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Cairo brings Egyptian street food to Newtown

Scott Bolles
Scott Bolles

Hesham El Masry with his speciality, falafel, at Cairo Takeaway.
Hesham El Masry with his speciality, falafel, at Cairo Takeaway.Daniel Munoz

Turkish and Lebanese cuisines might be hot in Sydney right now, but cast your eyes further south on the map. Egyptian is starting to nip at their heels, with the opening this week of Cairo Takeaway in Enmore Road upping the game for Egyptian street food.

Cairo's owner Hesham El Masry, the restaurateur behind Summer Hill's Plunge No. 46, is prepared to touch off a pavlova-style food debate by saying his speciality, falafel, originated in Egypt. "They used fava beans. The Ottomans took it and started using chickpeas."

The "next-level takeaway" is a chance for El Masry to share the food he grew up eating. "There's a lot of lentil and bean dishes. It helps it is a strong area for vegetarians," he says.

So why hasn't Sydney seen more Egyptian food? "Egyptians aren't risk-takers, and the food business is a risk. But it's coming. Bekya has opened at The Tramsheds and the guys from Commune are doing some really good stuff."

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Open lunch and dinner daily and breakfast Saturday and Sunday.

Cairo Takeaway, 81 Enmore Road, Newtown

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Scott BollesScott Bolles writes the weekly Short Black column in Good Food.

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