Marinated and spit-roasted, shawarma is a delicious Middle Eastern meat treat whose origins can be traced back to the Ottoman Empire era, while its name stems from the Arabic pronunciation of the Turkish word çevirme (lit. to turn; turning), and refers to the rotating skewer on which the meat is cooked.

Shawarmas are made with either lamb, turkey, chicken, beef, or a mix of different meats which are slow-cooked for hours and basted in their own juices and fat, gaining an incomparable succulence, but the real secret to a perfect shawarma is in the marinade. 

Often touted as the original version of falafels, taameya is an Egyptian variety of the Middle Eastern fritter that calls for fava beans instead of chickpeas. While the exact origin of falafel is debatable, most scholars and food historians agree that taameya has its roots in the Egyptian cuisine.

The fava bean mixture is typically flavored with leeks, onions, fresh coriander, parsley, and cumin, and the fritters are usually coated with sesame seeds before frying. Taameya are known for having a lighter, fluffier, and moister texture than other falafel varieties thanks to the use of fava beans. 

Hawawshi is a popular Egyptian snack consisting of a traditional baladi bread, in appearance similar to the famous pita pockets, stuffed with a flavorful mixture of minced meat, vegetables, and various spices. The generously seasoned meat mixture is placed inside the bread dough and baked until all the flavors combine, the meat is cooked, and the bread achieves a light golden color and a crispy texture.

Whether prepared at home or enjoyed in various Egyptian food establishments, hawawshi is usually served alongside fresh vegetables, salads, and various dips.

Even though these protein-packed chickpea fritters are listed as one of Israel's national dishes, and are a staple in many Middle Eastern countries including Palestine and Lebanon, it is often suggested that falafel might have evolved from the Egypt dish known as taameya. By the 1950s, to earn a living, Yemenite immigrants in Israel started making falafel in the streets, selling it wrapped in paper, which has eventually transformed this ancient dish into an early form of Israeli fast food and facilitet the global recognition of it.

As an alternative to the Israeli version, the Egyptian taameya uses fava beans instead of chickpeas, while the mixture is typically flavored with parsley, coriander, cumin, and onions. Today, both in Israel and other Middle Eastern countries, falafel fritters are most commonly enjoyed in pita or lafa flatbread sandwiches, topped with fresh or pickled vegetables, and coated either in hummus paste, tahini dip, or a zesty, garlic-flavored yogurt sauce.

Kebda Eskandarani or Alexandrian liver is the Alexandrine specialty consisting of fried beef liver with spicy seasonings such as cumin, garlic, cardamom, and chili peppers. It is usually served in sandwiches along with tahini dip, or on its own, accompanied by warm rice, lime wedges, or pita bread on the side.

Although not much is known about the origins of the dish, it is extremely popular in Alexandria, where it can be found at numerous street food carts or fast food shops, perfect for a quick bite or an order to go.

Koshari, also known as koshary, kosheri, kushari, and koushari, is a simple, yet flavorful Egyptian national dish consisting of rice, macaroni, and lentils. The name stems from the Hindu word khichri, referring to a dish of rice and lentils.

It is enough to look for warm, edible pyramids on big, shiny metal platters while in Egypt, as it is also a very popular street food. Small yellow lentils and rice are slowly simmered in a rich stock with the addition of crunchy, fried vermicelli and butter-browned onions.