layered pastry served with two sides of your choice( white honey, molasses, powdered sugar, or cheese) -Sayadeya Fish Casserole: 5/5 Fried fish fillet baked with sayadeya sauce, sayadeya rice and salad We also had chicken kabob plate 5/5 It came with rice, salad and hummus Two of our friends had lamb Kabob 5/5 They chose hummus and salad with the rice. The food was very flavorful and the quantity was generous. All our friends enjoyed the food, the welcoming vibes, and the service. We had such a great time in Cairo Cafe. I highly recommend the place. read more

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Worst customer service, ambiance is terrible Food is whatever ........... Not recommended , read more

Our newly found favorite. After our trip to Egypt we wanted to try out more Egyptian foods and we were lucky to find this restaurant. Our favorites: um ali, rice pudding, koshary, egg plants anything, grilled meat platter. read more

I felt like sitting in the streets along with the passing cars and motorcycles. Definitely, I popped a couple of headache pills. Food is straight out of the frig. read more

This is the worst Egyptian food I have ever had. The service was good but the food was so bad. It was as if they got the meat out of the freezer into the fryer. I had the pigeon and it smelled bad as if no one cleaned it before they cooked it. I would never recommend it to anyone read more

Excellent dinner and service. We shared Hawawshy appetizer, and enjoyed generous tasty entrees: chicken kabsa, fattah with two lamb shanks and bamya with beef. Highly recommended! read more

Cairo Restaurant & Cafe - Fattah with two lamb shanks; mint lemonade; very tasty! - Hookah Bars Near Me - Anaheim, California

5/5 This place is the real deal Egyptian food from the home land yall. 100% authentic food cooked fresh, hot and served with perfect timing. Lentil soup Fire I mean its amazing delicious mouthwatering perfection. Falafel Perfect consistency, crunchy warm gooey inside, sesames to remind you of Egypt. Comes with tahini tomato and cucumber. Delicious. Sugok Egyptian beef sausage. So so good. Not gamey, perfectly cooked and fragrant with onions tomatoes and herbs. The rice is delicious with sharia (pasta noodles) authentic Egyptian style and arugula fragrant salad. Superb dish. Service I feel like im visiting a friend. They treated me like family and made me feel at home. They were kind, respectful and generous. Saif the owner/manager was great. The price is reasonable for this area. Ample free parking available. Ambiance is chill family style and at some point they play some nice arabic music on the tv and speakers. I highly recommend this restaurant if youre craving authentic home cooked Egyptian or Arab or middle eastern food. Don't hesitate just get over here and bring the whole family. You wont regret it. read more

Cairo Restaurant & Cafe - Egyptian Falafel with Sesame - Hookah Bars Near Me - Anaheim, California

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Great place. I am an americsn who has been traveling to egypt on vacation for 20 years. When i really miss egypt i go to this restaraunt an it helps me feel like i am back in my (vacation) home. Koshary is great, tea is great and the deserts are epic! read more

Easy to find and friendly service. The food is excellent !! It taste like a team of grandmothers are in the kitchen cooking. The food is comforting and seasoned so well. The portions are large enough to share. Staff is friendly and attentive. read more

I will say, Cairo Restaurant and Cafe is the best Middle Eastern Restaurant in Orange County. My girlfriend and I love this place. I like the Beef Shawarma, and that is the plate I wanted. Place is beautiful inside and out with the ancient Middle Eastern look to it. Egyptian Style food is on a whole different level. My first real time trying it. My girl is Middle Eastern, and she has had it all. Nice cool spot near Disneyland to have lunch, and dinner. read more

I have had this place on my list for some time. I can't get makarona bechamel locally, nor kunafa so this place seemed worth the drive. And it really is for these two item! I've eaten a lot of different homemade makarona bechamel recipes and this is in the top 3. The kunafa is so dang good when freshly baked. I also ordered the beef kabab and thought the hummus was pretty good, the rice was okay, fries were good, but I didn't like the beef kababs so much. The meat was harder to eat. I was able to sample the Egyptian croissant another time and that was really good. Service was friendly, and the prices are good for the quality. read more

Cairo Restaurant & Cafe - Beef Kebab Entree - Hookah Bars Near Me - Anaheim, California

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8 months pregnant and was craving foul medammes...they were willing to customize my order and it was delicious. I really appreciated them taking the time to make it exactly how I wanted it! read more

The food is good and authentic from an Egyptian perspective. Service is decent and friendly. The reason I gave it 3 stars is that some of us got sick, and that was not good. Also, even with indoor seating, you can still smell the smoke from hookahs and from people smoking outside, which was an issue for us. read more

Found this place last year when I wanted to smoke some shisha; it never tastes burnt and lasts for a good few hours. Coals are replaced consistently, but sometimes you need to ask them to replace them because it gets pretty busy here. I love that it's a relaxing restaurant where family and friends come to hang out. The servers are all very friendly and the food here tastes great and is decently priced. I'll always recommend this spot to friends when they want some good Egyptian food. read more

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I love this place! This place seems authentic with their food and ambience. I thought I was transported back to Egypt lol But jokes aside, the food here is one of the best I've had. I had Lamb Kabsa and the flavor just explodes. I also had beef shawarma, Alexanderian Beef Liver, Sogog, Fried Eggplant, etc. on different occasions and they never misses with any of those! I highly recommend this place if you're in the area and if you're into Southern Mediterranean cuisines! You will not be disappointed, I guarantee it! read more

Cairo Restaurant & Cafe - Lamb Kabsa Specialty Entree and Beef Kebab Entree - Hookah Bars Near Me - Anaheim, California

Unbelievable delicious and authentic Egyptian cooking. Thank you for the best Molokhia ever. I drove 2 hours with a group of friends and it was seriously the best ever! Thank you... did not disappoint we will be back. read more

It's ok but I felt a little uncomfortable since I was not middle eastern I was the only Latina woman Food is good read more

We go always when we visit LA , this place is best if the best, Stuff are friendly , we recommend this place for any Egyptian food , they have also Kunafa with nutella read more

Cairo Restaurant & Cafe - Amazing Kaware (beef feet) Soup & Fattah Lamb Kabsa Specialty Entree - Hookah Bars Near Me - Anaheim, California

Food is great. Hookah is reasonable. Prices are also reasonable. Service is a bit slow. You have to for a long time for someone to come to your table to see if you wish to order something. Ambience is ok. read more

Fantastic food, fantastic service! Went for the first time, the staff was so friendly and helpful with descriptions and selections of our food. Really reasonable prices, we had a ton leftover. I will probably bring my own big water bottle next time, they mostly had canned soda and bottled water. read more

Great place for Egyptian food , outside covered seating only but it works for the place since they offer hooka. Big menu with lots of options , my favourites were the Koshary and green peas Tajin with white rice . Service is good and prices are fair. I keep going back and definitely recommend . read more

What can I say about this place, a true gem.. The food is absolutely delicious, and they have a nice selection of dishes too.. Their beef kabob, foul, and several other dishes I have already come back a few time now for them The service was also great, super friendly servers... And the inside is also nice, great patio seating to enjoy the food and hookah (also great!0) read more

I've had better koshari but this one is quite good. Extremely filling and flavorful. It's just a great comfort food. As someone who doesn't like onion, I'd probably request that not be included next time. Also, I don't like falafel very much. However, I love that sauce that it comes with! Their french fries are also super crispy! Would recommend those. Servers are friendly and helpful but water isn't offered. We paid $2 each for BOTTLES?! Strange. They do have space heaters for cold nights. read more

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The koshary was recommended by our Egyptian friends and it did not disappoint. It was the most interesting dish we've ever seen and yet, SO good. Must use the sauce they bring for it. Server was kind and a man who seemed like the owner was very friendly. This place is about making great food. Also had the lamb shank. Everything is great and we have a list to come back to taste! read more

Cairo Restaurant & Cafe - Koshary and lamb shank - Hookah Bars Near Me - Anaheim, California

We stopped in here in black Friday and it was super quiet at the early lunch time. Perfect! We enjoyed many items. Pickles: pretty good. Turkish coffee w it h milk: outstanding - loved it. Rich and velvety smooth Bechamel : my daughter said outstanding - so hot! Comes in a pot and tastes homemade with great flavor Chicken kabob: flavor was good, chicken was moist. Not fatty and it chewed well (just saying - sometimes that is tough no pun) Egyptian falafel : best best best. Cooked to perfection and the tahini sauce brought out the flavor very well. This was one of our favorites and we would come back just for this m! Greek salad : good. Tasty. The Egyptian salad that came with my plate was better but I like the flavor profile better of that. And the thing you must get: Umm Ali which was sublime. Rich and sweet and the pistachios. We live sort of far away so this is not an everyday visit but we will be back for sure. Even if we come just to nosh in the falafel and desserts! read more

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Having recently visited Egypt, I definitely think the food here is quite authentic and tastes great. The restaurant is mostly a large outdoor patio that comes to life with lively Arabic music, quaint string lights, and aromatic food and hookah. We had a party of 7 and the patio was large enough to accommodate us and many other patrons. We ordered the Cairo Mezza Platter to share and start off with, and everything included in that tasted great. For my entrée I got the Fattah with Lamb. This came with a giant lamb shank and enough rice for 5 people. The lamb was perfectly cooked and very tender, and the rice was topped with a tangy tomato sauce. We finished things off with the "Egyptian Croissant" (fatir), which we paired with honey. It was excellent. I highly recommend this spot for both authentic Egyptian food & vibes. read more

Cairo Restaurant & Cafe - Cairo Mezza Platter - Hookah Bars Near Me - Anaheim, California

A friend recommended this place and I ordered the Koshari and Mombar and the portions are HUGE, the koshari is this lentil spaghetti's tomato dish and it's vegetarian and healthy and delicious, that thing alone can feed a family of 4. The service is really kind and attentive and they don't make me feels all weird for eating there. The only thing is the location is a bit sketchy but it is what it is. read more

The food was delicious and the service was great. The Kunafa was to die for!!!! I wish I would've tried the Nutella version! I didn't photograph my main entree which was lamb shank. Pro tip: from 12-5 there is discounted hookah for $10.99 read more

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I tried khosary and it was delicious and service is very good. I recommend this place

Bro, you down for Cairo? https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=6E93CI4koA4iCHPRBHJNWQ&userid=xsT4KZTu_KnOVavtuXn4RA Time to check off another cuisine off my "To Try" list. Cairo Restaurant & Cafe is an Egyptian/Mediterranean restaurant & Hookah lounge. While not a smoker, I do enjoy my fair share (and then some) of food. Seeing Egyptian fare featured on Travel Channel programs & what not throughout the years, I finally capitulated toward my culinary curiosity. Doing my due diligence, I made some reconnaissance online to determine what I wanted. Not content for Mediterranean, I only had eyes for Cairo's Specialty Entrees. I had my heart set on the stuffed pigeon with rice/grits, but at $28.99, I couldn't justify the cost. Also, koshary is the national dish of Egypt. However, not being a huge fan of lentils, rice, pasta & garbanzo beans in combination, I wasn't feeling it. What I did order, were superfoods Egyptian-style - molokhia a la carte & Alexandrian beef liver w/ rice & baba ghannouj Molokhia- https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=C23RTEu5xSiC2hMM3vbNXA&userid=xsT4KZTu_KnOVavtuXn4RA Known as saluyot to the Filipino community, and jute leaves in the West, I could instantly taste the garlic in this nourishing soup. Molokhia is mucilaginous, meaning the leaves act as a thickener, like okra. Not having a vegetable taste, each spoonful was fortifying & comforting, being rich in iron, niacin, riboflavin & other vitamins. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=37Eag6NnwQHTBb7oR78yWg&userid=xsT4KZTu_KnOVavtuXn4RA Alexandrian Spicy Beef Liver- https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=ibjhXFbORw4d6r2LM52VTw&userid=xsT4KZTu_KnOVavtuXn4RA A lot of food! The liver was cooked well, with just enough spice to not burn out my palate. The baba ghannouj was excellent. Bright, creamy & cool, I could've ordered more on the side, if I wasn't full. The rice & accompanying pita bread rounded out a sumptuous meal. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=2njEuWoLWC34lI7LBppzGw&userid=xsT4KZTu_KnOVavtuXn4RA Service was good. I didn't wait long for my food, and the woman accommodated my request for substitution. The interior is spartan & not the most inviting. I didn't check out the hookah patio, but I suppose I'd sit outside, next time. The parking lot was messy with trash, when I arrived. I imagine Cairo's business mainly comes at night. The area seeming a little dodgy, I'd recommend bringing a +1 or group when planning a visit. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=egH4In-S4oCfi5tUe24seA&userid=xsT4KZTu_KnOVavtuXn4RA Color me impressed, Cairo Restaurant & Cafe! Your molokhia hit the spot & I'm now jacked up on Vitamin A from your Alexandrian spicy beef liver. Prices are reasonable, and even on the lower end of the spectrum, when compared to several eateries in nearby Little Arabia. I look forward to having a go at the rest of the menu, and maybe, just maybe, I'll splurge & order the stuffed pigeon, after all. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=_SIX0Eb-C-WWka_UTUuqZg&userid=xsT4KZTu_KnOVavtuXn4RA read more

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Some places scream authentic - in food, fare and flavor, in decor and design - Cairo Restaurant and Cafe is a piece of Egypt's much-loved Cairo, where you can enjoy sweets and eats from this motherland, with open air seating, vibrant red tapestried decor, and soft Mediterranean beats that make this spot all that more sweet! This place is good vibes all around. Groups convene here, family, friends and loved ones, laughing, sharing jokes, all and one enjoying themselves!! We had a plain and a nutella-coated kunafa, an Egyptian dish, with cream-filling, a thin-noodle like bottom and upper layer, with a pour-over syrup. The Nutella topping was the nutella-on-the-Cake!! It made our dish that much more decadent and tasty :) read more

Cairo Restaurant & Cafe - Hookah Bars Near Me - Anaheim, California

Food is delicious! Good service. Usually a decent crowd of people on any given night but never had to wait for a table. Love coming here.