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Food tours in Sharm El Sheikh: what to eat and which tour to book
Sharm El Sheikh is a Red Sea resort at the southern tip of the Sinai peninsula, and most visitors eat in all-inclusive hotels. Outside them, the food is Egyptian everyday cooking: ful medames (stewed fava beans) and ta'ameya (Egyptian falafel made with fava beans) for breakfast, koshari (rice, lentils, pasta and spicy tomato sauce), hawawshi (spiced meat baked in bread), and grilled fish and seafood by the kilo. In the desert, Bedouin camps serve tea brewed over a fire and bread baked in the embers. The Old Market (Sharm El Maya) has the most local restaurants and a fish market; Naama Bay and the Soho Square complex are the main tourist areas.
Use this page to know what to order and where, with rough 2026 prices in Egyptian pounds and euros (about EGP 55–60 to €1; rates move). The tours shown are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; confirm the price and meeting point on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Sharm El Sheikh
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Koshari كشري (koshari) | Rice, brown lentils and small pasta topped with spicy tomato sauce, garlic vinegar, chickpeas and crispy fried onions. Egypt's national cheap meal. | Koshari shops in the Old Market and in Hadaba. | roughly EGP 50–120 (€1–2) |
| Ful medames and ta'ameya فول مدمس / طعمية (ful / ta'ameya) | Slow-stewed fava beans with oil, cumin and lemon, and Egyptian falafel made with fava beans and herbs, eaten with bread, salad and pickles. The standard breakfast. | Breakfast shops in the Old Market. | roughly EGP 20–60 (€0.35–1) a sandwich |
| Grilled fish and seafood سمك مشوي / صيادية (samak mashwi / sayadeya) | Fish chosen from the display and grilled, fried or cooked as sayadeya (fish with spiced rice and onion), served with salads, tahini and bread. | Fish restaurants in the Old Market area. | roughly EGP 600–1,500 (€10–26) per kilo of fish; prawns more |
| Hawawshi حواوشي (hawawshi) | Flatbread stuffed with minced meat, onion, peppers and spices, baked until crisp. | Local snack shops in the Old Market and Hadaba. | roughly EGP 60–150 (€1–2.50) |
| Feteer فطير مشلتت (feteer) | Layered, buttery pastry, filled savoury (cheese, meat) or sweet (honey, custard). | Feteer shops in the Old Market. | roughly EGP 100–250 (€1.70–4.50) |
| Molokhia ملوخية (molokhia) | A soup-like stew of finely chopped jute mallow leaves with garlic and coriander, served with rice and chicken or rabbit. | Egyptian restaurants in the Old Market. | roughly EGP 150–350 (€2.50–6) |
| Bedouin tea and bread شاي بدوي / فطير بدوي | Sweet black tea brewed with desert herbs over a fire, and flatbread baked on a metal dome or in embers. Part of desert excursions. | Bedouin camps on desert excursions outside Sharm. | usually included in excursion price |
| Sweets and sugarcane juice كنافة / بسبوسة / عصير قصب | Kunafa (shredded pastry with cheese or cream and syrup), basbousa (semolina cake), and fresh sugarcane juice pressed while you wait. | Sweet shops and juice stalls in the Old Market. | roughly EGP 30–150 (€0.50–2.50) |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Old Market (Sharm El Maya)
The old town near Sharm El Maya bay with the most local restaurants, koshari shops, bakeries, spice shops and fish restaurants, around the large mosque.
Fish market area, Old Market
Fish restaurants where you choose fresh fish and seafood from the display, have it weighed and cooked.
Naama Bay
The main tourist strip with international restaurants, cafés, bars and shisha cafés along a promenade.
Hadaba
Residential and hotel area on the plateau above the Old Market, with local shops and cheap eateries alongside Il Mercato and other shopping areas.
Soho Square
An entertainment and dining complex near Sharks Bay, with international restaurants, cafés and a fountain show. Convenient but expensive.
Food tours in Sharm El Sheikh compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharm El Sheikh: Farsha Cafe and Old Egypt Private Transfer | — | from €21 per person | — | Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them. | Check dates |
| Sharm El Sheikh: 5-in-1 Quad, Camel, Dinner & Stargazing | 5 hours | from €27 per person | — | Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark. | Check dates |
| Sharm el-Sheikh: Islamic and Coptic Sights Tour with Lunch | 5 hours | from €80 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
Sharm El Sheikh: Farsha Cafe and Old Egypt Private Transfer
On GetYourGuide · run by Edelweiss Center
- Price
- from €21 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 635 reviews (on 4 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them.
Sharm El Sheikh: 5-in-1 Quad, Camel, Dinner & Stargazing
On GetYourGuide · run by I Star EG
- Length
- 5 hours
- Price
- from €27 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 308 reviews (on 4 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Quad bike ride Camel ride Bedouin tea and bread Buffet dinner Oriental entertainment program Stargazing session with professional telescopes Experienced astronomy guide National Park / Desert Conservation Fee: US$1 p…
- Suits
- Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark.
Sharm el-Sheikh: Islamic and Coptic Sights Tour with Lunch
On GetYourGuide · run by Emo Tours Egypt
- Length
- 5 hours
- Price
- from €80 per person
- Rating
- 2.0 ★ from 6 reviews (on 4 Oct 2026)
- Included
- All transfers by a private air-conditioned vehicle Entry Fees Tour guide Snacks Lunch at local restaurant Tips
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Street food is in the Old Market and Hadaba: ful and ta'ameya sandwiches in the morning, koshari, hawawshi, feteer, sweets and sugarcane juice. Prices are very low compared with resort restaurants.
Sit-down meals
Most visitors eat in their hotel. Outside, fish restaurants in the Old Market, Egyptian restaurants and international restaurants in Naama Bay and Soho Square are the main options. Egyptians eat dinner late, from about 20:00–21:00. Shisha cafés are part of evening life.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes are rare in Sharm. Food experiences are more often Bedouin dinners on desert excursions, with grilled meats, rice, salads and bread, sometimes with a show.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | EGP 500–900 (about €9–16: local food only) |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | EGP 1,500–3,000 (about €26–52: fish dinner and local meals) |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | EGP 5,000+ (about €85+: international restaurants with drinks) |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Easy with Egyptian food: koshari, ful, ta'ameya, molokhia (check for meat stock), stuffed vegetables, salads, tahini and baba ghanoush are widely available. Hotel buffets have plenty of choice.
Halal: Easy. Egypt is a Muslim-majority country and meat is halal by default outside some hotels. Pork is rare and usually labelled where served; alcohol is available in hotels, bars and some restaurants.
Gluten-free: Possible but awareness is low outside hotels. Rice, grilled fish and meat, ful and many salads are naturally gluten-free, but bread is served with everything and koshari contains pasta. Ta'ameya may be fried in shared oil.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Fish restaurants weighing your fish and charging a price per kilo much higher than expected, or adding sides and bread that weren't ordered. Agree the price per kilo, see the weight and ask the total before cooking; ask what sides are included.
- 'Free' tea or a friendly invitation into a spice, perfume or papyrus shop, followed by heavy pressure to buy. Decline politely if you don't want to shop, and agree prices before accepting anything.
- Price confusion between 15 and 50 ('khamastashar' vs 'khamseen') or between pounds and euros/dollars. Ask for the price written down, and confirm the currency.
- Taxi drivers taking you to restaurants or markets where they earn a commission. Choose your own restaurant and agree the taxi fare in advance or use a ride-hailing app where available.
Top tours & activities in Sharm El Sheikh
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
Where can I eat local food in Sharm El Sheikh?
Go to the Old Market (Sharm El Maya) for koshari, ful and ta'ameya, hawawshi, feteer and sweets, and fish restaurants where you choose your fish. Hadaba has local shops too. Naama Bay and Soho Square are mostly international and expensive.
Is it safe to eat outside the hotel?
Generally yes, at busy places with high turnover where food is cooked fresh. Be careful with raw salads and unpeeled fruit. Don't drink tap water; use bottled water and check that the seal is intact. Many visitors get mild stomach upsets, so pace yourself.
Do I need to tip in Sharm El Sheikh?
Yes, tipping (baksheesh) is part of daily life in Egypt. In restaurants, leave about 10% even if a service charge is added, as staff may not receive it. Small tips are expected for guides, drivers and hotel staff. Carry small notes in Egyptian pounds.
How much should I budget for food per day?
Eating local food in the Old Market, about EGP 500–900 (€9–16) a day is enough. A fish dinner plus local meals raises that to roughly EGP 1,500–3,000 (€26–52). International restaurants with alcohol in Naama Bay or Soho Square cost more.
Can I drink alcohol in Sharm?
Yes, in hotels, bars, and many tourist restaurants, especially in Naama Bay and Soho Square. Local Egyptian restaurants and cafés in the Old Market usually don't serve alcohol. Imported drinks are expensive; local beer and wine are cheaper.
What is a Bedouin dinner?
Many desert excursions from Sharm end at a Bedouin-style camp with tea brewed over a fire, freshly baked bread, grilled meats, rice and salads, often with music, dancing or stargazing. Quality varies a lot, and some are aimed at large groups. Check what is included before booking.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.