Where to Find the Best Feseekh in Egypt – A SceneEats Guide

There are a few things Egyptians take seriously: tea, traffic shortcuts, and feseekh. As Sham El-Nessim approaches, something in the national psyche shifts. Lines snake outside fish shops, plastic bags in hand, people trying to act unbothered while their eyes water from the smell. Feseekh is an annual ritual, a point of pride, and, for some, a high-risk act of love.

But, it’s also polarising. It’s fermented, unapologetically salty, and smells like it has its own agenda. But for the diehards, the sentimentalists, and the families who’ve done this every year without fail, it’s also non-negotiable. The onions are sliced, the lemons are waiting, and the baladi bread is already working overtime.

This year, we set out to find the feseekh that’s worth lining up for. The kind that’s well-cleaned, properly cured, and unlikely to send you Googling symptoms mid-meal. Whether you’re a lifelong loyalist or a curious newcomer, these are the spots that take feseekh seriously - and won’t make you regret the attempt.