With a friend's cousin (who didn't speak English) driving us around Cairo and a local guide our driver had sourced from somewhere else, at least it meant we had control of what to have for lunch. We were quite keen for a local meal and asked them what they would have for lunch on a normal day. We ended up at this place Abou Tarek, and seemingly so did a load of people in Cairo.
I can honestly say that there were no other tourists inside than us 2, and maybe when it wasn't Covid times in a sweltering 47C Cairo day it may have been different, but the only question you get asked inside is small or large. The production line of koshari at the front entrance serves them up. I ordered a large, not realising that my two Egyptian colleagues who were both males larger than me ordered small. Oh well.
It was a lovely hearty dish of lentils, rice, pasta, chickpeas, fried onions and topped with a tomato puree, chilli and ginger liquid. EGP126 for 4 serves including drinks was a bargain price for the local delight.