7 Best Seafood Restaurants in Cairo, Egypt

While Cairo itself isn’t a coastal city, it’s close enough to both the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea for us to be able to readily access a wide variety of fresh and tasty seafood. Egyptians in general really enjoy our local seafood, but because it tends to be expensive, we save it usually for special occasions or big family lunches at a restaurant every now and then.

Cairo has a handful of seafood restaurants, and like anything else, some are hits and some are misses. Here are what we consider the best seafood restaurants in Cairo, in no particular order:

Bahary

Locations: New Cairo & Nasr City

Serving up seafood to the east side of Cairo since 1995. Some of Bahary’s specialities: fried butterfly shrimp, dynamite shrimp, signature seafood soup, crunchy fried calamari, shrimp pesto pasta, grilled sea bream with zesty lemon oil, and lots of great seafood casseroles.

For the menu and more info: Bahary

Catchy

Location: Zamalek

Catchy is a hidden gem on the Nile Maxim Boat in Zamalek (across from the Marriott). You wouldn’t know it’s there unless you go looking for it, and you’ll be glad you did. Besides their great seafood and service, they also have beautiful Nile views because they’re right on the water. Alcohol and shisha is also served there.

For the menu and more info: Catchy

Seagull

Locations: Dokki, New Cairo, Madinaty, Sheikh Zayed

Seagull has been a family favorite seafood restaurant since 1985! Their Dokki branch is our personal favorite, considering it’s also on a docked boat right on the Nile, across from the Cairo Tower. Their Madinaty and Sheikh Zayed branches are more ‘upscale’ however when it comes to decor. Same solid seafood throughout though.

For the menu and more info: Seagull 

El Rayes Ibn Hamido

Locations: Heliopolis, Nasr City, Mokattam, Sayeda Zeinab

Another seafood player that’s been in the game for over 30 years. El Rayes Ibn Hamido is known more commonly by its original name, Ibn Hamido, but they officially changed it once unaffiliated restaurants started popping up in Alexandria and Sharm El Sheikh with the same name. El Rayes Ibn Hamido originally started as just a small takeaway spot, then grew enough to be able to provide home delivery, and now they have multiple dine-in branches. 

For the menu and more info: El Rayes Ibn Hamido

Fish & Chips

Location: Downtown

This is another hidden gem seafood restaurant as opposed to the other big chain names. Fish & Chips is a small taverna-style restaurant in Downtown Cairo. The restaurant might be small, but it’s really cute and kitschy on the inside and very Instagrammable. Try their shrimp molokheya!

For the menu and more info: Fish & Chips

Asmak

Locations: New Cairo, Sheikh Zayed, Mohandiseen, Giza

One of the most popular seafood restaurant chains in Cairo, with a wide variety of seafood that you can choose yourself from the fresh catch on ice and have cooked in whichever way you prefer. They’re so beloved that they opened two different branches on Egypt’s Mediterranean North Coast as well (read more: 10 Best Restaurants in Marassi, Egypt).

For the menu and more info: Asmak

Flying Fish

Location: Agouza

Ah, the oldest Cairo seafood restaurant on this list. Flying Fish originally opened its doors in 1979 – so we’re talking almost 50 years at this point. Any restaurant that’s been open and thriving for almost 50 years deserves a spot on any ‘best’ list, and Flying Fish is no different. They’re still known for their high quality seafood, service and iconic stained glass windows.

For the menu and more info: Flying Fish

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