Mohamed Ahmed

Mohamed Ahmed is Alexandria's most revered breakfast institution, a modest restaurant on Sakr Qorish Street in the city center that has been serving foul medames, falafel, and eggs since around 1950. The restaurant's fame extends well beyond Alexandria's culinary scene: it has attracted politicians, celebrities, journalists, and food writers across the decades, yet the experience of eating here remains unpretentious, with prices kept deliberately within the reach of Alexandria's working population. The foul medames — slow-cooked fava beans finished with olive oil, lemon, cumin, and optional garnishes of chopped vegetables and boiled eggs — is considered by many to be the finest version in Egypt. The taameya (Egyptian falafel) is fried fresh throughout the morning and arrives herb-green and crispy, served in soft baladi bread with tahini and pickles. Egyptian cheese plates, eggs in various preparations, and salads round out the breakfast menu. The dining room is simple and often crowded, with shared tables and friendly, efficient service. Mohamed Ahmed opens in the early morning and runs until stocks are exhausted in the late afternoon — the best preparations sell out before lunchtime. The surrounding neighborhood near Saad Zaghloul Square and the Alexandria waterfront makes Mohamed Ahmed a natural starting point for a day of city exploration, providing the energy for Alexandria's neighborhoods and seaside Corniche.