Khufu’s Restaurant
A destination restaurant in Egypt that also happens to have the best view in the world.
When travelling I really want to learn as much as I can about my destinations cuisine. I’m interested to have the traditional foods of course. But having spent many years working as a chef and a food writer, I’m also keen to find the culinary innovators where I visit.
These are the chefs taking traditional dishes and using local ingredients in really creative ways. Pushing the boundaries you could say and taking the cuisine forward.
The food of chef Mostafa Seif is doing exactly this at Khufu’s restaurant on the Giza Plateau. Which is what had made me super keen to secure a lunch booking on a trip to Egypt.
Khufu’s restaurant is situated directly in front of the Pyramids of Giza. So the opportunity to have a quality dining experience, seated in front of the only remaining wonder of the ancient world, makes this a real must-do for me.
I was offered an indoor or a terrace table on arrival. I knew the terrace and its pyramid view was made just for me.
Set price menus here offer a selection of starters, a choice of main course and a chef’s pick for dessert. So it’s easy to just sit back, enjoy the view and let the food flow.
And boy does outstanding food flow here. The menu I opted for began with seven starters and a basket of excellent bread (more about the bread later) and three accompanying sauces.
These starters are so good it’s hard to pick a favourite.
I’d not tried qatayef before and this version offered a deliciously crispy and chewy pastry with a filling of smoked beef, chilli jam and raisins. It was so good I ate it in small bites to make it last as long as possible.
A dish of chicken livers was rich, full flavoured and dressed with date molasses, peanuts and prunes.
Keshk almaz soup made with rice milk and chicken broth was topped with fried onions and incredibly creamy.
The house babaghanough was perfectly smokey and seasoned with the perfect amount of tahini and lemon. I could eat this food all day!
Mixing these dishes with the tomato salad, koshari salad and the cottage cheese (with its stunning wafer lattice top) was so good.
Equally, adding a spoonful of preserved lemon, which was one of the sauces, created new flavours in the dishes.
This meal couldn’t get better I thought, I could stop eating now and be happy. Then my main course arrived.
The quail was tender and so delicious with beautifully balanced sweet and sour flavours. The accompanying couscous was so well crafted too with each grain so fluffy and delicate.
This plate of food was as good as any I’ve eaten in a quality restaurant. Anywhere. The quail and couscous were magnificent together.
Getting back to the bread basket as mentioned previously. Bread is baked in an outdoor oven as people are dining at Khufu’s restaurant.
This oven is situated at the edge of the outdoor terrace, and guests can come to watch the baking in action. Delicious pita is baked and served directly to the table, and (like everything else here) it’s so good. I recommend coming and saying hello and seeing the baker in action.
Dessert was a super creamy rice pudding, light too with fresh fig, crushed roasted nuts and a sweet crunchy wafer on top. Perfect!
And like that my meal was over and it was time to go. But I was leaving knowing I’d eaten a meal which was innovation and generous.
A meal from a chef and his team that draws its inspiration from traditional Egyptian cuisine, and translates that into an innovative, contemporary dining experience.
Khufu’s restaurant under chef Mostafa Seif should be on the must-visit list of every food lover who visits Egypt.
It’s a globally significant destination restaurant that also happens to have the best view in the world. Get a booking at Khufu’s restaurant while you can.
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Until next time ~ Allan Campion